Page 69 of A Fearless Rebel

Life had always been cruel to her and she’d accepted it. However, for things to go so far, losing a child was more than she could bear.

“Ava.” Lady Fraser walked out and upon seeing her crying neared. “Did Keithen do something?”

Ava shook her head. “I admitted everything to him.” Exhausted, she leaned on the short wall that surrounded the area. “Have ye ever felt as if ye cannot possibly go on?”

“I think everyone does at some point. There are so many things that can happen. But ye know, it is best at times not to think on it too much.”

As much as Ava liked the woman, Lady Fraser seemed to never dwell on things. The lady expertly avoided situations that she considered “not a woman’s concern”.

“I think what we need is a distraction. Now that Keithen is better, we will go visit the Frasers across the river. Spend a few weeks there before it becomes too cold to travel.”

“Visit?” Ava was shocked. “Ye are going away?”

“We are. Ye and I will go. Perhaps Catriona as well. I hope ye will help me convince her.” Lady Fraser looked up at the cloudy sky. “Once winter arrives, we will be stuck indoors for days on end.”

“I do not believe they will wish to have me visit.” Ava had to admit the woman had managed to distract her from self-pity.

Lady Fraser gave a halfhearted wave. “The invitation was addressed to us both.”

For a moment, Ava was stunned. The Frasers acted as if she was, indeed, one of them. As much as she wanted to turn down the invitation, her curiosity was piqued. “I will have to speak to Keithen. Although at the moment, he is probably too angry with me to hear what I have to say.”

“Keithen is very patient.”

“I lost our bairn. When I was taken.”

“Oh, dear.” Lady Fraser came to her and hugged her. “I am so truly sorry.”

The woman’s lack of judgment and the fact she actually hugged her was foreign to Ava. The feeling was like being surrounded by sunshine.

“Now,” Lady Fraser said moving away. “Wipe yer tears and see about asking yer husband. I am sure Keithen will agree that ye need a distraction.”

“I need a few moments to compose myself. I will consider yer invitation. Thank ye.”

When she was finally alone, Ava considered everything that had happened. She doubted that Keithen would forgive her for what happened. Winter was approaching and like Lady Fraser had said, they would be forced to spend many days indoors. She wondered what she should do. On one hand, to leave would be a good distraction, but Keithen was still recovering and needed help to complete tasks.

She opened a gate and went through it carrying a bucket. It hadn’t rained in several days, so she decided to water her herb garden. At the well, several women were gathered and, for a moment, Ava hesitated.

As the laird’s son’s wife, they would not openly do or say anything, but that would not stop them from glaring. Ava took a breath and walked to the well.

“Lady Ava,” one woman said as she approached and lowered her head in a slight bow in greeting. “How fares yer husband from the injuries caused by yer family?”

“He is recovering well,” Ava answered, looking to the other women. “Thank ye for yer concern.”

An older woman met her gaze. “Yer clan has been to blame for many a death. We wish to ensure that we don’t lose our laird’s son as well.”

It would have been better if they had remained silent as there were heavy implications in every word.

“I, too, do not wish to lose my husband and am doing everything I possibly can to ensure he recovers.” Ava turned the crank bringing up water and then reached for the bucket to pour into hers.

A woman about her age pretended to stumble and kicked it out of the way just as she poured water into it.

“I do apologize,” she said in a flat voice and, along with the other women, she walked away murmuring not so softly.

“Why did she bother to return?”

“Hopefully, she will leave again and not return,” said another.

Flora hurried over. “That group is nothing but a bunch of gossips. Do not pay them any heed.”