The Eagle by Hildie McQueen

Chapter Five

When the strap of her knapsack became uncomfortable, Cait moved it to her other shoulder, as she trudged through the forest toward home. Knowing she had a long walk home after her duties were completed, Greer always did her best to allow Cait to leave as soon as last meal was served.

Fall was approaching and the weather was quite chilly that day. Pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders, she quickened her pace, ready to be inside the warmth of home. But at the sound of leaves rustling, she froze and listened. The snorts of a boar made her blood run cold. She’d run into wild animals before on her daily treks to and from the keep, but thankfully never a boar.

After a moment, except for the wind sifting through the trees, the woods were once again silent. Just as she decided it was safe to resume her walk home, a boar and her two piglets appeared in the path. Cait wasn’t sure what to do. If the animal considered her a threat to her young, she would not hesitate to attack. In hopes the animal would continue on its way, Cait took two steps sideways and stood behind a tree.

Just then someone whistled a strange tune. One high shrill whistle followed by two short lower pitched ones. Whoever it was seemed to be in a good mood. Cait moved around the tree so now she was out of view from both the boar and whoever approached. This was turning out to be quite an annoying walk home.

A horseman came into view. Whoever it was allowed his steed to meander at a leisurely pace. When he whistled again, she peeked around the tree. It was Stuart Ross.

“Ugh,” he said, and she knew he’d seen the boar.

“Go away Mother and take yer young with ye. I do not wish to hurt ye.”

There were snorts from the boar’s direction. Obviously, the animal was not happy at the appearance of a horse.

Stuart held his horse still and moments later the boar continued on. The piglets squealing as they trotted after their disgruntled mother.

“I went to the kitchens to find ye and offer ye a ride to yer home. But Greer told me ye had already left,” Stuart called out.

Cait came from behind the tree. “Thank ye, but I do not require it.” She did her best to keep her expression stern. Although, in truth, she was relieved that he’d scared the boar away. There was no telling how long she would have had to hide behind the tree before the animal decided to leave.

“Many animals give birth during the late summer. Which means ye will have encounters with protective mothers all season. Ye should consider riding a horse home,” Stuart informed her.

Crossing her arms, Cait gave him a blank look. “I do not have a horse, Mister Stuart. Furthermore, I have never ridden one.” She turned on her heel and began walking.

Stuart dismounted and walked alongside, pulling his horse behind. “We must remedy that at once. Ye should have asked my brother for a horse. He would have given ye one.”

“Yer brother gives away horses to anyone who asks?”

He shook his head. “I meant the use of a horse. The animal would belong to our family. Unless ye bought it, or it was gifted to ye. I am not aware if he has given away horses. I shall ask him.”

“Why would ye and yer brother offer a horse for me to ride?” Cait was incredulous. The more she spoke to Stuart, the more confused she became over what to think of the Ross family. Did they treat all the servants so kindly? She recalled that Lady Isobel often spent time in the kitchen with Greer. Both Lady Isobel and Lady Mariel’s companions spent time with the family and not the servants.

However, this was totally different. Had Stuart followed her?

“Ye confuse me,” she finally replied. “Why are ye here?” She scanned the woods realizing they were alone and if the man decided to have his way with her, there was little she could do. At the same time, there was something about him that made her feel at ease. It was as if instinctively she knew he would not hurt her.

“I do not mean to. What if I give ye lessons?”

“What?”

“I can teach ye to ride a horse.”

“I do not wish to be up so high on an animal on my own.”

“’Tis easy.”

Cait blew out a breath. “I appreciate yer offer but must refuse it.”

“Come. Let us ride to yer home. We can discuss this another day.” He took her arm and guided her over to his now still horse then lifted her up into the saddle. After settling Cait, he deftly mounted and with arms on both sides of her, he took the reins and maneuvered the horse forward.

Astride the horse, she ensured her skirts covered her legs. It felt strange to be up so high from the ground and she didn’t quite care for it.

“I have no idea where ye live, so ye will have to tell me,” Stuart said, his mouth much too close to her ear. “Here, take the reins.” He placed the leather straps into her hands, then put his hands over hers so she could see how he guided the horse. After a while, he released her hands and allowed her to guide the horse alone.

“Ye are assisting with yer legs are ye not?” Cait asked. It was a strange feeling to be sitting so close to him; her backside between his open legs touching the most private part of him. At the same time, he continued to put her at ease. He didn’t try to pull her closer and somehow managed to keep from touching her.

“I am,” he replied. “That will be a lesson I can only give ye when ye are on the horse by yerself.”

She gave up trying to explain that she had no intention of ever learning to ride a horse.

When she motioned to the small cottage that was her home, he took the reins and guided the horse the rest of the way. Upon arriving, both his mother and brother hurried out. Her mother looked up at them with eyes wide with worry.

“Is something wrong? Were ye injured?”

“Nothing is wrong,” Cait replied suddenly unsure what to do.

Stuart dismounted and helped her down. He went to her mother. “I am Stuart Ross. There are many wild boars with young in the woods right now, so I ensured yer daughter did not come to any harm.”

“I see,” her mother had lowered into a slight curtsy upon him divulging who he was. But now looked at him with distrust. “Her half brother should feel obligated to see to her safety.”

“Torac barely speaks to me,” Cait said. “I assured Mister Stuart that I am perfectly capable of traveling back and forth on my own.”

Brice walked closer, his young face stern. “I can walk her to the keep and then meet her upon the end of her day to walk her back home.”

“A horse can be supplied for Cait to travel back and forth. Once she leans to ride, it will make things easier,” Stuart insisted giving her a pointed look.

“We cannot afford to feed and care for the laird’s horse,” her mother said with a worried expression. “Mister Stuart, ye must understand . . . we have meager means. Cait provides what we have.”

Cait wanted to tell her mother to stop speaking, but she bit her bottom lip. It wasn’t as if her mother lied.

“That is true, we could not afford the feed. I do thank ye for the offer; however, as I said before, I must decline,” Cait told him.

“I am sure something can be done to keep ye from harm.” He looked to the cottage and then met her brother’s gaze. “Ye do good work. The cottage looks much better than the last time I saw it.”

Her brother beamed with pride. The two walked to the back so that Brice could show Stuart where he was adding a room.

“What is he expecting in return for all of this attention?” her mother whispered. “Did he make any untoward advances?”

Cait shook her head. “No, Mother. I would have jumped from the horse, and we would have left immediately if something like that had happened.”

Her mother gave her a sad look. “And where would we go child?”

“I would find a way for us,” Cait replied with much more resolution than she felt. The resignation in her mother’s face told her that if one of the Ross brothers ever decided to take her, it would probably be something she’d not have any choice but to accept.

“I am assured more and more each day that they are good and decent people,” she finally said as Stuart came from behind the house.

He gave them a nod, then mounted and rode away. Once again whistling the strange two tones.

Turning away and heading for the house, she and her mother went straight to the kitchen. From the knapsack, she took out the leftover duck and a pair of turnips she’d taken from the garden with Greer’s permission. After chopping the turnips and the duck meat, it was all put into a pot of water boiling over the fire. Along with bread her mother had baked earlier in the day, it would be a simple meal as always, but thankfully, they’d be quite full.

The next morning Cait did not go to the keep. Greer had given her two days’ rest, which she was extremely grateful for. There was clothing to mend and wash, and she wanted to spend some time taking in a dress and underskirts that she’d gotten when Lady Ross had offered a pile of clothes for the maids to choose from.

Her mother studied her while she swept the floors. “If ye married, then I would have less to worry about.”

Cait stopped mid-sweep. “Who would ye have me marry Mother?”

“I know there are plenty of guardsmen at the keep. One or two have surely taken yer attention.”

In truth, she’d been much too busy to pay attention to any men. Between her duties in the kitchen and serving in the great hall—not to mention her long treks back and forth from home to the keep to home again—there was little time for frivolity.

She’d never admit to her mother how tired she was most days and what little amount of time there was to even consider things like courtship. There was a maid or two that she’d noted had relationships, but she’d not been at the keep long enough to keep up with who was with whom.

“Consider it,” her mother continued. “Then ye and he could ride home together and the men at the keep would stay at arm’s length. Even the roguish ones will stay away from a married lass. Ye are much too pretty not to be protected.”

Cait laughed. “Truly Mother, ye should not fret over it. We will be well. I have two brothers to ensure it.”

“Once we save enough for a mule and I build a cart, I can take ye to the keep in the mornings and retrieve ye after,” Brice interjected. “Though I do hope we get a horse,” he added wistfully.

Their mother gave him a pointed look. “Do not go making such plans,” she said. “We cannot possibly accept it. How would we feed it?”

“It is true, we cannot accept such a gift,” Cait interjected. “I am truly sorry Brice, I know ye wish to work. Ye are too young to seek labor yet. We need ye here for now.”

Her brother shrugged good-naturedly. “I have plenty to keep me busy here.”

She considered her conversation with Stuart Ross about her brother. “What would ye like to do one day. If given the choice?”

“Work in the stables. And one day have my own corral full of horses,” Brice replied without hesitation. “Ye could accept the horse. I will find ways to feed it. I wish to learn about them.”

When he gave her one of his wistful looks, it was hard to resist. “Perhaps when ye get older, ye can work at the stables. Then we can ask to live at the keep.” Changing the subject, she smiled at him. “For now, I’ll see if I can borrow a cart and mule so we can venture to the village.”

That brightened her mother and her brother, who both gave her thankful looks.

The next two days flew past. She accomplished everything and was prepared to return to work, well rested. It was Greer’s habit to give servants a few days off every other month, to keep them from growing weary. Other than that, they could take a day off every fortnight.

On the day she was to return to work she was already heading through the woods towards the keep at sunrise. Aware of the breeding animals, she was careful to keep her attention sharp as to not miss any sounds or sights.

At the sound of the two-toned whistle, she blew out a breath. The man was relentless. Why was Stuart Ross so intent on seeking her out? If as he said, he had no intention of anything untoward.

Moments later, the huge warhorse appeared through the trees. With a quiver of arrows strapped to his broad back and dark hair flying across his face, he looked like a god descended from the clouds. A god of war and destruction.

“Ah, there ye are,” he said in a pleasant tone as if she should have been expecting him. “I came to fetch ye for work. Greer is most put out this morning as Finella is not feeling well and Cora is nowhere to be found.”

Cora was in a relationship with one of the guardsmen. However, Cait was not about to say anything about it.

“Did Greer ask ye to seek me out?” Cait asked allowing herself to be hoisted up to sit on the horse.

He shook his head. “I told her I was going hunting and that I might run into ye. She then asked if I didn’t mind hurrying ye along if I did see ye.”

“Actually, I am glad to have a moment to speak to ye,” Cait started in a tone she hoped conveyed assurance. “Please do not insist on treating me differently than the other servants. I do not wish to be singled out. It could lead to talk that would be most unkind.”

“I have something to show ye when we get to the keep.”

“Impossible,” Cait argued. “As ye yerself intimated, Greer needs me immediately.”

He shrugged and she realized she was leaning her shoulder on him. Cait immediately straightened putting space between them.

The feel of his body against hers made Cait’s heart speed and she soon found it was becoming hard to breathe normally.

“Is something wrong?” Stuart asked, which both annoyed and angered her. It would be so embarrassing to feel the way she did about a man so above her station. That he paid her attention made it even worse. To allow her heart hope was both cruel and sobering.

Stuart pulled the horse to a stop and dismounted. “Come,” he said holding his arms out. “Whatever is wrong, ye need to relax a bit.”

Cait blew out a breath and closed her eyes. “I should walk the rest of the way.”

When he helped her down Stuart held her still, his eyes on her face assessing if she was unwell.

To her horror, he closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. To make matters worse, she clung to his shoulders letting out a sigh when the kiss deepened.

The kiss was like nothing she ever imagined. His mouth exploring hers: suckling, teasing, tasting. Responding with like motions, her hands slid up from his shoulders to his strong jaw.

“I have wanted to kiss ye since the first time I saw ye,” he murmured between kisses.

With one last press against her lips, he straightened and smiled down at her. “Do ye feel better?”

Worse. She felt worse.

“We…we should not have done that.”

“I think we should have,” he replied lifting her back onto the horse.

Her mind raced in all directions as they neared the keep. What had she done? Why had she responded with so much enthusiasm?

She closed her eyes, grateful to have her back to him. Did this mean he would expect more from her? Her body perhaps. She swallowed at the thought of what to do next.

“Stop thinking,” he murmured. “It was a kiss, that is all. I have no expectations from ye.”

Cait blew out a breath. “Good.”

“Ye wound my heart,” he replied good-naturedly and despite all the trepidations, Cait smiled. Stuart Ross was a most perplexing man.

Upon entering thegates, she was thankful only a few people were about. “Please help me down. I must go inside with haste.”

He dismounted and lowered her to the ground. “Come along. I have something to show ye.”

“Hold him here, I will return shortly,” Stuart told a lad, handing him the reins. Then he stalked toward the stables, Cait almost running to keep up with his long strides.

Finally, they came to the stables and he went directly to a stall. Inside was a beautiful tan and white mare. The animal was delicate and seemed sweet.

“She is to be yers. Darach purchased it for Isobel, but Lady Ross prefers large, strong horses. So, this mare has been lingering without someone to ride her.”

Cait reached out and ran her hand down the horse’s long nose. Then she instinctively caressed the animal’s jawline. The mare made a happy grunting noise.

“Ye are a natural,” Stuart said with a smile. “Ensure to tell Greer ye have riding lessons today right after midday meal.”

“No,” Cait stated firmly. “I will not.”

With a good-natured shrug, he turned and walked away.

As she arrived at the kitchen entrance, she saw Stuart galloping away to his hunting grounds.

Greer clapped her hands upon Cait entering. “Bless Mister Stuart for fetching ye. I am going to scold Cora once she appears, for not being here this morning. Poor Finella does not have the strength to get out of bed.” Greer bustled from one simmering pot to frying sounds from a flat pan over the fire.

“See about the plates and fetch the pitchers,” Greer told a maid who’d entered, effectively sending the girl rushing away. Greer was always especially stern with the younger maids. She’d told Cait it was mainly because if she wasn’t they’d begin lazy and stay that way.

It was a long while later that just as Cait hoisted a tray of food up, Cora hurried into the room.

Cait gave her a warning look and Cora gave her a soft nod of acknowledging she was prepared to be scolded. She blew out a breath and walked to where Greer waited with both her hands on her hips.

“Where ’ave ye gotten off too?”

Once the people in the great hall were served, she and Cora continued to refill tankards, while lads hurried about removing platters and such.

“I must tell ye something,” Cora said when they went to refill their pitchers. “I was with Torac.”

“I wasn’t sure it was my brother who courted ye.” Cait was troubled that her brother had not spoken to her in as many days.

Cora grinned. “I wish to get to know him better. What can ye tell me?”

It was astounding that Cora stole away with a man and knew little about him. “I do not know my half brother well. There is little free time, as ye know.”

Placing the last empty pitcher in the kitchen, Cait picked up two buckets. “I will go fetch water,” she said over her shoulder and walked outside.

The person she sought was standing with legs apart, sword in hand, slicing through the air in a pattern. Back and forth he swung, sweat glistening across his brow.

“Torac,” Cait said nearing. “I must speak to ye.”

Her brother glowered in her direction, his gaze moving past her. “What is it?”

Once he lowered the sword, she neared. Not that she expected him to hurt her, but she wasn’t sure how to approach someone who was so intent on training. “Cora told me ye are courting her.”

His handsome face scrunched into a frown. “Did she now?”

“I am sure ye plan to marry the lass. Especially since Greer had everyone search for her and could not find her in her quarters.” Cait met his gaze with a pointed look. “I am sure speculations are beginning.”

The expressions of worry that crossed Torac’s face made her want to giggle. Before he could say anything, she spoke again. “How old does one have to be to train with horses? Brice is interested but I am worried about our mother being left alone all day.”

It was a moment before Torac was able to tear his gaze from the direction of the kitchen. “Ah…I suppose he is old enough. Why do ye bring it up, if ye do not wish him to be away from yer home?”

“I do not want to hold him back either. I ask so that we can make a decision about it.”

Torac nodded. “Once he is ready, I will ensure he has a place at the stables. Understand that he will have to live in the rooms there and will not go home daily. Apprentices often are the ones who handle the horses at night.”

“I can ask Lady Isobel for a room in the servant’s quarters and share with Mother, I suppose.”

“Ensure Brice is ready. Once he comes, he cannot simply walk away.”

“I will.” She gave him a soft smile. “Cora is lovely.”

His eyes narrowed, not giving Cait a good feeling.

“One last thing, can ye acquire a mule and cart for a day? It would be helpful to take Mother to the village when I have a day of rest.”

Her brother met her gaze. “I can see about one for ye to use.”