“Nay, lass,” Alastair said, “but I can’t leave you out here alone. I’m on my way home to Gleann; you’ll be coming with me. Your welcome to stay there until you figure out what you want to do.”
“I don’t even know you,” Mairi said to him. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You have a choice, lass,” said Angus, interrupting the pair, “you can go with Alastair to Gleann, or you can travel back with me and my men to Tarmon, but we won’t leave you out here alone.”
“You can’t make me go anywhere,” she said to them both. “Just leave me be.” As she spoke, she put her hand on her belly, her very round belly.
“Are you with child, lass?” Alastair asked her, noticing the large bulge for the first time. It’d been well hidden by her skirt and cloak up until now.
“I am,” she said, her eyes again filling with tears. “I won’t let you hurt my babe.”
“I would never hurt a bairn,” Alastair said, a bit offended. “What were you doing traveling on a cart in your condition? You must be due to deliver soon.”
“In about a month,” Mairi answered. “My husband said it wouldn’t hurt the bairn or me to travel another sennight, or two.”
“Have you seen a midwife recently?” Alastair asked.
“Quit asking me so many questions,” Mairi said to him. “What I’ve done or haven’t done is no concern of yours.”
“Stop with the attitude, Mairi,” Alastair warned. “Babe or no babe, there are ways of correcting a woman. I’m trying to help you, just accept the kindness I’m offering.”
“I didn’t ask for your kindness or your help,” she said. “Just leave me be, and I’ll be on my way.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Angus said. “Gleann or Tarmon lass, your choice.”
“I don’t understand why you can’t just let me be,” Mairi answered. She looked at the faces of the two men and knew she wasn’t going to talk either one into leaving her alone to travel on her own. Instead, she decided to be agreeable, while beginning to plan how she could get away from them later. She’d had enough experience with men to know none of them could be trusted, and she’d escape from them the first chance she got. “I’ll go to Gleann. Could one of you help me back up on the cart?”
“You’ll be riding with me, Mairi,” Alastair said to her. “I don’t care what your husband told you; you’re too far along with your bairn to be riding on that bumpy cart bench. I’ll have one of the guards drive it for you.”
Mairi could see there was going to be no talking the big Highlander out of it. “Alright,” she said, nodding. “I’ll ride behind you.”
“You won’t be safe riding behind me,” he said, mounting his horse. “Hand her up to me, Angus.” Before she could protest, Angus gripped her gently around the waist and easily lifted her up to Alastair, where he carefully sat her sideways across his lap. “Comfortable enough?” he asked her once he got her settled.
“Does it matter?” she asked. “I’m assuming I have no other choice.”
“You’d be correct, lass,” Alastair said, as one of the guards climbed up on the bench of her cart. “We’ll head back to the river where we watered the horses, and bed down there for the night. I hope we can make it to Gleann tomorrow, but with that cart slowing us down, it may take another day.”
“I’ll lead the way, stay alert, we don’t know if there are any more of those bandits out there,” Angus called out to the rest of his men, as he moved forward and the rest of the group mounted their horses and followed.
“At least those highwaymen won’t be attacking any more travelers on the road,” Alastair said. “I wonder if that was all of them?”
“They weren’t highwaymen,” Mairi told him.
“What do you mean, Mairi?” Angus asked, slowing his horse and letting them ride up next to him since he couldn’t help but hear the conversation they were having. “Who else could they have been?”
“I don’t know,” she answered, “but they said Lord Thompson paid them to bring me to him. I think they must have mistaken me for someone else; I don’t even know who Lord Thompson is.”
“You don’t know why the man would want you?” Alastair asked. He glanced down at her, she was a beautiful girl, he had a feeling he already knew why a man would want her.
“Nay,” she said.
“Where are you originally from, Mairi?” Angus asked her, still riding alongside them.
“I don’t know,” she answered again.
“You’re making no sense, lass,” Alastair said to her.
Mairi sighed, not knowing how much she could trust these men. She’d never met a man she could trust before, at least not one she could remember. “It’s a long story,” she said to them, “one I’m not willing to relive today, maybe one day I’ll tell you my tale.”
“I look forward to hearing it,” Alastair said to her, as they continued riding towards their camp.
They weren’t aware of it, but as they rode away, three sets of eyes peered out of the woods, watching them. “Those idjits,” said one of the men, “I told them to grab the lass and hurry back, but they insisted on taking whatever was of value the tinker had on his cart.”
“What do we do now, Donovan?” asked one of the others.
“I’ll ride back and tell my brother what happened and that she’s being taken to some place called Gleann. You two, follow them, and if you get the chance to grab the lass, do it and get out of there,” the man named Donovan answered. “If not, leave word at a tavern near this Gleann on where you’ll be staying, and I’ll find you when I return with more men. Stephen isn’t going to be happy about this.”
“Why’s he want the lass anyway?”
“That’s nothing you need to know, but he’s paid you a lot of coin to find this woman and bring her to him,” answered the man named Donovan. “I wouldn’t worry about the reason.”
Chapter 2 Trust
“This spot seems to be secure enough,” Angus said to Alastair, as they rode back into the clearing near the river. “What do you think?”
“Looks safe enough to me, but I’d feel better if we posted guards for the night,” Alastair said, as he stopped his horse and carefully lowered Mairi to the ground. “You feeling alright, lass?”
“I’m well,” she answered as her feet touched the ground. She didn’t want to admit it to him, but it was the gentlest she could ever remember a man treating her. Alastair McCabe seemed kind enough, but she knew better than to let her guard down and trust any man ever again, she’d learned that lesson too many times before.
“Set up a watch,” Angus said to one of his men. “Those highwaymen could still out there somewhere.”
“Sure Angus, I’ll make sure it gets done,” the guard answered, walking off to do what was asked.
“Are you hungry, Mairi?” Angus asked her.
“Do you have extra food?” she asked hopefully, not wanting them to know how hungry she was. It’d been a long time since her last meal, and since she’d been carrying her babe, she always seemed to be hungry.
“We have plenty, but even if I didn’t have extra, I’d give you what I have,” Angus said to her.
“As would I,” Alastair agreed. “Luckily, my sister Jacqueline made sure we had more than enough provisions, just in case we were delayed on our journey.”
“You’ll give me some of your food then?” Mairi asked, hoping it wasn’t some kind of trick.
“Of course we will, Mairi,” Alastair said. “Why do you sound so surprised?” Mairi just shrugged her shoulders and looked away.
“Didn’t your husband make sure you had enough to eat?” Alastair asked. He had a feeling he already knew the answer to his question, and it made him angry just thinking about her going without.
“There wasn’t always a lot of food available. Samuel said he needed to keep his strength up to work, so he needed more than I did,” Mairi said, giving the reason her dead husband had always given her when she went to bed at night
still hungry.
“Eat your fill, Mairi,” Alastair said, holding out the sack of food, “there’s plenty here.” Mairi tentatively took the satchel with the food in it from him, waiting for him to snatch it back from her, after a few seconds she realized he was really giving it to her to eat. She opened it quickly and smiled at what was inside, she pulled out cheese and bread and quickly began eating it. “Slow down, lass. No one’s going to take it from you.” Mairi didn’t even look up at him as her cheeks turned red, but she slowed and continued eating.
“Looks like we’ll have a fire tonight to keep us warm,” Angus said as some of the guards came out of the surrounding woods with dry pieces of timber.
“That’ll be good,” Alastair said. “We’ll put Mairi close to it. She can use my plaid tonight since the bedding in her cart is too wet to use.”
“What about you?” Mairi asked. “Won’t you be cold?” She didn’t want to let on that she intended to be gone before the night was over.
“With my cloak on, I’ll be warm enough from the fire,” he told her. “It’s only for one night. It’s more important that you stay warm.” Mairi nodded, beginning to feel bad for what she was planning to do. No, she quickly decided, she wouldn’t let her guard down, no man had ever told her the truth about anything. They all lied, she’d learned that lesson well enough.
Once she finished eating and was full for the first time in a very long time, Alastair led her over near the fire where his plaid was already laid out. “You get some rest, Mairi,” he said to her. “I’ll keep watch over you tonight and keep you safe.”
“Thank you,” she said as he helped her down onto the ground. Her belly had gotten so big it was beginning to get difficult to get on and off the ground without some assistance, but she’d have to manage it alone later if she planned to get away.
She watched as the rest of the men wrapped their plaids around them and found a place to sleep for the night near the now blazing fire. The heat from it felt wonderful. Two guards went into the woods, but she made sure she knew where they went, so she’d be able to avoid them when she made her escape. Alastair found a place not too far away, where he leaned against a large rock. He sat down, pulled his cloak tightly around him, and closed his eyes. Slowly, things quieted down as the men began to fall asleep. She waited until after the first guard change a couple of hours later; watching as the ones that had been on duty laid down, and new ones took their place. She waited again until she was sure they too had fallen asleep.
She slowly got to her feet, which was a much greater effort than she thought it would be. The cold ground and the struggle with the men earlier that day had made her muscles stiff. She moved as quietly as she could and made her way over to where the horses were tied. She found and untied one of the pair that pulled the cart her and Samuel traveled on since they knew her already, she’d taken care of them often enough. She began to quietly lead the horse out of camp, wanting to be far enough away when she mounted so that no one would hear her.
She was just beginning to think her plan was successful and she was going to get away when she heard noises behind her. “Well you made this easy on us, lass,” a raspy voice said. “Come along quietly now, and you won’t get hurt.”
“Who are you?” Mairi asked, trying to hide her fear, “and what do you want with me?” She began regretting her decision to sneak away, and knew she was probably too far away from the camp for anyone to hear her if she screamed for help.
“Who we are isn’t important,” the man said. “Lord Thompson paid us good coin to bring you to him, and that’s where you’re headed.”
“You must have me confused with someone else,” Mairi said, backing away. “I’ve never even heard of Lord Thompson.”
“You’re the right lass,” the man answered. “We’re sure of it. Come along now without a struggle, so you don’t get hurt.”
“She won’t be going anywhere,” Alastair said, as he walked out of the shadows, with his broadsword already drawn and raised, ready to fight.
“How are you gonna stop us?” the man said, laughing menacingly as both men pulled their own. “There’s two of us and only one of you.”
“Do you really think I came alone?” Alastair asked as Angus, and three other Tarmon guards stepped out behind him.
“I want one of them alive,” Alastair said as he unexpectedly swung his sword at the man, “but he doesn’t have to live long.” His sword connected with the man’s arm, leaving a large gash that immediately began bleeding heavily.
“You’re making a big mistake,” the man said as he dropped his sword and put his hand over the wound. He began backing up. “I already know who you are and where you’re taking the lassie. Lord Thompson’s brother is already on his way home to let him know that information as we speak.”
Alastair watched as Angus pierced the second man's chest with his sword, killing him instantly. “Why does this Lord Thompson want the lass?” Alastair asked him, as he grabbed him by the throat to keep him from falling.
“I don’t have to tell you anything,” the man sneered at him, as he clamped his hand down more firmly on top of the wound. It didn’t do any good, and the heavy bleeding continued.
“You’re about to die,” Alastair told him, squeezing his neck just a little tighter. “You were trying to kidnap a pregnant woman. Do you want that to be your last act before you leave this world?”
“Lord Thompson didn’t tell us why. He just said he needed the lass to get what he truly wanted,” the man answered, after thinking about what Alastair had said.
“Where is this Lord Thompson?” Alastair asked.
“He’s an Englishman,” the man explained as he began to fade. “His castle isn’t too far across the border.”
Before Alastair could ask another question, the man died. “Damn it,” Alastair said frustrated, letting go and dropping the body to the ground. He turned to Mairi, asking her loudly, “what did you think you were doing lass?”
“I..I..,” she began, all of a sudden scared of this big angry highlander.
“You were running away, lass,” Alastair answered for her. “Why? And where did you think you were going to go?”
“Edinburgh,” she answered softly.
“Do you know how far that is?” he asked angrily. “You’d never make it there alone in your condition. Don’t you care about the bairn you carry?” He knew he needed to calm down, but never had he felt so protective of a woman, except for his sister Jacqueline.
“I’m sorry,” Mairi said quietly. “I just wanted to get away.”
“Why?” Alastair asked her.
“I don’t know,” she answered. “I thought I’d be safer on my own.”
“Can you leave us?” Alastair turned and asked Angus and the other men. “I need a private conversation with the lass.”
“Remember she’s with child,” Angus reminded him. “What do you plan on doing?”
“I’m going to make sure she understands I won’t let her put herself in danger, and doesn’t wander off alone again,” Alastair answered.
“A switch works well on a woman like Mairi,” Angus said as he grabbed one of the dead men and began to walk away, pulling the body into the woods. He motioned for the rest of the men to grab the other and follow. He called back over his shoulder, “I’ve used one on my own wife a time or two when she was expecting our bairns.”
Alastair nodded as they left, making eye contact with Mairi, which she quickly broke and looked at the ground. “What do you plan on doing?” she asked him.
“I’m going to make sure you don’t run again,” Alastair told her as he stepped towards her. Mairi instantly put her arms up protecting her face. Alastair knew exactly what she was trying to do. “Did you think I was going to strike you like a man, Mairi?” Alastair asked her, shocked by her actions.
“Weren’t you?” she answered his question with one of her own.
“I’d never strike a woman in the face,” he told her honestly.
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br /> “It wouldn’t be the first time a man has done it to me,” she told him.
“No man strikes a woman that way, only a coward does. I know a much better place to strike a woman,” Alastair said as he cut a branch from the tree that was closest to them. “One that won’t do any permanent damage.”
“You’re going to beat me?” she asked him fearfully, as she watched him strip the bark from the thin branch.
“No, lass,” he said gently, “I’m going to spank you.”
“You have no right to do this,” she said, backing away from him a bit more.
“I have every right,” he told her. “You’re under my protection for the time being. Do you know what could have happened to you tonight if I wouldn’t have heard you and followed?”
“You’re no different from any other man I’ve ever come across,” she said to him. “They all say they’re going to protect me, but the only one I need protection from is them.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, lass,” Alastair said, “come, let’s get this over with.”
“I won’t run off again,” she said, again taking a step away from him. “I promise.”
“I know you won’t,” he said confidently, “I’m going to make sure of it.” He walked over and took her by the arm, gently, leading her to a large log that had fallen near the trail. “Lean over and put your palms on the tree lass.”
Mairi sighed, she knew there was no way she was going to be able to run from him in her condition, she just hoped he didn’t beat her too badly. She’d taken some hard blows from first John Murray and then from her husband Samuel; she wasn’t looking forward to it happening again.
Mairi leaned over, putting her palms on the tree just like Alastair instructed. She was trying not to panic, but began to shake when she felt him start to lift her skirt in the back.
“No please,” she pleaded with him once more, knowing what a man could do when she was in this position. Samuel had made that clear to her on more than one occasion. At least once she was with child, he’d left her alone, visiting the whores at the taverns in each village instead.
A Man of Honor Page 2