by Alisa Adams
“Neely?” It was Kaithria’s voice that came to her ears. “What is it? Did something happen?”
Kaithria’s voice was always so calming and soothing to the ears. Neely wiped the tears from her eyes and her cheeks, and let go of her hold on Teeth’s neck. She turned around.
There stood Kaithria with Cat, Swan, and Keir beside her.
They were staring at her worriedly.
Swan spoke up. “Me brother? Did he do something to ye?”
Neely shook her head and sniffled.
“Did ye hurt yerself?” Kaithria asked gently.
Neely shook her head no, and swiped angrily at another tear.
“Ye must tell us what has happened to make ye cry so,” Cat insisted worriedly.
Neely took a breath. “’Tis me da,” she said with a hoarse voice.
“Ye found him!” Swan said with excitement.
“Och, ’tis wonderful news!” Cat exclaimed.
“She is crying ladies. She is not happy,” Kaithria said to the others. “Neely? Yer father, is he…?”
Neely shook her head. “He is not dead. He is alive.”
“But that is braw news!” Cat exclaimed again.
“Aye!” said Swan. “Ye must be overwhelmed with happiness!”
“No, she is not happy!” Kaithria insisted quietly.
The girls started blethering all around her.
Keir stood on the outside of the circle, his arms across his chest, watching them.
“Neely.” Keir spoke firmly. “Where is Lord Greysteil?”
The girls suddenly went silent as Neely stared at Keir with teary eyes. “He is with me da, Lord Keir,” she whispered.
“Where?” Keir demanded.
“In the caves.” Neely stared at the tall Highlander.
“Why?” Keir demanded again.
“Me da was shot,” she sniffled.
The girls started talking all at once again. Keir stepped forward, parting them so that he could stand in front of Neely. “Continue,” he commanded impatiently as he put his arms across his chest again.
“Och, well, he was shot…” Neely started to say.
Keir made a small impatient gesture with his hand where it lay on his big arm.
Neely stared at the bulging muscles in his arms, trying to form words while at the same time thinking that Steil’s arms were much larger than Keir’s.
“The exciseman, Captain John Porteous, shot at Steil.”
When Swan gasped and pushed Keir aside to stand before Neely, Keir raised his hand before Swan could say anything.
“There is more, Lady Swan. Continue Neely.” Keir stared at her calmly though his voice was sharp, impatient.
“Steil is well, he is not hurt,” Neely said with a sniffle. “The bullet hit me da.”
Swan let out a relieved whoosh of breath.
Keir raised his eyebrow. “The captain missed? He shot at Lord Greysteil but hit yer father?” He sounded suspicious.
“Aye,” Neely said as she wiped at another tear and tugged her hair out of Teeth’s mouth. “Me da pushed Steil out of the way and the bullet seared past, nicking his arm.”
“Och, how exciting, Neely!” Cat said, bouncing on her toes. “But why was this captain in the cave?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Och, ye found the smugglers, dinnae ye? I knew it! I should have been there with ye! So vera exciting!”
Keir looked at Cat sternly and then turned back to Neely with one eyebrow raised in question. “Why did the captain shoot at Lord Greysteil?” he asked crisply.
“There was a fight,” Neely said.
“Aye?” Keir stood still as a stone, waiting for the rest.
“Steil knocked their heads together and I hit them with me golf club.” She shrugged her shoulders innocently. “They fell to the ground. Steil stood on them. I think he made the captain a wee bit nervous.”
“Stood on them?” Cat asked in wonder.
“Weel noo,” Neely clarified, “he put one foot on them to keep them pinned to the floor. He’s vera strong, as ye know.”
“But I dinnae understand,” Cat began. “Why are ye angry, and crying?”
Neely turned to look at Cat. “Because Steil sent word to the exciseman that me father was a smuggler. ’Tis why the captain was there atall.”
“’Twasn’t Lord Steil, ’twas Waddle, the blaegeard!” came a voice.
Neely turned to see her father walking towards them.
Keir moved to stand in front of the women.
“Dinnae worry, Lord Keir,” Neely said. “’Tis me father,” she said crisply.
Keir’s shoulders relaxed. “Where is Lord Greysteil?” he demanded of the older man.
GIlbert Eunson stopped in front of the group. “He went after those Waddle twins. Told me to make sure Neely made it back here safely.” He looked over at the single tower. “Looks like ye have made yourselves comfortable in the tower. Took a bit of work to clean it up, and some repairs of course.”
Neely narrowed her eyes at her father. “Ye did it fer yourself Father, not us.” She crossed her arms across her chest, mimicking Keir, who stood looking down at Gilbert suspiciously. “Dinnae be acting like we should thank ye.”
“We enjoyed the crate of whisky too,” Cat said, poking her head between Neely and Keir. “’Tis lovely whisky ye make!”
Keir held his hand up in the air when Cat was about to say more. “Ye said Steil went after the Waddle twins? By himself or with the excise captain?” His voice was forceful and demanding.
“By himself I think,” Gilbert answered. “If he plans on running down Walter Waddle he’ll nae be able to do that. The horse Walter has is a fine racer. Tall, leggy, skinny thing. He wins races near and far. Waddle gambles on that horse’s speed to win him coin.”
Neely said thoughtfully, “We saw that horse, that was the horse carrying the dummy with the canteen belly. And yes, now that I think aboot it, ’twas Mr. Waddle leading the horse!”
Her father made an angry sound, “Aye, he’s been stealing me whisky and peddling it on his own and keeping the money. I knew he was up to something! And now he’s tried to turn me in to the exciseman so he can take over me whisky business! The blighter! Looks like his sons will get arrested instead of me if Lord Greysteil can catch ‘em!”
“What do ye mean?” Keir said forcefully. “Obviously ye dinnae get arrested or ye wouldnae be here. Did Steil make a deal with Captain Porteous?”
Gilbert Eunson shuffled his feet on the ground. “He did. He paid me fine and bought me a license for a legal still. Must have cost him a turrible high amount of mooney. Then he promised to catch the twins for the captain.” He turned to Neely. “He’s a fine mon, he is. Lucky woman ye are to have him for yer husband!”
“What?” Keir asked loudly.
“Swan told the twins when we met them on the road who she was,” Kaithria said calmly, “and she told them that Neely, who was standing up to them, was Lord Greysteils wife.”
“It dinnae work,” Cat added. “So we fought them! ’Twas wonderfully invigorating!”
Keir spun to Cat. “Ye could’ve been killed!”
Cat shrugged her shoulders delicately. “I’ve been close enough to death. I am not afraid of it anymore. It just feels good to be alive!”
“Och, what have I done?” Neely said as she stifled a sob. “I accused him! I accused Steil of sending word to the captain, and it wasnae him at all. And now he paid your fines, Da? And made it so that ye can operate yer whisky still legally?”
Neely put her face in her hands, shaking her head and groaning. Then she looked up. Her tear-filled eyes were shining with intent. She spun around and climbed onto the stone wall and leapt onto Teeth’s back, who was still standing there at the wall. She turned him around to canter away from it, then she spun him back around and kicked him into a gallop. Straight towards the stone wall.
“Neely!” Swan shouted in fear as she saw Neely come galloping towards the stone wall.
Mentieth surge
d forward, his powerful haunches and shoulders bunching up with incredible strength. At Neely’s urging, the horse leapt up and over the stone wall and out of the pasture.
“What are ye doing Neely?” called out Cat as she looked up at the horse flying over the wall.
“I am going to help Steil,” Neely called back with determination as she and the horse landed on the ground and galloped away from the castle.
Cat looked back at the others. “I thought she was just learning to ride?”
Cat didn’t wait for an answer. She looked at Kaithria. They looked at each other with a glint in their eyes.
Swan stepped forward. “Och, nay ye dinnae! I am going as well, ye are not leaving without me!”
“Twill be dangerous. Ye stay here, Lady Swan. Think of yer bairn,” Kaithria said as she and Cat quickly led Old Inch and Dummy out of the pasture.
“Wait, our saddles and bridles,” Kaithria said to Cat.
Cat nodded towards Neely, who was galloping away. “If she doesnae need those, neither do we!” With those words, Cat led Old Inch to the outside of the stone wall. “But, I dinnae think I’ll be jumping any walls.” Holding onto only Old Inch’s rope attached to the halter on his head, she hopped from the wall onto the horse’s back. She immediately put her heels into Old Inch’s side and galloped after Neely with Kaithria close behind, and Keir trying to catch up.
17
The tide was coming in as Neely galloped Teeth down the beach. The horse’s strides were eating up the ground. Wherever the beach narrowed between the waves and the rocks and the cliffs, he went straight through the water and the waves, sending up big splashes of water. His tempo never slowed.
Twilight was ending and the moon was rising, shining bright and full off the water. Neely held Teeth’s rope in one hand and his long mane in the other as she leaned over his neck.
When she neared the cove, she brought the big horse down to a trot. She used her legs and seat to guide Teeth around the rock outcropping and then towards the back of the cove towards the cave.
There was Steil, with the two twins and their father.
Neely put her heels into Teeth again and charged up the beach.
Walter Waddle saw Neely coming and ran to his horse. He leapt up onto his back and galloped past Neely and Teeth at an incredible speed.
Steil yelled, “Go, go after him Neilina. I have these two!”
“But—” she started to call back to Steil.
“Neilina Eunson! I said go!” Steil yelled at her. “Go!” he said again, as he turned to block another blow from one of the twins’ fists. Steil swung back at him, his fist connecting and sending the twin flying.
Neely turned away, her eyes narrowing on Waddle on the tall, thin horse speeding away. She spun Teeth around and set her heels into him.
Teeth lowered his haunches as he bunched up and leapt into a powerful gallop. As they turned the corner around the rocks the beach opened up before them. The moonlight lit up the lighter sand and the rider on the tall, leggy horse galloping at a maddening speed away from them.
“Teeth,” she said as she leaned low over the horse’s neck, “can ye catch that speedy scunner?”
They raced over the sand, splashing through waves whenever the beach narrowed. The big, black horse never wavering, never changing the rhythm of his hooves pounding on the sand. His breathing was easy as he stretched his neck out into the winds.
“Run ye big, beautiful, battle horse!” Neely laughed as she leaned even lower over his neck. “Run!”
Neely’s hips slowly relaxed, melding and matching the horse’s rhythm. Her thighs and calves clung to the powerful muscles surging underneath her. She could not help the smile on her face as she rode this amazing battle horse. The power, the strength, the vitality, and brute force that was under her, racing through her from this horse's body to hers. Like riding a storm, like the fiercest force of nature unbound, unleashed and connected to her and her alone. No wonder the warriors guard their horses so fiercely, she thought. Riding this magnificent horse is magical!
On and on they went, never slowing, never changing speed. Chasing the tall, thin horse with Waddle on its back. That horse is made for speed, made for running, Neely thought as she watched the movement of the horse further ahead of them. Neely knew deep in her heart that Mentieth would not be able to catch him with his speed. For speed was something this muscular horse of hers did not have. She listened for his breathing. It was still calm, steady.
On they ran. How long can Mentieth keep this up? Neely wondered worriedly.
She heard hoofbeats coming behind her and turned to see Cat and Kaithria on the other horses. They were leaning low over their backs as they raced down the beach after her and Mentieth.
Cat was grinning with happiness. Neely knew Cat was feeling the same wonderous feeling as she, riding these big horses at full speed, in an open gallop along a moonlit stretch of beach.
The beach narrowed again between the sea and the cliffs. The black horses went charging through the water as if it was nothing. Neely heard Cat shouting and laughing behind her.
On they went, the horses' manes and tails blowing out behind them as they raced on in the bright moonlight.
Neely glanced back and saw that Kaithria’s horse, Dummy, was slowing, his breathing labored. Kaithria sat up and slowed the old horse, waiving to Neely to keep going.
Old Inch pushed on, trying to keep up with Teeth. Cat was leaning even lower on his neck, urging him on.
On they raced. Neely took a quick glance back and saw that Old Inch had dropped back. He too was having trouble keeping up, his breath heaving in and out. “Go Neely, go!” shouted Cat.
“We can do this Teeth,” Neely said against his neck. “We can do this! Ye dinnae have to be fast, or even catch him, me boyo. Just keep making that other horse run fast until he tires. Because something tells me ye may not be able to run as fast as him but ye can run further than him!”
She laughed and petted his neck as Teeth kept up the grueling pace.
The horse ahead was slowing. Neely could hear his breath roaring in and out of its lungs.
“Dinnae give up Teeth! We have him!” Neely shouted triumphantly.
Walter Waddle must have realized he could not outrun the battle horse pounding down the beach behind him. He turned in the saddle with a pistol in his hand. He fired at Neely, the bright flash from the gun momentarily flashing brightly in her eyes.
Teeth threw his head up and let out a sharp whinny of fear and pain. “Teeth!” Neely screamed.
The big horse stumbled and faltered in his gate. Neely held tightly onto the rope rein, pulling the horse’s head back up. “Teeth!” she screamed. She tried to slow him. She would not risk him, would not let anything happen to him. The bullet must have hit him! her mind screamed. “Teeth!’ she screamed as she glanced over his body the best she could. But the horse would not stop. Teeth regained his footing and surged on.
The horse ahead was slowing even more.
Neely pulled her golf club from behind her back. She was furious. This man had shot at her horse!
“Come on Teeth, we almost have them! Come on, ye can do it, me beautiful boy!” Tears ran out of Neely’s eyes and were blown off her face with the wind as they galloped.
Teeth stretched his neck out further; his ears were pinned flat to his head. Neely narrowed her eyes. She knew that sign. Teeth was angry.
Suddenly the horse had a splurge of energy and surged forward, just enough to latch his teeth onto the haunches of the horse in front of him.
The thin horse threw its head up, screaming in fear and pain as it slowed to a stop.
Neely sat up tall on Teeth’s back, pulling on the rope rein. She readied her golf club just as Walter Waddle turned towards her and aimed his pistol once again.
“That was yer first mistake!” She yelled angrily. “ Ye shot me horse!” she yelled as she swung her club at the man.
He went flying off his horse.
Ne
ely pulled Teeth to a halt and spun him around back towards the man on the ground. He was fumbling with his pistol, trying to reload it.
Neely swung her club at him and missed. She swung it again and he ducked once more as he continued to reload the pistol. He stood up quickly and made a quick grab at Neely’s golf stick, yanking her sideways off of Teeth’s back. She landed on the ground with a whoosh of breath.
Walter Waddle stood over her, holding the pistol down at her where she sat on the ground, breathing heavily.
“I’m gaunnie kill ye!” he panted as he stared at her from under his dark, sinister brows. He raised his pistol and aimed. “Or maybe yer vicious horse!” he said, moving his pistol back and forth between Neely and Mentieth.
Neely screamed angrily. “Nay!” She twisted sideways, trying to reach her club where it had landed on the sand.
Teeth whinnied sharply and reared up. His front hooves flailed in the air.
Neely grabbed her club and swung it as hard as she could, hitting Waddle. The gun went off with a flash and a deafening boom.
Teeth let out a sharp whinny again as his hooves came down.
Neely squeezed her eyes shut for just a moment. She heard a thud, a moan, and then silence.
She opened her eyes to see Walter Waddle on the ground. A deep gash could be seen on his head from Teeth’s hoof. His wrist was bent at an unnatural angle from the blow from Neely’s club.
Neely whirled around to look at Teeth. He was standing there, tossing his head up and down, holding one front leg up, bent at the knee. He slowly started to sink down with a long, low groan.
Neely pushed up from the sand. “Teeth!” she screamed. “Teeth, no! No!” She ran to where the horse was lying on the sand and sunk down to her knees. She grabbed the big horse's head and held him, cradled in her lap as she cried. “Ye must stand. Ye must not lay down and die on me! Please! Please,” she sobbed. “Get up, please Teeth! Please!”