Highland Trails of Love

by Barbara Bard

“With what?”

  “I require a wagon to take someone from this estate far north.”

  “You're asking me to go against your father.”

  “I'm asking you to help me as you once helped Sarah, and in a way you'll be helping Sarah again. My father is planning another attack on the Highlanders to succeed where my brother failed. He will stop at nothing to bring them to their knees, and I know that he will not take mercy on Sarah or Rosemary. As far as he is concerned they are the enemy now because they have turned their backs on the Sassenach. I hoped that with my return he would be swayed from this course of action, but I fear that nothing will. If we do not get word to the Highlanders they will be completely unprepared for what awaits them, and our friends will be killed.”

  George sighed heavily, rubbing his jaw with his hand.

  “I'll do what I can. I can't stand by knowing that people I care about are going to be hurt. Would you mind doing something for me? Is there a way you can just let Sarah know that I'm unharmed, and that I'm glad she has found happiness that seemed so elusive here. We bonded somewhat during her time here, and it would be a relief to my heart for her to know that I am well.”

  “I shall do so. I believe you were her only friend here.”

  “That is not true. She considered you a friend, and it plagued her to not be able to tell you the truth.”

  Catherine thanked George and left with much on her mind. She thought back to the time she had spent with Sarah and how harsh she had been with the girl after she had found out that Sarah had been lying to her. Ever since that moment Catherine had been angry with Sarah, even when Sarah had been trying to make her stay in the Highlands more welcoming.

  Catherine saw now that Sarah had been right about everything. This life wasn't for her, and Catherine knew that she was going to be miserable. At least she would be able to help Declan escape. Then at least she could go through life knowing that he did not hate her. It would be a small comfort, but a comfort nonetheless.

  Through the evening and the night Catherine plotted and schemed. Her father was paying her little attention now, for in his mind she was only a girl, and did not have the capacity to plan anything nefarious. She was going to prove him wrong, and set the plan in motion for two nights’ time, which should give her plenty of time to arrange things with George and Rebecca.

  However, something of a wrench was thrown into her plans when she was called to dinner and found another man sitting with her father. He had wispy white hair drifting off a bald scalp, like clouds clinging to a mountain, and his skin was sallow and wrinkled.

  “Catherine, please meet the distinguished Lord Edmund Headingly,” Athelred said with a proud smile. Catherine forced a polite smile onto her face, pushing the revulsion down into her stomach. Edmund Headingly took an age to push himself to his feet, and when he walked his entire body shook, as though he was so unbalanced he very well may have fallen over if a strong gust of wind interrupted his path.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you,” Catherine said, curtsying as she had been taught to do. Edmund came up to her and looked at her with milky eyes. He bent down, his bones creaking as he did so, and pressed his lips against hers. With every breath he wheezed. His skin was flaccid and covered in fine white hairs. He was far older than she had imagined, and she felt a tremendous sense of pity for herself, and anger at her father.

  “The pleasure is all mine, I'm sure. Athelred, you have indeed made an old fool like me very happy,” Edmund said, casting his eyes over Catherine, before turning back to Athelred. They all sat down, but during the entirety of dinner neither man spoke to her. They were too busy discussing current affairs, and when Catherine tried to engage in the conversation both men looked at her as though she was mad.

  It was a thoroughly depressing time, and was a grim forewarning for the life that awaited her.

  Part of her considered escaping with Declan, but she knew that her father would never stop until he found her again. The only way for Declan to have peace was without her, and if she had to make this sacrifice then she would do it willingly.

  However, she also knew that she needed to act quickly. With her future husband at the estate it would not be long before she was whisked away and would be unable to put her plan into action.

  Thus, it was that as night fell she rushed out of her room wearing a cloak and went to the servants’ quarters, where she found Rebecca, indicating that it was time.

  With her heart in her throat, Catherine moved briskly through the darkness, hoping against hope that she would be able to save Declan from his most miserable fate.

  Chapter 18

  The hours passed slowly. For all Declan knew days had passed, perhaps even years. The more he was forced to look in on his own mind the more he realized how dire his fate truly was. He thought about the world that continued despite his absence. People would still have lives, grow old, fall in love, whether he was there or not. He would never prove himself as a warrior. He would never earn the respect of his cousins. He would never make his father proud.

  A life had been denied to him. He was so young, and there were so many years left for him. He had been impatient, wanting to grow up quickly, and now it was over before it had started.

  “Ye should nae be sae glum,” Alastar said. “It's nae good for yer disposition.”

  “It's easier for ye. At least ye had a life before ye were thrown down here. Ye hae memories tae fill yer mind, good memories, memories of the Blue Thistle and everything else ye did. I hae none of that.”

  Declan was convinced that there was no hope in anything, so when he heard the sound of footsteps again he didn't even move.

  “Declan, where are you?” Catherine said in a whisper.

  “I hae nothing tae say tae ye,” Declan called out.

  “Stop being so pig-headed. I'm here to rescue you!” Catherine cried. Declan heard the keys rattle in the lock and raced to the door. He saw Catherine there with the serving girl.

  “What are ye daeing? Are ye mad?” he asked.

  “Would you rather I left you in here? We have to move quickly, before anyone discovers what we're doing. I have a wagon waiting for you. Rebecca helped me get the keys, but she has to get them back before anyone notices they're gone.”

  Declan didn't need telling twice. The doubt that had fostered in his heart told him to be wary, for this could well have been another trap, but he was not going to pass up this opportunity. However, he wasn't about to leave Alastar behind. He rushed back into the darkness and told his new friend what was happening.

  “Then let us be swift!” Alastar said, leaping to his feet in an agile manner. He and Declan ran to the door and were through. They had only moved a few footsteps, but the relief was plain on their faces, and it was as though they had left another world.

  “You should lock up here and leave food as you would do regularly. Do not do anything out of the ordinary,” Catherine instructed Rebecca. She nodded, and busied herself with her task. As she did so, she passed Alastar, who grabbed her arm, startling her.

  “What is yer name, lass?” he asked.

  “Rebecca,” she replied anxiously, her face as white as a sheet. Alastar smiled at her.

  “Ye hae my thanks for all ye hae done for me. I would nae be here if it weren't for ye and yer pretty face,” he said, then the three of them left. Rebecca was a little flustered, and didn't seem to know what to think. Declan wondered how Alastar could have such good spirits after all this time, and he was fairly confident that he wouldn't get an answer.

  Catherine led them up the stone steps and out into the fresh air. They all looked around carefully, making sure that they would not be discovered.

  “Why are ye daeing this?” Declan asked.

  “Because I need to. I want to. Because I owe you,” Catherine replied in a harsh whisper. She waved them forward and placed her hand over her mouth, gesturing for them to be quiet. They skulked through the darkness. Occasionally they heard the snippet of conversation from gro
ups of people, and these caused all three of them to hold their breath. There were still so many things that Declan wanted to ask Catherine, but they were yet to have the opportunity.

  Once the area fell silent again, they moved forward and made their way to the wagon, where a man was standing. Declan stiffened, ready to leap to the attack, but Catherine calmed him and told him that the man was George, and he was here to help.

  Declan was just waiting for the moment when this all would turn out to be a ruse, but once they were at the wagon it seemed unlikely. Alastar was helped by George into the wagon, for time was of the essence, but Declan couldn't leave without speaking to Catherine again.

  “Ye seem tae have found some good help,” he said.

  “I can be resourceful when I need to be. But do not waste time with words. You must go before you are seen. Ride hard, ride fast, and do not stop until you have reached the Highlands. Tell Blair and Drew that war is coming. You must help them prepare.”

  “What? Are ye nae coming with me?”

  “I cannot. My place is here.”

  “Ye still believe that? When everything is telling ye otherwise!” Declan said, trying to keep his voice a whisper. As if to tell him to keep quiet, Catherine glared at him.

  “If I leave now my father will track every wagon that left until he finds me, and then he will kill all of us. At least this way nobody will know you have gone. Rebecca is going to continue going to the dungeons as though you are still imprisoned, and by the time anyone discovers the truth you shall be far away. As will I.”

  “What dae ye mean?”

  “My husband has arrived at the estate. I will have to go towards London with him as soon as time permits. It is unlikely that I shall ever be this far north again. I...I needed to do this before I left. I couldn't bear the thought of you rotting in the dungeon for the rest of your life, not when I owe you so much. You are the bravest man I have ever known, and your place is with your people, just as my place is here. Tell Sarah and Rosemary that I'm sorry for everything. I wish that things could have been different.”

  The last words choked in her throat. She went to turn away immediately, but Declan grabbed her arm. He couldn't let her leave yet. He wasn't ready.

  “Are ye mad?”

  “No, Declan, I'm not.”

  “Ye cannae dae this. Catherine, look at ye. All the time I've known ye, ye hae been a woman. Ye come back here and ye are a lass, daeing yer father's bidding. Dae ye want tae marry this man?”

  Catherine's eyes darted towards the ground.

  “Well, dae ye?” he asked again.

  “No. No, I don't, but I have no choice.”

  “Ye always hae a choice. Ye can dae whatever ye want. Catherine, I know ye. I know that ye are not made for the life yer father wants for ye. Where is the spirit of the lass who danced at our feast? Where is she?”

  “She's back in the Highlands, Declan. It was easy to be that woman there. It's different here. I have responsibilities, duties, and I can't always do what I want.”

  “Yes ye can. Dae ye really want tae be old and gray, looking back at yer life wondering where it all went? Ye may as well gae back tae the dungeon if ye are gaeing tae marry this man. Dinnae gae, Catherine.”

  “I must,” she gasped. Declan could feel her pulling away from him. His heart thundered within his chest. He dared not let go of her, for he knew that if he did she would be gone from his life forever. He clutched her hands and felt her trembling fingers in his palms. It seemed like so long since they had last pressed their flesh against each other.

  Catherine's liquid eyes glistened under the light of the moon. There was a desperation, a vulnerability in them that he had seen on a few occasions before. The first time had been when she was weeping in her room, and Declan had been intrigued. She was a strong woman, but there was an aspect of her that drew him in and enchanted him, making him want to take care of her.

  “Catherine, please, dinnae gae. I cannae bear the thought of leaving ye here. Ye rescued me, now it is time for me tae rescue ye. I am nae leaving without ye. I have nae always been the kindest tae ye, but I dinnae want any harm tae come tae ye. If ye stay here ye are only gaeing tae be sad.”

  “But what of my father?”

  “We shall ride through the night and put as much distance between us as possible. I hae spent tae much of my life living in fear. Ye should nae make the same mistake,” he said. He implored Catherine with his eyes and hoped that she wouldn't tear herself away from him again.

  There were so many things he could have said, so many things that even he wasn't sure of himself yet, but he hoped that the look in his eyes would be enough. The two of them had been through so much together already it didn't seem right that they should be parted now, not when there were still so many forces against them.

  Catherine took one look back at the estate and then inhaled deeply.

  “We must move quickly,” she said. Declan grinned from ear to ear. George helped them into the wagon and then slapped the horse on its rump. Alastar drove through the gates of the estate at a steady pace, not wanting to raise alarm, but as soon as they were out of sight he geed up the horses and galloped as fast as they could towards the Highlands, towards home.

  Declan and Catherine were sitting in the back, looking a little sheepish.

  “I'm so sorry for what happened before. I honestly didn't know what to do. It was difficult for me to stand up to my father. I'm still not sure I have made the right decision. I never imagined I would be able to turn my back on him like this.”

  “It is better that ye are here with me than back in that place. Ye dinnae belong there, even though it is yer home. Tae think that he would try tae marry ye off,” Declan said, shaking his head. Then, he breathed in deeply and looked at her. “I am sorry tae. I dinnae mean what I said. I was angry, and I know ye only said what ye did because ye were scared. I could nae have expected ye tae dae otherwise. Thank ye for rescuing me.”

  “You're welcome. I truly didn't want to deny what happened between us. I...it's just all so confusing.”

  “I know what ye mean,” Declan said.

  From the rear of the wagon they could see the wide estate fading into the distance. A thick cloak of darkness fell upon it, and the burning lights caused by the torches and lanterns peppered all through the estate glowed like fireflies. Declan was sitting so close to Catherine that he could feel how tense she was, and how intently she looked back at her home.

  “Are ye sad tae be leaving?” he asked.

  “I should be, but I can't bring myself to be. From the moment I was forced to stay in the Highlands I longed to be home, but when I returned I found that it wasn't home like I remembered. I suppose I didn't realize how different the life here would be. When I met the man supposed to be my husband I wanted to do anything to get away, but I knew that by doing so I would be putting yourself and the others in danger. I hope that we don't all suffer because of this.”

  “If we dae, then we shall suffer together. I know that the others would have wanted me tae dae the same thing. I swore tae them that I would bring ye back, and that is what I intend tae dae.”

  “So is it just a sense of duty that makes you want to bring me back with you?” Catherine said with a teasing smile.

  “Nay lass, there is much more tae it than that,” he began, but he didn't get a chance to finish. The wagon jerked a little and then came to a complete stop. Declan and Catherine looked at each other anxiously. Declan wondered what was wrong. If there was a group of bandits or soldiers who had stopped them they would be in deep trouble. Declan prepared to fight, although he was still without his sword, for Catherine hadn't been able to salvage the weapon.

  They moved out of the wagon and peered past the thick hide that was covering the wagon, anxious about what they may find. Much to Declan's annoyance, Alastar jumped in front of them, almost causing Catherine to shriek.

  “What are ye daeing?” Declan asked, staring at Alastar with incredulity. Alastar be
ckoned the both of them forth from the wagon.

  “Is there a problem with the horses?” Catherine asked.

  “Nay lass, there is nae problem here. Declan, I cannae gae with ye.”

  Declan threw up his hands. “Am I the only one who actually wanted tae leave that place?!”

  “I hae unfinished business there,” he said. “I cannae leave before it is done. We will see each other again though. I can promise ye that.”

  “How? Why would ye gae back there when ye hae just escaped?”

  “Because I can finish what I started. I just need tae find a sword, and then I can be on my way. Now that I'm free I can be honest with ye, Declan, for that is the least ye deserve. Dinnae tell anyone this, but I am the Blue Thistle.”

  “Ye? But ye said that ye fought with him.”