Highland Soldiers: The Betrayal (15 page)

“Away with you!” Alex said. He gave Charlie a shove.

Charlie lifted his head, realized it was Alex, and grunted as he rolled over and mumbled, “Thank God. I thought I’d got so full of drink that I’d bedded a cow.”

Alex gave him a swat. “No cow would have you, you oaf.”

Callum said, “You can thank these good ladies for giving you quarter.”

“Good ladies, I thank you,” said Charlie as he hoisted himself to his feet with a groan.

Jenny gave Charlie a tolerant smile. “You’re welcome, good sir.”

After some porridge and ale, the men went to report to Lieutenant MacLean.

Mari saw the worry on Jenny’s face. “Duncan is strong and fine. And he has good friends beside him.”

“Aye,” said Jenny. Her eyes did not leave Duncan until he was out of sight.

*

The men arrived at the castle to find Tavish in the bailey, on his horse and looking impatient. Captain Claverhouse was away in England and had left Tavish in charge of the Highland Dragoons. Small parties were patrolling the area while others were to visit farms known to sympathize with the Covenanters’ cause.

Tavish said, “Here’s a list of the locals I want you to watch. Anyone hiding or rendering aid to known Covenanters must suffer the king’s justice.”

“Aye,” said Callum. He displayed just enough patience, which was all that he had. He and his men had spent months on a similar mission. “You’ll recall that we’ve done this before.”

“I do. And I also recall that you married the enemy.”

“Not all of them, mind, just the one,” Charlie muttered under his breath, while Alex pretended not to hear.

Duncan’s voice had an edge to it. “He did his duty–and more, and he nearly gave his life for the crown. Callum MacDonell is one of our finest. No man can deny it.”

“I can,” said Tavish.

Callum appeared calm, except for an occasional twitch of his jaw muscles. He observed Tavish as if from a distance.

Tavish said, “You’re a fine soldier, Callum, but you cannot deny you were too soft on the family. You could have saved yourself a good deal of trouble. That’s what comes from letting your heart rule your brain.”

“I will bear that in mind.” Callum’s face was devoid of emotion, his posture erect.

“I’ll expect more than that. I’ll expect you to make an example of every Covenanter you catch.”

Alex and Charlie exchanged sideways glances. Alex said, “An example?”

Tavish gave a curt nod. “The privy council has given us the authority to execute fugitives from the law.”

Charlie, unusually somber, eyed Tavish with disbelief. “You would have us execute people as they worship?”

“Yes, if their prayers defy king and country.”

Charlie said, “And when do we shoot them–before or after ‘Amen’?”

Callum assumed an amiable tone. “Tavish, I’m sure you can’t mean–”

Tavish cut him off sharply. “The penalty for refusing to take the oath of abjuration is summary execution.”

Alex said, “Having the authority does not mean we’re compelled to.”

“Under my watch it does. Any man who refuses to renounce the covenant and acknowledge the king as his monarch and head of the church will be executed.” Tavish scrutinized each man in turn. “And any soldier who refuses to follow orders will be found guilty of treason.” Tavish waited as if hoping for someone to put him to the test, but silence fell upon them like a shroud.

There were dozens of parties like theirs, roaming the countryside, rooting out Covenanters. Tavish had received a tip that a minister was hiding out in a farmhouse a short ride away. The ride felt much longer, given the unrelenting tension among the men. Callum had been in charge when they occupied Mari’s farm. Their mission had been different. They had been sent to find Mari’s brother, believed to be part of a group of assassins wanted for a murder near St. Andrews. Early on, they had determined that their man was not there, so they were to spy on the family and servants in hope of obtaining useful information. Callum did such a good job of gaining one person’s confidence that she fell in love with him. However, even if a confrontation had occurred, execution would have been a last resort. His men felt the same way.

With Tavish in the lead, Callum and his men arrived at the farm. A young girl was out playing in the garden not far from the house. Tavish dismounted and walked over to her with a warm, gentle manner. “Hello, lassie. What is your name?”

She looked at him with wide, mistrusting eyes. “Elizabeth.”

“Elizabeth.” He gently nodded and stepped closer. “Look at your pretty, long hair.”

Duncan caught Alex’s eye. They had not been ordered to dismount, so they waited and watched.

Tavish stroked the girl’s hair, and then wrapped it about his fist, pulling it tighter and tighter. “Is there a man staying here?”

She cried out, but did not answer. Her parents rushed out of the house. Tavish greeted them with a cool air of control. “Where is the minister? Bring him out.” He kept twisting her hair. Silent tears fell down the girl’s cheeks.

The father cried out, “Leave the child alone. She knows nothing.”

“And you? What do you know?” asked Tavish.

“I know that you are wasting your time.”

“Am I? Then prove it to me. Swear the oath.”

His wife took in a sharp breath.

In a quiet voice, he said, “Good wife, we knew this day might come.” He called out to the soldiers, “Let the child go. I know what you seek.”

Tavish pulled out his pistol.

“God’s blood!” said Callum. “Let the mother take the girl inside.”

With a shove, Tavish released the child and loaded the pistol. He pointed the pistol at the farmer. “Where is the fugitive?”

The farmer’s face drained of color.

From behind the croft, a man ran to the byre and threw himself on a horse.

“After him!” ordered Tavish, as he aimed his pistol at the farmer and fired. The shot hit its mark. The farmer’s wife ran to her husband, while the daughter stood in the doorway.

Duncan, who was closest, gave chase as the minister rode away. Alex and Charlie followed, while Callum surveyed the scene grimly.

Tavish snarled, “What are you staring at?”

“My superior officer,” answered Callum.

Taking his response as a show of respect, Tavish mounted his horse and rode off. Callum was close behind as they neared the woods. A riderless horse rode toward them from the trees.

Duncan had already dismounted and tethered his horse. Some birds flew up through the branches. Heads snapped in the direction they had come from.

Tavish fired, but missed. With a curse, he dismounted.

The minister emerged from behind a tree and ran. “Shoot him,” said Tavish, as he arrived at Duncan’s side.

Duncan drew his pistol from its holster beneath his left arm. He rammed the ball into the barrel, cocked it, and aimed it.

Tavish snapped at him as he loaded his own pistol. “What are you waiting for?” Tavish fired, but missed.

“He’s getting away. Shoot him!” Tavish told Duncan.

Tavish cursed as he reloaded his rifle. Turning to Duncan, he yelled, “Fire when I tell you to fire.”

Duncan cocked his pistol and fired, hitting branches high in the trees.

Tavish’s pistol misfired. He growled. “The damn flint is too dull.” Blood mottled his cheeks as he fired again. Sparks flew at him. With a curse, he clutched his face. “Go after him!”

The men all spent the next hour searching the woods.

“If you’d fired when I ordered you to, we’d have our man and be on our way home.” Tavish scoffed as he searched through some shrubbery.

Duncan kept searching in stony silence.

The quieter Duncan was, the more Tavish fumed. “You’re not nearly the soldier I thought you were.”

Duncan fought to stay silent.

“Nor the man.”

Duncan pulled his arm back to pound Tavish, when Alex caught Duncan’s arm from behind in steely grip. “Would you look at this, Duncan?” He lowered his voice as he pulled him aside. “Steady.” Alex steered Duncan away. “He’s goading you.”

“Aye, and a fine job he’s doing. I would like to run him through with my dirk.”

“But you will not.”

In the long silence that followed, Duncan seemed to consider it. “No, I will not.”

“Good. Because that castle back there has an oubliette that Tavish would love to throw you into. Think of Jenny.”

Duncan seethed. “So am I just to smile and let him treat me like an errant hound?”

“Of course not. You dinnae have to smile.” Alex grinned sympathetically.

“Be the better man that you are.”

Duncan growled, “Sometimes you make too much sense.”

Charlie joined them. “Perhaps we should look back toward the clearing. If your shot struck him, after all, he could be lying back there, and we missed him.”

“He was not shot,” said Duncan.

Alex scrutinized him. “You and I have hunted and fought in battles together. You’re a very good shot.”

Duncan smiled slyly. “Aye. I dinnae miss my target.”

Charlie’s eyes lit up with recognition for what Duncan was saying.

Duncan said, “Tavish can go hang himself, for I’ll not shoot a man in cold blood just for praying.”

A few yards away, Tavish cursed. “It’s no use. We’ve lost him, thanks to Duncan’s fine shooting.”

Duncan opened his mouth to respond, but behind Tavish, leaves rustled. Tavish turned his head and stood still. He took a careful step, and then another. A few feet away, a white handkerchief rose from the bracken. Up came the minister with his hands in the air, frail and trembling. For the first time, they saw him up close. He was elderly, and taking in deep gulps of air.

Tavish pointed his pistol. “Say the oath.”

The man closed his eyes as he said, “I cannot.”

“Cannot or will not?”

“Either,” said the minister.

Tavish fired. The man’s body jerked and went limp. The men stared in stunned silence. The man lay dead on the ground.

Tavish examined his gun. “This new flint worked much better.” He put it away and turned to ride out of the woods.

“Are we not going to bury him?” asked Duncan.

Ignoring the question, Tavish rode out of the woods with an order for the others to follow. When they’d assembled out in the open, Tavish said, “The next time I tell you to fire, you will do it. Do you understand?”

Duncan looked at him squarely. “I understand you completely.”

Tavish’s eyes shifted from Duncan. “Dismount.” When they all started to do so, Tavish said, “Only this one.” His eyes narrowed as he looked toward Duncan, but he would not look him straight in the eye.

Duncan dismounted, as ordered.

Tavish said, “Bury him, if you like. And then think upon what I’ve said on your long walk home.” With the butt of his rifle, he hit Duncan’s horse on the rump, and the horse ran away. He then ordered the others leave with him. Duncan gave a firm nod to his friends to go on without him. They did, leaving Duncan alone.

For the rest of the day, the remaining men roamed the countryside watching for signs of Covenanter activity, but found none. At last, Tavish gave up for the day.

They found Duncan’s horse wandering near the inn. With his horse in tow, they rode out to find Duncan before darkness fell.

They found Duncan running home with burning determination. If he had not been so tired, he would have looked triumphant. Instead, he mounted his horse and rode home as anger smoldered beneath his dark brow.

“Tavish is a most miserable wretch,” Alex muttered.

Duncan shook his head. “No, I cannae agree.”

Alex stared at him in disbelief.

“I’m as miserable, if not more so.” Duncan tried but could not muster a smile.

Charlie said, “We can argue all evening about who was most miserable, but by my troth, the man is an ass. Can we all agree about that?”

“Aye,” said Duncan, as the others laughed and agreed.

As they rode on toward the inn, the anger lifted, and an easy silence fell on them, until Charlie broke it. “Poor Jenny.”

Duncan slowly turned toward him with a hooded gaze.

“All this while I’ve been feeling so sorry for her.” His eyes flickered toward Duncan. “Yoked to you, as she is.” Suppressing a grin, he continued. “But can you imagine her married to that whoreson?”

“I’d rather not,” said Duncan, irritably.

Callum interrupted to change the subject. “Charlie, do you think it might rain?”

“We’re in Scotland, man. What do you think?”

Callum rolled his eyes and gave Charlie a look. Alex laughed to himself.

Charlie saw them and, missing the point, shrugged it off.

When they arrived at the inn, Callum went upstairs to greet Jenny. They were late, and she did not know why.

“Where is Duncan?” she asked.

“He’s downstairs in the pub.”

“Downstairs. Is he not coming up here?”

“Och, of course he will.”

Jenny eyed Callum. “Something is wrong. What has happened?”

“He’s in one of his moods, that’s all.”

Jenny nodded and left. She found Duncan downstairs in the pub with a flagon of ale. He glanced at her, and returned to the drink in his hand.

“Duncan?” Jenny hooked her arm into his.

“I’m in no mood to talk.”

Jenny stood at his side and watched him clench his jaw and stare down at his hands with a distant expression. She put her hand on his.

He reacted as though he had been hurt. “Did you not hear me?”

He glanced up toward the room, but Callum and Mari were there. He had no place to go. Grabbing her wrist, he led her outside. “I’ll not leave you in there alone, but I meant what I said. Dinnae talk to me now.”

She whispered, “I’m sorry.” She watched him as though he were a stranger.

“Sorry? For what?”

“I’m sorry that you willnae talk to me.”

His dark mood would not leave him. “Walk with me, if you must, but leave me alone. There’s naught worth talking about.”

Their walk brought them to a burn. They drank the cool water and rested beside it until Duncan’s mood lifted.

Jenny slipped her hand into his. “Come, let us go sup with our friends.”

*