"Are they still there?"
"No." Harold turned his back and walked to another stone. Again, the Highlanders followed.
"Where are they?"
"Just wait, I am getting to it. They were worried about the servants, so I helped find good positions for them. Next, they wanted to swim. They swam every day for two weeks straight and they stayed in the water until they were wrinkled from head to toe. Watching those two swim is a thing of beauty."
It was Justin who questioned him next. "Did they laugh? I love it when Catherin laughs."
"Did they? They could hardly stop laughing. They cried too. They cried so hard they broke my heart and gave themselves a vile headache -- which made them laugh again. They were helping each other heal, you see."
Again, Harold walked a little closer to the trees before he continued, "Laird MacGreagor, Anna said to say thank you for not coming after her. She feared you would and she needed this time with her mother. I could tell you stories...oh well, we best not get into that."
"Is she coming back?"
"I will not say just yet. You see, Anna had to wait until her mother figured out where to go and what to do. With her husband dead, she has no one to tend her or any family to turn to but Anna."
"Does she not understand we will gladly care for her?" Justin asked.
"I cannot rightly say what Catherin understands." He turned then and looked directly at Kevin. "They need a door in the wall. They can swim the moat, but they need to be able to go out whenever their fear overcomes them. Do you agree?"
For the first time in weeks, Kevin felt there was hope. He quickly nodded. "We will begin it today."
"Good. Put it as close to the forest as possible so they can slip into the woods before any enemy sees them. If you are not aware of how to hide a door in a wall, I will assist you. I have three of my own. Next, Catherin wants a cottage where she can raise Rachel in peace. She wants to learn to protect herself and how to cook. She wants Athena to teach her. I think it would be good for both of Stoneham's wives."
"Done!" Justin said.
"Anna says your people will not let her learn how to do anything and she feels useless. Can you correct this problem?"
Kevin quickly nodded, "I can and I will." He could feel her before he saw her, and held his breath as he slowly turned to look behind him. She was standing next to her mother with Threcher on the other side.