Ceci Giltenan(37)
“Aye, that is true. However, it is more than that. Somehow here ye seem more open and receptive with them.”
“As ye pointed out, I am a warrior, not a farmer. These men have knowledge acquired through years of working the land. More than that, they have the knowledge passed down from their fathers and grandfathers just as my father and Malcolm’s father trained me to be a warrior. I am still their laird.”
“No doubt. Still, not every leader has learned that lesson.”
“What lesson? How to talk to farmers? That’s not so very hard,” he jested.
She laughed, “Nay, when to seek information, and perhaps more importantly, listen to others.”
He sobered a bit, “Your uncle was not a leader, Katherine, he was a tyrant. I am sorry ye suffered so at his hand.”
“Thank you. It is true though that one can learn as much from a bad leader as a good one. Knowing what not to do has its value.”
“Never fear, my sweet lass, I am certain there will be occasions to learn what not to do from me as well.”
~ * ~
When they returned to the keep, Edna was full of questions about Katherine’s visit to the crofters.
“Honestly, Edna, I don’t think they liked me. I seemed to make them uncomfortable.”
“My lady, Highlanders are not always the most welcoming folks. It has been a long time since we have had a laird’s wife who paid any attention to the clan. Most of the farming families had precious little contact with Laird Alastair’s second wife, but give them time and they will come around.”
“How can ye be sure of that?”
“Lady Katherine, ye are kind and gracious and ye always manage to insinuate yourself into things. Frankly, ye are hard not to like.”
Katherine laughed. “Insinuate myself? What does that mean?”
“Ye think no one notices how ye slip your way seamlessly into situations? One minute ye are chatting away with someone who is working, and the next ye are working right alongside them.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Don’t ye? Didn’t I see ye scrubbing pots in the kitchen yesterday?”
Katherine waved her hand, dismissing the notion, “That was nothing, Bridie needed a little extra help, that’s all.”
“Ye find a way to give a ‘little extra help’ to everyone ye encounter. Of course, the fact that the laird is so taken with ye will help too.”
“Why would that matter?”
“Lady Katherine, ordinary people marry for love but noblemen and women don’t have that luxury. We know neither of ye chose this union . The fact that there is affection between ye is practically miraculous. I think ye have won his heart, my lady, and that is something the clan can be thankful for.”
Katherine didn’t argue but she clearly remembered Niall saying, “My heart was never part of this bargain.” Nevertheless, Katherine did as Edna suggested. She gave the clan time, and continued to be herself.
~ * ~
On another visit, she and Niall arrived at one of the small farming communities and an elderly farmer told them his wife, Maire, had been ill.
Excusing herself, Katherine went into his cottage, where she found his wizened wife trying to sweep the floor. “Hello, Maire, I’m Lady Katherine.”
The elderly woman made a couple of swipes with the broom and sat down for a moment to catch her breath. “I don’t believe I’ve ever met ye, lass,” she said between breaths, then she stood and tried again to sweep.
“Nay, I’m sure we have never met,” said Katherine and, taking the broom from Maire, she said, “How about if you sit and have a chat with me while I sweep.”
“Now, lass, I couldn’t let ye do that.”
“Oh, please, I would enjoy a chat and I have been sitting all day.”
“Well, I won’t say your help isn’t appreciated, lass. I’ve had trouble catching my breath all day.”
“Have you now?” asked Katherine as she made quick work of sweeping the small cottage. “Has your breathing been bothering you for a while or is it just today?”
“Ah, lass, I’m getting old. I suppose it has been getting harder for me to do much for weeks, but now that ye ask, it has gotten worse these last few days.”
After sweeping the dust into the hearth, Katherine put the broom away and said, “I know a bit about healing, perhaps you wouldn’t mind if I took a quick look. Maybe there is something I can do.”
Maire chuckled and said, “Well, lass, I don’t think ye can turn back time. Now if there is a powder or a potion that will pep me up a bit, I’ll give it a try.”
Katherine knelt in front of her and found swelling that pitted to her touch in the old woman’s ankles and lower legs. “Oh, my legs have been swelling up like that for a couple of weeks now,” offered Maire.