The Highlander's Secret(8)
Jain’s mind began to wander, thinking about what else those hands might be capable of. She wondered what it would be like to have someone like Alan hold her and let his hands perform their magic. Jain stopped herself before her mind could run away with her and then shook her head as if to banish them forever.
No, if she started thinking of Alan that way it could ruin everything. It wasn’t proper.
She swallowed hard, licking her lips as she ran her eyes across the blade. It was true, the craftsmanship was exquisitely fine and Eamon would be pleased. Once she was finished admiring the blade, Jain quickly set it back down on the table. “Tis a work of art indeed,” she told him. “Ye should be very proud.”
Moira cleared her throat and said, “Please tell Bruce that his wee sister sends along her compliments.”
Alan nodded. “I will. Thank ye.”
The woman glanced up towards the ceiling and said, “Now, if ye lads would be so good as to get started on the roof, I believe Eamon has gathered supplies around back.”
“Aye, Alan and I saw it when we arrived,” Rodrick nodded. “We’d best get started on that right away.”
Jain noticed Aileen was completely silent, looking back over her shoulder at the stable hand. She wondered if her dear cousin was experiencing the same thing she was, allowing her mind to wander to places unmarried maids should probably avoid. Jain smiled, thinking she already knew the answer to that – of course she was. Though Aileen and Rodrick never talked, they snuck glances at each other while each thought the other wasn’t looking.
Alan rolled his eyes and clapped him on the shoulder. “Come on, lad. We needn’t be pestering these good women any longer. We have other business to attend to.”
They turned to walk away and Aileen stared after the two of them, dumbstruck. Moira waved them goodbye and turned back to the girls.
“Aye, the lad is right. There is plenty to be done around here as well. Once ye get that loaf in the fire, I want ye to come help me in the garden.”
Jain nodded, looking down at the second loaf of fancy woven dough and said, “Aye, Mam.”
“Aye, Aunt,” Aileen piped in beside her.
They both watched her leave and once she was gone they turned back towards the work table to finish with the dough. The weave had held its shape well and the decoration would brown nicely when it was cooked. Jain eased it over the coals and stepped back with a contented sigh.
When they stepped outside, Jain closed her eyes and breathed in deeply the cool autumn air. There was a gusty wind blowing through the hills and the smell of grass wafted towards them. Aileen started on the grassy path down to the garden where fruits and vegetables waited to be picked.
Moira met them at the gate and gestured to the row of carrots. “We need to get those inside before the chill. Some of the leaves are already beginning to turn.”
Jain knelt in the dirt and started pulling them by the leafy stock. She noticed some Juniper along the fence that grew wild between the hedges and decided to pick some of that as well. It might make for a flavorful loaf and even help season their meat as well. “Aye, we’ll be having a fine dinner with carrots and chicken tonight then. It’ll make a fine stew, dinnae ye ken?”
Moira chuckled. “Indeed, it will.”
Aileen knelt beside her in the garden and joined in the work. “Mayhap Rodrick and Alan would like to join us?”
Jain grinned, glancing over at her with a knowing look. “Ye fancy him?”
“No. Well … mayhap a wee bit.”
Moira and Jain both laughed as she turned a brilliant red. They liked to tease her about her affection for Rodrick, even though everyone already knew. Aileen chuckled and looked away embarrassed. Moira walked back towards the house, saying, “I’ll see if they can join us. They’ll have earned it after fixing that roof all day. It would be good to have the company.”
The gate swung shut behind her and Jain was still chuckling to herself. Aileen smiled and playfully knocked her in the shoulder. “Haud yer wheesht.”
“I’ll do nae such thing,” Jain laughed. “Rodrick’s a fine man. Ye quite deserve each other.”
Aileen grinned. “Much like Alan has his eyes set on ye.”
Jain’s expression softened at the mention of his name. “We’re just friends. Ye ken that.”
There was a bittersweet sadness in her voice that seemed to resonate inside her. The tone of it when she spoke surprised her. She hadn’t realized until that moment how deep her affection for Alan ran. It was true, they’d been spending a lot of time together recently, and that was all some of the people in the village needed to start talking.
“To ye perhaps,” her cousin responded in agreement. “But what about him? Name one lad ye’d rather spend the day with than the blacksmith’s apprentice.”
Jain rolled her eyes and ripped another carrot from the ground. “It’s not that,” she mused while glancing up towards the roof. Alan and Rodrick stood on the rafters talking to each other as they replaced the weather torn thatching. She watched them for a moment, admiring the broadness of his shoulders.
Had they always been that large? And when did his skin receive the sun-kissed tan? She had to concentrate to busy herself with the vegetables and continue chatting with Aileen.
He’d make a fine husband to any lass that wanted him, but Jain was afraid that being a wife was not for her. Beneath the calm exterior she had a wild heart. Part of her would always yearn to be set free. There were times when she felt an uncontrollable desire to find out more about her past, the one she had before coming to live with the family she had now.