by Alisa Adams
“Looks as though we finally have you cornered,” one of the guards said as they emerged from the treeline. There were five of them, and while Bryan was confident in his abilities as a swordsman he knew that sometimes there was nothing even the most skilled swordsman could do against superior numbers. “You’ve given us quite the merry chase. It will be a very pleasing thing to kill you.”
“Ye can try,” Bryan growled, gripping his sword tightly. He took the measure of the men as they came towards him and braced himself as best he could. He danced and twisted to evade their blows, and for a short time he thought he might even have a chance as he felled one of the guards, but then he mistimed his steps and stumbled, and felt the hilt of a sword jabbing into his ribs and another slashing at his thigh. He yelped in pain and swung his sword up in a clumsy wide arc, which was good enough to make the guards step back for a moment, but did nothing to stop their oncoming onslaught.
Their blades gleamed in the morning light and they screamed death. Bryan clenched his jaw and readied himself for another attack, knowing that this one could be his last. But then he heard a rumbling in the distance, and his heart sank even further. What was it going to be this time? More guards? Or perhaps even Nathaniel to gloat over his demise? Bryan didn’t think Nathaniel would want to miss his death.
However, the guards seemed as confused as Bryan did, and then suddenly a massive horse came crashing through the trees, ridden by a flame-haired warrior who wielded a bow. He shot two quick arrows in the hearts of two of the guards. The loud thunk of the impact was followed by the collapse of their bodies, and then this mystery man rode past another guard and whacked him with the thick wood of his bow, which was a heavy enough blow to knock the guard unconscious.
Suddenly the leader’s small force had been utterly obliterated and he had a look of disbelief on his face. Now faced with two fierce Highlanders, he chose the wiser course of action and ran away.
“Dae ye want tae chase him down?” the flame haired warrior asked.
“Nay,” Bryan said. All he wanted was to embrace Catherine, which he did. He held her tightly and calmed her trembling nerves, and then he turned to face the warrior. “Thank ye for ye aid, but who are ye?”
“The name is Angus Mackenzie, and ye’ve been forming quite the reputation…Bryan.”
Bryan was perturbed at how Angus knew his name. He recognized the Mackenzie name of course, but he was still suspicious.
“What dae ye know of me?”
“I know that there is a bounty on ye head, and ye hae been accused of kidnapping this wee lass,” Angus replied.
“I wasn’t kidnapped! I came here of my own free will,” Catherine snapped.
“Oh aye lass, I can believe that. In my experience ye English lasses are prone tae dae what ye like nae matter what the consequences might be,” Angus said with a knowing smile. “And it seems ye hae been in quite the predicament. I hae been trying tae find ye for a wee while now. We received word that this was a mistake, that ye would never dae such a thing.”
“Word, from who?” Bryan asked, confused.
“Oh, from all over. It seems as though ye hae helped a great many people over the past few years Bryan, and they came tae us because they thought we could help. It seems as though ye hae won some friends, sae if ye would like tae come back with me we can decide how tae proceed, that is, if ye are tired of living in the wild.”
Catherine and Bryan glanced at each other, and then nodded firmly. Angus slipped down from his horse and allowed Catherine to ride upon the animal, and then they headed back to the Mackenzie stronghold.
Along the way, Angus, Bryan, and Catherine shared stories. Angus told him all about his brother, Seamus, who had been married to Sarina, and English girl. Catherine had many questions as the story had spread and there were still some rumors that Seamus had forced her to marry him against her will. The actual truth of the matter was surprising, filled with intrigue and betrayal, and Bryan felt reassured that at least he wasn’t the only one to have been through a great ordeal. Angus also told them of his own story of how he had fallen in love with an English girl called Emily and Bryan noticed how his eyes danced whenever he spoke about her. In turn, Bryan and Catherine told him their story, and he listened intently.
“My brother Seamus will know what tae dae,” he said.
Soon enough they reached the stronghold and Bryan gasped as he saw the keep. It was impressive in so many ways, and he knew that this kind of place was where his family had lived. A place like this was his birthright, but he would never get to call something like this his own.
The place was busy with all manner of people going about their business, and the surrounding area was beautiful. Catherine was quite taken with it as well and they walked hand in hand, as though they were entering a new world.
When they entered the castle, they were taken to a large hall in which there were a few people sitting. Bryan was introduced to them in turn; there was Seamus, Sarina, and Emily, who Bryan had already heard mention of, and then Angus’ parents, Martha and Donald. As soon as the introductions were made, Donald muttered Bryan’s surname as though it meant something to him and then scurried off, but Angus assured Bryan that he was always doing things like that and not to take any notice of it.
There wasn’t much chance to think about it anyway, as Bryan’s attention was soon turned towards Seamus. Bryan and Catherine recounted their story and Seamus stroked his chin, looking over to his wife.
“I dinnae like the sound of this. I hae experience with devious Englishmen, and this Nathaniel cannae be allowed tae get away with the things he hae done,” Seamus said once Bryan and Catherine had finished. “But I hae tae be honest with ye, I dinnae want tae gae tae war. If ye stay in the Highlands with Bryan dae ye think ye da will be at peace with it?”
“No,” Catherine replied, “but I’m sure I can make him see sense. I know that deep down he will not want a war either. This entire hunt is driven by my uncle and if we can get him the justice he deserves my father will understand.”
“Then I shall arrange for a parley. Until then, ye shall hae our full hospitality! Make yeselves at home,” Seamus declared. Bryan almost wept with relief at finally having help from some allies. He looked over to Catherine and smiled widely. It seemed that, at last, their troubles were going to be over.
24
Catherine had felt so relieved ever since Angus had appeared and rescued them. She had been afraid that she would have to watch Bryan die, and was glad to have avoided that fate and found others who had been through similar things as her, and who were willing to help. She was anxious to see her father again even though she knew all hope of undoing this mess was to convince Thomas that Nathaniel was the one to blame, but at least she and Bryan weren’t alone any longer.
The Mackenzie family was a unique one, and she was quickly made to feel at home. Martha was a charming Highland woman, and Sarina and Emily had great affinity for Catherine, most likely because they saw in her a lot of themselves. Catherine spent much time with them and their children, and they each told their story of how they had fallen in love with a Highlander. Catherine was transfixed by everything they had to say, and was glad to hear that they had enjoyed their happy endings. She could only hope that hers was soon to follow.
They feasted and enjoyed the company of the clan, and were told that a parley would happen within a couple of days. In the meantime, Bryan and Catherine enjoyed all the pleasures that their bodies had to offer as they felt like their tribulations were finally coming to an end. As they lay together in bed after making love, with Catherine’s body still trembling from all the sensations he gave her, she looked up at him and saw the way the moon fell over his face, casting him in a silver glow. He looked like something ethereal, as though he were a mystical creature from a fairy tale. In some ways she believed he was, for she couldn’t believe that a man like him existed outside of her dreams, and that he was willing to take her heart.
“What are we gae
ing tae dae taemorrow if ye da dinnae wants tae give ye up?” Bryan asked.
Catherine pressed her head against his chest and wore a look of concern, for the same question had been plaguing her mind. “I shall be able to convince him, but I agree. I do not want to plunge Seamus’ clan into a war on my behalf. But no matter what happens Bryan, I shall always be yours. I want you to remember that.”
She planted a kiss on his lips and pressed her forehead to his mouth and then snuggled into his arms again, wishing that she could stay there forever.
On the morning of the parley Catherine was particularly nervous about seeing her family again. The nature of her escape would have caused her father undue concern and she hated knowing that she would have caused him so much pain, and could only hope that if she explained it to him he would have the depth in his heart to understand. Nathaniel, though, was another matter entirely. She was sure that the relentless pursuit and the reward had all been his idea, and her father would likely have followed his lead. It was time to put an end to his games once and for all, and expose him for the kind of man he truly was.
The day of the parley was bright, although a fierce wind whipped around them, making Catherine’s hair blow in the wind. Bryan and she had been given horses to ride, and they rode out with Seamus, Sarina, and Angus. Emily stayed behind to look after the children. There was also an army of Highland warriors behind them, just in case things didn’t go to plan. They were greeted by a long line of English guards, at the forefront of which were her father and uncle. Seamus had instructed them to let him do the initial talking, and he strode forward with his wife by his side, while Thomas and Nathaniel came to meet him.
“I see you are still in the habit of taking in English ladies,” Nathaniel said. Sarina gave him a vicious glare.
“We’ve heard about your pursuit of this man and we have been assured that it is ill-informed,” Sarina said. “I still have influence within the Bashir household and I do not believe my brother would have approved of this action, if you had checked with him.”
“It was not my place to check with anyone, except my dear brother,” Nathaniel replied. “All we want is the safe return of our darling Catherine so that she can be married to her betrothed and fulfill her duty as a daughter of the household. Her place is not in these Highlands.”
“Her place is wherever she choose it tae be,” Seamus replied. “Ye hae been swarming over our lands, disrupting our towns, all for the sake of this man,” he pointed to Bryan.
“And now, thanks to you, we have found them. It’s time for justice to be done. Hand over the boy and the girl and we’ll be on our way, and you won’t have to worry about any other incursions into your land again,” Nathaniel said.
Catherine hated how quiet her father was being. Once again it seemed that Nathaniel was the one with the true power, while her father was just a shell of his former self. She knew that this parley wasn’t just going to determine the fate of herself and Bryan, but also the fate of her father as well.
“This boy,” Nathaniel spat, “is guilty of a heinous crime and he must be punished as we see fit.”
“The only crime I’m guilty of is being in love,” Bryan said, stepping forward, “and if that is a crime worthy of death then sae be it.”
“And if that is a crime then I am guilty of it too,” Catherine said, stepping forward with Bryan and placing her hand in his. “Father,” she said, ignoring Nathaniel completely, “I do love this man. I wasn’t kidnapped against my will, and I wasn’t forced to do anything I didn’t want to do, not by him anyway.”
“So be it. If the two of you are determined to die together then I see no reason to wait. Guards!” Nathaniel snapped his fingers and there was a nasty gleam in his eyes. Catherine tried to swallow the lump that had formed in her throat as she wondered if her father was going to put a stop to this. It took longer than she would have liked, but eventually Thomas raised his hand.
“Steady yourself Nathaniel, I am not going to order the execution of my own daughter.”
“But she is proving to be more trouble than she’s worth! She’s defied you at every turn and all you wanted was something simple from her. All she had to do was marry Lord Ralls and we could have increased our influence in the government,” Nathaniel said, although he hadn’t caught himself in time and Thomas’ eyes narrowed.
“Justice does have to be done today, but not justice for me. Justice for you, Uncle,” Catherine said, raising her voice so that everyone can hear. “You threaten people and take money from them, good honest people who want nothing more than to till the land and enjoy their lives, and even that’s not enough for you. You want to take more, you want to rape their daughters, and all this time you’ve been trying to usurp my father so that you can have the power for yourself. You’re cruel, vindictive, and you think that you can get away with anything because everyone is afraid of what you can do to them. Well Uncle, I’m not afraid, and neither is Bryan. The only reason you have such a vendetta against him is because he gave you that ugly scar,” as she said this Nathaniel’s hand went to his face and he scowled, “but know this, no matter what happens today we escaped your clutches. We escaped and you didn’t even see it coming, and you couldn’t catch us, despite all your efforts. We outsmarted you, just a little girl and a Highlander. How does that make you feel?”
Nathaniel’s eyes bulged with anger as he glared at Catherine. A vein on his forehead twitched and his hands formed tight balls. “How dare you speak to me like that,” Nathanial growled, his words driven by pure, raw emotion. “You had one job to do you stupid girl. Just one job! But no, that was too difficult for you, wasn't it? You had to fall in love, pah! Love is just a lie people tell themselves. Love means nothing.”
* * *
“How dare ye speak tae her like that!” Bryan cried out and ran forward, sword in hand. Nathaniel defended himself and waved away the guards, seemingly eager to get his revenge on the boy who had given him a scar. The two envoys were static as Bryan and Nathaniel duelled, swords flashing quickly, but Nathaniel’s hubris was swiftly proven to be in error as he was no match for Bryan’s unbridled rage, fuelled with a need to protect the woman that he loved. Soon Nathaniel had been thrown to his rump.
“If you want her that badly then take her,” Nathaniel spat. He had been driven into a crazed frenzy and wasn’t conscious of what he was saying, or who was around to hear him. “She’s not innocent. She’s conniving, just like her mother before her.”
“Ye’re wrong. Love means everything,” Bryan said.
Nathaniel barked a laugh. “You’re so young you probably believe that, but it’s not true. Women just get in the way. That’s why they have to be removed before they become more trouble than they’re worth.”
“Like my wife?” Thomas growled. Nathaniel’s face paled as he turned around to face his brother. Nathaniel backtracked and stammered out an insistence that he didn’t mean anything by his comment, but Thomas wasn’t having any of it.
There were gasps all around. Thomas’ face had hardened and his lips pursed.
“All these years I tried to tell myself I was being paranoid. I ignored my suspicions for the sake of my own sanity,” Thomas wore a grave expression. “I convinced myself that you would not have been capable of such a thing...I was wrong.”
Catherine felt as though her heart had fallen all through her body. A hush fell over everyone and Catherine honestly wasn’t sure what her father was going to do next. Never had Catherine suspected that Nathaniel would stoop so low to do such a thing to his own sister-in-law, but she shouldn’t have been surprised. There was no limit to his cruelty, but to think that so many years of pain and misery could be laid at his feet…her anger was overwhelming and she could only imagine what her father was feeling at this moment, to know that the man he had put so much trust in, the man who had been by his side all these years had taken the life of the woman he loved.
Catherine wouldn’t have been surprised had Thomas run Nathaniel thr
ough with a sword there and then, but Thomas restrained himself.
“Take this man away,” he growled to the guards. He turned a deaf ear to Nathaniel’s pleas, and Catherine was filled with a strange sense of pity for her uncle. In one instant he’d had his power taken away from him, and now he was just a small, petty man with no hope at all. That was more than he deserved.
Catherine smiled at Bryan and walked forward to her father, who looked as though he had aged a few years in those few minutes.
“I can’t believe that it was him all along. I should have seen. I should have known…”
“You couldn’t have known, Father. How could any of us? He put himself into a position where you depended on him, but what’s important is that you’ve seen him for what he truly is and we don’t have to be plagued by him any longer. All of his plans can no longer bear him any fruit.”
“But this…but he took care of so many things. How can I run the estate without him? Without you?”
“You will find a way Father, because it is your birthright, and you have plenty of good people around you to help. Betsy, for one, is resourceful, and you’ll find there are many servants who are more willing to work for you than they were for Uncle Nathaniel. It’s time for you to move on, truly, and remember what you once were.”
Thomas smiled at her sadly.
“I am sorry for all I have put you through. I never intended it to get this far. I never intended you to feel harm.”
Thomas chuckled darkly. “That last night that we were together, when we spoke, you spoke of how you would always miss me. I thought it strange that you would speak as though you were never going to see me again. I assumed it was merely nerves, but now I realize that there was something more. It seems Nathaniel’s plans were not the only ones I missed. I missed you growing up. All this time I thought you were still the same girl. I thought that you needed a husband to take care of you, but I was wrong in that as well.”