Piper waited expectantly.
“I go see the mercenaries.”
Lachlan woke just after sunrise and following a hurried stretch he made his way to where he was certain he’d find Sister Terese enjoying the morning sunrise. He stopped when he saw that she wasn’t there. He grew concerned that perhaps something happened to one of the children, or possibly Henry or Frances.
With quick steps he made his way to the common shelter. He almost collided with Sister Hester when she hurried out the door, a basket on her arm.
“Good morning, sir,” she said with a nod.
He had given up on trying to convince the nuns to call him Lachlan.
“I’m taking fresh honey bread to the men.” Hester pulled back the cloth for him to see.
The delicious aroma had his stomach crying out.
Hester smiled and handed him a slice, which he gratefully accepted.
“I’m looking for Sister Terese,” Lachlan said before popping a piece into his mouth and relishing the sweet taste.
“I’m not sure where she is, though I believe Sister Megan knows.”
“Where can I find her?” he asked.
“She’s left for one of the farms. A babe needs delivering.”
“What farm? Where?” Lachlan asked.
“Sister Piper would know that,” Hester said, slipping him another slice before walking away.
“Where’s Piper?” he called out.
Hester turned and shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
He stood eating the bread and wondering over his next move. “Evan!” he said aloud.
“He’s off in the woods,” Andrew said, causing Lachlan to swerve around at his unexpected arrival. “He’s holding the work up again.”
Lachlan cringed. “What this time?”
“Fresh nests. Evan says the trees with the nests we can’t disturb. He’s marking the trees we can use. So, what are you going to do about it?” Andrew challenged.
“You’re going to do as he says,” Lachlan ordered.
Andrew shook his head. “Why do you allow him such fancies?”
Lachlan raised a brow. “You question my command?”
“Never,” Andrew assured him. “I will get the men to work as soon as Evan finishes.”
Lachlan placed a sturdy hand on Andrew’s shoulder. “Evan tracks like none I have ever seen.”
“True,” Andrew nodded. “Very true. The men even talk about his exceptional skills.”
“Now tell me, have you seen Sister Megan this morning?”
Andrew shook his head vehemently. “I keep my distance when at all possible.”
Lachlan grinned. “I am not accusing you of anything. I need to know if you’ve seen her today.”
Andrew answered reluctantly. “I saw her for only a moment. She was in a hurry, clutching her basket, telling me she had to be on her way. She smelled like freshly blossomed flowers and her cheeks were flushed pink and—”
“Enough!” Lachlan ordered. “How many times am I going to have to remind you that she is a nun?”
“She does not look nor does she act as a woman who has avowed herself to God, and you can’t tell me you haven’t thought the same watching the women.”
“I can understand your apprehension. The women do not dress in the proscribed robes or act as piously as we would expect, but their reasoning makes sense. How could they possibly do the required work in such cumbersome garments or be lax in their chores?”
“Now you sound like your brother Artair,” Andrew argued with a grin.
Lachlan shook his head and laughed. “Never will I be that practical.”
“Thank the heavens,” Andrew said with a smirk and playfully folded his hands in gratitude to the heavens.
“Back to more important matters,” Lachlan instructed, anxious over Sister Terese’s absence. “You’ve seen nothing of Sister Terese this morning?”
Andrew rubbed at the back of his neck. “Come to think of it, I don’t recall seeing her at all.”
A shout from one of the men had Andrew running off to get the shelter work started, leaving Lachlan to stew in worry. If sisters Megan and Hester were accounted for, all that was left was for him to see if Rowena or Piper knew anything.
He assumed Rowena to be in the common house tending the recent arrivals, but a quick peek inside found the room empty. A squeal of laughter had him smiling. Beatrice evidently was feeling safe enough to laugh.
He walked around the side and saw Beatrice running in circles, her brother Harry chasing her with a worm that looked to have been plucked fresh from the garden. He was glad to see their pale cheeks colored pink and while sadness remained in their young eyes, they had found the resiliency to play as carefree children once again.