Page 28 of Fearless Heart

Chapter Nine

With Heath gone, Lillia ambled about the hills. She wasn’t sure what to do, where to stay, or if the women welcomed her. Lacking anything to do but ponder her situation, she wanted to keep from obsessing about her circumstances of her birth, what her betrothed did when they realized she’d gone missing, what her parents must be going through. And the most daunting of her problems, how to gain Heath’s affection.

She found Gilroy in the ossuary. The cave reeked of horses and death. She wouldn’t stay long inside such a dreadful place and motioned to him to join her outside.

“M’lady, Heath bid me to see to you whilst he is gone. Is there something you need?”

“Good morn, Gilroy, there is. I wish to make a spear. Do you have a dagger I can borrow to whittle one?”

“Of course.” He pulled a small, sharp object from his boot, and held the handle out to her.

Lillia took the dagger and started off toward the trees. Gilroy followed.

“What do you need a spear for? None shall harm you here, m’lady. You don’t need it for protection.”

As they walked into the dark woods adjacent to the hills, Lillia kept her eyes peeled for the perfect branch for her purpose.

“I want to use it to catch fish.”

“Ye don’t need to provide for your own supper. Annag is pleased to cook for us. She says it gives her something to do and her life a purpose.”

“I want to compensate for their generosity, especially for them allowing me to stay here. And I have nothing with which to do so. I hope to catch a few fish for supper.”

Gilroy stopped and pointed ahead. “There’s a good branch, there at the base of that tree.”

Lillia retrieved the thick birch branch and assessed its quality. “This will do well enough. I shall be by the stream, Gilroy, should anyone ask after me.”

He walked with her to the edge of the woods and turned back to the ossuary. Lillia ambled from the woods and sat on the boulder near the stream. The day grew warm and the sun bright. It made for an enjoyable autumn morning. With the dagger held tight, she whittled the end of the wood. It took several hours to clear the bark and sharpen the end into a point. She was about to retreat to the water and begin her task when she heard the sound of voices behind her.

The ladies approached the stream. Mistress Annag held wee William, Kerrigan held a basket of launder, and Makenna held the hand of her daughter.

Kerrigan set the basket down and shook out a tartan for William to sit upon. “We wondered where you’d gone. Gilroy told us we would find you here. Do you mind if we join you?”

“Not at all. I was making a spear and thought to provide fish for this night’s supper. If that would please you.”

Annag approached and embraced her. She wept on her shoulder. Lillia didn’t know what to make of the elder lady’s behavior. She pulled away and looked to Kerrigan and Makenna for direction.

“I’m sorry if I’ve displeased you, Mistress Annag.”

Kerrigan laughed and shook her head. “Nay, she’s not upset. You’ve brought her joy.”

Lillia found them perplexing, but she didn’t remark on it.

“Come and sit with us before you begin your fishing. You see, Annag’s husband, Finley, adored to fish with a spear. He’d always be here by the stream and still is.” She pointed at the grave that lay nearby.

“Oh, I’m sorry he’s gone, Mistress Annag. You must miss him terribly. I adore fishing too, for my grandfather used to take me as a wee lass. I learned how to whittle spears. He enjoyed it also and it entertained me for I had nothing but brothers for company and they never allowed me to play with them.”

Makenna sat next to Darcy and combed the knots from the lass’ long tresses. “You have no sisters?”

“Nay, only brothers, four in all. Two elder, two younger.”

“Then we shall be your sisters.” Makenna smiled. “Can you teach me to whittle a spear? I imagine Liam would be impressed if I learned such a skill.”

Lillia’s heart lightened. She spent the afternoon with the ladies and enjoyed hearing how they’d come to the caves. The tales were sometimes woeful, but the ladies found love and family. Their relationships somewhat despaired her.

“Have I said something to dismay you?” Kerrigan asked. “You look as downtrodden as Darcy does when Makenna won’t let her out of the cave.”

“The love you have found … I don’t deem I will ever be content.”