Page 27 of A Promise Through Time

“We like you for you,” Sara assured her.

Tina smiled warmly at both women. They really were as wonderful as she’d been told. It was nice having real friends, even if they were in the sixteenth century.

***

Donal did his best to get Elena ready for the day. He was no expert, but her dress was on and they had both survived that. He gathered her in his arms and headed for the kitchen where he hoped Mary would know what he should be feeding her. It was a boon waking up in a big, warm bed after what turned out to be a decent sleep. As he made his way through the castle, he was greeted by Irene.

“Donal, how is our wee lass this morning,” she asked, chucking the bairn under her chin.

“I believe she’s well,” he responded. “Thank ye fer allowing us to stay.”

“Yer welcome. The barracks are no place for this little one. Have ye fed her yet?”

“Nae. I’m headed to the kitchen to see what Mary has to offer.”

“Take good care of her,” Irene said as she walked past him into the great hall.

He wanted to tell her that it would be easier on all of them if one of the ladies of the castle took care of her, but he got the impression that they were all trying to teach him a lesson.

Entering the kitchen, Mary greeted him with a scowl and Elena with a huge grin. “So this is Sionaid’s wee one, is it?”

“Aye. Mine, too, from what I’ve been told.”

Mary swattted him on the back of the head. “Yer lucky she’s the only one, the way ye spread yer seed like the farmers in spring.”

He hadn’t thought of that. “Do ye think there are more?” Panic began to rise from his belly to his throat and he found he’d lost his appetite.

“Aye. I do.” She set a bowl of porridge down in front of him with a spoon. “For the lass.”

“Her name’s Elena,” he said. He set the bairn on the table and she immediately reached for the porridge. He caught her before she could fall off the table or get the cooked oats everywhere. She started fussing and reaching and for such a tiny wee girl, he was having trouble holding her still. “Mary, I’m afraid I dinnae ken what to do.”

“Like this.” She took the spoon and put a small amount of porridge on it. Elena seemed to know exactly what to do. She stopped wiggling and fixed her eyes on the spoon, opening her mouth like a baby bird.

“Now, ye do it.”

Donal did as Mary had done and was pleased Elena continued to eat. The joy he felt in this simple activity surpassed any anxiety he’d experienced only moments before.

“’Tis best she has her own spoon. Have Smithy make a wee one for her.” Mary continued her work in the kitchen occasionally checking back in with him to see how Elena faired with herporridge. “Bring her back for the noon meal,” she said, sounding gruff and mean to his ears.

“Mary, why do ye treat me so? If I’d known Sionaid was carrying my bairn, I would have married her.” He pleaded his case to someone he’d always felt a connection to. It hurt him deeply that she was angry with him. “Please, Mary, dinnae hold it against me.”

“I willnae. It will take me some time, ’tis all. Sionaid was like a daughter to me, as are all the lassies who work in the kitchen.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “I’m sorry she’s passed. I’m sorry for yer wee bairn, but I’m nae sorry for ye.”

Her words stung him and he watched as she hurried from the kitchen as though the sight of him was more than she could bear. He wiped Elena’s mouth with the cloth Mary had left on the table, feeling totally alone in the world. Perhaps rightfully so. “Come, wee one. Da has work to do.” He stood and walked out into the sunshine of another day, but this day was the beginning of a new life for him. One he hadn’t expected and one he wasn’t sure he deserved.

As he approached the practice field, he noted that the men were already hard at work. He set Elena down on the ground where he could see her. “Ye stay right here, lass. Ye can watch yer da best the other men.” He walked away, turning every so often to make sure she was still there and content to see that she was.

***

“Oh, the men are practicing. This will be a great time for you to see which one catches your eye.” Ashley winked at Tina as they approached a very large field of men in various states of undress sparring with each other. It was hard to believe men that size could move with such agility. Something caught her eye off to the side of the men.

“Is that Elena?” Tina asked.

“I think it is,” Ashley said. The small tot was sitting alone on the grass some distance from the men.

Tina took off at a run, reaching Elena just as she was about to put a fist full of rocks and dirt into her mouth. She scooped her up into her arms, brushing the dirt from Elena’s hands. “Where’s your Da?” she asked, scanning the men in search of Donal.

“Is she alright?” Ashley asked, reaching her side along with Sara.