Page 44 of Never Marry a Highlander

“I believe he has a problem with his stomach.I left her with some chamomile that she can use for tea and that should help him.If it doesna then she might have to switch the bairn to goat’s milk.”

“Instead of his mam’s milk?”Lorena asked.They were on their way to the young lass who was having her first bairn in a few months.As much as Lorena was not happy about having to trail Helena around all day, the woman was not only perfect, but she was a great teacher.

Of course.

“Aye.As strange as it sounds some bairns canno’ digest their mam’s milk and do better with goat milk.”

Lorena thought on that for a while.Again she touched her middle wondering if she and Craig had made a bairn before he left.She glanced sideways at Helena who was beginning to show a small bump under her kirtle.“Do ye feel anything from yer bairn yet?”

She had no idea why she asked that personal question, but it seemed to pop out before she thought about it.Would Helena be offended?

The healer smiled and placed her hand on her bump.“Nay.‘Tis too soon, but I expect within a month or so the little one would start making his presence known.”

They arrived at the young lass’s bothy and Helena knocked on the door.“Cait, good morn, it’s Helena come to visit ye.”

The door opened and a small woman with a much larger bump than Helena, tears sliding down her cheeks opened the door.Lorena took in a deep breath at the large bruise on the lass’s chin.

“May we come in, Cait?”Helena said in her soft, soothing voice.

The lass looked around and then said, “I’m no’ supposed to allow people into the bothy.”

Helena took her hand.“’Tis fine.We can speak out here.Can you join us?”

“I’m no’ sure.Maybe for a minute or two.”She walked with them to the end of the pathway where there was a low stone fence.They all sat, Cait with her hands in her lap, twisting her fingers.

Helena gestured to Lorena.“This is Mister Craig’s new wife, Lorena.”

“’Tis a pleasure to meet ye, Cait.”Lorena said.The young wife smiled at her.“I heard Mister Craig married.I wish ye well.”

After a moment, Helena asked, in a non-committal tone, “How did ye get the bruise on yer chin?”

The lass stuttered for a moment.“I fell.”

Helena winced.“Ach, what a shame in yer condition.Where did ye fall?”

Lorena knew that Helena didn’t believe Cait fell to get that bruise.It was clearly a fist to her chin.Lorena had enough of them from her brother and husband to recognize it.She sat and watched how Helena was going to handle this.

“I fell against the table this morning.”She tried to smile.“I’m a tad clumsy.”

“Let me get some cream from my cart that ye can smear on the bruise to help the pain and healing.”Before the lass could object, Helena was on her feet and headed to the cart.

Lorena turned to the lass.“When I was married before, I was verra clumsy, too.I always seemed to have bruises on my chin, eyes, and even some on my arms.”She shook her head.

Cait looked around and leaned in closer.“Was yer clumsiness only when yer husband was around?”

“Aye.Since I’ve been married to Mister Craig I haven’t had any accidents.I guess marriage to the right mon makes ye less clumsy.”

The young lass continued to look at her.“Thank ye for telling me that.”

Lorena reached out and touched Cait’s hand.“If ye feel the need to speak about it, ye can always ask for me up at the brooch.”

The lass nodded just as Helena arrived with a cloth and cream she took from a jar.“This will help ye.I suggest ye try to get some rest today.It will help ye and the bairn.”

“Oh, I couldna do that.When Gaun comes home in the afternoons from the fields he wants all my chores finished and supper ready.I have no time for resting.”

Helena tapped her lips with her fingertip.“I will send supper down to ye from the brooch if ye promise me ye will get some rest today.”

The lass’s eyes grew wide.“Ye would do that?”