Page 6 of Never Fall for a Highlander

“Aye.”

Helena couldna help but wonder why in heaven’s name a nervous woman would agree to become the clan healer.Well, since she planned to visit with the woman as soon as she finished her Bannock and tea, she put the questions aside.

“Ye can help yerself to one of the hot Bannocks over there.”The cook waved in the direction of a table against the wall that held a pile of the wonderful oatcakes.

Helena took one and smothered it with butter and honey.She took a seat at the table with several kitchen workers and blew on her tea before taking a sip.

“Are ye Jena’s sister?”Two young girls entered the kitchen.From their verra pretty faces, they had to be the laird’s sisters.

“Yes, I am.My name is Helena.I ken that the laird has two sisters, Mairi and Kendra.Which one of you is Mairi?”

“I am Mairi, and this is my sister, Kendra,” the oldest girl said.

“It is verra nice to meet you both.”

The lasses took a seat at the table where Helena was enjoying her breakfast.“Ye are a midwife?”Kendra asked, resting her chin on her upraised hand and studying her.

“Aye.I hope to help my sister as she is a tad nervous about having the bairn.”

“As she should be from what we’ve heard,” Mairi said as Kendra nodded and shivered.It appeared the midwife had passed her terrible information along to these much-too-young lovely lasses.

They both took Bannocks and cups of tea as they ate and told Helena stories about the clan, and more particularly about the laird.

“Robin is a bit arrogant,” Mairi said, her eyes rolling.

Kendra nodded and licked a bit of honey from her finger.“Aye, but he takes good care of us and the clan.”She turned to Helena.“He was only twenty summers when Da died four years ago and Robin had to take over.”

That seemed frightening to Helena.No wonder the mon seemed a bit stiff when he stopped by their table last evening.He had to be arrogant to always remain in control.“Ye have two brothers, too, I understand.”

“Aye.Craig and Finn are no’ as arrogant as Robin, but they still act as though we are mere children,” Kendra said.

Helena smiled at this bit of information and placed her empty cup of tea on the table and stood.“I am about to go visit Aline.Do ye care to walk with me?”

Both girls nodded and after cleaning up, they set off.Helena found the sisters to be very pleasant.They chatted about different people in the brooch, who were easy to get along with, and who was someone to stay away from.

As they descended the pebbled path from the brooch, Kendra pointed to a bothy about two furlongs in front of them.“That is Aline’s home.”

It dinna take them verra long to reach the lass’s door.‘Twas a sweet place with flowers growing around the outside.The back garden, which they could see as they approached, displayed various herbs and plants that Helena recognized as those used in healing.

“Aline, we’ve come to call,” Kendra said as she knocked on the door.

It was quickly opened by a woman who was much younger than Helena had expected, most likely only a few summers older than herself.She was tiny, with bright red hair and deep blue eyes.Her smooth cheeks and nose were covered with a slight sprinkling of freckles.She appeared frightened.She placed her hand on her chest and took a deep breath.“Ach, Kendra, ye scared me.”

Kendra apologized and made the introductions while Helena took the time to observe the healer.She was so small, no bigger than a young lass.Helena wondered how she performed her job.In healing situations, oftentimes the healer must move the patient and she dinna always have help.This little woman looked as though she could barely lift a young lass.

“Do ye mind coming in and speaking with me a while, Helena?”Aline asked.“There are so many things I doona ken because my mam, who trained me, died before I really kenned what to do in many cases.”

“I would love to sit and chat with ye a while,” Helena said.She turned to the two sisters.“If ye have something else to do, donna feel as though ye need to stay with us.”

Kendra, who seemed to be the leader of the two despite being younger, pulled her sister’s hand.“Aye, we do have something else to do.Chores!”

Giggling, the lasses took off toward the brooch.Helena smiled watching them briskly walk away, their arms around each other’s waists.They reminded her so much of her and Jena when they were younger.

“Helena, can ye take a walk with me in the garden?I ken there are some things there that I donna ken what to do with.”

They spent the rest of the morning going over various plants with Helena telling her their uses.‘Twas quite sad that Aline was their only healer, and she was so unsure of herself.

Helena stretched her muscles as she stood from the stool she’d sat on while she and Aline had chatted.‘Twas getting close to the evening meal, and since she had missed the noon meal, and only had some bread and cheese with Aline, she was quite hungry.She also had to check on her sister.She must be wondering where she was all this time.