Highland Courage(63)
She nodded. “Aye, I am tired and it has been a long day.”
He led her to a tent that had been prepared for them. “Ye rest a bit and I will be back with something for our supper.” At the look of concern on her face, he added, “Remember, ye are never alone. Hamish and Cael will be just outside should ye need anything.”
~ * ~
On the first morning of the fair, she was thrilled when her sister Annag arrived for a visit with her children, eight-year-old Neacel, six-year-old Miach, and her rosy cheeked, three-year-old daughter, Wynne. The MacBains also planned to go on to Rowan’s wedding from the fair. Mairead was pleased to learn her brother Peadar and his wife, Rhona, would be arriving at the fair later in the day. They were staying with Rhona’s family at Currancreag. Rowan himself was at the fair too, having accompanied a small group of MacIan artisans who attended.
“Well, little sister, have ye settled into marriage? Ye look tired, but happy.”
“I’m sure it is just the trip and the excitement. I am happy.”
“Aunty Mairead, do ye have a wee lass for me to play with?” asked Wynne.
“Not yet, pet.”
“Mam, when can we go?” whined Neacel. “Why did we come to the fair if we are just going to sit here?”
“That is enough, Neacel, we will go when I say we go.”
“Maaaaam. Why do I have to wait for ye?”
“Because I said ye must and it isn’t safe to go alone. Ask your Aunt Mairead. She and Uncle Flan went by themselves once, against your grand-da’s orders, and Flan got lost. This is the first time she has been to a fair since.”
“Then let’s go and take Aunt Mairead.”
“Not another word, young man, or ye won’t go at all.”
Neacel sat down and pouted but said no more. The memory of the last time brought back Mairead’s old feelings of fear. Her brow furrowed.
Her oldest sister didn’t miss the sudden change. “Are ye all right, Mairead? It’s glad I am ye came, but ye did want to, didn’t ye? Laird Matheson didn’t force ye, did he?”
“Of course, I wanted to come, Tadhg would never force me to do something I didn’t want to do.” Mairead tried to set aside her fears and alleviate her sister’s concern. “Neacel, I remember how exciting it was when your mam and I were wee lassies.”
“Mama was a wee lass like me?” asked Wynne in amazement.
Annag and Mairead laughed, and Miach said, “Are ye an eejit, Wynne? Wee lassies grow up to be big lassies like Mam and Aunt Mairead.” Looking very seriously at Mairead, he added, “When I complain about Wynne, Da says to be thankful she is a wee lass because it is the grown ones that make ye daft.”
Mairead and Annag laughed harder until Annag was finally able to say, “Grown lassies will only make ye daft if ye grow into a big eejit yourself.”
“Should I tell Da that?”
“No, pet, Da already knows,” Annag answered and Mairead laughed until tears ran down her cheeks. She invited Annag and the children to have the noon meal with her, but seeing Neacel’s crushed expression, Annag agreed to take them on to the fair before they ate.
~ * ~
That afternoon Mairead and Tadhg went to the fair together. She found it as exciting and as tiring as she did when she was a lass. There were merchant stalls to peruse, minstrels and other performers to see, not to mention the tournaments and contests of strength and skill to watch.
They stopped at Aifric’s stall. “How are sales going?” Tadhg asked.
“Very well, Laird. There is quite a market for the water of life. Isn’t that right, Eavan?”
“Aye, Da. At this rate we will have nothing left to sell by tomorrow. Then maybe I can see a bit more of the fair myself.”
“Makes me think I should buy more barley this year and make even more than I have been.” Aifric proceeded to discuss these plans with Tadhg.
Mairead’s attention had begun to wander when the sound of her brother’s voice penetrated the general hubbub, “There’s my wee sister.” No sooner had she turned around than Peadar’s arms were around her, lifting her off the ground.
“Peadar, I can’t breathe,” laughed Mairead.
Tadhg took Rhona’s hands and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “It looks like congratulations are in order.”
When Peadar let her go, Mairead threw her arms around Rhona’s rounding figure and said, “Oh, Rhona, congratulations. When is the baby due?”
“August, I think. Mama wants me to come to Currancreag midsummer to have the baby there, but your mother is dead set against it. Don’t be surprised if sparks fly between them at Rowan’s wedding.”