A Highland Pearl (Highland Treasures Book 1) by Brenda B. Taylor

Maidie Cameron.  
    The funeral liturgy called for kneeling, so Andrew knelt with
difficulty. The wound healed nicely, but still hampered some movements. He
glanced at those kneeling on the same bench. Maidie’s forehead rested on her
folded hands. Her finely etched profile could be seen past Gavin’s who leaned
back on his heels. Her full pink lips moved as she joined in the prayers of the
priest. Andrew stared at the sweet scene for a moment, until Gavin noticed and
moved forward to block his view. Andrew gave his brother a hard look with an
arched brow, but Gavin only smiled and then turned his head toward Maidie.
    Andrew remained silent because of anger seething within and
from not remembering the prayers. Most of the litanies he had learned in
childhood had been forgotten in the neglect of his spiritual life. Gavin
likewise did not participate.
    With the final liturgy recited, the congregation rose to
leave. Andrew left the bench at the end to go to Anne. He took both her hands
in his. “Anne, my heart breaks for you. Randal was one of my best warriors,
loyal, and kind.”
    “Thank you, M’Laird. I miss him so.” Anne’s voice quivered.
    “You’ll have a wee bairn for company soon.” He squeezed the
lady’s cold hands.
    “Yes, M’Laird. Verra soon.” She lowered her eyes and sniffed.
    “Alan and Nellie will see you safely back to Fàrdach.” Andrew
then spoke a name he had not used in a very long time. “God bless you, Anne.”
    Anne looked into his eyes with moist blue ones. “And God bless
you, Laird Munro, for being so kind.”
    Little did Andrew know then, the extent of the blessing Anne
had called upon God to bestow. He smiled at the good woman, patted her hand,
and turned to join his party, who had made their way out of the sanctuary and
were mounting their horses.

 
    ***

 
    The chief’s party reached Maidie’s
cottage. She caught Andrew’s gaze when his men helped Sven and her dismount.
His face looked drawn and pale. Deep dark rings lay beneath his eyes. The wound
must be causing him great pain. Maidie turned to Davina while Sven went with
Tavish to the byre.
    “Come with us to Fàrdach.” Davina took Maidie’s hand when she
extended it in farewell.   Her
request sounded cold and distant.
    “I canna live in the castle. I’ll come tend to Anne and visit
with you then.” She took her hand from Davina’s.
    The lass turned away from the chief and bent close to Maidie. “Andrew
requested I ask, but don’t feel obligated to come. Mayhap you should think on
returning to your family.”
    Maidie’s heart felt like a stone in the cottage wall at Davina’s
words. She thought the young Munro sister liked her and enjoyed her friendship.
Before Maidie could reply, Davina turned her horse and rode away, accompanied
by the chief and his entourage. Gavin turned back, dismounted, and escorted
Maidie into the cottage. Maidie’s hand immediately went to her mouth when she
entered the small dwelling.
    Gavin entered behind her. “Saints in Heaven who could have
done this?”
    The room lay in shambles. The legs of the table and chairs
were broken. Foodstuffs from the castle were strewn around with the sacks of
flour and grain cut open, spilling their contents. Pieces of broken dishes lay
about. Ashes covered the floor. Bundles of scorched and burned herbs lay in the
ashes. Bedding from the box beds and the new blankets had been cut to shreds.
    Sven came running through the back door. “Mam, someone cut up
Tavish’s blankets and pulled up the herbs in your garden.”
    Maidie took her distraught son into her arms. Gavin looked
around to gather any clue to the responsible person or persons. He went outside
to the garden and then the byre, soon to return with Tavish.
    “Madam, you must come with us to Fàrdach. You canna stay here
under these conditions,” Gavin said with dark eyes and his mouth drawn into a
tight line.
    “Aye, I canna have my son stay here.” Maidie felt on the verge
of