A Wee Highland Predicament

by Ceci Giltenan

  She nodded resolutely. “Well then, I guess I’ll have to accept that this is the best course and have faith we’ll get through it.”

  “I love ye, Ailsa MacLennan.”

  ~ * ~

  Fingal MacLennan had never pushed so hard to reach Brathanead. He and his men were on the road each morning at first light, stopping as briefly as possible during the day to give the horses needed rest, and riding until it was too dark to keep going each night. They had only been hours away when night fell the previous evening.

  He had taken care of his horse and had been standing, scowling at the campfire, when one of his guardsman, Bran MacBain, came to stand beside him.

  “Laird, we’re almost home now. If we leave at dawn, we’ll reach Brathanead by midday.”

  Fingal nodded. “I just wish we could keep going now. The sky is clear, when the moon rises, it will be bright and we’re in familiar territory.”

  “The horses will drop if they aren’t given a few hours’ rest.”

  “I know. We don’t have a choice, it’s just frustrating to be so close and still so far away. Bran, I feel so helpless. They’ve had her so long now.”

  “Aye, Laird, I feel the same way. Ailsa’s a sweet lassie. I keep thinking what I’d do if something like this had happened to one of my daughters.”

  Fingal gave a mirthless laugh. “I’d have had to pull ye off yer mount’s back and tie ye to a tree tonight.”

  “Aye, ye probably would have.” Bran looked up at the sky. “’Tis a fine, bright night.”

  “And ye’re the one who just reminded me that the horses need rest.”

  “They do. But I’m thinking…since we’ve only about five hours of riding remaining to get to Brathanead, where they’ll have plenty of oats to eat and time to rest, maybe we don’t have to wait until morning to leave. It might be enough to rest now for five or six hours. Then if we mount up when the moon is high we can be home a few hours after the sun rises.”

  And that’s exactly what they had done. The sun was well up now and they could see Brathanead in the distance. Home and Gillian awaited.

  ~ * ~

  Lucas rode through the night with his beloved Ailsa in his arms.

  The sun was well up when he stopped just outside Brathanead village. She had fallen asleep and he wanted to hold her for a bit longer. He knew once they entered Brathanead, he would lose her for a while, if not forever. In spite of what he’d told her, he was not convinced that this was going to end well for him. But he had brought her home and that’s what mattered.

  Finally he leaned down and kissed her. “Ailsa, my love, wake up now. Ye’re home.”

  Ailsa’s eyes fluttered open. “I’m home? I can scarcely believe it.”

  “Are ye happy?”

  “I’d be happier if I knew ye were safe.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure everything will work out eventually.”

  She smiled and nodded. “I am too.”

  As they rode through the western side of the village and up to the keep, the villagers called surprised greetings to her.

  As they reached the castle gates, as Lucas expected, MacLennan guardsmen surrounded them. He didn’t expect there to be so many of them in the bailey at this time of the morning.

  Then through the confusion of men and horses, a voice rang out. “Get her off his lap and seize him. That’s Lucas Grant.”

  Lucas recognized the man as Bran MacBain. He’d faced off against Bran in sword challenge at a May Fair a number of years ago.

  The next thing he knew, Ailsa was being pulled from his lap.

  “Nay, Quinn, let me go!” she screamed, fighting against the man who had taken her.

  Lucas remembered that Quinn was married to Ailsa’s sister, Fallon. Surely the man wouldn’t hurt her, but fighting as she was, she might be injured. “Ailsa, it’s all right, love.”

  The words were no sooner out of his mouth than someone grabbed him by the arm, dragging him off of Captain’s back.

  Ailsa only redoubled her efforts, yelling, “Eadoin, nay, ye’ll hurt him.”

  Ignoring her, the man shoved Lucas to the ground on his knees and removed the sword from his belt.

  By this time, two women who Lucas assumed were her sisters came running towards Ailsa, embracing her. They were followed closely by two large, sleek-coated, sight hounds, one brindle and one black and white.

  The taller woman said, “Oh, thank God. Are ye well? Were ye hurt? Where have ye been?”

  The shorter woman had burst into tears and could only manage to repeat Ailsa’s name over and over.

  But even in her sister’s embrace, Ailsa was still trying to get to him.

  “Enough!” roared a man who Lucas knew could only be Fingal MacLennan. He strode towards them. “Ailsa, stop it this instant.”

  “But, Fingal, ye don’t understand.”

  “I understand perfectly well. This is Lucas Grant, the man who kidnapped ye and has held ye captive these last few weeks.”

  “Nay, ye’re wrong, Fingal.”

  “Are ye telling me ye haven’t been at Castle Grant all this time?”

  “Aye, I have been there, but it’s not what ye think. He saved me.”

  “Aye, from one group of men, only to hold ye hostage himself.”

  “Fingal, what’s going on?” Asked the taller of Ailsa’s two sisters.

  “While still in Edinburgh, I received a message from Laird Grant stating that they held Ailsa. Now his brother rides into my bailey with her on his lap. Eadoin, see our guest to the dungeon.”

  Eadoin and another guardsman immediately pulled him to his feet. Lucas didn’t resist.

  “Nay, Fingal, please don’t do that. Please.” She turned to her sister imploring, “Please, Gillie, don’t let him throw Lucas in the dungeon.” The black and white dog, he assumed it was Duff, whined.

  “Ailsa, sweetling, ye’ve been through a terrible ordeal—”

  “Nay, Gillie, ye don’t understand.” Ailsa broke free from her sisters and ran to Lucas, Duff following her. She wrapped her arms around his chest, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Nay, I won’t let them take ye.” She looked back over her shoulder at her stunned sisters.

  The dog whined and pushed his nose against one of Lucas’s hands.

  “Please, Gillian. He’s a good man. I love him. I want to marry him.”

  The instant Ailsa professed her love, Gillian’s expression hardened. “Ailsa, stop this.”

  Lucas dipped his head to kiss the top of hers. “Wheesht, lass, that’s enough.”

  “Nay, I told ye not to bring me all the way. I told ye to leave me outside the village.”

  He tried again. “And I told ye I would never risk yer safety to ensure my own. Sweetling, this is not the way to accomplish anything. It will all work out. I promise ye.”

  “Don’t touch my good sister,” growled Fingal, pulling Ailsa away. “Gillian, see to her.”

  Ailsa began to weep and it tore at Lucas’s heart. Her dog seemed to be as distressed as she was, pacing and whining.

  Gillian put her arms around her sister. “Ye’re only making things worse, Ailsa,” said Gillian. “Wheesht now. Stop crying. Everything will be sorted out.”

  The last thing Lucas heard as the two guardsmen led him away was Ailsa’s heart-wrenching sobs.

  ~ * ~

  Seeing Lucas Grant ride into the bailey with Ailsa on his lap was perhaps the last thing Fingal expected when he arrived home. Seeing Ailsa screaming and crying that she loved Lucas had nearly left him dumbfounded. Now he had to put an end to the chaos swirling around him and get to the bottom of this whole mess.

  After Lucas had been taken away, Fingal put an arm around Ailsa’s shoulder. “Ailsa, please listen to me.”

  Ailsa turned her tear-streaked face to him. “Why? Ye won’t listen to me. Ye don’t understand anything that’s happened.”

  “Ailsa,” admonished Fallon, “there is no excuse for ye to be so rude.”

  Fingal tried again.
“Ailsa, it is clear that more has gone on than I know. I will let ye tell me everything, but not right now. Go into the keep with yer sisters. Have a rest and a bath and once everything has calmed down, I promise I’ll listen to ye.”

  She looked angrier than he ever remembered seeing her but she agreed and let Gillian and Fallon take her to the keep.

  He leaned down to whisper in Gillian’s ear, “See that Ailsa is cared for, then return to the great hall and I’ll tell ye what I know.”

  To the rest of his clansmen gathered in the bailey, he said, “I know ye all have a lot of questions, as do I. For those of ye who arrived with me, please see to yer mounts, and ye’re free to find yer beds for a much needed rest.” To his squire he said, “Tomas, see that my mount, yer own, and this beast of Grant’s are all tended. Then you may also find yer bed.”

  Chapter 14

  Gillian hated seeing Ailsa so distraught. She couldn’t possibly have fallen in love with the man who kidnapped her. This was just Ailsa being Ailsa. Gillian just needed to help her calm down and see reason. “Ailsa, sweetling, let’s go inside. Fallon will come with us. Ye can tell us everything. Then I’ll have a bath brought up and after that ye can have a wee rest.”

  With an arm still around her, Gillian guided her towards the keep. Fallon too put an arm around her as Ailsa continued to sob.

  Once inside the keep, Gillian’s two oldest children, five-year-old Ian and three-year-old Adaira, along with Fallon’s two oldest, her five-year-old twins, Suisan and Cecilia, came running towards them.

  A chorus of “Aunt Ailsa’s home!” was followed immediately with a barrage of questions from all of them.

  “We missed ye.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “What’s wrong with Aunt Ailsa?”

  “Why is she crying, mama?”

  “Aunt Ailsa, why are ye crying?”

  “When did ye get home?”

  “Mama, is Da home too?”

  “Who was the man Sir Eadoin just took to the cellars?”

  Fallon took control. “Wheesht, all of ye. That’s enough. Aunt Ailsa will be fine. She’s very tired and we’re taking her upstairs. She doesn’t need ye lot hammering her with questions.” Fallon called to one of the serving women, “Annie, I’m sure Peg has her hands full with the little ones at the moment. Would ye mind these four for us until we’ve seen to Ailsa?”

  “Aye, Fallon, of course I will. Come to the kitchen with me, my wee darlings. Jean is baking today. She’ll give ye all a bit of dough to play with and if ye all behave like wee lairds and ladies instead of the rascals I know ye are, maybe she’ll treat ye to a sweetie.”

  The three girls were instantly at her side ready to go to the kitchens, but Ian tugged on Gillian’s sleeve. “Is Da home, Mama? Can I go find him?”

  “Yer da is home,” answered Gillian, “but things are in a bit of an uproar. Go with Annie now and ye can see Da soon.”

  “All right, Mama.” He hung his head and followed Annie and the lassies as if he were facing a punishment instead of being taken to the kitchens for a treat.

  Gillian smiled, shook her head and continued to lead a tearful Ailsa upstairs. Fallon asked another maid to ensure that both a tray of food and a bath was brought up to Ailsa’s bedchamber, before following them.

  Ailsa had begun to calm a bit once they reached her chamber.

  “There now,” said Gillian, “sit here on yer bed and settle yerself, then ye can tell me about everything.

  “Gillie, ye have to listen to me. Please don’t let Fingal leave Lucas in the dungeon.”

  Gillian sat beside Ailsa on the bed and taking her by the hands. “Nay, Ailsa. Listen to me. Lucas Grant is a braw Highland warrior. A few days in the dungeon will not cause him to crumble any more than it would Fingal or Quinn. He will be given food, water, and I’ll even make certain he has some extra blankets. Right now, the best thing ye can do for him is gain control of yerself and explain what has happened.”

  Fallon sat on Ailsa’s other side and put an arm around her. “Aye, sweetling. We’ll listen to what ye have to say.”

  Ailsa nodded. “Aye. I’ll tell ye the whole story…but then ye’ll understand why I love him and why ye can’t keep him in the dungeon.”

  Gillian stifled a smile. Ailsa was nothing if not persistent.

  There was a knock at the door and a maid entered with a tray of food and a pitcher of water for the wash stand. She was followed by additional servants bearing a tub and buckets of hot water with which to fill it.

  Ailsa remained quiet until they had all gone.

  Fallon stood, taking her hand and saying, “Come now and have a bath. Ye’ll feel better and then we’ll talk.”

  Ailsa agreed. Once she had undressed and climbed into the hot water, she sighed and closed her eyes. “This does feel wonderful.” While she bathed, Ailsa asked about the children and the clan. She also asked how it was that Quinn and Fallon arrived at Brathanead ahead of Fingal and his other men.

  When she had finished her bath, was dressed in a fresh léine, and had eaten a little, she put her hands in her lap saying, “Now, will ye hear what I have to say?”

  “Aye, pet,” said Gillian.

  “Well, I suppose ye know by now that I tricked my guardsman to get away from him.” She put a hand up to stop either Gillian or Fallon from jumping on that statement. “I know. It was beyond stupid and it could have ended so badly.”

  From Gillian’s point of view, it seemed to have ended pretty badly as it was.

  “I didn’t believe anything could happen to me with so many people around.”

  “Ye never think anything bad can happen,” said Fallon quietly.

  “I know, and I’m sorry. I had been dancing with a Galbraith guardsman. He gave me a tankard of ale that must have had something in it. I became exceedingly sleepy and the next thing I knew, I was waking up on his lap, on a horse and I wasn’t in Edinburgh anymore.”

  ~ * ~

  As much as Ailsa had wanted to convince Gillian and Fingal not to imprison Lucas, it became clear that they were not going to listen to her. When she had professed her love for Lucas, she’d seen the look on Gillian’s face. She should have known at that moment any further argument would have been a waste of words and energy. It was going to take more than professions of undying love to get Gillian to change her mind on this.

  And it was Gillian’s mind she needed to change first.

  Fingal was extremely protective of their family and had been from his first moments at Brathanead. Ailsa shouldn’t have been surprised that he’d reacted as he did to someone who he thought threatened their safety. He protected what he loved.

  Well, so did she and she loved Lucas. Childish behavior wasn’t going to convince them that she could make adult decisions.

  So she did what Gillian had asked. She made an effort to calm down. The hot bath had helped. Although she had availed herself of the bathing room at Castle Grant when allowed to, she had missed the luxury of soaking in warm water in the privacy of her own bedchamber. By the time she was out of the bath and dressed in her own fresh clothing, she was alone with her sisters, and Duff sat beside her on the bed, she had felt in control and ready to tell her story.

  She had started by admitting her own folly. There was no point trying to minimize her role in this.

  “They drugged ye?” asked Fallon incredulously. “We couldn’t imagine what had happened. We were all so worried. Fingal and his men combed the castle and then Edinburgh.”

  “Aye. I realized they’d drugged me as I was waking up. I don’t know how long I had been asleep but the sun was high in the sky and we had to be well away from Edinburgh. I was groggy and felt terribly sick. It took ages for my head to clear.”

  “Did they hurt ye, sweetling?” asked Gillian gently.

  “Nay, not really. Just rope burns where they bound me.”

  “Did ye not pass other travelers on the road who could see ye were in trouble?” asked Gillian.

/>   “Aye, we did. But each time, the Galbraith warrior who held me, wrapped his plaid around me to cover the fact that my hands were bound and threatened to kill me if I said anything. Now I realize that was probably an empty threat. If he didn’t want other travelers to see my bound hands he certainly wouldn’t want them to witness him murdering me. But as I said, I wasn’t thinking clearly. As it was growing dark, they turned westward, following the river Caron, then stopped for the night and made camp. They tied me to a tree.”

  “Oh, Ailsa, how awful,” said Fallon.

  “Aye, I was cold and uncomfortable, and after sleeping through the day, I didn’t figure I’d be able to sleep again, but I did. Then I woke suddenly to find a hand over my mouth. It was Lucas. He cut my bonds and escaped with me. He ran through the forest with me on his back, so we could move faster. He saved me.”

  “Well, that’s debatable,” said Gillian.

  “I’m surprised ye just went willingly with Lucas Grant,” said Fallon.

  Ailsa sighed. She knew this next bit was rather damning, but she told them how he had misled her.

  “And this is the man ye profess to love?” asked Gillian.

  “The fact is, ye know as well as I do, if I had escaped him, I might have found myself in an even worse position. By getting me to go with him willingly he kept me safe. He really is a very good man.”

  Fallon jumped on that. “Ailsa, he held ye captive. Good men don’t do that.”

  Ailsa remained calm. “No? What do ye suppose would happen if Quinn were out hunting and chanced upon a Grant lass who had somehow wandered into our territory? What would he do? Would he lift her onto his horse and deliver her to Castle Grant?”

  Gillian shook her head. “That’s not the same thing.”

  “I didn’t say it was. I asked what ye think he would do—except I already know the answer.”

  Fallon nodded. “Well then, ye’re right. He wouldn’t take her to Castle Grant. He’d bring her here and Fingal would decide what to do.”

  “Exactly,” said Ailsa. “And Fingal would see that she was well-cared for, but he’d ransom her.” She looked from one sister to the other and neither could deny it. “Well, Lucas didn’t find me wandering on Grant land. He went out of his way to save me from the Galbraiths. And as far as that goes, he risked his life for me doing it. If they had awakened before he had freed me, they would have killed him. Ye know they would have.”