five
'Twill be late before Shawn comes by. Since I finished me chores early and am safely at home, he's working on our future home. 'Tis being dug out of the ground like me parent's and his parent's were. We decided to make it on the furthest stretch of land from me parents. This puts us exactly between both our parent's places. Before we can marry, the hovel has to be finished. 'Tis custom and it ensures we have a place of our own.
With the wedding coming up, Shawn works night and day. He's even sleeping there so he can get the most time possible to work on it. Da and Cain say Shawn's driven with pure dedication. It took Da a year to finish his dugout. He and Mum called off their ceremonies thrice before they were married. 'Tis a miracle Mum married him. Cain'll marry Chloe within a month's time after Shawny and me, but he hasna begun theirs.
Grumbling to meself, I kicked at the weeds growing in the garden. I canna trade places with Catriona, no that I want to, but I want her back to the sister I know. Her life disturbs me in ways I canna explain. Other than I want to cry and scream and hit something all at the same time.
Since a run around the clearing will be less destructive than hitting things, I jogged off. I made it as far as me home to the tree row before I turned around and ran back. From the corner of me eye, I saw a man riding up to me hovel on a horse. I got there roughly the same time as the rider. He dressed elegant, no in royalty robes but more like a knight or a duke might dress, minus the armor. He dismounted from the largest animal I ever saw. When I looked over the rider I understood why his horse were so large. This man is possibly bigger than Cain.
“Can I help ye?” I called to him, from a comfortable distance.
“Aye,” his voice deep. “I am looking for a girl your age. She looks like you, but her hair is not as red nor her eyes as green.” He spoke the same language as me but in a different dialect. I had to concentrate to understand all of his words and were tempted to ask him to repeat himself.
“Why?” Me face revealed no emotion and me voice sounded harsh. 'Twere rude, but I felt protective of Cat. I havena seen this man before.
“I mean her no harm, lass. I talked to her some time ago, when I was trading skins for sturgeons. Told her I would see her next time I came through here. Upon her description, your Clansmen pointed me in this direction, when I did not find her at the gathering.”
Disbelief pressed upon me, Catriona chases men away, why does this one return? There's something about his blue eyes I trust. Almost like I know him and yet, I havena seen him before. “Cain,” I called into the dugout.
Cain poked his head out seeing the man. Stepping outside he took a protective stance in the doorway. He pushed his chest out, crossing his arms in front of him and stood with his legs shoulder-width apart. Cain's green eyes sized the man up and down before speaking to him. “Can I help ye?”
I didna give the stranger a chance to answer. In the ugliest voice I could summon, “Says he knows Sissy.” When I were wee, I called Catriona Sissy until I were able to say her name. “Talked to her one day while tradin'.”
“I did,” he confirmed. The stranger never took a defensive stance to counter Cain. Instead, he stood relaxed, leaning against his giant horse. “I am Thor,” he offered his hand to Cain, “and I talked to Catriona when I traded for sturgeon awhile back.” Cain and me shared a curious look, most men dunna get her name.
Who is this stranger?
“She's been in an accident. No offense, friend, but I canna trust ye at yer word,” Cain explained, emphasizing the word friend.
“Will you let her see me? She will tell you,” Thor persisted.
“She's sleepin',” Cain grumbled flatly. He wouldna agree to anything until he had a chance to ask Catriona about the strange man. 'Tis a good thing Cain's here. Had it just been me, would this man have listened to a wumman?
They stood, staring each other down, neither giving in. I didna want a fight to break out between them, but neither would back down. Thor held the reins on his horse but didna move. Cain shifted his weight the way Shawn taught me to when preparing for an assault.
“I did not come here looking for trouble.” Thor's voice came out low and gentle, recognizing Cain's idle movements. “I only wish to see her again.” His yellow tangles fell over his blue eyes as he bowed his head. Part of me thinks I know him. 'Tis a familiarity I canna place.
Relaxing, Cain said, “Come back tomorrow. I'll make sure she's awake.”
A smile formed on Thor's lips. The lad is cute in a big brute sort of way. Nodding to Cain, Thor climbed on his horse, then turned to me and nodded, “Lass.”
His smile caught me off guard. Every tooth in his mouth were perfectly straight and white as bone. Who smiles like that?
“Cain,” Catriona called from inside our hovel. “Are ye comin' back in?”
Thor's blue eyes lit up as he dismounted the horse in one fluid movement. “Catriona?” he called, moving toward our home. Cain barged in front of him, blocking his entrance.
From where I stood, I saw Catriona moving around inside. She slowly made her way to the door. She's comin' outside! I've been tryin' to get her outside all day. Glancing back at Thor, it just took the sound of this stranger's voice. As Catriona's eyes fell on Thor, her face lit up. Then she squealed.
She squealed?!
'Twere faint, I dunna know if the men heard her, but I did.
Giving her a questioning look, she ignored me and stepped to the doorway. Poking her head out, she glanced around before stepping into the sunlight. Her face beamed with excitement, a look she used to make before... 'Twas a thought I couldna finish.
Cain also looked confused.
Catriona ignored him too.
Pushing Cain aside, Catriona walked up to Thor. Inches apart, they smiled at each other. “Ye came back,” she said lightly, with a small smile.
“I told you I would,” his voice softened, as he bowed before her. Looking on him with concern for me sister, he stared at Catriona the way Shawny stares at me.
Cain and me were dumbfounded, looking to each other for answers neither of us had.
Catriona never warms up to men. Blowing them off is more her style. “Cat,” Cain reached for her arm, “Will ye introduce us?”
She looked to Cain and me for the first time, realizing we stood on each side of her. “Silly me,” she giggled. Me jaw dropped. Silly, Cain and me shared another look. “Thor,” she said his name as if it were coated in honey. Gesturing to the man before her, she placed her small hand gently on his large, powerful-looking forearm, then pointed to us as she made our introductions. “'Tis me brother, Cain, and me sister, Rhionan.” She looked back to Thor as though Cain and me disappeared. Thor shared the same intense gaze with her. Neither of them said a word, just looked at each other.
“Nice to meet you,” Cain offered, extending his hand to Thor.
“You too,” Thor acknowledged, shaking Cain's hand, but his eyes were firmly planted on Catriona. “Your family is protective, I respect that. My brothers and I are the same way.” He looked from Cain to me, “Would you like to take a walk?” he asked her.
Catriona's hand dropped from his arm and she took a step back looking around with wide, frightened eyes. She's going back into her shell, I feared.
“I canna,” she replied, shaking her head. Thor's face fell. I observed him closely, he doesna hide his emotions as Cain and Shawn do. Instead, he makes them obvious. “I were attacked that day we met. He's a horrible man...” She looked from Cain to me, and back again. 'Tis the first time she talked about it since it happened.
Suddenly the atmosphere surrounding us became awkward. Cain and me invaded on Catriona's privacy. She would have given us details long ago if she wanted too. “Me brother found me and brought me home. I dunna ken bein' outside since then unless Cain or me Da's here. I'd like to take it slow until I dunna feel scared no more.” She smiled awkwardly as she bit her nicely-healed bottom lip.
Thor stood stunned, “They said an accident, not a
n attack.” He shot Cain and me a pointed look of unrest. ”Are you well?” He moved quickly toward her but stopped short when Cain step to her side.
Catriona laughed at a private joke only she understood, “I know ye're concerned, but I hear that question so often. And no, I amna. I believe I carry–”
“A heavy burden – from the attack.” I interrupted. I didna lie, but now isna the best time to bring up the bairn. Shaking me head slowly Cat seemed to understand. No only that, but Cain stood on her other side and 'tis no how he should learn of it.
“How about we have a seat and talk?” Thor presented a new idea, still hopeful, his blue eyes begging her. “We can stay under the scrutiny of your family and come to know one another.”
Thor is sweet. He seems to care and wants to get to know her. Better yet, she seems to like him as well. Catriona looked at me, I nodded me approval. Cain, on the other hand, still sized Thor up, but he nodded as well.
Later that night, when Catriona came inside she smiled and moved gayly to music only she heard. 'Tis been too long since we saw her smile. All of us watched her happily, secretly waiting for the breakdown to begin.
No man made Catriona act this way before. In her time of despair, Thor were exactly what she needed, the bright light to her darkness. As the night went on and everyone retired, Catriona stayed up sitting on the edge of her bed humming to herself.
I watched her braid her hair and debated on rather 'twere a good time to ask her about Thor. Me curiosity got the best of me. “So?” I started, “Who is he?”
“A friend,” she continued humming to herself.
“How come ye didna mention him before?”
“I met him that day...” she didna finish, but I knew what she meant.
“I heard that.”
“I didna know he'd return,” her voice cracked. Another smile played on her full lips, “after what happened, I didna know if I wanted him to come back. After all, we talked briefly before I ran into ye and Cain on me way to the wash.”
Thinking back to that horrible day, I remembered the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eye. Lightly smacking the side of me head with the palm of me hand, that explains it! “Well, now what?” Hundreds of thoughts occurred to me at once, we dunna know nothin' about this man. Is he good for Cat? Will she let him in, or will she eventually push him away? How can he fix what that guard did to her? The babe? His familiarity? All things I want to know – Need to know – but I canna ask her.
“He asked me to move away with him. Where he lives there're no British.” She stopped and bit her bottom lip. “I told him...” she paused, looking at me for the first time since we started talking tonight, “...about the babe, I mean.”
“You what?” Shock covered me face, 'tis the last thing I expected to hear from her. “Any lass in her right mind wouldna tell that secret 'til she has plans or a future lined up. Ye know how it works, Catriona. A respectable man doesna settle for a tainted wumman. I saw his attire. He's respectable! What were ye thinking?”
“I had to be honest,” her voice and features becoming mouse-like. Glancing at the floor a faraway look rolled across her face. She smiled in a way that made me think she carried a secret she wouldna share, or maybe she'd gone mad. “He said, 'tis fine. What I decide, he'll support me and be there for me.” Grinning, almost from ear to ear, she whispered, “He's the one, Rhonnie. He's the man I've been holdin' out for.” She seems so sure of herself.
I'm happy for her, ecstatic she found a man who makes her feel this way... but how can I no be worried for her too. It canna be possible for Thor to be worse than the guard. A shiver ran down me back as I thought of that horrible night and the shattered state Catriona were left in. “Are ye ready for bed?” She nodded, still smiling. “Are ye sleepin' with me tonight?” Today were long and I didna wish to be disturbed in the night. I also dunna want to say anything to upset her.
“Nay. I'm sleeping here.” Smiling at me, she crawled under her own coverings and turned to face the wall.
I faced the wall too. So much happened today, I still worked to catch me breath.
'Tis hard to believe Cat is happy and feeling more sure of herself than ever before. Big changes are coming. I dunna know what they are, but I can feel them. As I slept, I dreamed of Shawn and me living happily-ever-after. Then, me dreams drifted to Thor and Catriona and their happily-ever-after.
I dreamed we would all be together forever, Catriona feeling just as much luv from Thor as I do from me Shawn. Nothing could ever be more peaceful. Then, small children invaded me dreams. They played in the fields around us. 'Tis our future and I want it more so now than ever before.