“We shall ask Breckin to help ye later when he comes,” she told Connor. “Perhaps I can find some sort of entertainment for you whilst you are recovering. I shall think about it and return with Breckin later this eve to visit you. And I want you lads to call me Eva.”
The lads’ mouths were full of bread but they happily nodded.
Eva waved to Willa and left. On her return to the other side of the bridge, she found a group of women sitting at a table situated about knee-high from the ground. On the table were heaping piles of fleece. Some of the women grabbed portions of it while another poured water over the fleece. They began singing a melody as they washed the woolen. How lovely they sounded as they sang. She wished she knew the words so she might join in but they eyed her warily and ceased singing as they noticed her watching them, as if she intruded ontheir privacy.
With a nod of apology, she continued onward, saddened that the women in the Buchanan clan shunned her. She had to wonder why. Was something wrong with her? No, that was absurd, she thought, because she was friendly, likable, and kind. Surely that mattered to the Buchanan women. But perhaps not. That they didn’t appreciate outsiders made her ponder how long it would take for them to consider her one of them.
She kept walking along the lane and glanced at the river that flowed next to the land. Eva found a spot where vines wrapped the lower trunks of trees. The vines gave her an idea of a use for them. Eva tugged and collected a score of thick green climbers and had to yank hard to loosen them enough to free them.
She’d make rings of them for the lads to use in a game of entertainment. Her brothers had taught her how to make them and when they were young, they often spent time in the woods when her brothers were not at their lessons. But she had to figure out what they could toss them at. Connor would be able to participate even if he was restricted to a chair.
Eva continued and reached the end of the island where the longhouse sat. Banging came from inside, but she stood still and viewed the repairs done so far. The holes in the walls were patched up with pieces of wood and there were bales of straw sitting beside the longhouse, ready to be raised to the roof to cover it.
“Milady, can I help ye?” A tall, brawny man exited the house and stepped off the landing. He wore his hair shorn to his head but it appeared light brown. His eyes were a soft brown and his smile becoming.
“No, I was just checking on the progress. Breckin asked me to stop by…” She did not know what else to say.
“Aye, ye must be the laird’s wife. Why do ye not come inside and we can talk about what ye would like us to do? I am Lawrence, milady,the Buchanan builder. We will make sure your new home is exactly how ye wish it to be.” He waved at her.
Eva followed him inside, still holding the collection of vines in her arms. “You have accomplished much for only a short time.”
“Aye, we work quick and are skilled. There were no major repairs needed, milady, only minor fixes of the walls and roof. Now, we will be situating the kitchen there,” he said and pointed to the left of the house. “There is a flue already there for a small oven and we will strengthen the floor boards afore we set the stone of the hearth.”
She nodded even though she had never used an oven before.
“We shall put in a new hearth and I have already sent my men to collect stones and slate.” He rambled on, listing all the things he would provide in the kitchen area.
Eva could have laughed because she was not knowledgeable about what she’d need for the cooking area. Hopefully, she would learn to utilize the hearth and oven. “Will you close in the sleeping area?” She wanted some privacy within the longhouse and the ability to close a door would also enable her to relax without watchful eyes in a quiet place.
“It was not planned, Milady. Och, if ye wish us to close it off, we can do that.”
“I would appreciate that. And if you would make at least two more closed-off sleeping areas for Breckin’s brothers and guests.” Eva hadn’t asked Breckin if his brothers would live with them, but she hoped so. They needed their elder brother and she needed them, if only to be accepted as family.
“What is that area back there?” As she stepped toward the end of the overlarge longhouse, she reached the limit where there was no wall but a fenced area that led to the dirt ground.
“Oh, that is where ye can keep your animals, Milady. Longhouses were made to shelter both people and animals.” Lawrence stopped before the dropoff where the fence secured the area.
“We do not plan to have animals in our home. Can you close this off with a wall? We shall use the outside area for something else and shall figure it out later,” she explained.
“Aye, certainly.” Lawrence bowed to her and turned away. He returned to his task.
Eva exited the building and rounded it. When she got to the back where animals were previously kept, she wondered what she might utilize in the place. Maybe Breckin could keep his horse there or maybe a small garrison of arms. He was, after all, the leader of a fierce army.
She left the longhouse with the vines in her hold and meandered back on the lane. Before she reached Clare’s cottage, someone shouted. Eva stopped and stepped aside as carts rolled by.
A man whistled and shouted, “Halt.” He reached her and bowed. “Milady, I do not know if ye remember me but I am Aymer, the gate watch. These carts arrived for ye. Apparently, the sentry intercepted them and had them come directly to the holding. What do ye want us to do with them? There are five carts and beyond, a group of six horses.”
Eva couldn’t withhold her smile. Her precious belongings had at last arrived! She looked at the carts with affection because she knew what was beneath the tarps—the thing she held most dear.
“Milady? Where do ye want me to put them? This amount of belongings surely will not fit in Clare’s cottage. She’s likely to have a fit if ye try to bring in your items.”
“No, you are right, Aymer. Clare would definitely not appreciate me bringing in my belongings.” She thought about where she might store the items until the longhouse was ready and then an idea sparked. “Have them continue to the longhouse. There is an area there, at the back, where we can store the carts until I can unpack them.”
“What about the horses, Milady?” Aymer waved to the men on thecarts and the wheels turned, taking them farther along on the island.
“I have no use for horses and wonder why my da sent them. Why do you not take them to where they keep the soldiers’ horses? I am sure Breckin will figure out what to do with them.” Eva wasn’t fond of horses or riding them which was why she preferred to ride in the carriage when she’d traveled to Edinburgh.
Aymer bowed to her and marched off toward the back of the procession.
