“Aye,” he said. “I think ’tis only fair to move those who arrived first and then go down the line.” Evan was all business now that they had somewhere to move the people who had appeared so far. She was also relieved. The sooner everyone got settled, the sooner she could take over her duties as land steward. And Evan could return to Argyll.
A lump grew in her stomach. Why did that thought disturb her? She’d only known the man for a very short time, but the idea of watching his back as he rode off left her quite bereft. She’d never felt the need for a man before, especially not the one who had shown up at her house with a false betrothal agreement.
Of all the lads in her old village, none of them had ever made her think about marriage and a family. The few kisses she’d received had not left her wanting anything more. Unlike Evan’s kisses, which left her frightened yet longing for something she knew he could provide but would only lead to trouble and heartbreak.
Another thought was her much-valued independence. She’d been on her own without assistance from her da for a long time. She made the decisions, she answered to no one. Even though she would have to answer to Evan once she took over the land steward duties, she’d still be in charge.
Marriage changed those things. Answering to a husband would be far harder than answering to a laird who was miles and miles away.
“I am almost certain there are more empty cottages on the north side of the village,” Alice added as she pointed in the general direction. “Maybe another three or four.”
“Alice, if ye weren’t a married lass, I’d kiss ye right now,” Evan said.
“Oh, now go on with ye!” The woman flapped her apron and actually blushed.
They said their farewells, Alice waving them off, having gained a promise from them that they would stop by another time to meet her husband.
“I suggest we travel on to the village. Mrs. MacDuff’s biscuits were verra good, but I need more than that. There must surely be a pub where we can get something to eat and then take a quick look at the cottages north of the village.”
“We won’t have time to move anyone today.” Katie looked up at the sky. “In fact, if those clouds keep building, we might be in for a downpour.”
They rode swiftly to the village. Two rows of businesses lined a center square. Blacksmith, baker, shoemaker, the bookstore Alice MacDuff had mentioned, a doctor, a ferrier, wheelwright, a general store, and a butcher sat comfortably side by side. Several shoppers moved from store to store, carting bags of purchases. At the end of one row of businesses was a building set apart from the others. The Hound and the Hare was apparently an inn and ale house.
“We can get food there,” Evan said as he headed in the direction of the inn.
Katie followed Evan as he directed his horse behind the building to the small lean-to that housed the animals of visitors to the inn. He jumped from his horse, helped Katie down, then tossed a coin to the lad who was brushing one of the horses. “Give them some oats and water.”
The lad nodded and pulled on his cap. Evan escorted Katie into the inn, where they were immediately greeted with the smell of something wonderful. Katie’s stomach rumbled. She hadn’t realized she was hungry until then.
Evan led her to a long table at the back of the room with several men and two women already sitting on the benches. They sat and Evan waved the serving girl over. “What smells so good?”
The lass smiled. “’Tis my mum’s steak-and-kidney pie. She makes it every Thursday, and we usually sell out by seven o’clock.”
“That sounds good to me.” Evan turned to Katie. “What do ye want, lass?”
“I’ll have the pie. It does smell wonderful. And a glass of ale.”
“The same for me,” Evan added.
They chatted amicably about the cottages and who would be moved out of the castle. “How many families are ye expecting?”
Katie thought about his question and counted in her head. “I’m not one hundred percent sure, because a few of the families didn’t want to move, and a few more were headed off to Canada. But of the ones I ken for certain, I would say about eleven or perhaps thirteen families in all.”
Evan nodded as the serving girl placed two meat pies and two glasses of ale in front of them. Katie’s mouth actually watered at the sight of the food. Without further conversation, they bit into the pie and Katie groaned. She looked over at Evan, who was staring at her. “What?”
He shook his head as if coming out of a trance. “Nothing.”
It took very little time for them to finish their meal. After swallowing the last bite, Evan leaned forward, his forearms on the table, glancing over her shoulder to the entry door. “If we intend to find these other cottages before it rains, we better be off.”
After only a short ride past the village, they came upon five cottages that appeared to be abandoned. No gardens grew in the back of the houses, no wash flapped in the breeze on clotheslines. “I think these are the cottages Alice MacDuff referred to,” Evan said as they came to a halt in front of the first one.
The five cottages were set in a semicircle, with enough space between them to allow privacy to the residents, but they were close enough for friendly exchanges and help when required. A child’s swing hung from a branch on a large tree in front of the third house. The breeze coming from the approaching storm moved the swing, the toy swaying as if an invisible bairn rode it.
Evan helped Katie down, then, placing his hand at the small of her back, led her
