Tender Feud

“Raith said to find a pet for the lass.”

Lachlan led them across the yard, inside the stables, to a near stall, and disappeared within. Following with Meggie, Katrine cautiously peered inside the stall. The sight of the grizzled Hector MacLean, glaring at her beneath his bushy eyebrows, startled her. He was seated in the straw, holding a bundled-up woolen blanket in his arms.

“‘Tis a wee lamb for the lassie,” Hector said, peeling away a corner of the blanket to expose a small, woolly black face. A lamb! Katrine thought with delight. A precious little bit of wool with a black head and white fleecy body.

“Oh, Meggie, do come,” Katrine urged as she, too, sank down in the straw. “You must see this.”

Meggie hesitated, her eyes wide and dark. She jumped when the woolen bundle suddenly bleated.

“Don’t be frightened, Meggie. I expect this little fellow is crying because he’s hungry. Come here and sit beside me.”

Warily Meggie inched forward again, but shortly, between Katrine’s coaxing and Hector’s gruff words of encouragement, they managed to get the animal settled on the child’s lap. The lamb was bleating continuously by now, which indicated his distress. From the straw, Hector withdrew a soft leather pouch that had been filled with cow’s milk. When he offered the makeshift teat, the lamb began sucking eagerly, and shortly Meggie had even gained enough confidence to feed her new pet. After a moment Meggie even looked up and beamed one of her beautiful little smiles that never failed to tug at Katrine’s heart.

Meeting Hector’s gaze over the child’s head, Katrine smiled at him in gratitude. And she could see, beneath the dark gray of his beard, a gruff curve of his lips that might have been a return smile.

When the lamb had his fill of the milk, he pulled away and bleated once more, then proceeded to sniff Meggie’s hand. The soft gurgle she made as she hugged the animal to her might have been laughter.

A warm rush of feeling washed over Katrine when she heard it. This was Raith’s doing, she realized. He had taken her suggestion to heart that he find his ward something to love, and in her opinion, he couldn’t have made a better choice.

Indeed, Meggie was so enamored of her new pet that she didn’t want to leave him, even when he suddenly fell asleep in her arms. Her big eyes grew solemn as Hector wrapped the lamb in the blanket and said that it was time for him to go home.

“Don’t fret now,” Katrine said softly. “I’m sure Hector will allow you to visit your new friend.”

“No,” Lachlan spoke up abruptly. “Ye’re no’ to take the lassie to the glen.”

Katrine sent him a quick look, surprised by his adamant tone. The question that was on her lips, however, was forestalled when Hector assured Meggie he would bring the lamb back the following day so she could feed him.

They followed the shepherd out into the yard and watched as he shuffled away with his bundle. With a reassuring smile, Katrine sent Meggie into the house to wash up, then turned to Lachlan.

“Why can I not take Meggie to the glen?” she asked.

He looked uncomfortable at the inquiry. “‘Tis the laird’s orders.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“Aweel, he doesna want the wee lassie nigh the auld crone.”

“What old crone? I don’t understand.”

Lachlan’s freckled complexion slowly turned a more vivid hue. “Morag,” he answered with great reluctance. “She bides in the glen.”

“So why am I to keep Meggie away from her?”

“I should hae kenned a troublesome lass like yersel’ would no’ leave it be,” Lachlan muttered.

Restraining a retort, Katrine repeated her question, but Lachlan stubbornly refused to answer. When she continued to press, he told her to ask the laird. Highly curious now, Katrine decided to do just that, despite her determination to avoid him.

But Raith had left the house again, she soon discovered. He had gone to Fort William to interview candidates for governess. Flora told her so late that afternoon as they sat alone at the kitchen table, sharing a pot of tea—a singular honor that Flora had granted Katrine in light of her new responsibilities as temporary governess. Flora was taking a momentary respite from her duties, while Katrine was purposely allowing Meggie some time to play by herself. The child had lived a relatively solitary life until now, and Katrine didn’t think it wise to force too much companionship on her too soon.

“Who is this Morag that Lachlan mentioned?” she ventured to ask the housekeeper during a lull in the conversation.

Flora gave her a sharp look. “Why do ye ask?”

“Because Lachlan said I wasn’t to take Meggie near her. Raith’s orders, he said.”

“Aye.”

“Well?” Katrine prodded when Flora made no effort to elaborate.