Callum’s Vow: The Victorian Highlanders

by St. Clair, Ellie

  They were, however, still in the dark about quite a bit that had gone on. They were due at the barracks to have dinner with Gregor, and the chance to understand the past happenings after the Mounties spoke with him. Callum had wanted to be there for the questioning, but Angus had drawn the line at that.

  She readied herself and made her way down the stairs.

  “Good morning — or, good afternoon?”

  “Oh Victoria!” Sarah rushed at her again, enveloping her in a giant hug as if she hadn’t just seen her hours before. “Callum was just filling me in with a few more details. Now here, let me make you something to tide you over and then you must be on your way.”

  Victoria and Callum shared a small smile as Victoria allowed Sarah to shuffle her over to the table and prepare toast and tea.

  The back door suddenly opened and Charlie’s big frame filled the doorway. “Good afternoon!” his voice boomed. “Victoria, how are you my dear?”

  “Fine, Charlie, thank you.”

  “You caused quite the excitement around here last night. Poor Sarah was worried sick.”

  “I know, I’m so sorry. And to you, Charlie, for any hardship I may have caused you.”

  “It’s no hardship to console a beautiful woman,” he answered, looking at Sarah, who quickly returned to her task, though not before her face flushed a deep crimson.

  “Well, perhaps we should be going to see Angus and Gregor,” said Callum, standing up and drawing Victoria to him.

  “Angus? I thought we had some time until—”

  “Victoria, time to go,” Callum interjected, raising his eyebrows toward Charlie, who was still staring intently at Sarah, who seemed equally determined to ignore him.

  “Ah, yes, that’s right. We did say we would go early. All right, see you later, Aunt Sarah, Charlie…” Victoria chattered as Callum guided her out the door.

  * * *

  When they’d gone, Charlie walked over to Sarah, and put his hands on her waist slowly, so as not to startle her away. Her turned her around to face him.

  “Sarah,” he said softly. “Now that the rest of the business with your niece is settled, I’d like to speak with you about something. I think you must know by now my feelings toward you.”

  “Well, I do feel as if you have a certain affection toward me, surely…”

  “Affection, yes, but it’s so much more than that. Last night, when Victoria was missing and you turned toward me, I was overjoyed. Not at the situation, of course, but that I could be there for you, and that you trusted me, has such meaning for me.” He brought his forehead down to hers. “Sarah. Say you’ll be mine.”

  She started to tremble, her lip quivering, as he leaned on the counter and supported his weight while he bent to one knee.

  “Sarah, will you marry me?”

  Tears fell from her eyes as she knelt down with him and softly kissed his lips. “Of course I will. Now what are two old fools like us doing on our knees?”

  He laughed and drew her to him, but lost his balance and they fell to the floor, laughing at one another as they held each other close.

  * * *

  Callum and Victoria greeted Angus when he opened the door of the barracks to them. He was quick to tell them that the three former fur trappers had turned on one another and confessed all, each in a quest for a better deal. Angus was grateful to Callum and Victoria for their help, but fairly stern about civilians taking the law upon themselves to uphold.

  “It’s quite the tale your cousin has, lad,” Angus told Callum, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll let him tell ye himself.”

  He led them into the barracks, to a room with a long table and benches, likely a dining hall for the officers.

  Seated at the end of one bench was Gregor. He had washed, but he still had a haggardness about him, and his shoulders drooped low.

  “Callum,” he said, rising. “And lass, thank you.”

  Callum made the introductions, and Gregor’s eyebrows rose when Callum introduced Victoria as his wife. He didn’t question it though, but sat down to the split pea soup that was placed in front of them.

  “I must apologize, Callum,” he said, not eating, instead absently tapping his spoon on the table. “For you coming all the way from Scotland, for dragging you into this mess, for putting you in danger — all because I wanted to get away from it all and then had my head turned by the promise of some extra coin.”

  “Don’t,” Callum held up a hand, shaking his head,

  “I worked with the three of them and the Hudson’s Bay Company, as you know Callum. It didn’t take me long to find out that they were skimming off the top, so to speak. I should have reported them to the Company, I know that now. Knew it the moment they captured me. But instead I thought I’d take matters into my own hands. I found the money one day while we were out working, and went back later and re-hid it. My original intention was to return it to the Company, but first I wanted to discover what their scheme was.”

  He looked down. “I won’t lie, Callum, part of me was tempted to keep the money, and I might have. I’d like to think I never would actually have kept it, but I cannot say for certain. At any rate, they figured out soon enough that I had it, and once they captured me, there was no way I was going to give them any information. I’m too stubborn, as you know.”

  He and Callum both slightly laughed at that.

  “Finally, weeks later, you came along.”

  There was silence for a moment before Callum asked, “Angus? What happens to Gregor now?”

  “I really have nothing to keep him here on. He didn’t actually steal from the Company — he only didn’t return it when he should have. Besides that,” the tall man took a seat next to them, “I’d say he’s been punished enough.”

  “What will ye do now then?” Callum asked his cousin.

  “Now? I’m not sure. I cannot go home to Scotland after this. Nor do I want to. I think now I do what I came here to do. Find land, make this home.”

  “I think that’s a fine idea.” Callum broke into a grin. “What do you say I join you?”

  Gregor looked at him incredulously before the two of them reached across the table and hugged one another like the brothers they truly were.

  * * *

  Before they left the barracks, Angus took Callum and Victoria aside.

  “I’ve been very pleased to get to know both of you,” the formal Angus had said to the couple sitting in front of him. “Whether you are staying or going, I do hope you’ll keep me apprised of your whereabouts.”

  “Well Angus,” said Callum, his face a solemn mask, “I do not think I can keep that promise. You see—” A slow grin spread across his face. “It does not look like we’ll be leaving after all.”

  “You’re staying here?”

  “We hope to be.”

  “Well, I’ll be…” The usually expressionless man looked perplexed. “Are ye not the eldest son, next to be chieftain?”

  “I am.”

  “Ye cannot leave your home then—”

  “I think perhaps I can. Times are changing, and I don’t see why we canna change with them. My brother is competent and much more willing to take on the role of chieftain. He will do a far better job than I ever would. It’s not unheard of for the role to pass to another in the family. And I’ve come to love it here, as has Victoria.”

  “Well then,” said Angus, tilting back his hat. “I dinna suppose I could convince you to take a position with us at the North-West Mounted Police?”

  “Why Angus,” answered Callum with his grin, “I thought you’d never ask.”

  * * *

  On their return, as Callum wrapped his arms around her and nudged the horse along the path, Victoria thought back to the not-so-distant past when all she wanted was to run away from the duke and her stepfather. If only she knew how much her life would change in such a short time. And how different it is when you have someone or something to run to. Home was not so much about where a person was but
who that person was with, she thought. This place was now home but she was willing to leave it all if it meant a life with Callum. But — she had to admit to herself — she couldn’t have been happier that he wanted to stay here as much as she did.

  “Victoria,” Callum murmured. “What are you thinking about?”

  “Life. You… us.”

  He picked up her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “No more thinking,” he said. “Time to start our lives — together. This is where your stories say ‘they all lived happily ever after. ’”

  Epilogue

  The little girl ran through the grass, her hair streaming behind her as she waded into the lake. She giggled as the water lapped at her ankles. The sun bounced off her dark curls as she turned to look at her mother, who smiled at her while contently holding the girl’s younger brother in her lap.

  Suddenly the girl was scooped up from behind, and she erupted into laughter when she realized it was her father, who was soon raining kisses all over her face as he carried her back to where the picnic basket awaited the family.

  Victoria shuffled the little boy into the crook of her left elbow as she opened up the basket Sarah had made for them that morning. As much as Victoria tried to convince her that she was a grown woman who was perfectly capable of cooking for her family, sure enough a couple of times a week Sarah would arrive at their home a few miles from town with baskets of food. This, in addition to the weekly Sunday meals Sarah and Charlie hosted.

  Sarah’s wedding had been a beautiful affair. Victoria smiled as she thought of it. They held it outside in the summer of 1883, on a July morning when the brilliant sun was just starting its ascent into the sky. The newlyweds had beamed at each other with smiles of the young at heart.

  Callum and Elizabeth’s arrival brought Victoria out of her daydream and back to her present, in which she was just as content. As Callum reached her, he dropped a kiss on her head, just as he had to Elizabeth, and reached an arm around his wife.

  “Great spread, Vic,” he teased, tucking an unruly curl behind her ear.

  “Why, thank you,” she replied. “I worked quite hard.”

  They set out their dinner as Victoria smiled at him that special smile, reserved only for him.

  The McDougall estate was now safely in the hands of Callum’s brother. Finlay had a way with the land and the people and was making a fine chieftain. Duncan McDougall had come around to the idea with much more agreement than Callum had thought possible. They were in Scotland visiting the family when Victoria had shared with Callum that she was with child. His family was jubilant, but they had returned home for Victoria to give birth.

  Callum made the return trip, in a cabin this time, with a newfound freedom as the weight of his future had been lifted from his shoulders. He realized now that the destiny of becoming chieftain had always been a burden to him, not a privilege, and he was much happier in the life that was now set out before him.

  He also had Gregor here with him, less than an hour’s ride away. Everything had been settled following his kidnapping affair.

  “Do you think we’ve heard the last of your stepfather?” He asked, thinking on all that had brought the two of them together.

  “Oh, Callum, why ruin fine day speaking of him?” she said with a frown.

  “But all is well, Victoria,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Despite his attempts to become involved, you received your inheritance. Because of it, we have land of our own and a beautiful house to raise our children in.”

  “True,” she mused. “And I have the most handsome husband, an officer of the law who cuts a fine figure in his red uniform.”

  “That you do,” he said with a wink.

  Goodness, he loved his family. He smiled at his wife, now busy trying to keep both children in line and fed while her hair had, like always, come out of the top knot and trailed along the side of her face.

  When she caught his eye once more with that smile, those violet eyes that had always so captivated him reached in and caught his heart once more.

  Every time he looked at her, he was reminded that as much as the land felt like home, his home would not be in any one place. It was with her.

  THE END

  * * *

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  Finlay’s Duty

  Preview Finlay and Kyla’s story, book 2 of The Victorian Highlanders…

  1

  Late September, 1882 ~ Aldourie, Scotland

  “There’s a definite chill to the air this morn,” Finlay remarked as he and his brothers crossed the courtyard of Galbury Castle on their way to the stable.

  “Much like every other morning these days,” his brother, Roderick, said. “Summer has left us and the autumn has set in. You must admit, though, Finlay, it has a certain beauty to it. The red and gold of the trees, the shimmer in the air when your warm breath hits it—”

  “Wasn’t much of a summer though,” Finlay muttered, cutting him off. While Roderick was right on the beauty of the grounds around the tower house, beauty would be of little help in paying their debts and keeping the crofters of their clan happy. If Roderick could wax poetic regarding a solution, Finlay would be ever grateful. Otherwise, he didn’t want to hear his brother’s meandering thoughts.

  They continued on to the stable, where they each entered the stalls to see to their own horses. They took pride in their renown as the finest riders in the area – how could one not be after having their father as teacher?

  "A horse is only as useful as its rider,” Duncan McDougall always said.

  Riding prowess was a required trait for any holding the McDougall name, which made it difficult for their sister, Peggy, who had struggled to ride her whole life. Riding was in the blood of a McDougall. At one point in time their skill had aided them in battle. Now, riding was primarily a means of transportation, although Roderick had been known to race in the odd contest.

  Finlay snuck Hurley a sugar cube as he saddled him. The spirited black stallion had taken some time and effort to control, but horse and rider were now always perfectly in sync. Finlay wouldn’t admit how much he loved the stubborn horse, who wouldn’t allow another near him.

  As they left the stable and trotted their horses down the well-worn dirt path that cut through the tall grasses leading out of the main courtyard, Adam fell in beside Finlay. His younger brother had a quiet intelligence that Finlay responded to more than he did most people. All listened intently when Adam spoke, for he never did so without putting in a good deal of thought on the matter first.

  “How are you feeling about everything, Fin?” he asked, perceptive to his brother’s brooding silence. “I know you’ve always felt responsible for this place. Now you know it will truly be yours one day.”

  “I still have trouble believing that Callum tossed us aside as he did,” Finlay responded, not directly answering his question. “I know we’re not in a great spot right now, but to leave behind your family, your responsibility, all you’ve ever known, for a woman? I can see why Father was shocked. I could never do such a thing, not with so many people relying on me.”

  “Of course you couldn’t,” said Roderick, who had ridden up behind them and was listening closely to the conversation. “That’s why Callum knew all would be all right. You love this place, and you appreciate the responsibility. He knew it would be better off with you.”

  Finlay sighed. He had been as surprised as his father was to receive the letter that Callum wasn’t returning home from across the ocean. He had gone west to find their cousin, Gregor, and he had found not only him but a wife as well — a British wife. He said that together they had decided to stay in the Northwest Territories, and now Callum was going to be an officer of the l
aw, of all things.

  Finlay wondered whether this woman had devised some scheme to cause his brother to take such an action. How else could Callum have just left them all?

  By staying, Callum had given up his claim to become chieftain of their clan one day. Not that there was much to give up, Finlay mused. They were barely getting by as it was and his father was more a landlord than anything else.

  “The MacTavishes moved some of their crofters again,” said Roderick, breaking through Finlay’s thoughts. “Instead of livestock, they think raising Lowland sheep will bring in more income.”

  They could be right, Finlay mused, though he didn’t react to Roderick’s words. But they could be wrong too. He preferred to be cautious.

  “There’s something else,” Roderick continued. “They are attempting a new scheme of sectioning off part of their lands and inviting Lowlanders or Englishmen to hunt in their woods, for a price of course. It seems they’ll be building a wall around part of their property.”

  Finlay’s head swung around at the news.

  “They are doing what?”

  “I know,” Roderick said with a sigh. “I don’t like the idea either, bringing foreigners into our parts. But it could work.”

  “To where did they move the people?” Finlay asked, his mind racing with the potential consequences. The MacTavish crofters who neighbored theirs were already living on fairly non-arable land.