by Amy Jarecki
Kier set down the gazette and listened to the laughter of his daughter, Isabelle, as her wee voice echoed through the timbers above stairs. At the age of two, she had become quite a handful. And her newborn brother, Robert, was keeping his mother awake all hours.
After Isabelle had been born, Skye had boarded one of the salt transports bound for Glasgow and had taken the bairn to the Coe to see her family. Her parents had rebuilt their cottage and Tommy had grown so much, he was now taller than his sister.
Kier hoped that, with the outcome of the inquisition, he could clear his name and have his record of good service reinstated. Though he would never again don a red coat.
A quiet knock came at the door and his wife peeked her bonny head inside. “We have a visitor.”
Standing, Kier chuckled. It wasn’t often anyone ventured up the north shore of the Isle of Skye. Even the Baronet of Sleat had only made the journey twice in three years. “Do not keep me in suspense, Wife. Tell me who it is.”
Grinning mischievously, she pushed the door open wide.
A lump formed in Kier’s throat while his stomach squeezed. How in God’s name had Da found him?
The old man stood in the passageway, his eyes rimmed red. He held up the same copy of the gazette as he shuffled into the solar. “Och, Son, I couldn’t go to my grave without telling you how proud you have made me.”
“I—”
“Allow me to finish.” Da held up his palm. “I raised you to be an honorable man. I taught you to stand by your values, yet when the time came to take a stand against tyranny, I chose the wrong side. You, Son, chose the right. On that cold and frigid night three years past, the student became the teacher. I only pray God will see half the honor in me that I recognize in you. Can you ever forgive me?”
Tears welled in Kier’s eyes as he pulled his father into his embrace for the first time since he was a bairn. “Och, Da, ’tis hard to turn your back on hundreds of years of clan fealty. I have always loved you as your son.”
Through his blurry vision, he could see the tears dribbling from Skye’s bonny blue eyes but her smile was more radiant than ever. She stepped in and placed her hand on Kier’s shoulder. “This day is a gift from heaven for us all.”
A Note from Amy Jarecki
Thank you for joining me for The Highlander’s Iron Will. Though it’s a short novella, I enjoyed going back to Glencoe after writing The Fearless Highlander (Hugh and Charlotte’s story) and creating a fictional romance between Kier and Skye.
Usually, my main characters are developed after people who existed and I mold fiction to bring their histories to life. But for this story, Kier and Skye are both fictional characters as is Sigurd Castle on Loch Dochart. The horrific tragedy of Glencoe, however, will forever be a black mark in Scotland’s history. Robert Campbell of Glenlyon did lead his regiment into the Coe, accept Clan Iain Abrach’s hospitality for a fortnight, received orders from Major Duncanson and put them to fire and sword in the midst of a blizzard.
Robert Campbell, 5th Chieftain of Glenlyon, indeed, had a reputation for drinking and gambling his estate away and became the oldest captain in the king’s army at the request of his earl cousins, Argyll and Breadalbane. As an officer, he received pay and work that his cousins hoped would keep Robert from their coffers. It is said that after the massacre, Glenlyon could be found in an Edinburgh alehouse, nursing a tankard as he sat against the wall in a dark corner with a haunted stare on his face. People would come to observe the spectacle of that crazed, aging man. “I would do it again!” he reportedly would holler. “I would dirk any man in Scotland or England without asking cause if the king gave me orders.”
Some reports said, “MacIain hangs about Glenlyon day and night.” Indeed, the man’s soul was haunted.
The missive to Captain Campbell ordering the massacre was written by Major Robert Duncanson in Ballachulish on 12th February, 1692, and was said to have been passed down through Glenlyon’s kin until it ended up in the possession of the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh where it resides today. It reads:
You are hereby ordered to fall upon the Rebells, the M’Donalds of Glencoe, and putt all to the sword under seventy. You are to have a special care that the old fox and his sones do upon no account escape your hands. You are to secure all the avenues that no man escape. This you are to putt in execution ate five of the clock precisely and by that time, or verie shortly after it, I’le strive to be att you with a stronger party; if I doe not come to you at five, you are not to tarry for me, butt to fall on. This is by the King’s special command, for the good and safety of the country, that these miscreanis be cut of root and branch. See that this be putt in executoine without feud or favour, else you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to King nor Government, not a man fit to carry commission in the King’s Service. Expecting you will not faill in the ful-filling hereof, as you love yourselfe, I subscribe these with my hand at Balicholis, Ffeb. 12, 1692.
R. Duncanson
“To Capt. Robert Campbell of Glenlyon.”
“ffor their Maties service.”**
Interestingly, five o’clock was two hours before dawn, and Colonel Hill’s original missive stated seven o’clock. That Major Duncanson wanted no part of the killing was clear, for when he did arrive with his battalion at seven that ill-fated morning, the killing had been done and the survivors were fleeing into the hills in the midst of a blizzard.
Though three years later, the Privy Council did conduct an inquisition and found the Master of Stair, Glenlyon, Duncanson and others guilty of murder under trust, John (Hugh) MacIain MacDonald and his clan never saw a penny of recompense. Further, though convicted, penalties were not enforced, and not one “murderer” spent a single minute behind bars.
Today, Glencoe is a thriving place of awe-inspiring landscape and is home to an abundance of wildlife. In the town of Glencoe there is a lovely museum displaying remnants of the early life. A memorial still stands giving ode to Alasdair MacIain MacDonald, the fearless old laird. Up the A82, the National Trust for Scotland has built an impressive visitors center with something for everyone. Glencoe truly is one of nature’s grand fortresses, one well worth a visit.
Read more Highland Defender novels or Lords of the Highlands, as the series continues with Hachette Book Group’s imprint, Forever:
The Fearless Highlander
Meet Hugh MacIain, heir to the most notorious clan in the Highlands
The Valiant Highlander
When the Baronet of Sleat faces musket-wielding Mary of Castleton, he’s convinced they are utterly incompatible. But sometimes even a brawny Highlander can meet his match.
Brought to you by Hachette Book Group’s Forever Imprint
The Highland Duke
She will put her life on the line for him. Yet she can never know his true identity.
The Highland Commander
She cannot resist the man behind the mask.
The Highland Guardian
He has sworn to protect her, but he might be her greatest threat.
Other Books by Amy Jarecki:
ICE Series (Romantic Suspense)
Hunt for Evil
Body Shot
Mach One (Coming January 2, 2018)
Highland Defender & Lords of the Highlands (Mass Market)
The Fearless Highlander
The Valiant Highlander
Published by Hachette Book Group’s Forever imprint:
The Highland Duke
The Highland Commander
The Highland Guardian
The Highland Chieftain (July 2018)
The Highland Contender (January 2019)
Guardian of Scotland Series (Time Travel):
Rise of a Legend
In the Kingdom’s Name
The Time Traveler’s Christmas
Highland Dynasty Series:
Knight in Highland Armor
A Highland Knight’s Desire
A Highland Knight to Remember
&nb
sp; Highland Knight of Rapture
Highland Force Series:
Captured by the Pirate Laird
The Highland Henchman
Beauty and the Barbarian
Return of the Highland Laird
Pict/Roman Romances:
Rescued by the Celtic Warrior
Celtic Maid
Stand Alone Titles:
The Chihuahua Affair
Virtue
Boy Man Chief
For more information, visit http://amyjarecki.com/books or your retailer for links:
If you enjoyed The Highlander’s Iron Will we would be honored if you would consider leaving a review. ~Thank you!
About the Author
Amy embarked on her writing journey shortly after she completed an MBA with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her first manuscripts were suspense novels and were never published. She calls them baptism by fire—lessons in learning to write fiction. These lessons, combined with several writing conferences and classes, led her to write her first published book, Boy Man Chief, which won the League of Utah Writers award for Best Manuscript, and the Spark Book Award.
A lot has happened since, with some of the highlights being Rise of a Legend winning the RONE award for Best Time Travel; hitting the Amazon Top 100 Bestseller list; and a host of other accolades.
Amy enjoys the freedom of authorship and the opportunity to work creatively every day. She has lived in Australia, Bermuda and has spent extensive time in Scotland. Whenever possible, she visits the places she writes about to add vibrant realism to her stories.
She loves writing Scottish historical romance, and now she’s adding romantic suspense to the mix. Come along for the ride!
Amy loves hearing from her readers and can be contacted through her website at http://amyjarecki.com/.
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