by Alisa Adams
“She is Lady McKay, my wife,” Wolf ground out slowly, his voice booming with the authority and command he used on the battlefield. Even the warriors in the great hall felt and heard the power in his voice.
“Her name is Swan, is it not?” screamed Simon.
Swan rose from where she had been kneeling with the children. She came to stand by Wolf. “I am indeed named Swan, and these are my children,” she said as she raised her chin. “Mine.”
Wolf wrapped an arm around her waist.
Swan stepped away from his arm, away from his comfort, away from his safety. She clenched her fists in her skirts, to still the shaking of her hands.
“Ye attacked my home,” she said as she raised her chin. “Ye killed my people, my clan, my family.” She swept her arm wide to encompass old Beak and the little boys. “They are all that is left of my people. They are my family,” she said with power and conviction as her voice rang out in the great hall.
She looked at dear old Beak who smiled encouragingly at her, at the three little boys, and Beans, all looking at her adoringly.
And then her eyes came to rest on the big, tough, Highland warrior.
Her fierce wolf.
He stared openly at her, his eyes softening.
Swan pulled her hand out of her skirts and realized she had been clenching a stone in her pocket. She looked at it and thought of the three little boys, hitting these stones at their attackers. She smiled softly.
It was then that Swan realized she was no longer afraid.
She raised her chin higher. “Brough was my home. I am Lady Swannoc McKinnon.”
“I knew it!” screamed Simon. “Seize her, and take those boys and give me back my dog!”
Pandemonium broke out as Wolf grabbed up all three boys at once and Swan threw the stone as hard as she could, right at Simon’s eye. He let out a sharp scream as he lunged towards her, clutching at his bleeding eye.
Beans let out a hair-raising snarl and leapt at Simon, grabbing Simon’s arm with his teeth and shaking it violently. Simon’s screams increased, the pitch going higher as the dog continued to snarl and growl with Simon’s arm in its mouth. The dog pulled and dragged Simon away from Swan.
The boys were wailing and crying and screaming at the sight. Wolf looked over at Swan and their eyes met. The boys were frightened.
“Beans!” Swan called. “Leave him!”
Beans instantly let go. He trotted over to Swan and sat at her feet.
Simon took a swing with his leg to kick the hound, but missed, as he was trying to see with only one eye. He was holding a hand over the eye and the other hand was on his bleeding arm. He seethed and hissed angrily, “Ye traitorous animal!”
“Enough!” boomed Laird Tavish Sutherland's voice.
Silence came to the hall as Laird Sutherland looked between his son and Swan and Wolf.
“I dinnae understand—” Laird Sutherland started to say, but was stopped by a loud clamor coming from the courtyard. He shuffled out of the doors to see what all the commotion was. He was followed by those in the hall, including Simon, who clutched his arm and his eye.
In the courtyard of the castle were four giant, golden-colored Clydesdale Draft horses ridden by four women wearing the plaid of the Black Watch Army.
Another horse that was the color of mud and covered in old scars with a part of its ear missing was ridden by a dark-haired warrior. This man was as big as Wolf McKay and had a curious dimple in his chin. He was accompanied by two women on ancient large black war horses.
Beak pushed his way to the top of the steps to see the giant Clydesdales. He hopped up and down with excitement as Wolf and Swan and the three boys came forward.
“This is them!” Beak said, hopping nimbly down the steps and jogging his long, skinny limbs over to the giant Clydesdale horses.
Beak pointed his pipe to the intimidating warrior women looking down at him and then grinned back at Swan and Wolf. He moved closer to the big horses. Approaching the first rider, he bowed his head and then managed to bow at his waist. “This is Lady Godet Ross MacDonell, wife of Laird Gordon MacDonell of Castle Conall.” Beak looked up at her with a wide smile from under his long, thin nose.
Godet looked down at the old man whose white hair stood straight up on his head. She gave him a soft smile, not yet sure what to make of this man in his tattered old kilt with his tartan hose all around his ankles showing his knobby knees and skinny legs.
Beak hurried over to the next horse and rider. “And ye must be Lady Flory Ross Buchanan, wife of Laird Loughlin Buchanan.” At a slight nod of her head, he moved on. “Ye are Laird Ceena Ross MacDonell, Laird of Fionnaghal and married to Lord Tristan MacDonell, Laird Gordon’s brother.” Ceena arched an eyebrow at him as she looked down at the old man, who was dancing around in excitement.
Then Beak couldn’t contain his excitement as he hurried over to the smallest of the sisters. “And ye”—he bowed again, his limbs unfolding as if he had extra joints—“are the Dutchess Ina Ross De Beaumont, married to the Beiste of Beaumont!” Ina smiled a big smile at the interesting man. “Och! Pardon me, ye are married to George Beisteson De Beaumont, the Duke of Beaumont and Brandon!” He bowed again as Ina laughed.
“I thank ye for all the introductions sir,” Ina said in her lilting voice. “And who might ye be? For I cannae tell by the color of yer kilt if ye are of the clan we seek, for tis vera dirty.”
“Ina,” warned her sister Godet.
“Perhaps ye have fallen in one of the terrible bogs in this area, whilst trying to repair a peat bridge as ye escaped yer burning village,” Ina continued. “Ye struggled mightily to save life and limb, knowing if ye sank under the floating peat into the dark brown water, your body would sink into the deep, dark depths, rotting along with the peat, and be lost for ever and ever?”
“Sards Ina,” said Ceena under her breath, “dinnae be so dramatic.”
Ina paused and she scanned the crowd gathered in the courtyard. Her eyes landed on one person. “Or been caught in a Clearance and had to fight yer way out and thus are covered in blood and dirt and ash?” She added this last with an eye at Simon Sutherland, the one she had been looking for.
“Oh dear,” whispered Flori.
The sisters looked among the rest of the people standing in front of the castle’s doors. Godet looked over at the dark-haired warrior who rode with her and her sisters. She nodded towards the steps.
“Keir?” Godet asked curiously. “That hound with the flowers? Is he the one ye told us of?”
“Aye,” said Keir with a grin.
“And that is the Wolf with three little boys in his arms?” Ceena asked as she looked over at the huge Highlander holding the three little boys.
“Yes,” answered Keir as he looked at Wolf with a crooked grin and an arched eyebrow as he eyed the boys in Wolf’s arms.
Ina grinned at Wolf. “We didnae recognize ye Laird McKay,” she said impishly. “We are used to seeing ye in battle with a few hundred men beside ye and with a sword or pistol in yer hands. Not little ones.”
Wolf growled softly.
Bhric, Charlie, and Albie all tried to imitate him.
Wolf stopped abruptly in surprise when he heard them, arching an eyebrow at each of them. The boys just clung to his neck and grinned at him.
Godet nodded to Swan. “And the red-haired warrioress, standing bravely with the hound is Steil’s sister, Lady Swannoc McKinnon. And the large group of warriors behind her are with Simon Sutherland, who seems to be holding a blackened eye.”
Beak came over to stand beside Swan. “Aye. This is Lady Swan. Indeed, she is Lord Greysteil McKinnon's sister.”
The four women smiled openly at Swan. “Lady Swan,” they said and bowed their heads to her.
Swan bowed her head in return and then stared up at the four women. She was in awe of them. They wore large swords at their hips and other weapons over their backs and strapped to their horses. They had leather corsets with the handles of many ti
ny knives showing around their waists.
“My brother?” Swan asked. “Is he well?”
“Oh aye,” Ceena said, “very well. He sent us here to Caithness to look for ye.” She looked over at Simon Sutherland. “There has been word of unlawful Clearances going on. In the name of looking for Bonnie Prince Charlie, or rather, the Pretender’s son.”
Wolf’s eyes narrowed on Ceena. His King had said the boy was his son. Swan had said it could not be true. She had never believed it. What was going on here?
Laird Tavish Sutherland came forward. “I am pleased to meet ye! I have heard many tales aboot the Ross sisters. Won’t ye join me at me table?”
Laird Sutherland looked behind the women, expecting their husbands to be with them. Thankfully they were not. He would have enough on his hands with these four warrior women as it was. But why were they here? Now?
Wolf gave a subtle shake of his head to Keir.
“Tis getting late, Laird Sutherland,” Keir said. “We would like to travel farther before it gets fully dark. We have a long journey, but we thank ye for yer hospitality.” He smiled a wide, white-toothed smile at the old Laird, hoping his dimple would charm even this old man.
“Aye,” Godet said in her smooth voice. “We are here to escort Lord McKay and Lady Swan.”
“Escort them where?” demanded Simon in an arrogant sneer.
“They are here to escort us home to McKay lands,” Wolf said with authority. “I am sure there are more men of the Black Watch Army outside yer walls, waiting.”
Simon scowled at Wolf. He took his hand off his eye and lowered his hands, his fists tightly clenched.
Wolf put down the two older boys but kept Albie in one arm. He held his hand out to Swan and she took it as she came forward.
The men behind her surged towards her at a rasping command from Simon. “She and the boys stay! Take her!”
Swan looked over at a shout from Lady Ceena. “Here!” she called out as she tossed her lochabre ax to Swan. “Tis similar to yer peat cutter but better balanced!”
Swan caught the lochaber ax and whirled on the men who surrounded her. “Wolf, take the boys!”
Wolf called to the boys and they ran to him. He scooped them back into his arms. “Beans, help her!”
Wolf let out a thunderous howl of rage, knowing he could not help Swan. But then he quieted. His mighty warrior was managing very well. He watched her every move intently, calling out instructions and warning her of any warriors trying to get to her unprotected back. But Beans was right there, snarling and snapping at any that came too close.
“Shouldnae we help them?” Flori said worriedly.
Ceena was leaning an arm on the front of her saddle. “Nay,” she said quietly. “Not yet. She fights well.”
“And the Wolf is in love with her, and I believe he loves the children as well,” Ina added. “Both the Swan and the hound are blocking evil Simon and his warriors from the boys. And the Wolf will not let those boys out of his arms. Yet we know they are not her own children as Keir told us all that was going on here.” Ina sighed. “Tis vera romantic, isnae it?”
Godet looked at her sisters and shook her head. “We will help if Keir thinks it necessary,” she said as she glanced at the warrior who stood there with his arms across his chest and a smile on his face as he watched the action. “He doesnae seem concerned.”
They watched as the two other women that had ridden with Keir joined in to help Swan fight. The one named Kaithria fought exceptionally well, even though she fought with a peat cutter. The angry one with the messy hair and horse-chewed clothes named Neely had what looked like a golf club. She was hitting warriors over the head with it, rather angrily and with great satisfaction.
“Och no,” answered Ceena. “They seem to have it all in hand. Tis almost finished as we speak. Simon cannae fight at all and his men are as useless in a fight as he. I think he relied on the hound to do his bidding too much.”
The little boys were bouncing up and down in Wolf’s arms, hollering away along with Wolf, who was still shouting to Swan. “Watch that big one Swan!” Wolf boomed.
“Get him Mither, get him!” the boys called out.
“Interesting,” Ceena said, eyeing the little boys. Her eyes then glanced at the dog who snarled and snapped at any warrior who came too close to Swan, Kaithria, or Neely. Even though Simon and his men were fighting Swan and the other two women, several had backed away from the fight only to have their backsides bitten by the dog.
The fighting stopped when Swan shoved Simon up against the castle wall. She rapidly spun her lochabre ax and pressed the blade against his chest.
Neely was at her left, holding the golf club in two hands, pointing it straight out, to ward off any of the warriors who even thought about starting to fight again. Kaithria was on Swan’s right, her peat cutter waving slowly back and forth at the warriors who stood frozen, staring at her golden eyes.
Swan’s face was serene, though her chest heaved with the exertion of the fight.
“Ye will leave me and my family alone,” she said in a commanding voice.
“I want Bonnie Prince Charlie's son,” Simon seethed at her. “He is the next in line to the throne! He is the rightful heir!” Simon screamed into her face.
Wolf snarled at him from behind Swan, “What do ye want with me wife?”
“His wife? Interesting,” Godet whispered again.
Simon looked behind Swan to see Wolf. The rage on the Highlander’s face made him tremble but he scowled at him anyway. “She took my dog. She turned him against me. For that she will die!”
“That is ridiculous,” Swan said. “Yer dog fears ye. Ye left the poor creature in Brough while it burned to the ground. Ye left him trapped and dying. I pulled the roof beams off him and freed him, and I also took off the horrible chains ye kept him in!”
“Oh I like her,” whispered Ina where she sat atop her horse, watching avidly.
“Just give me the boy! Take the dog if ye love him so,” Simon sneered in an ugly voice.
Wolf came closer, putting the boys down and pushing them behind his back. “What will ye do with the boy?”
“Deliver him to the Prince as ordered. He says there are those that will use the boy against him.”
Wolf was shocked. Those were the very same words his King had spoken. “Ye have spoken to the Pretender?” Wolf said softly, his voice low, deep, and full of warning.
“Aye,” Simon said proudly before realizing what he had said.
“Vera interesting,” Ceena whispered.
“Ye are a traitor, Simon Sutherland,” Wolf said quietly, his voice menacing.
Laird Tavish Sutherland shuffled forward, pushing aside Simon’s warriors. “Ye are indeed a traitor my son, as much as it pains me! I have known it for some time, though I didnae want to accept it. And ye will not kill this woman, she saved me life which is more than ye have ever done for me. Ye shame me!” He waved his arm at the warriors. “Take him, take him out of my sight and lock him up. The Black Watch Army can have him. I am done with ye, ye have shamed me for the last time. Ye have attacked many villages, killed innocent people, and for what? Looking for a false prince’s son?” Laird Sutherland stood there heaving, looking at his son. Then he turned and slowly walked away.
Simon’s own warriors quickly grabbed him as he kicked and raged.
“Simon!” Wolf’s voice thundered. “The boy ye seek is no longer. His life as he knew it ended when ye attacked Brough.” Wolf looked at the Sutherland warriors with steely narrowed eyes. He raised his voice into a commanding thunder of authority. “Spread the word! There will be no more senseless killing or burning of villages. The boy ye seek is gone. My word is truth!” he roared.
“Our da’s word is truth!” Bhric said loudly with a nod of his head.
Wolf heard a soft sound from Swan. He did not look at her, but instead turned to Beak and Keir.
“Where are our horses? Bring them,” Wolf said firmly. “We leave. Now.”
Looking towards the cluster of horses he let out a shrill whistle and hollered, “Hell!”
Everyone got quiet until they saw the big burly war horse come trotting over to.
“That is his horse’s name?” Ina asked no one in particular. “And they think naming our Clydesdales horses after flowers is peculiar?” Ina patted her big mare Myrtle’s neck. She looked over to her oldest sister Godet’s big Clydesdale stallion named Bluebell. Godet was laughing as well.
“What?” growled Wolf at the Ross sisters. “Tis his name, he has been through hell for me.”
The Ross sisters stopped laughing and nodded in understanding. The big, muscular stallion surely did look like he had been through hell and back. But then again, Wolf had seen more battles than anyone they knew. Including their own husbands.
Wolf patted Beans’ head and scooped all three of the little boys up in his big arms again. They smiled happily and held on, with Albie wrapping his arms around Wolf’s neck.
“Laird?” Ceena asked. “The boys?”
“They stay with me,” Wolf growled angrily. “My word is truth.”
Swan’s shoulders sank. Her lips opened slightly as she started to say something but her throat closed up on her.
Wolf placed the boys up on Eckle with Beak. The old man had his pipe lit and was rambling away to Ina about their adventure.
“Ye really must meet our Aunt Hexy,” Ina said. “Ye two would truly enjoy each other. She has a small pony which she has named King Bobby and a tiny odd-looking dog from Mexico named Duke.” Ina smiled at the curious old man.
Beak was puffing away on his pipe which was rammed into the corner of his old thin lips. His eyes crinkled happily. He blew a smoke ring that billowed above the boys and formed a ring around their heads. The children clapped when they looked up at it.
“Aye, I should like that,” he answered Ina.
“Vera good. Aunt Hextilda is at Lady Cat McKay’s castle watching Lady Swan’s three little girls. Aunt Hexy would love to meet Lady Swan and these two other women who are traveling with you. The princess and the angry one.” Ina nodded to Kaithria and Neely. Then she turned her horse and started riding out of the gates of the castle with her sisters.
