The Bairn of Brianag

"Robbie's mother and father?" I said. "You knew them well?"

"Did I know them? I reckon I did," she said. "Everyone knew them. They were the gayest young people! Everyone loved them. He was so handsome, and she so lovely! Both Scottish to the bone! She was the loveliest girl, with eyes as green as emeralds, and hair like spun gold! And he-why he was the image of Bonnie Prince Charlie!"

"Oh!" I said, my eyes filling with tears. "How I wish I had known them!"

"How far gone are you, lass?" she asked me, stroking my hand kindly. "Are you past your retching?"

I stared at her.

"I am an old woman," she said; "I know when there is a bairn expected."

I looked at my hands. "I am three months gone," I said. "I sometimes still retch, but less than before."

"The bairn will be here all too soon," she said. "He's far less trouble to you in the womb than he will be out of it."

My tears spilled over.

"Ach, lass, no need to weep," she said. "Perhaps you are homesick? Wanting your ma, are you?"

I gulped. "No," I said. "I have my husband. I have no more need of my mother."

"Ach, every girl wants a mother, no matter how married she is," said Moira.

I clenched my teeth. I hated my mother. I would be happy never to see her again. But I would not tell that to this old woman. "I do not," I said.

The old woman's green eyes looked out from their wrinkled lids and pierced mine.

"A stubborn lass, are you? Well, that's a good thing. You're going to need every bit of strength and endurance you can muster, being wife to Robbie Stewart. He's as wild a one as ever the McDonald clan has made. It's a wonder to us all that you persuaded him to marry you. Perhaps it will be you who will tame him in the end. Perhaps having a son will settle him down."

"Robbie and I shall settle in the lowcountry, at Brianag," I said. "That is our home."

"Ach, aye, Brianag! The McDonald kingdom, where the royalty of the lowcountry live in a palace, with an Englishman as laird!"

Stung, I pulled my hand away from hers. "There is no more beautiful place on this earth than Brianag," I said, and then added, "Mr. Randall is a great and kind man."