Page 66 of Highland Sky

“I’m sorry, but we willna be able to buy one,” Kellina told the little boy, turning and walking away with Nash.

“Wait,” called out the lad, running up to them, holding the scrawny black kitten out to her. “My mathair wants to get rid of this one,” said the boy. “She said since it’s black, it is bad luck and spawned by the devil. She wants to drown it, but I dinna want her to kill it. Please, take it with ye for free.”

“Oh, I dinna ken.” Kellina looked up to Nash. “Can we?”

Nash let out a sigh. “Well, I’m never goin’ to hear the end of it if I’m the cause for the kitten bein’ killed. Go on, Kellina. Take it from him,” he told her.

“Thank ye,” said Kellina, cuddling the kitten. When Nash turned to leave, she reached into her pouch and pulled out a penny and gave it to the boy. “Buy yerself a fruit hand pie. They’re guid,” she said with a wink, watching the boy’s eyes light up.

“Thank ye!” he cried, running toward the pie vendor’s stall. Kellina turned around, only to bump right into Nash’s chest.

“Och, I dinna ken ye were there,” she told him, almost dropping the little kitten.

“Obviously no’, or ye wouldna have given that lad money for this bag of fleas.”

“Blethers, Nash, it made the lad’s day. Did ye see his eyes light up when I gave him the coin and mentioned the fruit pies? I’m sure I made him happy.”

“I’m sure ye did.”

Kellina looked down at the purring kitten, smiling, and scratching it behind its ears. “Besides, it was the least I could do after the lad saved Midnight’s life.”

“Midnight? Is that what ye named the cat?”

“Aye. I think it is fittin’, being dark like a starless night.”

“Mayhap we can dunk it in the loch and wash off its fleas,” suggested Nash.

“It doesna have fleas,” she retorted. “Now, let’s go find someone sellin’ cream, because Midnight will be hungry.”

Nash moaned asthey headed for the livestock, wondering how much this new addition to the family was going to cost before Kellina was done. He didn’t particularly like cats all that much. He liked dogs and sheep and even chickens better. Cats always seemed so finicky, and were worthless except for catching rats, like the woman said. He’d rather have a hound someday who could travel with him and help hunt as well. Then again, he wouldn’t even consider getting a dog until he convinced Kellina to move to the MacKeefe Clan with him.

“We need to stop at the silversmith,” Nash told Kellina after they spent most of the day buying things to eat, or looking at the wares. “I promised I would buy somethin’ made of silver for North.”

“And what is that goin’ to cost?” she asked with a smile, since he’d been complaining to her that the kitten was draining him dry of money after she insisted on buying herring for it to eat as well as the cream.

“It is no’ costin’ me a thing, when ye weigh out the fact that the only reason we’re here is because my brathiar agreed to thatch roofs for us so we could get away.”

“Ye’re right. I’m sorry,” she said, cuddling the kitten in one arm and taking his hand. “What will ye buy North?”

“I’m no’ sure. Hopefully, somethin’ that looks expensive but costs little,” he said with a chuckle as they headed over to the silversmith’s stall next.

The silversmith pounded his hammer against the item on the anvil, filling the air with noise. Nash stopped at the table, being watched over by the man’s wife. He looked down to see many beautiful items all made from silver. Bracelets, ladies’ head circlets, and ornate buckles for belts were all spread out on the table, looking very impressive to Nash. And expensive. He wasn’t sure he could afford any of these things for his brother. Now, he was starting to regret his promise. Still, he couldn’t go back empty-handed. He’d never broken a promise to North and wasn’t going to start doing that now. Not when he owed his brother so much for all the help and support he’d given him.

“Oh, this is beautiful,” said Kellina, picking up a silver, ornate, etched goblet in one hand, still holding on to the kitten with the other. The goblet reminded Nash of the one North borrowed at the Horn and Hoof Tavern, and then it was stolen by thieves. It was their chieftain Storm’s chalice given to him by the king.

“North isna gettin’ that,” said Nash, snatching it away from her and placing it back down. “What have ye got that is small and inexpensive?”

“The only small things are the rings, or mayhap this.” The woman held up a silver cross with a link on the top. It was made to wear on a chain or cord around the neck.

“I’m goin’ to put the kitten down over there,” said Kellina, nodding to an area. “I think it needs to relieve itself,” she whispered.

“All right. I’ll be right there,” said Nash, looking back at the table.

“Do ye want the silver cross?” asked the woman.

“Mayhap.” Nash picked up a silver ring, inspecting it closely.

“All our rings can be engraved for an extra price,” the woman’s husband called out.

“Really,” said Nash, having an idea. “All right, then. I’ll take the silver cross, but only if I can make a deal for it and the ring, both. And I want the ring engraved.”

Kellina had justput the kitten on the ground when a pair of booted feet stomped up and stopped in front of her nose. She looked up, and her heart almost stopped. In the sunlight, she saw the undeniable colors of the Sutherland plaid!