AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“At this time of year, many hired hands come for the sowing, my laird.”
“But no one around your cottage,” he insisted.
“Canna remember. We’ve been oot in the fields a lot.”
No one would deny how much the Darrochs had been toiling on the land, everyone was up to their heads with work.
“You said Duncan had been worried about the future,” Moira said.
Caitlin lowered her head as if ashamed of her husband. “Aye, my lady,” Despite Moira’s insistence, Caitlin resisted in calling her friend by her given name. “But we were all so happy tae hear of your betrothal.”
Lachlan and Moira exchanged gazes. “Did Duncan think to do anything as to his worries?” he asked.
“Dinna think so, my laird.” Her hands twisted on her lap.
“Did Duncan voice his misgivings to others?” Lachlan insisted.
She took a long time to answer. “Ye ken the men take a dram in the tavern and blether.”
“You can trust us, Caitlin,” he reiterated.
“Oh, my laird.” Tears ran down her reddened cheeks. “He told me someone came to talk to him.” Her breath became errant.
“Not from the Darroch clan,” Moira certified.
“Nae…they wanted him tae do…nasty things.” Her hands covered her face.
“What kind of things,” Lachlan pressed.
“Wicked, my laird. Destroy places here.” Her sobs turned desperate.
“Did he accept it?” Moira asked.
Caitlin snapped her head. “Nae, nae, my lady, refused fiercely, he did!”
“So, they showed you what happens with those who don’t cooperate,” concluded Lachlan.
Her sobs multiplied. “Lady Moira dinna deserve it. Aught of it.”
Again, Moira held the other woman while she poured her concerns.
Lachlan and Moira exchanged another glance. He proved to be right, the Pitcairn would not stop despite her strategic move with the betrothal.
Murray came in and served tea. After that, they resumed their conversation.
“Remember last year, Lady Moira, the mill was smashed, hay disappeared. We dinna ken if there’d be enough fer the livestock in winter.”
Moira closed her eyes for a moment. The last thing she wanted was for Lachlan to know of every illegal act her uncle had castigated against her clan, because of his unmeasurable greed.
When she opened her eyes, she found him staring with an expression she hoped was not pity.
“Yes,” she strived to stop Caitlin from stringing along with problems that did not concern the giant. “But we pulled through, didn’t we?”
Caitlin grinned in admiration. “Och, aye! Ye arranged fer us to use the McTavish mill and bought hay from Aberdeen.” Not to mention the fixing of the mill, that had cost a dear portion of the income, but was ready on time for the harvest in the autumn.
Well, that made it worse. If Moira did not stop this talk Caitlin would give a day-to-day report of their struggles since her father passed. “Thank you so much for coming, Caitlin. We appreciate it.”
That seemed to make Caitlin come back to the present. Swiftly, she took her leave.
