Highland Bloodline

by Florence Love Karsner

  "Glad to see ye fella. But, how'd ye get here?"

  He stood as the others arrived, out of breath from their dash. As Alex was fiddling with the keys, two guards appeared a couple of cells down from them.

  "Hold there! Stop I tell you!" The men began to run toward the group.

  Alex turned to Caitlin, quickly reaching for her hand. The look on her face was one he'd seen before, like the calm before a storm.

  Dear heaven, be with us all.

  Intuition told him to be still and let this moment be hers. The healer was in charge now. He watched as she dropped the pistol and turned to face the guards.

  Caitlin was acutely aware, every nerve in her body was on fire, but her mind was still and calm; it was as if the events all about her were taking place in slow motion.

  Focus, Caitlin, focus your mind. Your powers are at your fingertips. The Creator gifted you with them to be used when necessary. Don't question, just direct your energies to your hands and release the power at the right moment.

  This was a moment of decision for the healer. Finally she was in control of these powers, and had no qualms about using them now.

  Instantly, a searing, sizzling bolt of jagged lightning flashed from her fingertips and raced across the room. In a matter of seconds, the two guards were on the floor, writhing as their clothing began to burn their bodies.

  "Aieeeee! Help me! Stop it! No! No!"

  One of the guards lay still, never moving a muscle. He watched his hands as his fingers melted together and then were just nubs of charred skin and bone. The other one watched in disbelief as his boots turned to liquid and he felt the fire as it raced up his leg. Eventually they both were quiet—deathly quiet.

  Caitlin had once again found her power when she most needed it, and this time it didn't frighten her. This time she controlled it.

  Robbie's face was as stunned as the guards' had been. He'd never witnessed Caitlin's powers, even though he had heard Jack talking about how she had saved him at Cameron Castle. Surely there was some explanation for this. He'd need to ask Ian more about this event. He recalled Ian had told him if he was ever in real trouble to call on Caitlin. Now he understood why.

  Alex nodded, he too realizing she could now control her powers. He tried several keys, finally found one that worked and Jack was out of the cell.

  "Come on, let's get out of here."

  As they started back to the stairwell, he stopped long enough to throw the keys to the prisoner in the next cell.

  "Here, let yerself out and help the others. And don't forget the lady in the last cell! We've got to get out of here. Good luck to ye."

  Alex started toward the stairway again when Robbie called out to him.

  "No, Da. This way. There's an escape tunnel out this side door."

  Everyone followed Robbie as he took them out the door, down a short path, then back inside the prison. This time he had them going down a steep flight of stairs that seemed endless.

  "Are ye sure ye know where yer going, lad?" Jack asked. He'd never run so fast in his life.

  "Yes, I've been here before. I know where we're going."

  For another twenty minutes they ran from one tunnel to another before they finally came to a door at the end of one of them.

  "This will bring us up onto Cowgate Street. Paul will be there waiting for us. Then we'll backtrack to my home on the High Street."

  ~ ~ ~

  Kicking his horse in the sides harshly, the young guard rode like a madman to Major Ashford's residence at the end of the High Street.

  He was actually a soldier, but had been assigned to the prison when the British took it over. The local guards had all been replaced by young recruits such as him, and they all knew to follow the major's orders to the letter or suffer the consequences. He didn't relish the tongue-lashing he knew would be coming from the major, but the sooner he told him the news the better.

  By the time he'd found a superior officer at the Tolbooth to give him instructions, the whistle had sounded. They all knew that meant an escape was underway.

  "Go, Johnson. Looks like it's the two Highland fellows, the big red-haired one and his brother. Scully saw them headed down to the tunnel with a couple of others, maybe young lads. Oh, and Scully swears they were being led down the hall by a wolf!"

  "I saw that wolf myself. I watched him tear Donald's throat out. He's a huge devil, and vicious!"

  By the time he arrived, the celebration at the major's place was well underway. Apparently Major Ashford had been selected for another promotion and was to be sent to his new post in London shortly, so a celebration was in order. The guard was personally glad the man would be leaving. He was a thorn in everyone's side and tried to run the prison like a military establishment.

  After tying his horse around back where the other horses were tethered, he walked to the front door and knocked.

  He saluted the officer answering the door.

  "Lt. Johnson to see Major Ashford."

  "Wait here. I'll see if he's available." It seemed forever before the major presented himself at the door.

  "Yes, Johnson? What brings you here?"

  "Uh ..."

  "Come on, man. I don't have all day."

  "Yessir. There's been an escape at the Tolbooth, sir."

  "What? That's impossible—no one can get out of there. There are soldiers guarding every entrance and exit."

  "Yessir. I know. But it appears two prisoners have escaped."

  "Two?"

  "Yessir. The Highlanders that were brought in last week, the two who caused such a ruckus when they arrived. The big one smashed Gordy's front teeth in the fracas and he's got a broken collarbone as well. He's still mighty angry about that, sir."

  "We have many Highlanders in the Old Tolbooth, Lt. Johnson."

  "Yessir. These two were the ones you identified from that lodge far up in the Highlands. MacKinnon's the name, sir."

  "The MacKinnons? Damn their heathen souls! Then get a move on, man! Start a search of the entire city. They can't have gotten far yet. Which door did they leave from?"

  "Uh, I don't believe they used a door, sir. They were seen headed down into the tunnels beneath the prison. From there I don't know where they'll go, sir." He stopped short of reporting the incident with the large wolf. The major probably wouldn't believe him anyway.

  Ashford threw his head back and let out a laugh that had the soldier wondering if he were mentally deranged.

  "Ah, ha, ha, hee hee!"

  "Sir?"

  "Idiots! There are only two exits from the tunnels. Those were left open in case of flooding from the firth. All the others were sealed off centuries ago. They're trapped for sure now. All we have to do is wait patiently for the tunnel rats to crawl out of their hiding place. They will either exit at the large stone near St. Giles or at the old kirk at the end of Cowsgate. We'll put men at each exit."

  Laughing aloud once again, he went back inside and resumed his drinking and celebrating with his men. A short while later he made an announcement.

  "Attention, men. I'm going to have to leave you now, but you may continue with our celebration. Two Jacobites have escaped from the Tolbooth and I must be there when they're apprehended."

  Looking around the room, he called out to one of the officers.

  "You there, Harrington, come with me. The two of us should be able to handle the escapees. They're Scots, so they're not very bright to begin with." Laughing again, he grabbed his tricorne and walked out the door.

  "I can't wait to see MacKinnon's face when he realizes he's been caught again, and by his 'farm hand' no less. I wouldn't miss this for the world!"

  ~ ~ ~

  After forty minutes had passed and Robbie had not returned to the cobblestone exit, Paul followed Robbie's orders and made his way through the city over to Cowgate Street.

  The kirk at the end of the street was small and had been built sometime in the 1400s. The original builder had the foresight to include a priest's hole i
n the floor, which led to the tunnel where Robbie was bringing his entourage. The tunnel, therefore, could be reached from inside the kirk or from an opening outside near a large oak tree a few meters behind the kirk. The opening was covered by a sewer cap and grass, and most folks never even knew it existed. Of course Robbie and Paul had found both openings.

  As he sat down on the curb with his back to the kirk, Paul chewed on his fingernails, a habit he had developed long ago, sometime in early childhood. He no longer feared for his life as he had in those days, but the habit was still with him. In those days he never knew if his drunken father might batter him about just for being there. But those days were over. Today he pretty much took care of himself, with the help of Mick, the pub owner who gave him a cot to sleep on. Sometimes he even saw his mother, though she spent most of her time with one drunken mate or another.

  Some time ago he and Robbie had run into each other along the water's edge down near the firth. Robbie was trying to float a very crudely made wooden boat, with not much luck. The small boat refused to stay upright and Robbie found that frustrating.

  Paul watched as Robbie worked at making the sail tighter, thinking perhaps that would help. Paul could make anything out of wood. In fact, he had made several small wooden boats for himself. One of them even had a sail that he'd made from one of his mother's tattered petticoats.

  Once Paul had shown Robbie how to balance the boat, the two of them spent a lot of time together. Robbie would go to the library and come up with a new design for them to try, and Paul would steal a few pieces of wood from one of the merchants. Robbie never questioned his friend about where the wood came from, but had an inkling he'd stolen it.

  After that they went about the city, each showing the other things they had missed. They created a map of the entire underground tunnels of Edinburgh and now they both knew it from memory. So, just now, he didn't worry about Robbie. He'd get everyone here safely. Paul would just wait patiently then see what else he could do to help his friend.

  He'd heard the blare of the whistle when it had started blasting out. He wasn't surprised as he knew there were several guards on duty, and lately he'd seen more and more prisoners being marched through the city. Apparently two of them had been Robbie's da and his uncle.

  He decided to lie back on the grass and rest a bit 'til Robbie and his crew got to the kirk. When he leaned back, however, something cold and hard stuck him in the back.

  "Get up you little sewer rat! What did you think? We know all about you and your friends. They'll be running through the tunnels about now and coming out here then I suppose?"

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "You don't huh? Then we'll just hang around a few minutes and see if they show up."

  The young soldier was excited to be in on this capture, as he'd heard some of his fellow soldiers had received rewards from Major Ashford. He was determined to round up every Jacobite in his territory and nothing would stop him.

  The major was particularly interested in these two Jacobites. He'd spent a couple of weeks working for these Highlanders at their lodge during the lambing season. He'd heard they may have been supporters, but he wanted to be sure before he brought them in. Plus, by working at the lodge for a short while he learned the names of quite a few other Jacobites in the area as well. Bringing in a goodly number of prisoners would go a long way toward his making rank and perhaps being sent to London as a special envoy, which was the position he most desired.

  While working at the lodge he had seen how the MacKinnons lived—their fine lodge and their close-knit family. Compared to his own lonely military existence, it was quite appealing.

  But he'd take them down a few notches and send the two leaders, Alex and Jack, off to be slaves. Then he'd go back and convince that lady with the long, dark hair that she would live with him now. She was a lady, he could tell that. He couldn't understand how she ever could have seen anything in that huge heathen she called her husband.

  Ashford had made overtures to her while he was there, but she'd rebuffed him soundly, which had come as somewhat of a surprise to him. He was considered quite handsome and a real catch for some lucky woman. But somehow he hadn't managed to find a woman who would spend much time with him after their initial meeting.

  The other woman, the one with the fiery hair and a big wolf who followed her around, there was something about her that bothered him. When she looked at him it was as if she could read his mind. No, he'd not take her. Best to leave her behind to care for that brood of children he saw running about the lodge.

  But all that would change with the two Highlanders gone to the islands. He'd have that dark-haired woman if he had to resort to capturing her as he had these two. Then, too, that lodge would serve nicely as a regimental station for them in the future. Yes, he'd enjoy finishing off these ruffians.

  Major Ashford and a contingent of soldiers arrived and Lt. Harrington had spotted the young lad laying back in the grass. He quickly made a show of sticking him with his bayonet.

  "Light those torches, Harrington. All of them. I want Alex MacKinnon to know who captured him. He treated me like a useless, hired hand and never had time to listen to any suggestions I might have about sheep farming. The man actually had the audacity to send me packing— me! An arrogant Scot if ever there was one. He might be powerful in the Highlands, but down here he's just another prisoner and a Jacobite who needs to be taught a lesson. Slavery probably won't suit him very well." He grinned just thinking about it.

  The young lieutenant lighted all the torches and had Paul sit in the middle of them where he could watch his every move.

  "Sit there and don't move. I'd like nothing better than to ram my bayonet into your side."

  Paul was street smart enough to realize he was outnumbered and they had weapons. So he did as he was told and sat quietly, waiting for Robbie to rap on the sewer opening where they would exit.

  "Capt. Livingston, take these other soldiers back to the Tolbooth now. I can handle this end. Two escapees are no match for an armed major and a lieutenant with a bayonet. Go on. No telling how many others escaped because of these two. Round them all up again and come report to me afterward."

  "Yessir." He saluted his commanding officer and left immediately.

  Paul's mind was flitting from one thought to another. How could he warn Robbie? No way. So he'd just bide his time and hope something would come to mind when his friend appeared.

  It was only a short time later the sound of metal striking metal caught Ashford's attention.

  "Well then. Looks like they made it this far. I'd say that speaks well of young Robbie's capabilities. Could be he might make a good soldier. Too bad he won't be able to join my troop. I had high hopes for that young man. He's quite an intelligent boy."

  "You don't know anything about Robbie. He'd never tell someone like you anything!"

  Ashford paced slowly, his hands held behind his back, enjoying playing the role of all-knowing one.

  "Oh really? But you see, we're neighbors. His mother was a dear friend and I've known him for some years now. It was certainly a surprise when I saw him as he arrived at the MacKinnon lodge, and it was necessary then for me to move on. Besides, I already had all the information I needed. But, he truly is a gifted young man. I'll miss his company.

  "Remove the sewer cover, lieutenant. Then stand back and let the rats come to the surface."

  As soon as the cover was removed, Robbie's head shot up and he was out in seconds.

  "Come on, Caitlin, give me your hand."

  Caitlin appeared, then Alex and Jack hurried through as well.

  "Paul? Where are you?"

  Robbie looked around, confused as to why so many torches would be lighted here at this end of the street. "I don't know what's happened to him, Da. He said he'd be here."

  The young lieutenant walked out of the shadows and pushed Paul to his knees in front of him. His bayonet was buried several inches into Paul's back, but the young
lad never made a sound.

  "Oh, he's here. See?"

  "Paul! What's going on?"

  Alex and Jack immediately stood back-to-back in a stance they'd used many times before.

  "Caitlin, get down, stay down."

  The authority in Alex's voice left no room for questions, and for once in her life Caitlin did as she was told, and quickly. She then lifted her nose, much as Willie did when he was checking his surroundings.

  "Boder. Alex, Boder's here! I can smell him! That odor from his cheroot, that odor of rotten meat and oily, stinking rags with some kind of herb mixed in."

  "What? Why would Boder be here?"

  "Alex, he's here I tell you. I know he is!"

  The next moment Major Ashford, resplendent in his full dress uniform, came forward from behind the kirk and bowed deeply to Caitlin.

  "At your service, Mrs. MacKinnon."

  "Boder? What's this about? Why are you wearing that uniform?" Alex called out.

  "That's Major Ashford, Da. Who's this Boder person?" Robbie looked from Alex to Caitlin and back to the major, confusion registering on his face.

  "What's this about, MacKinnon? Why it's about me, Major Lloyd Ashford, taking you two Jacobites back where you belong—the Tolbooth."

  "Not in this lifetime, you Redcoat bastard!"

  Jack was ready to pounce on him then and there, but Alex put out an arm to hold him back.

  "My lieutenant has a pistol and a bayonet at the young boy's back. Do you want to see him die? Plus, I'm brandishing my own pistol and am quite a marksman, if I say so myself. I don't think you want to test me on that point, surely.

  "I believe the lieutenant and I can take care of two unarmed, escaped, Highland fools, don't you? Now, just march yourselves inside the kirk and be seated on the front pew. We'll have a short service of sorts, and then you'll put on the leg irons I've provided for each of you. That should keep you in place until my men get back. "Harrington, let that street rat go. I've no quarrel with him. It's these Highlanders I'm interested in."

  Ashford watched as Paul scooted off and kept running into the darkness behind the kirk.