Highland Trails of Love

by Barbara Bard

“Wait!” a voice cried out. A woman with flushed cheeks ran up to them. Alastar furrowed his brow, wondering what she could possibly want. She breathed heavily, and they all had to wait a few moments for her to catch her breath.

  “Sir,” she began, “I would implore ye tae help before ye leave.”

  Alastar was a little perturbed, for he knew that every moment he wasted was another moment in favor of Lord Flynn.

  “For what dae ye seek help?” he asked.

  “It's my son, please, come with me,” she said, and led him and Rebecca to her home. “I remember when ye and ye father came here before. Ye father was always kind tae us. He would dae anything tae make sure that we were safe. We never hae tae worry about anything when we knew the Blue Thistle was out there, watching over us. It is good tae see the Blue Thistle riding again.”

  Alastar looked down at his clothing and realized that he looked exactly like his father had. It would be a long time before he got used to being thought of as the one true Blue Thistle. He took the woman's words in the kind manner they were meant though and followed her to her small home. She led them in and Alastar saw a small boy laid in a cot. He was young and looked the worse for wear.

  “He has a fever,” she said. The boy writhed around. His skin was flushed and beads of sweat rested on his head. “Ye father was always good at finding cures for ailments. I wondered if ye could dae the same for him now,” she asked.

  Alastar was torn, for he knew that if he delayed his journey many could die, but as he looked at the boy, and heard the pain in his mother's voice, he knew he had to help.

  “I can try,” he said. The mother's face lit up. He and Rebecca asked her a little more about his symptoms, and then left the village to go and walk through the woods around them.

  “It's a good thing you are doing,” Rebecca said. “I know how badly you want to carry on north.”

  “I know, but I would nae be a good Blue Thistle if I let the boy die. My father always said there are some quests an army cannae dae, this being one of them. But we cannae take long,” he said.

  Chapter 26

  Rebecca followed Alastar out of the small village into the forest. They were not on horseback this time, for Alastar said that it would only slow them down as they needed to find a specific herb. Rebecca was in awe of him. Compared to him she had lived a sheltered life, and she looked on with wide eyes as they made their way through the forest.

  Alastar peered at the scenery, looking for something specific, something that Rebecca just could not see. When she followed his gaze, she saw mere plants and weeds, trees and bushes and bramble. Alastar saw something completely different. This was his world, and she was beginning to see it through his eyes.

  It was wonderful.

  “Do you think he will be cured?” Rebecca asked.

  “If we get this back tae him in time,” Alastar said.

  “Can you tell me what we're looking for? Two sets of eyes may be able to find it more quickly than one.”

  “It's a plant that usually grows in clusters, with thick, spiky leaves. If you see it dinnae touch it, for it can give ye a nasty sting. There is much in this place that can hurt ye, but if ye know what ye are daeing there is much that can aid ye as well,” Alastar said without stopping.

  Rebecca walked alongside him, scouring the landscape for any sign of this plant.

  “How exactly are you going to use it to help the boy?”

  “It has liquid inside it. When mixed with some heated water it can be quite soothing. It will ease his fever. My Da used it on me when I was young,” he said.

  Now that she had spent a great deal of time with Alastar, Rebecca noticed how his voice grew heavy whenever he spoke about his father. She wished that she could do something to lighten the burden, but perhaps being beside him was enough. She certainly wasn't going to let him turn her away. He might think that he had to live in this world alone, but she was of the opposite opinion, and wasn't going to let him tell her otherwise.

  Alastar was starting to curse under his breath. At one point, Rebecca exclaimed for joy, thinking she had found the plant they were looking for, but it turned out to be something similar. Then, there was a rustling in the bushes and a black snout poked out.

  Alastar and Rebecca turned around, startled. Alastar immediately walked in front of Rebecca and stretched his arm out, protecting her. The animal emerged from the bushes, a lean, young wolf pup. Eyes gleamed yellow and white teeth glistened with saliva. It stopped when it saw the two of them, its lithe body turning rigid.

  Rebecca gasped at the sight of it.

  “Be careful lass, even though it's a pup it can still be deadly,” Alastar said.

  “It's just a puppy?” Rebecca asked.

  “Aye,” Alastar said, drawing his sword, ready to defend them. Rebecca seemed to have other ideas though. She moved past Alastar, who called her back as he saw that she was making her way towards the wolf. She crouched down and spoke in a low, cooing voice.

  “Hello little pup. Are you far from home? Don't worry, we won't hurt you,” she said, creeping ever closer, reaching out a hand. It was shaking, but she was trying to put on an air of bravery. It seemed wrong to her for Alastar to simply cut down this wolf when it had shown no hostile intent. It was just an animal, and she had to hope that there was goodness in its heart, especially since it was young.

  “Lass, what are ye daeing? Get back here!” Alastar said in a harsh whisper. He did not move for fear that he would provoke the wolf. If the wolf made any dangerous movements Alastar was too far from Rebecca to pull her away.

  “Come on, come here,” Rebecca encouraged. The wolf seemed wary at first, mirroring Alastar's reaction, unsure if he should trust Rebecca. Rebecca nodded her head. Slowly, the wolf took steps towards her and then was standing right next to her. As she looked at the wolf, she noticed its thick gray fur, and its beautiful eyes.

  She pressed her hand into the wolf's fur and stroked its back, scratching it around the neck and ears. The wolf responded to this with great delight, closing its eyes and growling with contentment. Rebecca giggled a little as she felt its hot, stale breath tickle her skin. She glanced back at Alastar.

  “There are other ways to deal with things than killing them,” Rebecca said with a smile. Alastar took his hand from his sword, although he still looked ready to leap into action at any moment, not trusting the wolf at all.

  “Aye lass, but ye are lucky that is a young wolf. If it were a full-grown one ye would be dead.”

  Rebecca patted the wolf for a little longer before she heard a soft howl in the distance. The wolf pricked up its ears and turned in the direction of the noise. It pulled away from Rebecca and scampered back in the direction it had come, but before it disappeared completely it looked back at Rebecca as if to say goodbye, and then leaped into the bushes.

  Rebecca placed her hands on her thighs as she rose and exhaled deeply.

  “Well, I can honestly say I never thought I would be talking with a wolf.”

  “Ye were lucky. Next time ye may nae be sae fortunate,” Alastar warned.

  “If I'm to stay in these woods then I shall have to learn how to make peace with the wildlife. I am not like you. I do not want to strike down anything that poses a threat. I believe there is always an alternative.”

  “Sometimes aye there is, but sometimes the only end is the final one,” Alastar said, his voice sounding heavy again.

  “Alastar, I want to ask you this once, just once, and I want you to give me an honest answer. Do you really think you have to kill Lord Flynn? I know that the man has caused you great pain, he has caused great pain to many, but is there no room for a treaty to be struck?” she asked.

  She half-expected Alastar to get angry with her, but instead he sounded resigned to his fate.

  “There is nae room in Lord Flynn's heart for mercy. I hae tae kill him, nae just for my father, but for every man out there. If I kill him the war is over, and this feud can be ended. Lord Flynn is the one who
hae stoked the fire. With him, the flame will be extinguished.”

  “I understand,” Rebecca said, and for the first time she truly did. It was clear now that Alastar didn't only want Lord Flynn dead for mere vengeance. Rebecca just wished that somebody else could do it. Now that she had shared intimacy with Alastar she didn't want him to put himself in danger, but she also knew that he wouldn't be the man she had fallen in love with if he didn't put himself at risk.

  It was a paradox, but then, love often was.

  Now that the wolf left them alone, they resumed their search for the plant. Rebecca continued to hope that she would know it when she saw it, but in truth most of the plants looked the same to her.

  “I never saw any of these plants in Lord Flynn's gardens,” Rebecca said.

  Alastar scoffed. “Lord Flynn hated us sae much that he nae even wanted our plants in his home.” He found the whole thing amusing and began to laugh.

  Suddenly, he fell silent. He pushed his way through some bramble. Prickles and thorns scratched his skin, but he didn't even seem to notice them as he reached up and pulled out a small plant, which looked exactly as he had described.

  “Is that it?” Rebecca asked.

  “It is indeed,” Alastar replied, grinning. They made their way back to the village with haste. As soon as they returned, Alastar instructed them to heat some water over a fire. He went to the boy's side and knelt, waiting for the water to be brought to him. Rebecca stayed with the mother, offering her comfort. Rebecca dearly hoped this would work. The loss of a child was always devastating, for there was always so much life left to live.

  A jug of steaming water was brought in, along with an empty cup. Alastar tore away a thick leaf and began to strip it away. Then, he placed the leaf in between the heels of his palms and squeezed it over the cup. Rebecca looked on with interest as she watched the thick, viscous sap drip from the leaf. Alastar did this with all the leaves, and then poured in the water. He swirled the mug around and dipped his finger in to ensure that it was properly mixed. Then, he tasted the remnants that lingered on his finger before he tilted the boy's head up and placed the cup to his lips.

  Since the boy was so weak, much of the liquid fell around his chin and onto the bed, but enough of it seemed to get into the boy's mouth. He coughed a little, and then Alastar placed his head back onto the pillow.

  What she witnessed almost seemed like a miracle, for Rebecca saw the boy's color improve before her eyes. He had been deathly pale, covered in beads of cold sweat, but he seemed better instantly.

  The mother left Rebecca's side and went up to Alastar, thanking him profusely.

  “He should be fine now, but if he does nae improve then dae the same again. He'll soon be causing ye trouble again,” he said with a smile. The mother was almost crying with relief, and embraced Alastar tightly, her small body shuddering with emotion.

  Alastar managed to extricate himself from her grip and made his way out of the small hut where the horses were waiting for them.

  “It is time for use tae leave,” Alastar said.

  “Farewell Alastar,” the leader of the village said. “Farewell Blue Thistle.” He took Alastar's hand and shook it vehemently. Alastar was proud to be called the Blue Thistle. He pulled Rebecca up to his horse and they made their way out of the village, on their way to meet the McCalls.

  Chapter 27

  Alastar gripped the reins tightly. The horses' hooves thundered across the ground, but still he was not going as fast as he would have liked. However, he couldn't risk traveling across the open roads and empty fields, not yet, not while there was a chance of running into English patrols. They were still in dangerous territory, and if they didn't make it back to the McCalls then the Highlands were doomed, and Alastar would not let that happen.

  The feeling of Rebecca's arms around his waist brought him great comfort. In the end, he was glad that she had defied him and chosen to stay. He only hoped that it would not cost her life.

  The sun traveled across the sky as they rode the horse to exhaustion, only stopping when they were in dire need of food and water. Alastar hardened his heart to their plight. He had endured years of imprisonment; he could endure a tough journey as well. It was taking its toll on Rebecca and the horse though, but he could not afford to give them too much leave.

  Alastar was the one who told them to keep moving, cutting short the respite they had earned. He pushed them forward, knowing that a matter of moments could be the difference between life and death.

  He had hoped to make it to the McCall clan before nightfall, but that had been a generous estimate. They fell short, and had to make camp in the darkness, the moon shone upon them and the night was quiet. Although Rebecca had spent some time in the forest, she was still afraid of what lurked in the shadows.

  She cuddled up to Alastar and they shared a blanket, using the warmth of their bodies to heat each other. The night fell away as they lost themselves in soft kisses. Alastar held Rebecca's soft body against his, enjoying the weight and companionship. He understood now why his father had placed so much important on his relationship with Alastar's mother, and why he would have gone to the lengths of giving up his role as the Blue Thistle.

  Alastar waited until Rebecca had fallen asleep before he closed his eyes and let himself fall into slumber. This time he had allowed them the risk of having fire. The farther they got into Highland territory, the more unlikely it was that they would find an English patrol. Most likely, Lord Flynn was summoning all his forces together to make one onslaught on the Highlands, a swift strike to end the threat of the Highlanders for generations to come.

  The fire crackled and danced beside them. Rebecca looked beautiful, her chest rising and heaving with each breath. She had shown much fortitude, and Alastar hoped she realized how strong she truly was. She would be tested in the coming days. They all would.

  That night, Alastar was not haunted by nightmares. He slept soundly, and when he awoke, he smiled as he gazed upon Rebecca's beautiful visage. It was tempting to let her rest for the time being, but they had to make haste.

  He nudged her awake and welcomed her into the rosy morning. She stirred, yawned, and then kissed him lightly and lovingly on the cheek.

  “Did you sleep well?” she asked.

  “Better than I have in a long time,” he admitted.

  “I am pleased to hear that. You should not be plagued by such horrors night after night, especially when the threat of war looms. That is horror enough.” The two of them remained quiet for a few moments, then Rebecca spoke again in an attempt to get their minds away from the fate awaiting them. “Do you think we'll make it to the McCall clan today?”

  “If we make good time, we should be there for an evening meal,” Alastar replied. He noticed that Rebecca looked a little nervous. “Are ye well, lass?”

  “I am, although I am somewhat anxious about going to this clan. I am English after all.”

  “Aye, but it seems as though they have a soft spot for ye. I am sure ye will be most welcome,” he said, trying to reassure her. Rebecca smiled at him, although it was clear that her fears were not allayed.

  “In truth,” Alastar added, “I think ye shall be more welcome than I.”

  “Why do you say that?” Rebecca asked, surprised.

  “I am a Highlander without a clan. The strength of a Highlander is usually derived from the size of a clan, which is why the McCall’s are the strongest. If ye are a strong clan then ye may include others nae of ye family, and ye will get even stronger.”

  “But your father chose to live alone.”

  “Aye, our family was nae big. Da could have sought of distant kin tae make us strong, but he wanted tae walk his own path, and sae shall I. But other Highlanders dinnae understand.”

  “I'm sure they will if you explain it to them. And don't forget that you are not alone,” Rebecca said, placing her hand upon his. Alastar smiled and was instantly taken by a desire to have her. He wrapped his strong arms around her and
hauled her to the ground. They rolled over, ending up beside the ashen ground where the fire had died. Rebecca was on top of him, his arms were around her waist, pinning her to him. Strands of her hair tickled his face and he had never seen a more beautiful sight.

  She leaned in to kiss him, and he felt the manly stirrings surging through his body. There was nothing he wanted more than to take her, but he had a duty.

  She kissed him ardently, but he pulled his face away.

  “I wish we could lass,” he said, caressing the side of her face.

  “But we have to get to the McCalls,” she said, finishing his thought for him. She bowed her head, pressing her forehead against his, then kissed him deeply. “But I will be waiting, and anticipating,” she said, lowering her voice into a very teasing and tempting tone. Alastar smiled and kissed her again.