A hush fell over the group, andsome women cast their gazes down. But one woman stared boldly at Alanna. “Yeken verra well that Fiona killed my bairn.”
Marion held perfectly still,realizing there were many secrets that weaved through these women’s lives thatshe did not know.
“Fiona did nae kill yer bairn,”Alanna said in a hard voice as she raked a hand through her long, curly redhair. “Yer boy came out with the cord wrapped around his neck and there was naethat could be done! I’ve told ye this repeatedly, but ye refuse to listen.”
“Ye were nae there,” the womanspat.
“I was nae, but Fiona came to medistraught and told me what had happened.” Alanna turned toward Elspeth. “Tellher, Elspeth! Ye were there! Ye ken. Dunnae let her bitterness destroy yersister’s life any longer.”
The woman shook her fist at Alanna.“Elspeth has already spoken to me, and I dunnae need to hear more.”
Alanna’s shoulders sagged, and sheshook her head as her gaze moved from woman to woman and stopped on Marion. “Inever thought I’d see the day that MacLeods turned against MacLeods. Thenagain, I never thought I’d see the day that Iain forsook his love of Catriona,either. My poor cousin!”
With that pronouncement, Alannastomped out the way she had come, leaving them all standing in hushed silence.Elspeth moved toward Marion, took her hand, and squeezed it. “She’s justdistraught. She’ll quiet once her anger lessens. Catriona and Fiona were herdearest friends.”
“But not yours?” Marion asked,surprised by Elspeth’s curious lack of emotion over her sister’s departure.
Elspeth shook her head and gave asurreptitious glance around. Most of the women had moved away and returned totheir work. Kyla was the only one who still stood there with them, and whenElspeth fairly stared the woman down, she wiped her hands on her aprons andgave Marion a smile. “I should go stir the pottage.”
“As the youngest, they thought mean annoyance more than anything.” Elspeth shrugged and smiled. “I tried tobelong, but the three of them did nae wish for me to.”
Marion cocked her head. “Do youmean until Fiona thought Catriona stole Iain from her?”
“Oh, aye. I mean until then. ThenAlanna and Catriona grew closer, and Fiona decided she would finally be kind tome.” Elspeth pressed her lips together, and Marion got the distinct feelingthat Fiona’s efforts had been too late for Elspeth.
“I am sorry, Elspeth. I didn’t havemany friends as a child, either.” The truth was, Angus had been her only frienduntil Bridgette, but she didn’t feel comfortable enough to share that yet.
“Ye’ve me now,” Elspeth said,linking her arm with Marion’s.
Marion smiled. “I’m glad. Can youthink of anything I could do to make Alanna a little more accepting of me?”
“Hmm.” Elspeth tilted her head inthought. “Ye could take her some of my black pudding. She’s nae been feelingwell, and she loves it.”
Marion rubbed her aching templeswith her fingers. Exhaustion was creeping in, but she did want to try to makethings right with Alanna.
“That seems to be a good idea,”Marion said, nodding.
Elspeth beamed at her. “I’ll justget ye the black pudding.”
She scurried over to her worktableand came back in short time with a dish of the pudding and a spoon with aheaping serving of the pudding on it. She held the spoon out to Marion. “Ibrought a bit for ye, too. Do ye like black pudding?”
Marion grinned. “I love it. Myfather’s cook made excellent black pudding.”
“Mine will be better,” Elspethboasted.
Marion couldn’t resist. She tookthe pudding Elspeth offered and ate a bite. It was delicious. “Elspeth,” shesaid, “that is the best pudding I’ve ever had.”
Elspeth nodded. “Why don’t ye havesome more?”
“I couldn’t,” Marion replied, notwanting to reveal that she was queasy, but Elspeth looked so downcast. “Justone more.”
Elspeth laughed, went back to herworktable, and returned with an even bigger bite for Marion. She quickly ateit.
“Another?” Elspeth asked.
Marion held up the spoon. “I’lltake this with me and have some with Alanna, if she offers. I really need togo, though. Where does Alanna live?”
“Nae far from here.”
