Highlander's Daring Escape (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance)

by Alisa Adams

  He hoped that she had enjoyed what she had seen as much as he had.

  But it also made him realize that he could never settle down on the farm. Oh, he could likely have a satisfying life with Janie that was filled with a gentle kind of happiness, but it would never contain the sweeping passion that he so wanted, and would never lift him to the heights of greatness. It was nothing against Janie, who was a sweet girl, but she didn’t inspire in him a strong feeling of love. In the days that they had spent together he had not felt anything as strong as he’d felt in that single moment with the English girl. And he hadn’t even learned her name…

  He strode back to the farm, always being mindful of his surroundings as he didn’t want to risk being caught by an English trap. He had been reckless in attacking that man, but he would have done it a hundred times over to protect Janie’s honor. It wasn’t right that a man like him could come into Hamish’s home and take what he wanted. It showed a lack of respect, and Bryan wasn’t going to stand by and let it happen without doing anything about it, even if it had made him an enemy of the English.

  He sheathed his sword and kept to the shadows until he saw the farm again. He crept around the pigsty. There was no sign of the English or the wagon, but he knew that people could be crafty and they might be hiding anywhere. He managed to creep up to the farm and peer through the window to see Hamish, Martha, and Janie sitting around the kitchen table, looking entirely disconsolate. Feeling confident that the English had left, because he imagined he would have seen some sign of them by now if they were sticking around, Bryan rose and knocked on the door.

  When Hamish opened the door, his face paled, but he welcomed Bryan in. Usually Hamish was in good spirits, but now he was despondent. Bryan wondered how much he knew of what had happened with Janie.

  “Come and sit lad,” Hamish said, offering Bryan a seat at the table.

  Bryan sat down. Janie squirmed uncomfortably.

  “I’m sorry for what happened today,” Bryan said.

  “Ye dinnae hae tae be. I brought ye down here tae defend us, tae make us appear strong. I knew what kind of man ye were when I saw the sword hanging from ye waist. Janie told me what happened and I can only thank ye for defending my daughter’s honor. But it comes at a price.”

  “I understand,” Bryan said.

  “He came back and tasked me tae find ye, tae deliver ye tae him. He is quite tae temper lad, and he will nae forgive ye for what ye hae done. He will want tae find ye and the best thing ye can dae is tae run and never look back. I wish ye could stay here. It’s nae secret that I wanted ye tae inherit the farm and make a good husband for my daughter. But right now it is for ye own good tae leave.”

  Bryan bowed his head. He knew that this had been one possible path he could have taken, and in his mind his destiny unspooled; he thought of staying here and marrying Janie, of having healthy, strong children and taming the land, making the same journeys to market as Hamish had made, until one day it would be left to his own children. It would have been a good life, but it wasn’t the one he was made for. And secretly he was glad, for he knew he could never have loved Janie in the same manner as she loved him, and while he had not actively deceived her he knew that nobody deserved to have half a love.

  “But what are ye gaeing tae dae when he returns and ye dinnae hae me here?”

  “I shall think of something. I’ll supply him with extra coin or give him a particularly succulent cut of meat. Hopefully by that time he’ll have calmed a little and won’t take his wrath out on us. I’ll hae tae find another farmhand tae help me. But what will ye dae?”

  “I will gae back tae wandering, trying tae find my path. Thank ye for all he hae done for me Hamish, and I hope that he dinnae give ye any more trouble.”

  Bryan rose.

  “At least stay the night lad.”

  “I cannae, if he should return and find me here…I cannae bring more anguish upon ye house.”

  “Well, at least take some food with you,” Martha said, and set about forming a pack of meat, cheese, bread, and some fruit. All this time Janie had remained quiet and her eyes had been fixed to the floor.

  “I want tae thank ye especially Janie. It was ye quick thinking that allowed me tae escape. I’m sorry that ye blanket got torn, but it saved my life.”

  “And ye saved mine,” Janie said softly. She flung her arms around Bryan’s neck and then began weeping fitfully. She ran upstairs, and it would be the last time he ever saw the woman who, in another life, could well have become his wife. Martha set the pack on the table and wished him well before she went upstairs to tend to her daughter. Bryan collected his things and placed the food in his pouch, and then shook hands with Hamish.

  “Well, I hope ye stay out of trouble,” Hamish said. Bryan grinned.

  “Trouble has a way of following me wherever I gae,” he said. It was with sadness that Bryan left Hamish’s farm because they had been friendly to him and offered him a way out of his lonely life. The last parting gift was a horse, and Bryan was extremely grateful for this as his legs would soon drop off before he got to the next village.

  But now he was free again to wander the land and breathe in the fresh air of the Highlands. He walked up to the crest of a hill and looked all around him, drinking in the sheer grandeur of the countryside. His gaze turned back north, where he had lived all his life. He was a child of the north, but slowly he turned and gazed south, towards England.

  All his life he had been traveling through the Highlands trying to find a place to settle. Being with Hamish had been an opportunity to remind him that his life didn’t have to follow one inexorable path. He wasn’t ready to return to a life of scraping by with no name and no home to call his own. He wanted a quest, and there was one ready and waiting for him. He couldn’t get the girl out of his mind. She was present in his thoughts even when he wasn’t actively thinking of her, as though she was floating around his head, haunting him. Before he had seen her he hadn’t known she existed, but now it seemed impossible to him that he had managed to make it this far through life without knowing she did exist. It was as though he had been shown a pure truth and he was unable to drag himself away. The pull towards her was strong, even if it was futile. He gazed to England and wondered what she was doing at this very moment, and if she was thinking of him.

  He doubted it, but he was a young man and his life was filled with nothing but time. A quest for love was a worthy one indeed, even if it was likely to end in heartbreak and misery, so he decided that perhaps it was time for him to leave the Highlands for a while and see what exactly it was that England had to offer. He had an ulterior motive as well, for he didn’t like the fact that the grey-haired man could simply return to Hamish’s farm and continue his cruel tyranny over them. The wound Bryan had given him had only angered him. He would have to suffer more if he was ever to give up his hold on Hamish’s family. Bryan knew that a man like him wouldn’t be deterred by one strike, and it was likely that when he returned he would just take what he had been denied on this visit. Even though he wasn’t going to marry her or love her, Bryan was still going to defend Janie’s honor.

  So it was that he sat astride his horse and galloped down the road towards England, traveling as fast as he could to catch up with the carriage that held the enchanting English lass.

  Because he was only a single ride he moved more swiftly than the carriage, which trundled along, so eventually he spied it in the distance and had to slow his pace. The last thing he wanted was to be captured, for he suspected he would likely be executed on the spot. But being so close to danger gave him a thrill. It reminded him of the days when he and his father would trail bandits in the name of justice. He knew he was doing the right thing, and he just about managed to keep his distance even though he was tempted to ride up so he could catch a glimpse of the English girl.

  6

  Catherine’s mind was still on the mysterious stranger when she returned home. Throughout the carriage ride she had been gazing
out at the horizons, hoping to catch a glimpse of the stranger, although she saw nothing but the land. She didn’t mind lying to her uncle. Lying was a sin, of course, but her uncle was a special case and she didn’t think the Lord would mind if she kept this one secret. After seeing the way he acted with that family she was certain there was more to the story, and that perhaps this man wasn’t as much of a villain as her uncle claimed.

  She tried to keep as quiet as she could during the ride home. Nathaniel was in a black mood, and there seemed no end to his anger. He was frustrated and bitter, and he seemed to have the temperament to go to war with the entirety of Scotland!

  All the while Catherine and Betsy sat there in silence, enjoying the secret they shared that they had allowed the man to flee. Who was he? Catherine couldn’t stop thinking about his dark, brooding eyes, his rugged demeanor, and the powerful hands that gripped his sword. She had to turn away from her uncle because her skin flushed every time she thought of the stranger, and she felt queasy inside. The trip to the Highlands had certainly given her more than she had bargained for, and she was now wondering if there was any man that could conjure up such wild and passionate feelings inside her after just a brief meeting.

  Her heart skipped a beat whenever she thought about him, and she was eager to return to her home so that she could compose herself. She ignored her uncle’s mutterings and his promises and vows to make them pay, but she hoped she would have another chance to see that man again, just to know more about him. The only thing of note she learned was that his name was Bryan Pressley. It was a strong name, an honorable name, a name of a hero.

  They returned late in the afternoon and as soon as they arrived Nathaniel left the carriage and marched inside. He had been holding a cloth to his wound all during the journey home, and blood had dripped onto his thighs and the carriage seat. She felt bad for her uncle, of course, but there was something amusing about the situation, and the wound wasn’t serious enough to threaten his life.

  She and Betsy giggled together as they went inside and bathed after the long journey, but now that she was home, Catherine was filled with a sense of melancholy. She knew that in her life she would rarely feel the same sense of freedom she did when she had been sitting by the stream, surrounded by nature. Every morning she had woken up with the sight of the countryside welcoming her to the new day, and she would have to give that up if she were to move to London. It hurt her heart to think of all the things she would have to sacrifice. Her uncle didn’t make marriage sound appealing at all.

  Soon enough it was time for dinner, so she joined her father and her uncle in the dining hall. Nathaniel had the wound seen to and it had been treated with ugly stitches. The gash ran down one side of his face and the skin around it was red and swollen. Catherine tried to not look at it too often, as it would put her off her meal.

  Dinner was roasted pheasant with potatoes, onions, and carrots. Her father drank ale, her uncle drank wine, and she was forced to have water. She’d only tasted wine and ale on special occasions and had enjoyed the taste, but apparently it wasn’t suitable for a girl her age to enjoy those particular delights. She was sitting on one side of the table opposite her uncle while her father sat at the end. The other end was empty, as it always was. It had been her mother’s chair, and father still insisted that a place was set for her out of respect. After all these years he still refused to let her go completely. She could only hope that her husband would love her as much as Thomas loved her mother.

  “Thomas, I must insist that something is done about these savages. Next time you must allow me to take more men so that I can suitably canvas the area. I fear they are growing complacent and do not take my threats seriously anymore.”

  Thomas wiped his mouth before tucking into his food again.

  “I don’t concern myself with such petty matters. The tax they bring in is negligible anyway. Perhaps you should stop going to the Highlands in the first place if it’s so much trouble.”

  “The tax isn’t the most important thing. It’s the fear we instill that matters. We need to remind them that we are their superiors. If they show such flagrant signs of rebellion and we do nothing, what does that say about us? This man, this villain, attacked me and I will not stand for it. We must do something!”

  “What do you expect me to do? He is a single man who has had a day or more to flee. He could be anywhere. I’m sorry brother, but I think this is one time where you have to lick your wounds. And don’t worry, I’m told that women like scars.”

  Thomas laughed, but Nathaniel glowered as he moved the food around his plate.

  “I rather liked the Highlands. I didn’t feel in danger at all. It was beautiful. I’m looking forward to going there again,” Catherine said.

  “I shouldn’t think you’ll get another chance. Soon enough you’ll be married,” Nathaniel said. Catherine was stung by this.

  “Is it all going to happen so soon?” she asked.

  “I am preparing a final list of potential suitors for your father to look over as we speak. Do not fret, I have taken the matter under a great deal of consideration.” Nathaniel wore a sly smile and Catherine hated it. She gulped down a tender piece of meat and sipped her water. There was a question she had wanted to ask, but had been too afraid to do so. Recently she’d noticed that people spoke negatively of her whenever she spoke her mind, when as far as she could tell she hadn’t changed at all. It seemed that in a young girl willfulness and a determined attitude were traits to be admired, but when it was time for that girl to turn into a woman they were suddenly sins, and it was much better for a woman to be passive and to let others make decisions for her.

  “What happens if I do not wish to be married, or do not agree with the choice that has been made for me?”

  Nathaniel scoffed. “You would be a spinster! Oh my dear girl, this is exactly why you cannot be trusted to make your own choice. There are certain matters which girls like you don’t understand, so it’s better that we make an informed choice for you. There’s more that goes into a marriage than you think, girl. I’m sure that if you had your way you’d fritter yourself away on a man without a name and without anything to offer.”

  “The only thing you need in marriage is love, surely?” Catherine asked.

  “That’s the last thing you should concern yourself with,” Nathaniel said. He laughed hard again and threw his hands up in the air, but in doing so the stitches on his face split and the wound opened again. Blood seeped out and trickled down his face in a thin line, dripping into his meal. Nathaniel noticed the way that Thomas and Catherine were looking at him and touched his face. He brought his fingers down and saw the small red stains on his fingertips. Immediately he rose from the table and rushed out of the room.

  Thomas sighed, shook his head, and took a long gulp from his mug.

  “That’s his answer, what about yours?” Catherine asked pointedly.

  “Your uncle has a point, my dear. I know you would like to choose your husband yourself, but this is a time when we need to ensure the family’s future. There are indeed other considerations to take into account. I’m sure it would be much easier if you could simply fall in love and choose your husband yourself, but that is not the life of a noble lady. A marriage to you is more than just a relationship—it is an alliance, a treaty, a promise that will bring benefits to both houses.”

  “I just want to have a husband who loves me as much as you love mother.”

  At the mention of her mother Thomas’ head hung, and then he chuckled dryly.

  “Do you think our marriage was any easier? Catherine, I was chosen to be your mother’s husband. I remember hearing that she didn’t want anything to do with me. She was as willful as you are, but then we met and she found me agreeable I suppose, and ever since then we were happy. The same could be true of you. I promise you that I won’t make you marry anyone you detest, but you have to be open to marriage. This is going to happen, and the longer you wait the fewer eligible men there are
going to be. I do wish your mother were here because I’m sure she could explain it better than I, but we each have our duties to perform. Men are forced to go out into battle, while women have to put their hearts on the line. Give it time and give any husband a chance, you might find that you like it more than you think.”

  Catherine nodded. There were moments when her father could be an incredibly wise man, but she too wished that her mother was there to speak to. At least then Catherine might have been given some advice on how to gauge whether somebody would be a suitable husband or not.

  “Father, you said that when you met you realized that you loved her. How did you know? Was it when you spoke to her?”

  “Oh no,” he shook his head vehemently, “it was when I first saw her. Our eyes met and I knew that she was the right woman for me. Sometimes magic happens when two people meet, and it doesn’t happen all the time. I was a lucky one. I hope you’re the same,” he said.

  Catherine nodded mutely, feeling as though she might well have been lucky, or cursed, depending on the perspective. It was unlikely that she would ever see the mysterious Highlander again, and yet she knew that something special had passed between them. Never before had she encountered a man whom she thought of this frequently, although she couldn’t reveal that to her father, of course.

  “Will Uncle Nathaniel really take more men up to the Highlands?”