Page 143 of Highlanders for the Holidays
“They do,” Onnleigh said as she stared at the cold brazier. Tears built, but she refused to shed them.
Bridgett sighed in defeat. “Onnleigh, I dunnae believe they hate ye, they just dunnae ken ye. Just give it time, show them that ye be nothin’ like yer da. And do nae hold yer head in shame. Stand proud and show them who ye are. We have a good clan, filled with good people. Ye’ll see, with time, they’ll get to ken ye and ye them and all will be good.”
Mayhap those below stairs hadn’t been looking at her with hatred, but with curiosity. It had been an age since any had seen her. In truth, she was more a stranger than anything. Was it at all possible she had misread all those faces? ’Twas true that she was not accustomed to being around anyone save her father, and then that cheat and liar Darwud.
Mayhap not everyone behaved as they had.
Mayhap if she did what Bridgett and Connor were suggesting, she might just find a place here.
* * *
Bridgett’s kindwords had done wonders for Onnleigh’s spirits. They had spent a better part of the morning talking and getting better acquainted. They talked of many things. Mostly ’twas Bridgett doing the talking and Onnleigh listening. Still, ’twas awfully nice to have someone she was beginning to consider a friend to share a morning with.
Over the many years alone, Onnleigh had often wished for a friend like Bridgett. Someone who’d not frown upon her tattered clothes, her poor speech, her lack of knowledge of worldly things. Bridgett remarked on more than one occasion what a beautiful babe Nola was. “’Tis a lovely name Connor chose fer her,” she said.
It didn’t matter that it had been Onnleigh who had named her, she was proud all the same.
“Well, I’d best be goin’,” Bridgett finally announced. “I would love to spend the day with ye, but there is much work to be done.”
If Nola hadn’t started to fuss, signifying she’d soon be ready to eat, Onnleigh would have loved to argue for her new found friend to stay. “Do ye think I could help?” she asked as she lifted Nola from the cradle. “I be verra good at cleanin’.”
“But yer here to care for the babe,” Bridgett reminded her.
“Och, ’tis nae all I can do. When I use the sling, I have two hands that can be workin’.”
“Mayhap ye should ask Connor where he’d like ye to help,” Bridgett suggested from the doorway. “I be certain he’d ken better than I.”
Was her reluctance born out of truly not knowing what or where she could help, or something more? Onnleigh decided it best not to jump to conclusions. “Verra well, I shall ask him when he returns.”
Bridgett smiled and left Onnleigh alone to tend to her babe.
* * *
At noonin’ time, Connor went to see Onnleigh and the babe. He had heard from Bridgett that the morning had not started off as well as he had hoped. She had assured him she’d been able to convince Onnleigh that all she need do was show the clan what a nice person she was. However, she wasn’t so sure it would work, not after what she had witnessed that morning.
Now he stood in the shadows for a glimpse at the beautiful young red-headed woman. He found her lying on the cot with the babe sleeping next to her.
He thought it a most beautiful vision as feelings for this comely lass began to stir deep inside him. She was lovely; her auburn hair, twisted into a long braid, was tossed over her shoulder. Long, wispy strands had come loose and curled about her cheeks. He knew that were he to reach out and touch her sun-kissed skin, he’d find it as soft as silk. Full lips, pink as a spring rose, would be just as soft, but sweeter than any wine to taste.
He stood there, just at the shadow’s edge, watching as her chest rose and fell, and wondered all manner of things. There was so much more to her than beautiful hair and bright eyes. For the most part, that something more was hidden just under the surface. Like a treasure hidden away for too many moons, waiting in graceful silence to be discovered.
How would his clan respond if he were to take her for a wife? Undoubtedly ’twould not go well for either of them, at least not now, for ’twas far too soon. Mayhap in time, after they had the chance to see what a truly fine young woman she was, her inner strength, her wit, and the way she loved her babe.
There was something in her deep blue eyes, something he could not name, that spoke much about her character. Had she been given the same chances, the same amount of love and good upbringing as the other members of his clan, he imagined she’d be a powerful force, full of energy and light.
He did not believe the years of neglect at the hands of her father had doused that inner light completely. She was young yet, and he could not allow himself to think she was a lost cause. Nay, there was much hope for this young lass. All she needed was kindness and generosity, someone to help build her confidence, to show her she was so much more than a thief’s daughter.
Just how much time it would take to accomplish such a feat was the burning question. The second question was who had fathered her babe. A sickening thought that made his stomach roil with disgust, was that mayhap her father had done more damage than simple neglect. ’Twas not unheard of, as much as the thought sickened him.
He couldn’t press her for the information, not just yet. He had to build a trust between them first, before broaching such a horrific subject. He wondered then, would she ever be able to live a normal life if such an abomination were true? Would he be able to take her for wife if it turned out her father… No, he could not think about that.
All he could do at the moment was show her there were kind and decent people in this world.
