Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

As they rode on, he noticed the sky darkening as the sun went behind a rain cloud. A light drizzle began to fall.

“D’ye want tae turn back?” he asked, half hoping she would say no. He was pleased when she shook her head.

“Nay, ’tis only a few drops. I’m sure it’ll pass over quickly. Let’s keep in goin’.

That’s if ye dinnae mind, of course.”

“Nae at all. I’m happy tae continue. We’re just comin’ up tae the woods near

the loch. I promised tae show Anastasia where we used tae play as bairns. It should be quite sheltered there beneath the trees.”

“All right, I’d like tae see the loch. It must have been wonderful tae grow up

around here. I love me home, but this is beautiful country, tae be sure.”

Ivar was touched by her admiration. For some reason, it seemed important

that she should love the country as much as he did. “Thank ye. I’m very proud of it. Our lands go all the way back tae the mountains there in the distance and tae the north and south beyond what the eye can see from here. I’ll take ye up intae the mountains one day if ye like. The view from there is breathtaking.”

“I’d love that, Ivar, thank ye,” she said with obvious enthusiasm. But then she added as an afterthought, “I’m sure Anastasia would love tae see it too since these lands will soon be her home.”

“Aye,” he replied, realizing guiltily he had forgotten all about his betrothed. The rain began to fall in earnest just as they came to the tree line of the woods where he and his siblings had loved to play as children. He could not wait to show her all their hiding places and the beach at the edge of the loch.

“Let’s shelter under the trees for a time, while the rain goes over,” he suggested. She agreed, and so they pulled up the horses beneath some ash trees at the edge of the wood and quietly watched the rain turn the view in front of them semi-opaque.

After a few minutes, some movement in a neighboring field caught Ivar’s eye.

“What’s that?” he asked, pointing it out. Together, they peered through the rain.

“It looks tae me like a few calves have got separated from the herd,” Catalina said. “Must be a gap in the hedge somewhere along there. Look, ye can see the maithers gettin’ restless.”

Ivar followed her line of sight and saw she was right. The main herd was in a large field, and it appeared that a handful of calves had indeed wandered through a break in the hedge into the neighboring pasture. The mothers were lowing frantically, searching for their babies, and the calves’ thin cries of distress came floating to Ivar’s ears on the breeze.

“I think we should go and help them,” he said, worried for the helpless creatures.

“Aye, they’ll nae find each other of we dinnae, and the calves will be in danger,” Catalina replied.

“If we dae, we’re going tae get very wet,” he pointed out.

“That’s nae an excuse nae tae help them. We can dry out later.”

“Come on, then,” he said, gratified by her practical response, which he wholeheartedly agreed with. He liked it that she cared not a whit for her pretty dress or for getting a bit wet.

They kicked up their mounts and rode over to the meadow where the calves were wandering in distress.

“I cannae stand their wee cries,” Catalina said as she slid from her saddle and slung her reins around the fence rail next to Ivar’s.

“Aye, it fair plucks at yer heartstrings,” Ivar admitted, hating the miserable sounds of the innocent animals. He went to climb the fence.

“Hang on, let me get me skirts out of the way first,” she said. Ivar had to make himself look away as she kilted up her skirts, exposing a good amount of white leg encased in stockings above her boots. The sight sent heat rushing through him, a heat he knew he should not be feeling for anyone except her sister. “Right, I’m ready.”

Without hesitation, she put out her hand to him for assistance in climbing over the rails. Dragging his eyes away from her pale knees, he took it and helped her over, feeling a small jolt run up his arm as he did so. As soon as she was safely on the other side, he let go, starting to get scared again by the effect she was having on him. Why her and not Anastasia? He could not explain it. So, in need of distraction, he turned his attention to the calves.

They were already soaked as they crossed the field, agreeing they should try to round the creatures up and drive them back through the hole in the hedge.

“There it is,” Catalina said, pointing it out the gap small enough for the calves to fit through but not the heifers.

“We’ll need something tae block it with after we’ve driven the calves back intae the main pasture,” Ivar said, casting about for something that would do the job.

“There’s a stack of hurdles just over there under the tree,” Catalina said, heading off to an oak tree on the fence line, several hundred feet away. “One of those should do nicely.” The ground was soaked now, and she had to lift her feet high to avoid sinking into the areas turned to mud by the rain as she went. He ran after her, and together, they carried back one of the woven willow hurdles normally used to fence in sheep.

“If we prop it here by the gap, we can drive the beasts through and then quickly block it off, so they won’t be able tae get out again. I’ll let the farmer know tomorrow,” Ivar said as they propped the hurdle against the hedge. “Now, we’ve got tae catch the wee buggers.”

That proved to be far more difficult than he could have imagined, especially as the rain was now coming down heavily, and the ground beneath their feet was fast becoming a slippery, spongy mass of tough grass, with muddy puddles quickly forming in between the tussocks.

They tackled the frightened beasts one at a time, approaching them from the left and right to the rear and gradually encouraging them back through the hedge to their mothers. The second to last calf turned out to have a mind of its own, and each time they managed to coral it close to the gap, it shied away, giving out panicked cries that infected the matriarchs on the other side of the hedge.

“We’re nae going tae hurt ye, ye stupid wee beastie!” Ivar shouted at it the third time it got away and ran back behind them. “Ach, now we have tae start all over again!” As he turned to run after the calf again, he somehow stumbled backwards and fell on his backside, landing with a squelch a mud patch.

Catalina ran to help him up. “Are ye all right?” she asked, offering her arm and aiding him to get to his feet and right himself.

“Just about, nae thanks tae that wee joker,” he said, scowling at the calf as mud dripped down the back of his trews. The creature was now standing watching them warily from a few yards away. “I think he’s enjoyin’ this.”

“I think so too. He’s got the better of us twice now,” she agreed and suddenly burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Ivar asked, pretending to be annoyed by her laughter but actually having more fun than he could remember having in ages.

“Us! Look at us,” she cried, “soaking wet, covered in mud, our clothes ruined! Foiled by a wee cow!” Her shoulders shook as she was consumed by giggles.

Ivar felt his heart melt a little as he watched her. She looked so adorably bedraggled, with her hair stuck to her face and her dress clinging to her body, her knees covered in mud, he soon found himself laughing too despite his frustration with the calf. He knew he must look as ridiculous as she did, but he found he did not care, and he did not blame her for laughing.

Helpless with mirth, they staggered about for several minutes, hands on their knees, bumping into each other for support now and then. All the while, the rain continued bucketing down upon them like the wrath of God. It was several minutes before they managed to pull themselves together long enough to set about chasing the remaining two calves around the pasture and herding them towards the gap.

“That’s another through,” Ivar gasped as the second to last one was reunited with its mother. “One more tae go.”

“Aye, but it’s the clever one,” Catalina pointed out breathlessly, making it hard for Ivar not to notice how her bodice was rising and falling rapidly as she tried to take in more air.

“I’ll nae be beaten by a baby cow,” he declared, giving a huge roar and chasing the alarmed beast in circles. “Block it on yer side,” he yelled, gesticulating at her. “Push it towards the gap.”

“All right, I’m doin’ me best, but ye ken this one has a mind of its own!” she shouted back, stretching out her arms in an attempt to deflect the calf.

“Shoo! Shoo! Nae that way, ye silly wee thing, that way!”

“Moo! Moo!” Ivar joined in, waving his arms as they both hustled the creature towards the hedge. Finally, with a flick of its tail, it disappeared through the gap, to a loud chorus of lowing from the matriarchs on the other side.

“Quick, the hurdle!” Ivar panted. “Grab the end.”

“I’ve got it,” Catalina cried, picking up her end of the hurdle and helping him to place it across the hole and ram it into place so the hedge would hold it.

“That should hold them fer a wee while, but it’ll need proper fixing,” Ivar said once they had finished, brushing the muck from his palms on the knees of his trews. He watched as Catalina did the same with her ruined skirts, seemingly unperturbed by her bedraggled appearance. Amid the rain and muddy smears, her smile shone brightly. Her cheeks were fresh and glowing, and her eyes sparkled.

“Thank ye fer helpin’ me,” he said, unable to stop smiling. “I think I would have been here all night if I had been on me own.”

She laughed. “There’s nae need tae thank me. I enjoyed it. Tae be honest, it was more fun than I’ve had in ages.”

“Aye, it was that,” he admitted, hardly able to keep his eyes off her.

“I’m glad the wee beasties are safe with their mammies now because of us,” she said as they clomped wetly across the pasture to the fence where their horses were quietly cropping the grass.

“Aye, the farmer will be grateful fer that, nae doubt. Now, watch out fer the mud there. Ye dinnae wantae slip up and get covered in it,” he told her, taking her hand and helping her to clamber inelegantly back over the fencing rails. Once she was safe on the other side, he went to get over himself.

“Careful, Ivar, ’tis very slippery,” she warned him in turn, moving aside to give him some room. Hardly had the words left her lips when he put his foot on the lowest rung, and a sharp crack like a pistol shot rang out. Catalina screamed as Ivar stumbled and suddenly found his other foot slipping out from under him. He lost his grip on the rail, windmilling his arms as he reeled backwards, trying in vain to regain his balance, and then he fell with a muffled splash into a large puddle of mud.

She stared at him for a few moments, her hand over her mouth, before she

snorted with laughter. “I’m so sorry. I dinnae mean tae laugh at ye. ’Tis just that, ye… ye look so funny, all covered in mud,” she managed to get out with difficulty.

His pride hurting more than his backside, Ivar found he did not really mind

her laughing at him. He slowly struggled to his feet, weighed down by sticky mud. He held his arms and legs stiffly as he finally made it over the fence, for he was indeed covered with the stuff. “Let’s go tae the loch so I can wash some of this off,” he said with resignation, taking his horse’s reins. “’Tis just a short walk from here through the woods.

They made their way back the way they had come, back up the tree line, where they tethered the horses once again. Ivar unbuckled his saddlebag and slung it over his shoulder. “This way,” he said, pushing aside the low boughs as they headed under the soaking canopy.

“At least we’re out of reach of the worst of the rain in here,” she observed, following close on his heels as he made his way through the undergrowth. “Although I dinnae think I could be any wetter.”

“Aye, I think there might be a summer storm comin’ in from the mountains,” he told her as they emerged into a small, secluded bay no more than six feet across at its widest point. It was sheltered by the boughs above, and a slender crescent of sand and spindrift fringed the edge of the loch’s lapping waters. The rain was drumming on the surface, making the water hiss like steam as the wavelets leaped and pranced.

“How will we get dry?” she asked, plopping down on the sand, sounding tired but cheerful as he pulled off her boots and emptied out the water within.

“I have some spare clothing that I always keep with me just in case there’s a change in the weather,” he told her, squatting beside her and undoing the saddle bag. He pulled out a wad of clean dry clothing and laid it on the sand where the rain could not get to it.

“Such foresight is admirable,” she said gravely before laying back on her

elbows and looking out over the shimmering waters with an appreciative sigh. “So, this is where ye and yer siblings used tae play, is it?”

“Aye, we practically spent whole summers down here, swimmin’ and larkin’ abut in boats like fools. ’Tis a wonder we didnae drown, the things we used tae get up to,” he said with a laugh, standing up and beginning to peel off his muddy clothing.

“I can imagine. It must have been tremendous fun. It reminds me of when me and me sisters were young. One of me happiest memories is that feelin’ of freedom of swimming naked in a loch with Brenna and Anastasia, with naebody else around fer miles. I miss that a lot.”

He smiled down at her, her words calling back many happy memories of his own childhood and youth. “Aye, we used tae swim a lot down here. But I havenae done it fer years.”

“Why ever nae? ’Tis one of the best feelin’s in the world.” She was peeling off her grubby stockings one by one, revealing a shapely pair of calves. He looked away.

“It is. I suppose now I’m a grown man with responsibilities, I dinnae find

much time fer such carefree pleasures.”

“Nay wonder ye’re so serious then,” she countered, an edge of playfulness to

her voice. “’Tis nae good fer ye. Ye need tae find time fer such things, tae put some fun back in yer life.”

“Aye, maybe I dae. In fact, now I think about it, I dinnae dae many things just fer the sheer pleasure of it anymore.” Nae since I lost Thor.

“Well, that’s a shame. We should change that,” she said, grinning up at him.

“Dinnae get any of yer daft ideas,” he said warningly. “I’m goin tae wash,” he added.

“Daft ideas? I dinnae ken what ye mean,” she protested, turning her back on him. “Undo me dress, will ye? The material’s quite thin, and I think if I hang it up on those bushes there it might just dry off enough in this breeze for me tae put it back on again without catchin’ a cold.”

So he knelt by her, and when she lifted the wet mass of her hair aside, fumbled with the small fastenings. Bit by bit, her creamy flesh was exposed, along with a tantalizing edge of embroidered shift. His fingers brushed against her smooth warmth, and the heat that pierced him at the feel of her skin made him swallow hard and hurry to be done.

“There ye are,” he said, straightening up, glad it was over. He strode to the water’s edge, pulling his shirt off over his head as he went. He stood there and peeled off his mud-soaked trews, thankful for his presence of mind in bringing some fresh clothes with him.

He glanced back covertly, to see what she was doing. She had shrugged off her clammy dress and petticoats and, clad only in her clingy shift, was hanging them upon on the bushes as she had said she would. The breeze carried the little tune she was humming to his ears, and he smiled to himself as he bent down to wash.

Just as he had when they had ridden out of the castle together that afternoon, he felt unaccountably happy in her company. And even though he knew that was something he should be feeling only for Anastasia, he could not seem to help himself.