The Twisted Laird

by Cherime MacFarlane

  Ian raised both hands up in front of his chest. "Laddie, 'twas always Tally. Christ's bones, he owns tha warehouse, tha whole of it. I manage tha lot, he kens all. Dinnae do this, Edan. Give tha man what he wants. Swear tae God, ye need tae believe me here. He will hurt ye."

  Backing slightly away, Edan nodded. "Ye should've told me. I would have turned ye down in tha beginning."

  "Ye were in tha bastard's book when ye came on tha property. Aye, I should've said afore ye even spent tha first night. I was hard pressed, MacGrough. Had I nae found ye an nae produced tha barrels, well...ye ken, I'm fond of my body parts."

  "Devil take it! Smith, ye've put me in ah great muddle here. I've commissions tae fulfill. There's ah shipment coming in for tha yard shortly. I've buyers coming tae see tha lot as soon as it arrives. I cannae up an move intae tha cooperage an begin making barrels. What of tha authorities? One of tha orders is for ah official in tha customs house." Edan spun on his left heel and turned to pound his fist on the bench top.

  "Edan, I'm telling ye. Ye've nae choice, ye must do it. I'm searching for ah replacement now, but If I dinnae find one...." Smith let the possibilities hang in the air rather than speak them out.

  Turning, Edan stared at Ian. His one green and one blue eye were narrowed in anger. "An I'm tellling ye, I cannae. 'Tis nae possible. I'll nae take Tally's cac. If he does me harm, ye will all pay. Hear me on this, Ian, ye will be tha first tae suffer if Tally comes for me an mine." Grabbing the chisel, Edan stabbed it into the top of the bench. Imbedding it clear past the shoulder of the cutting edge, the chisel sat upright in the wood.

  "Get out, Ian. Go now, afore I lose my temper. Never come back. Do ye ken?" With his right hand still around the handle of the chisel, Edan did not look at Smith.

  "Aye. I'm gone, but I warned ye. Ye canne say I didnae warn ye." Spinning around, Ian Smith banged out through the door.

  Looking up at Jamie, Edan pulled the chisel from the wood and tossed it on the bench. "Where's Callum?"

  "Waiting with Smith's horse. 'Tis ah pile of manure. Checkmate is what we have here. Nae matter which way we move, we're gontae step in it." Jamie rubbed his right hand over his lower jaw. "Tally is ah right nasty piece. Ian is right."

  Edan growled something Jamie didn't catch.

  Anderson sighed. "Nae! I ken. 'Tis ah rock an ah hard place we're between here. With tha parson an tha village nearly in our beds, there's nae way for ye tae vanish for well past ah fortnight."

  "If we're tae guard anything, it's tae be tha house an those inside." Edan drew a deep breath. "Tha yard will need tae fend for itself. 'Tis an impossible thing tae try tae watch with only ye an me an three weans.

  Callum pushed the door slightly open. "He's gone, Laird." The lad's eyes were wide.

  "Good enough. Go intae tha cottage an tell Adie an Blane, I'll come for ye all in ah bit. Jamie an I have things tae discuss. Off with ye."

  Without a word, the boy withdrew his head from the opening and slammed the door shut behind him.

  Edan pointed to a stool. "Sit! I've some questions for ye, I've been putting off for ah while. It seems 'tis time, nae more delays."

  Jamie looked at Edan curiously. "An what might those questions be?"

  "I've ah need tae ken what ye learned of warcraft an tha like. It appears we are gonna be holding classes in such like for tha weans. I'm thinking this could get very bad."

  With a grin, Jamie took a seat. "Dinna fash yourself. I've learned ah bit. Ask away."

  Daracha and Rhona backed away from the connecting door between the cottage and the shop. Both women had shamelessly listened to everything that took place between the men in the shop.

  "Come!" Daracha took Rhona's hand and pulled her into the weaving room. Moving into a corner away from the main part of the house, Daracha began to wring her hands. "Dear God! Do ye think he will hurt Edan?"

  With a slight shake of her dark head, Rhona sought to calm her friend. "Nae. Unless they come with ah small army, Edan is nae likely tae be hurt."

  "But if they have guns. They could have guns, we've nae guns." Daracha's face was pale as she looked up at Rhona.

  "Well, we can find guns, needs must. We'll talk to Edan an Jamie later. Let them deal with what they need tae take care of now. Later, we can ask what measures they're taking."

  "Aye, but then they will ken we were listening."

  Grabbing her friend's hands in her own, Rhona leaned forward. "Hen, he didnae tell tha lads tae say we were tae hide away. If Edan thinks on it, he will ken we were listening. How could we nae?"

  "Och! Well, aye. Truly, how could we nae listen, they were loud enough. Ian is trouble, he always brings trouble with him." The frown on her face eased somewhat when Daracha looked back up at Rhona.

  "'Tis only tha oddness of being with child talking in ye.” Rhona told her. “Ye ken right enough tha training Edan had. Jamie is ah trained warrior as well. We'll need tae hear their plan an see how an where we might help. They're nae going tae try tae keep this from us. If one is in danger, tha whole of MacGrough is. Aye?"

  "True enough. Tonight, we'll ask. By then, they will have ah plan."

  Chapter Thirty - Six

  Leaving what the villagers were now calling Wood Lane, Ian rode toward Glasgow. Feeling guilty, the big man hoped the contacts he was on the way to see would have a name for him. What he had done to MacGrough was grossly unfair. Edan had been open and honest with him. In turn, he had involved the whole of them with Tally.

  If he could find a replacement soon enough to meet the deadline Tally would never need to know. If his search did not produce results, Tally would, unfortunately, discover MacGrough's unwillingness to "pay his debt."

  Tally was due nothing in this situation and that was the honest truth. At the warehouse, the women had worked as hard as any crew he ever hired. Without a whimper, they did all he asked of them.

  After the last time he and Edan had words, Ian did think on the matter. Yes, he did work the women too hard while Edan was off making the barrels. From what MacGrough said, he now understood the women did not say anything to their laird.

  Hard workers all, Ian hated to see them off to Grahamston. MacGrough now had Anderson fully in his camp. However, Edan was the man in charge. Losing him to the tolbooth for a while would do them no good, if that was all the authorities did.

  Ian had his suspicions regarding MacGrough. That being the case, it was more than likely the authorities would look askance at Edan as well. Were they even to suspect Edan was at Culloden, he was going to swing.

  Chancing it was far too dangerous to Edan and his flock of hens. Tally would not care one lick. The man was far too used to having his own way. An affront to his authority, is the way his employer would see Edan's refusal to cooperate.

  Ian knew as surely as it rained in Scotland, Edan would indeed carry out his promise to take revenge on him, if anything happened to any MacGrough. Somehow, Anderson was now lumped in with the rest. From what Ian knew of Jamie Anderson, Anderson was not his real name and he might be as likely to hang as Edan, if exposed.

  Kicking his horse in the flank, he urged it to a fast walk. Before the day was done he needed to find another cooper. Truth was, Ian was in for it, if one could not be found and put to work quickly.

  It was not necessary for Edan to get out the old Bible. Every word of the tight Latin script in the back had been committed to memory years before. All knew the writer was Gideon.

  To Edan, the way in which the writing went from tight to larger and more flowing, spoke of a boy growing into a man. The old book was one prize possession of the MacGrough clan. The information carefully noted on the pages tucked into the back of the Bible, was priceless.

  Even with the advent of cannons and hand held guns the information on seizing the advantage by choosing the ground whenever possible still held true. Other things, such as careful observation of the enemy in order to learn as much about how they thought as possible, was still viable.

  Edan k
new how Ian thought. Ian often let his temper carry him away before giving thought to his position. Tally was another matter. It was more difficult to evaluate the man, not having actually met him. Edan made what he could of the way in which that Smith conducted business. Obviously shrewd, the man let others like Ian stand in the forefront while he lurked in the shadows. It was therefore, reasonable to conclude Smith was not going to come and personally challenge Edan over his failure to knuckle under.

  Ian Smith was one of several men the business man employed to carry out his wishes. Edan understood what that meant for the future. Anyone attempting to do business with MacGrough without a reference from a trusted client was going to be suspect. As well as Edan knew himself, even those with a reference were now going to be subject to scrutiny. He could not take chances.

  Not bothering with the bread and butter issues, Edan did not bother to question Jamie too closely as to hand to hand combat. The matter of guns was all together a different thing. Both of them knew how to use the things. Killing the enemy from a distance had distinct advantages.

  The problem was how to acquaint the boys with the problems of aiming and the like. In the end, the men decided to train the boys with archery. Crossbows were very much akin to guns. In time they would need to obtain at least one firearm and take the boys somewhere they could practice without coming to the attention of the Sassenach.

  Not an insurmountable hurdle, providing the boys understood the principals of aiming first. Jamie was to find the metal bows. It was possible something could be salvaged from broken weapons. Edan would fashion the stocks. While that undertaking went on, Edan decided the boys would learn how to use a sling.

  Silent and deadly, the sling could easily be used by any child. Edan recalled a cryptic notation at the very end of the handwritten notes in the Bible. "Do not discount any woman as unfit for warfare. Use what ye must."

  "I'm of ah mind tae train Lara as well. She's canny."

  Jamie drummed his fingers on the top of the bench. "Aye. Are ye going tae teach tha other women?"

  "Nae need. The lot ken tha use of tha crossbow an sling. We've always been tae few tae nae use all our resources. I need tae make sure tha hens have what they need. I was thinking we were beyond that in tha city. Seems, I was ah bit short sighted."

  Leaning back a little on the stool, Jamie crossed his arms over his chest. "Are ye telling me Rut kens this?"

  With a broad grin at the question, Edan leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Aye, she kens tha use of those, an ah bit more. She can use ah sgian dub well enough if she must. Ah fact ye might keep in mind, if tha temptation tae stray wanders intae yur path."

  "I'd nae idea MacGrough's were such ah blood thirsty lot." Jamie shook his head at the thought of Rut wielding a knife or crossbow.

  "Och! Nae, laddie. Small, an tucked away between those greater than ourselves. We're fiercely determined tae keep what is ours an nae be swallowed up by any others."

  Jamie stood. "So, what an when? Now we have tha who, Callum, Adie, Blane and Lara. Are ye sure of Callum?"

  "Sure enough." Edan pulled the drawer under the desk top open. He reached for his writing materials. "I'm going tae make ah list. Nae be hurrying out tae purchase things, mind. 'Tis for when ye're out an about on business. I'm nae wanting tae alert tha Sassenach tae the possibility of weapons being made. We've ah bit of time, I'm thinking."

  Jamie watched over Edan's shoulder as he drew up the list of goods needed. "What are ye going tae use for bolts? Metal penetrates armor."

  "Aye, but 'tis nae likely Tally's bastard’s will have armor. They're thinking tae come on tae women an weans. I'm thinking tae use wood. It will enter ah man right enough, an if ah bone is hit, will shatter an make all wounds worse."

  "As I said, ye're ah blood thirsty band."

  Edan did not bother to look up from the list he was making to reply. "Me, ye, Callum mayhap an Adie. Blane is tae wee for doing killing. All tha hens with bairns need tae stay apart. So, we have Gara, Glynis an Jean tae add tae tha force. Nae many, depending on how many Tally sends against us. When they go down, tha bastards need tae stay down. If they're hit, I want them screaming in pain, so tha rest of tha buggers hear it. Whoever he sends needs tae ken any attacks on MacGrough will be bloody an ah goodly part will die, or be permanently injured."

  Anderson was silent for a moment. "Aye, ah good plan, albeit ah bloody one."

  Finishing the list, he turned to give it to Jamie. "Tha bloodier, tha better. Tally needs tae ken we're nae rolling over like some cowed dog, an giving him our belly. It needs tae cost him."

  "An how do ye ken tae do this "sling"? I've never seen tha like."

  Edan shook his head. "'Tis ah simple enough thing. Tha one I told ye about, my ancestor, he put tha instructions with tha rest. Seems he saw it in action while in tha Holy Land."

  "Tha Holy Land? I've ne'r heard of any excepting tha Black Douglas going on crusade. I nae recall any MacGrough's being said tae have gone along on tha journey, as one of mine did. I’ve heard tha tale. I wouldnae think MacGrough had tha coin or tha force needed."

  Rising to his feet, Edan looked at Jamie for a moment before beginning to recite a rhyme.

  Cadell MacGrough gave her life,

  Gideon Templar took her to wife.

  Ailene dug it out alone,

  Gideon set the capstone.

  The front bears the weight,

  Behind lies the gate.

  Beloved husband, Beloved wife,

  With Bruce through all tha strife.

  Jamie's eyes widened. "Gideon Templar? Yur ancestor was ah Templar? All tha old legends are true, then?"

  Edan nodded. "He was that, an ah bit more. 'Tis tha reason for tha dark coloring an why we do some things ah bit differently. He set forth ah few things in tha notes he left. Seems his mother was ah Jewess an his sire ah Frenchie of good birth. His family was murdered when he was only ah wean. He went to live at tha Temple in Vrana as ah ward of tha Master. Tha master an some fled tha persecution. As The Bruce was already tossed out of tha church..."

  With a shrug, Edan went on. "He came here an tha few who escaped married intae tha clans. I've nae notion what went on with tha others. I ken Gideon, however."

  "God's teeth! I thought it only ah old tale for weans." Jamie sat heavily on the stool.

  "Aye?" Edan asked as he watched his friend shake his head in disbelief.

  "'Tis said there is ah connection between Sinclair an tha Templars. One of my lot was killed with tha Douglas on tha journey tae tha Holy Land with The Bruce's heart. We stood with Bruce as well."

  "Then we're nae ah bad fit here. Jamie Sinclair, ye've come tae ah safe nest among tha MacGroughs."

  "From tha present state of things, I'm nae sure how "safe" it might be. However, it seems I belong right enough." Jamie rose from the stool. "Are ye going tae show me tha Bible some time? I'd certainly like tae see tha book."

  "Indeed. It's very old an fragile. We keep it in ah box tae safeguard it. But, aye, ye can see our Bible. For now, we'd best go in tae tha house an explain the plan an tha danger. There's more tae do than before. Christ's bones! I wish we had tae more fighters, lads or lasses, makes nae difference tae me."

  Cadha told Edan to be sure and make her a weapon as well. She had left her bow and arrows in the glen, but thought there could not be that much difference between it and a crossbow. He agreed.

  "Now then, that means we've eight in all tae bear arms. Nessa and Evina, help take care of tha wee weans when tha time comes."

  "Ye're thinking 'tis going tae happen then?" Rhona asked.

  "I nae see ah way around it. Even if Ian finds another tae get tha job done, Tally is nae going tae be happy with us. Every person he points ah finger at is tae dance tae his tune with nary ah complaint."

  "I will stand with ye then. Ye ken I'm as able as any one here." Rhona glared at him.

  "Aye. So ye need tae be in charge of tha defense of tha cottage. Ye're nursing ah bairn. I cannae have ye in
tha field. Dinna fight me here. I need ye tae do what must be done inside."

  She snorted at him. "I'm as good as either of ye. I'm nae going tae curl up an die because I'm nursing!"

  Ruefully shaking his head, Edan raised one hand into the air and dropped it to the table top. "An who else might I have tae take care of tha cottage? Daracha is pregnant an cannae move about easily. Tha others are going tae be out with me. That leaves ye, Blane, your mither, Nessa and tha ones nursing. "

  "An what am I to do here? Sit an hide with tha weans somewhere?" Rut growled at Edan. When Jamie started to say something, his intended turned on him. "Dinnae breathe ah word here, Anderson. I've as much tae lose as anyone else."

  The sound of a hand smacking the table top startled everyone. "Have ye been tae long in tha bloody awful lowlands? I'm ah highland lass an ah part of this clan. I say we put tha weans intae the box bed down here. If tha bastards start ah fire, we nae want tae be upstairs. Nessa an Evina can watch tha weans. Rhona, Rut an I can fight off tha bloody cowardly bastards." Nairna sat back with her arms folded across her chest, her pretty face pale.

  Jamie's glance took in all the females glaring at them. Even Daracha was looking decidedly angry. "Humph! So I cannae move that well, I'll help with tha weans. Nairna is right. We need tae be downstairs. I'd nae put it past tha piece of cac tae set fire tae tha cottage. Down here we stand ah better chance of getting everyone out."

  With a slight nod at Daracha, Rhona turned back to the men. "'Tis settled then. On tae another matter. If tha cowards set fire tae tha cottage, what then? We could go tae tha shop in tha yard, but would need light of some kind. If we need tae escape, we need tae do something that nae takes light."

  Jamie looked over at Edan with a grin. This was going far different from what Anderson had expected. "Ye're assuming they will come in tha night. What if they make an appearance in tha light, or daybreak?" Jamie asked the women.