Highlander's Daring Escape (Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance)

by Alisa Adams

  “Now Martha, I had a wee problem with Fitzroy, but I met Bryan here and he’s agreed tae help us around the farm. He’s a big, strapping lad, and I think he’ll come in mighty handy.” Hamish beamed. Bryan climbed down from the cart and nodded respectfully towards Martha.

  “Thank ye for giving me the opportunity. I hope I can make ye both happy,” Bryan said.

  “Now come inside and let’s meet Janie,” Hamish said, indicating with a wave of his hand that the things in the cart could be brought in later.

  They walked into the cottage and the ceiling was low, so Bryan had to bow his head. Sitting near the window in a rocking chair was a plain-looking girl who wore a simple dress. She was sewing a garment, and when she saw her father she smiled widely. She was demure and quiet. Bryan imagined that it was hard for either Martha or Janie to get a word in edgewise when Hamish was around.

  “My sweet lass, meet Bryan, he’s the new help,” Hamish said. Janie rose from her chair and curtsied awkwardly, as though she wasn’t used to doing something so elegant or graceful.

  “It’s a pleasure tae meet me. Hamish hae told me sae many good things about ye, I’m glad tae be here.” He smiled at Janie, and although he wasn’t swept away by her beauty, he thought that she was just the kind of sincere, genuine girl that could make a man very happy. And, indeed, this place was a good home. It was sturdy and quaint, and could be the beginnings of a new legacy. Bryan looked around at his new home and was pleased at where he had ended up. It wasn’t a castle, but it was something true and honest, and he was eager to get to work.

  Hamish soon had him working hard. Bryan and he carried in all the goods from the market, and then Hamish ran him through a list of the daily chores. There was barely any time for a break and Bryan suddenly realized that his life was going to have a stark change. He had been used to living by his own schedule, waking up whenever he was ready to wake up and going to sleep whenever he was tired. He had never been beholden to anyone but his own instincts and moods. If he wanted to walk he would walk, if he wanted to laze by a stream and enjoy a relaxing time in the sun then he would, but now he was subject to Hamish’s schedule and the days were filled with hard work.

  It was a shock to his system and a part of him wondered if he would ever be able to adjust, but he told himself that he couldn’t have sustained his previous way of life forever. Life was meant to be filled with work and duty and purpose. Before he was drifting, growing lazy, whereas now he was becoming a creature of discipline; he had responsibilities, and he was going to prove to Hamish and himself that he could succeed.

  During his first few days at the farm he noticed that Hamish was taking any opportunity to put him and Janie together. He was always trying to get Janie to show him something, or to get him to help Janie with some task that apparently only he had the means to help her with. It was quite clear that Hamish hadn’t just been searching for a man to help him with the English, but for a man to become his son-in-law and to inherit the farm. Bryan could understand why Hamish would want to take such action. Janie was coming to the age where she should be married, and given the barren landscape surrounding them, Bryan imagined that eligible husbands were few and far between. Hamish had told him that the farm was everything he had, so he’d want to make sure it was left in good hands, without somebody he could trust.

  And, apparently, that someone was Bryan.

  However, during these days Bryan knew that Janie wasn’t going to be the woman he had pictured in his mind. She was a nice girl, there was no doubt about it, but rather plain. She didn’t show much passion for anything or any ambition to see the world outside the farm. She had been taken care of all her life by her doting parents, and he got the impression that she wanted the same from a husband. He doubted she would ever be able to fend for herself, and this troubled him, for he wanted his wife to be his equal.

  He wasn’t about to offend Hamish though, so whenever they spoke about Janie Bryan was always pleasant and paid her compliments. He thought that perhaps he was being too particular and if this was the hand the gods had dealt him then he should be happy with his lot, for he had been craving a home for a while now, and he told himself that perhaps Janie would grow on him the more time he spent with her, even though he didn’t appreciate the way Hamish was trying to force the issue.

  But, other than those niggling issues, life on the farm was as pleasant as it could be. Bryan quickly got used to the routine, and he went to bed every night with an aching back, a full belly, and a sense of accomplishment. Hamish was full of praise for him as well, and was always boasting to his wife about how his judge of character was unmatched. Bryan always enjoyed a subtle smirk at this, not forgetting that it was he who had approached Hamish rather than the other way around.

  One day, Bryan had been working in the field with the cows when Janie came up to him with a glass of water. She was carrying something else wrapped around her arms as well. Bryan was grateful for the water.

  “I apologize for my Da,” she began, her eyes flickering with embarrassment.

  “What dae ye hae tae apologize for?” Bryan asked.

  Janie offered a sympathetic smile. She dipped her head and cast her gaze away. “I know that Da hae been forcing us tae spend time taegether. I hope ye dinnae hold it against him. Once he gets an idea in his head it’s impossible tae stop him.” She laughed softly. Bryan was glad that she was able to have a sense of humor about the whole thing, and that she recognized he might not share the same enthusiasm as Hamish.

  “I cannae blame him for being excited.”

  “I just want ye tae know that I would make ye a good wife. I know I’m nae the prettiest lass, but I can cook and sew and clean, and I would be a good mother tae ye wee ones as well. I just want tae make my husband happy, whoever he may be.” As she said this she reached out and placed a small, dainty hand on his arm. She smiled briefly, and in his eyes he showed kindness.

  “Ye are a sweet lass, and I know that whichever man marries ye, he’ll be very happy,” he said, patting her hand gently. Janie’s eyes sparkled, and she smiled widely. She rocked back on her heels and Bryan hoped that she hadn’t taken his words as a hint at a proposal.

  “I’ve been making ye something. It’s nae finished yet, but I thought ye might like tae see it now. It’s tae keep ye warm through the winter. The nights can get mighty cold,” she said, opening her arms to reveal the blanket she had been making. It was well-made, and would certainly keep Bryan warm. He appreciated the effort and thanked her dearly, and she seemed delighted that he liked what she was making. She skipped away happily and returned home, leaving Bryan to think about the future. There were moments when he stood in the field and looked around at all the natural beauty surrounding him and he thought that there could be no better place in the world.

  But, not every day was peaceful and idyllic, for soon the day came when the English arrived.

  On the morning of the day when the English were due to arrive, Hamish and the rest of his family were skittish. He darted around and made sure that everything was in order, and he had Martha count out the payment multiple times to ensure that everything was correct. He instructed Bryan to stand beside him and offer a glowering, intimidating presence that would hopefully deter the English from making more demands.

  To Bryan’s surprise, the English didn’t arrive with a huge army. There was simply a gaunt man with scraggly grey, shoulder-length hair, flanked by two guards. They marched forward from a cart and looked in command of the situation. They rapped on the door and Hamish opened it quickly.

  “It’s a pleasure tae see ye again.” Hamish bowed. “Would ye like anything tae drink?”

  “I believe we’ll be fine. I don’t plan on staying too long,” the man said, looking around Hamish’s home with derision, as though he couldn’t imagine anyone being happy to live in a place like this. The Englishman had a haughty, arrogant air about him, and Bryan took an instant dislike to him.

  “I see you have a new helper,�
�� the man said, nodding towards Bryan.

  “Aye, and he’s proven tae be a good help, especially at driving away wild animals. His main talent is with the sword,” Hamish said, trying to sound casual. Bryan noticed that the grey-haired man’s mouth curled into a sly smile. It was foolish of Hamish to think he could outwit a man like this.

  “And where’s your lovely daughter? One of the few blessings I enjoy on these visits is to see Janie.”

  “She’s nae feeling very well unfortunately.”

  “How sad. Well then, let’s get down to business.”

  “It’s all here, every penny,” Hamish said, lifting the pouch of coins and placing them on a table. He opened the pouch and poured the coins out, a glittering arrangement of copper and silver, with a few gold pieces strewn among them as well.

  “You,” the grey-haired man said, pointing to one of his guards. “Count this and make sure there isn’t a penny missing. If there’s anything missing we’ll make up the difference by taking his animals.”

  Hamish gulped and glanced towards Martha. Now Bryan realized why Hamish had wanted her to be so meticulous when it came to counting the money, and he hoped for their sake that she hadn’t made a mistake.

  “In the meantime, I'm going to pay my respects to Janie. Perhaps seeing someone of nobility will lift her spirits and cheer her mood.”

  He walked away and Bryan didn’t like the way he was speaking, or the way Hamish’s gaze dropped to the floor. Men like this Englishman were used to getting their own way in everything. They were bullies, and Bryan didn’t like the thought of Janie being left alone with that man.

  After a few moments, as one of the guards was counting the money and the other one was stood by the door, preventing anyone from leaving, Bryan announced that he was going to check on the animals, for it was time for the pigs to be fed. The guards didn’t seem to take notice of him, so Bryan left and skipped up the stairs to Janie’s room.

  As soon as he reached the top of the stairs he could hear muffled sounds and moans coming from Janie’s room, and Bryan’s anger blazed. He drew his sword and burst into the room to see Janie pinned down and struggling as the grey-haired man fumbled with his breeches. As soon as the door was opened both Janie and the grey-haired man stared at him; Janie’s eyes were frantic with panic, while the man glared. With one hand he held Janie down, and with the other he gestured for Bryan to leave.

  “Go now, or suffer the consequences of my wrath,” he said in his clipped English accent.

  “I think it’s ye who needs tae leave,” Bryan said, pointing the sharp tip of his sword at the man. The man sneered and snarled and looked down at Janie. The poor girl was frightened out of her mind and it was clear she couldn’t put up enough fight to battle him away. If Bryan left then this man would have his wicked way with her, and Bryan’s conscience could not allow that to happen.

  “Are you a fool boy? Do you not know who I am and what I can do to you? If I wanted to I could call an army to tear you apart.”

  “Ye dinnae hae an army. Ye dinnae hae anything. Let the lass gae,” Bryan said again. The man stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, and in the end he threw back his head and laughed.

  “You won’t do anything to me. You probably don’t even know how to use that sword.”

  “I know how tae use it more than ye know how tae use that wee dagger,” Bryan said. The man’s pale cheeks were suffused with crimson as he finally let Janie go and turned to Bryan. He had already taken off his belt, which he’d placed nearby, and he picked up his sword, but from the way he held it Bryan could tell he was not a skilled swordsman.

  “It’s been too long since I’ve smelled the blood of a barbarian like you, and once I'm done with you I’ll make you watch as I teach that girl a lesson. You’ll soon regret the day you ever crossed me, and maybe in time she’ll give birth to my child, and you’ll know you can never get back the virtue I’ve taken.”

  Even though Bryan wasn’t betrothed to Janie, he wasn’t about to stand there and let her be insulted like that. If he wasn’t going to stand up for her honor then nobody would, and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself. If he wanted the Pressley name to mean anything then it had to begin with him. With a growl and a flash of steel he moved forward. His ornate blade gleamed as it caught the sunlight that flowed into the room, and with a flick of his wrist he dodged the awkward slash of the grey-haired man’s blade and brought his own sword slashing down. The Englishman howled in pain and blood poured from his cheek. He collapsed to the floor, and beat his fist against the floor.

  “Guards!” he howled, a high-pitched scream that pierced the air. Bryan looked down on the man, hand clutched to his bleeding face, and realized that he had made a very powerful enemy. He heard the guards running up the stairs and even though he was a gifted swordsman, he didn’t like the odds of three against one in a cramped room, especially not with Janie nearby. Panic seized him and he hated to think he had brought punishment on Hamish and his family, so he looked around for a way to escape, but there was only the window. He ran to it and saw the drop straight down to the ground. It was a long jump, and if he made it the chances were that his legs would be broken, and perhaps his neck and back too depending on how he landed, so he turned, ready to face the three men at once.

  But then Janie handed him the unfinished blanket and hooked it to the window latch. It fell down.

  “Use this,” she urged.

  Bryan didn’t hesitate as he turned around to see the guards entering the room. They saw their leader, bloodied and humiliated, and then the man that had caused the wounds. They scowled as they came forward, so Bryan ducked out of the window and jumped out, hoping the blanket would hold his weight.

  It just about did, but as the blanket jerked he felt it rip. He was now halfway down the house, a lot closer to the ground, and as the blanket ripped he braced himself for impact. The ground rose up and slammed against him, making his teeth chatter and thunder made his bones tremble, but as he pushed himself up he checked himself over and was confident that nothing had broken. He still had his precious sword in his hand, but he tossed the piece of blanket he was holding aside. He looked up and saw the two guards peering out of the window at him, and then he ran.

  He knew it would take them some time to run downstairs and then leave through the front door, so he would try to put a lot of distance between them. He hoped that Hamish could forgive him for bringing such controversy to the farmer’s household, and he also hoped that Janie wouldn’t suffer again at the hands of this grey-haired man. Bryan almost wished that he had finished the job as he sprinted away into the forest, hoping that he could escape the clutches of the guards.

  4

  “Finally, we’re alone,” Catherine exclaimed with joy as she and Betsy sat by the wide stream. The water was crystal clear and warm, and when she peered in she could see a few silver fish swimming by. She placed her hand in the water and enjoyed the feeling of nature flowing all around her. She fell onto her back and flung her arms out wide, as though she was embracing all of nature. They weren’t far from the farm where her uncle was visiting, and he had allowed them to stay here by themselves as long as they promised not to leave the area. Catherine was tempted to wander off, but she didn’t think it was worth the scolding she’d receive.

  “I know, I’m glad that the journey is over. I wasn’t sure how much more talk of politics I could take. I know I should be respectful of your uncle, but he does talk a load of old tosh.”

  “I quite agree. My greatest fear is that he has such a high opinion of himself that he will choose a man just like him for my husband.”

  “Let’s pray he doesn’t. I don’t think you’d be very happy with a politician,” Betsy said.

  “I don’t either, but I suppose I shall just see what fate holds in store for me.”

  “Personally,” Betsy said with a wicked smile as her eyes darted around, “I’m hoping that a wild Highlander will fall into our laps. There’s something
so exciting about the thought of being face to face with one of those wild men, don’t you think?”

  “No I do not!” Catherine protested. Betsy had always been more confident in sharing her intimate desires than Catherine, and Catherine certainly wasn’t going to divulge the inner workings of her mind. Betsy shrugged and sighed.

  “Well, I suppose I should be grateful that I will get to choose my own husband someday, and perhaps I will choose a Highlander. This land is full of them after all,” she said.

  “I envy you your choice, but I shall be happy in anything that is chosen for me, and right now I am happy being here. Having to listen to my uncle is a small price to pay to enjoy a sight like this. I don’t know what it is about this land, but everything seems so much more vivid and vibrant.”

  “I know what you mean. It has a different energy to England. I would be interested in exploring more of the land, but I suppose we must be content with staying to this small area. Are you not curious as to who your uncle meets on these journeys?”

  Catherine shrugged. “I don’t think it matters much to me. I’ve never been interested in his business. I suppose they are honest, hard-working people, and they must be in need of our protection. I don’t agree with many things my uncle says, but the Highlands must be a wild place if these people need our protection.”

  “Frankly I’m surprised he didn’t leave a guard with us,” Betsy said.

  “He knows I value my privacy, and he is not too far away if we should need aid.” She sighed and spread her arms out wide. “But looking around at this place I do not believe anything bad could happen to me while I am here. It is a paradise. The air is sweet, the grass soft, and everything is beautiful. I quite believe that I could stay here forever.”