Bring the rain

chapter two

                                                 One year later

   Adalynn had chosen the name Erina. Bessie had agreed that it was pretty. They dyed her hair with sumac to give it a reddish brown color. Her skin no longer white and creamy but bronze from many days in a boat with Fergus. She was now the adopted daughter of a fisherman and it was a hard life but she loved it. Fergus had taught her how to mend the nets and pull the lobster cages. Bessie taught her to look for shellfish and to make necklaces from shells they found on the beach. Erina was blossoming into her new life and she prayed every night that she got to keep it. Today was a very important day because today was the first time she was going to the village with Fergus and Bessie. They usually went and left her at home but today she decided she could not keep hiding in the cottage. "Are you sure you are ready Erina?" a very concerned Fergus asked for the hundredth time this morning. Smiling she looked at Bessie " Yes papa I am sure." She had decided to call him papa and Bessie mama a few months ago and it warmed her heart to see the old mans pride in her. Bessie climbed in to the carriage as they went to sell the fish they had caught that morning. As they came into the village square Erina could see other merchants and villagers walking around shopping. It was loud and crowded but she did her best not to freak out she needed this. "Erina Erina!" she turned to see Anne the baker's daughter running over to her. Anne's mother was good friends with Bessie and the girls had become very close. "Anne how are you?" she asked as she jumped from the carriage. Anne was a short girl with wild red curly hair and big brown eyes her small round face was covered in freckles. " Have you heard?" she leaned in very close as if to tell me a secret. I shook my head as I had no idea what she was talking about. " The Lords Wallace are visiting the village." Anne was beaming with excitement but Erina felt like she was going to faint. Seeing her distress Bessie came up to talk to Anne as Erina walked behind the carriage to catch her breath. Her male family members here? Why here why now? she wondered. Turning back to talk to Anne she smiled bring all the strength to the surface. "Why are the Wallace lords here?" she asked hoping her voice did not betray her. Anne smiled wide and jumped up and down. "They are here for Lord Campbell's funeral." She paused and looked around as if talking about the man would summon him. Erina hoped it did not he was the last person she wished to see. wait did she say funeral. "Anne what do you mean funeral is Lord Campbell dead?" Erina asked Her hopes soreing high that she truly might be free. Anne shook her head "No just very ill and since his wife died he has no one to take over hid lands so he must pick someone to take them." She sits then Erina is overwhelmed her family was here to take control of her evil husbands lands. Anne waved goodbye to a dazed Erina. "Dear you all right?" asked Fergus as he unloaded the barrels of fish . Erina looks up at him and nods she was going to be a widow. " I heard what Anne said about your husband are you sure you alright?" she smiles and for once she is alright her nightmare would soon be dead and she would be free of him. She stood and went to turn to help unload the carriage and ran smack into a hard tall wall of a man. She looked up and paled it was her father Brian. Finding her voice was lost she scrambled to her feet. He glared at her "You should watch where you are going girl." she curtsied and rushed off to help her adopted father. she silently listened to her Father talk to Fergus and order a barrel of lobster  and eel for a dinner he was to hold at Dunwigg Keep. Erina could feel her Fathers eyes on her  burning holes into her back. "Your a lucky man to have a daughter." she heard some sadness in her father's voice. "Do you have a daughter?" Fergus asked. Erina's father smiled at the old man " No she died a year ago this august. She was a weak girl and did her family a great disgrace." Erina looked up at the man who was her father and feared he would see the hurt in her eyes but all she saw was acceptance surly he did not know it was her. Her fear won and she rushed off to find Bessie at the Baker's house. Once there  she sat down with Anne and knead the bread for Dale the baker. As they sat at the table helping the young and handsome black smith's son came in for a loaf of bread. Anne was in love with the fair haired and pale blued man. His shoulders wide and his arms ripple with muscles due to his very demanding trade he was a beast of a man and yet the sweetest person you would ever meet. He helped the village widows and he gave the young fatherless jobs to do to earn a few meals. Anne would be a great wife if he was not currently trying for Erina's affections she had told him many times she was not ready to marry and may never be again. He had only laughed and said he would wait. "Good morning Darren." Anne drooled as she stared at his large arms. "Good morning Miss Baker." she said giving her his most heart stopping smile. He was unnaturally handsome and if Anne was not her friend and she did not cringe at the thought of a man touching her still she might consider it. "Good morning Miss Marsh." Erina looked up and smiled a greeting. He ordered his bread never letting his eyes leave Erina and then went on his  way back home." He has it so bad for you Erina." said Anne a bit sadly " Do not worry Anne I do not have anything for him." She smiled and hugged her friend tightly. As the day wore on a strong wind can in from the sea with rain on its wings. A low rumble sounded in the distance. Erina closed her eyes and Prepared herself for the storm. Ever since the night she jumped from that ship has had the same dream or more a nightmare. It always starts the same she is on the ship and as she jumps she is hit by a solid black horse and carried deep into the water shadows surround her as the horse becomes a man and he is pale as the full moon his hair  black as night and his eyes amber with a dark green ring  the outside. they seemed to glow in the darkness and then he would smile and he had a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Erina would wake up screaming and Bessie would comfort her. She was staying with the baker's tonight and the storm raging off coast looked pure evil. the clouds dark almost black and the lighting streaked across the sky like an arrow let wild. She Let the chill settle in her spine. No nightmare tonight she told herself she would be brave and face her fears. Anne came up beside her grabbing her hand "It looks bad. Do you think it will be bad?" she asked. Erina looked at her friend and saw the same fear staring back at her. "I do not know." she said. Erina saw her old father and her brothers by the inn looking out into the same storm.  They looked her way and her father smiled bending his in greeting. She paled a bit but would not give the satisfaction of knowing he had her scared. Anne looked in their direction and waved. Her brothers smiled at Anne and started walking over. Erina thought her heart would jump out of her chest as they greeted them their father a few steps behind."Good evening ladies." came her brother Jace's voice and she was worried she would start to shake. "Good evening lords." came Anne's voice from next to Erina. She looked up at her brothers and felt her throat tighten. He smiled at her." You remind me of my dear sister Adalynn." He gave her a knowing smiling and Erina felt her legs almost give out. " Sir. I do not know your sister nor do I know you." she hoped her voice had enough conviction in it he believed her. "No, You are not my sister she was weak and you." He paused and looked at Erina "You are a strong woman who would make men cry if they treated you unfair." He then bowed and handed her a note as he kissed her hand. Erina stood frozen holding the note in a death grip as they went back to the inn. She went to the back room of the Baker's house and opened the note.         

              Dear Sister: 

  We Know this is you and as long as you do not get in the way of us taking over your soon to be dead husband's lands then we will see no problem with believing you dead.

                                                                                        Rest in peace little sister.

 She threw the note in the fire.she could care less about Angus's lands she just wanted her freedom .According  to this note she could have it. She held her breath then let it out slowly she would have her freedom once Angus took his last breath and her family took his lands. By dinner time the storm was now inland and raged against everything. The wind ripped the roof up in places letting in the rain and the chill it carried on it. Anne and Erina huddled under blankets holding each other as it howled outside and the thunder shook the ground. Lighting struck near the house causing both girls to jump. The storm was awful and there would be a lot of distruction and work in the morning. Anne fell asleep first and so Erina was left with her thoughts and the nightmare that waited her in her sleep. Once the wind died down Erina slipped to sleep. She awoke to the sound of Dale and Fergus on the roof fixing the thatch. She stretched and looked for something to eat. Anne was eating a sweet cake her eyes puffy from lack of sleep. We eat in silence then Bessie comes in beaming from ear to ear." We have been invited to the gathering in Anglewood." She was out of breath as she leaned on the table. "What is the gathering?" I asked. Both her and Anne looked at me like I was dim witted. "Oh Dear it is the best of time. You must have a new dress many men will be there from all the villages." She looked at Erina hopeful." it sounds greart. " Erina said as she ate her sweet bread. After eating they all went to buy cloth to make a new dress for her and Anne to wear to the gathering. Anne bought white and Erina bought red. Bessie told her white would not do her justice to catch the eye of a good man. Erina didn't want to catch the eye of anyone let alone a man who might hurt her again. It would get her away from her brothers and her father for the higher classes never went to the gathering only the wild chiefs of the highlands and the commoners.