Chapter 34

Bjarkë had men saddled and off in the direction that she left within half an hour. They were instructed to go all the way to her family's house if they didn't see her on the road, giving them some money for food and medicine. If the family didn't know where she was, they were to send word to Cameron Keep as soon as they knew. She only lived about three miles away. Given the passage of time, she might already be home.

All afternoon as she went about her duties, Ailene worried about the girl and wondered why it was taking so long to find her. When Bjarkë finally told her the men had returned, she rushed out to the courtyard. She didn't see Màiri among them.

"Did you find her? Was she at her family's?" Ailene asked the man in charge.

"Nay, Lady Cameron. We didn't see her on the road and she wasn't with her family. We even tried an uncle's house that she was fond of that her mother said she might be at. They thanked you for the money, and did promise to send word if she showed up at home."

"And her mother had no other idea where she might have gone to?"

He shook his head no.

"Thank you for searching for her. There's hot stew in the kitchen. As soon as you put the horses up, get some for yourself and the lads. I'm even more worried for her now than I was before."

"We can check with the family again tomorrow, Lady Cameron, if you wish."

"I'll talk to Thorburn and Stuart tonight and come up with a plan. I appreciate it."

Isobel showed up beside her.

"Not at home yet?" She asked.

"No, and now I'm afraid."

"She may have stopped at other places where a maid was needed, particularly if she was concerned about money. Might have felt she needed to find another job before going home."

"I suppose. I'll talk to Stuart about it when he gets back."

They arrived on McTavish's estate around 10:00 AM. Even before they reached the main house they saw evidence of hunger gripping the general populace. Many of them were in little more than rags as well, worn, threadbare and repaired countless times. They stopped everywhere they saw people and left a little food. When asked why the Cameron's would be feeding them, Thorburn informed them that they would be taking over the property within the month and had heard from Mrs. McTavish that they may be hungry and wanted to ensure that all had enough food to eat so they did not starve before then. Any who appeared to have the strength to follow, they asked to come to the main house where they would like to speak to them.

"She was a good Lady, Mrs. McTavish was, but unable to do much against the will of her husband," one said.

Several people told them the same thing and they felt better about taking both Isobel and property from the despicable hands of McTavish. It was a half hour later that they came up to the manor, and by that time, several of the peasants had joined their retinue.

Abner McTavish came out of the house when they arrived, along with several of his men.

"Come to take over the place already, Cameron?" MaTavish said. "The young one there gave me a month to vacate the premises and deliver the deed. I'd think you'd honor his deal."

"We're not coming to evict you, McTavish. Your Lady was concerned for those you were leaving behind. She didn't think you'd bother feeding any of those who weren't going with you. We don't want anyone to starve to death because you were too miserly to feed them. We're passing out food to any not leaving with you. It's our food to do with as we please. We're giving it to the hungry on your property," Thorburn replied.

"Have you dipped your wick into that skinny shrew, yet?" He said.

Frang hopped off his horse and rushed up to Abner, causing him to draw back and several of his men to put their hands on their weapons.

"You take that back, you penny pinching bastard," Frang said, pushing his face right up to Abner's, his voice low and threatening. "Your wife is a lady and will be treated as such by me and everyone else at the Keep. She's skinny because you didn't feed her enough. She's got bruises all over from where you beat her, and she's only ever spread her legs for you and whatever other bastard you gave her to so you could pay your damn debts. If you impugn her name again, I'll thrash you. Make no mistake about that. And if you think your men can stop that from happening, you don't know me or my family."

Abner McTavish looked around and every one of the Cameron's had hand to sword. He visibly swallowed and choked back whatever retort he'd first thought to offer.

"I'm sorry. It was out of line to say such things about my wife," he said.

"Louder! I want everyone to hear those words come out of your mouth."

Abner said more loudly, "I'm sorry I said such things about Lady McTavish. It was wrong of me to say what I did."

"That's better," Frang said, backing slowly away.

Word had spread of their coming and several other people had gathered about from the house and other nearby crofts.

Thorburn looked around at the curious faces and raised his voice so that he could be heard by all.

"As you may or may not know, this property will soon go to the Cameron's. Lady McTavish was concerned that many of you were going hungry. She asked that we come here and give you food. We've brought a wagon full this time. We can bring more in the future. Take what you need for yourself and others of your neighbors who may not be here now. Don't take more than you need for the next few days, so that all may be fed. This food is only for those remaining on the estate when it passes hands. None of it is to go to or with McTavish or any of those going with him. He can feed himself or not. We'll be leaving a horse for someone to ride over and request more food as you need more or to report if McTavish takes any of it. When the property changes hands, someone will come here and arrange with those remaining to keep up the house and estates. I think you'll find that we don't operate the way McTavish does and you'll all do much better for yourselves than you did before."

Thorburn looked to see the effect of his words on the faces of those around him and seeing the looks of fear and want disappear to be replaced by smiles and relief rewarded his efforts.

Multiple rounds of "Thank you." "Bless you." "Thanks, Lord Cameron." "God's blessings to you, Lord" followed his pronouncement.

He turned again to McTavish. "I'm serious about what I've said. If I find you or any of your cronies have touched a single morsel of this food, or that you beat or harm them in any way before you go, I will hunt you down like the dog you are and horsewhip the skin off your back. Is there any question in your mind whether I mean what I say?"

"No, Cameron. No question."

"Good, because I swear to you that every word I spoke is God's own truth and you can take it as such."

"I understand."

"If I were you, I'd consider giving up gambling, because so far, it's brought you nothing but ruin and damnation. My suspicion is that without this estate to support you or your wife prostituting herself to clear your debts, you'll soon end up in debtor's prison. However, I don't give a farthing for what you do to yourself. That's merely a suggestion based upon the clear evidence of my eyes."

McTavish nodded. Thorburn thought it unlikely he'd listen. He would hope to recoup his losses with further gambling and only undo himself more. Aye, some people had to learn the hard way. They passed out food to all who were there, encouraging them to take enough to feed their nearby neighbors who weren't present.