Chapter 76 Dewdrops

  Time passed quickly for the Morse family.  Laird Allan still dwelled at the Fool's Tower.  Worry and age stole Lady Margaret's vibrant red hair.

  Alisdair had grown.

  Each moment had brought Lady Margaret closer to a woeful decision.  Even nobility must pay taxes and rent.  When she could put it off no longer, Lady Morse sold the family home, and quite nearly all they owned.

  With the place sold she must leave this very morning.

  Lady Margaret walked out to the orchard, to pluck her son from the earth.  She found him not among the roots of the earth, but nearer the sky.

  Cozy in the sunshine, Laird Robert clung to Dame Robert, like ivy on a cottage wall.
  "Thank you Dame Remembrance.  When things are...settled, I would love to have you as my gardener again."
  She accepted her little sprout, breathing in his young leaves.
  Both their faces were dewy as they bid farewell in the fair light of morning.
  A kilted Alisdair met her in front.  No longer was he the little boy she plucked off the floor.  He walked with her, as patiently as a little boy could.  At least one of them did not mind being uprooted.

***

  Laird Alisdair stood before his new home.  His ma's words washed over him.
  "The Lionhearts lived here when their boys were about your age."

  From what he could see Alisdair would not mind the place.  He knew for certain ma would.

  The gardens were ever so much smaller that at home.  That is, what was his home.
  Alisdair could feel his ma's eyes on him.

  He must say something to her, but what?

  "What of our cat ma?"
  "See there?  The cat has followed us."
  Alisdair let out a slow breath.  He had been worried.  At least ma had not sold the cat.  Nor the dog.  Slow boy gave a little bark sending the tabby skittering across the road.

  Alisdair knelt by Slow Boy to pat the little dog's head.
  "Ma, I am going to go.  I have studies..."
  Ma didn't turn.

  Ma pretended to be watching the cat, but Alisdair knew better.  She couldn't bare to gaze upon the little garden.  Ma's heart must be braking.
  "You could stay, just for today."
  "Ma, I don't want to fall behind in my studies."
  At last she turned.
  "You have always been my little man.  Go then."
  She lay a sunny smile upon him.  Warmed by her love, Alisdair left to get his learning.
  Lady Margaret watched him go.  She set her leafy son upon the earth.  She sat before the little sprout.
  "Come here Robert, my littlest of Lairds."

  "What?  Your auld ma's lap doesn't suit you?"

  "Don't get all dewy now.  I rather like the feel of the earth beneath my feet.  'Tis no wonder my little sprout feels the same.  I'll tell you a story instead, of a great man."

  "It's my own husband he is.  Laird Allan Morse....you will love him sprout.  He is like us, a lover of plants beneath it all.  Some day he will come home to us.  Some day Sprout.  Ah look, I have grown quite dewy myself.  Enough of this.  Let us introduce ourselves to the garden plants."
  Lady Margaret plucked her sprout from the grass, watering him with the dewdrops that slid gently off her face.