For Callum, home would be a longed-for relief. She was glad for him, but it meant more change for her. She had lived her whole life on a farm. Life had moved in predictable cycles along with the seasons. But now life was beyond her control. It was changing too fast.
The one constant was rain. It had rained through the day, and was raining after dark when they left.
Alex gripped Callum’s hand. “I’m sorry you have to leave like a thief in the night, but it’s safer this way.”
“Aye,” replied Callum, not even trying to hide his grim mood.
Alex’s eyes settled on Mari. “Come here, hen,” he said with a grin as he held out his arms.
With moist eyes, she hugged him, and then stepped back and rested her hands on his shoulders. “Look after Charlie.”
“I will.” He looked into her eyes and, as was his gift, filled her with confidence in him.
They left unspoken the truth about how things had changed between them. Alex was able to see past the rift now between them, but Charlie could not. But the same thing that tied families together had somehow been forged between them over these months. Something in Alex’s smile and warm touch gave her hope that they might all find their way back together.
Charlie joined them and first said his goodbyes to Callum. He now stood before Mari with a remote look that masked his deep sorrow. “Mari.”
She missed the carefree grin he’d always had when he’d call her “dearie”. She wondered she’d lost that forever.
“Dear Charlie.” She looked into his eyes, but they were distant.
She reached out and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” she said, looking at him through her tears.
Charlie turned his head slightly, hiding moist eyes. “Whisht, dearie. Just gie us a hug.”
And she gave him just that, along with some tears on his shoulder.
Callum helped Mari onto the horse he had bought her, and then he mounted Storm. Through the dark rain they rode, under the looming shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
Late in the night they took shelter in a shed. They made love in the hay with the passion of two grieving souls who have come close to death, and now cling to life and each other. Afterward, their bodies entwined, they talked softly of where they had been and the people they’d left for a while, and the one they had just lost forever.
“If you hadnae found me that day, so much would be different.”
“I cannae think of my life without you,” he said, just before he kissed her.
Mari rested her head on his shoulder. “Hugh would be alive.”
With a sudden fierceness, Callum sat up and pulled her up by the shoulders. “I forbid you to talk—or even think that again. Do you ken?”
“Aye,” she said in a whisper. She had never seen him like this.
“You are not to blame. I forbid you to take on that burden.” His stern gaze burned into her.
“But I miss him so,” she said, as tears spilled from her sorrowful eyes.
“Och, I miss him too.” He gently pulled her to his chest and rested his palm on the back of her head. “I’ve kent Hughie since he was a bairn and I was a wee lad. His great strengths were his flaws. He was trusting and kind.”
“And too good to deserve such a young death.”
“Aye, but you cannae live your life looking back. How could you have known it would happen? We could think all the day long how he might have been spared, but at days’ end, he cannot come back to us. To wonder otherwise is a cruel game that no one can win.”
Mari looked into eyes that bore such a somber expression. “How did you become so wise?”
“I learned in one quick lesson.” Deep pain haunted his expression.
Mari listened.
“My brother died.” He glanced at her, and then looked off toward distant memories. “Losing Hugh brings my brother to mind, I suppose. Robbie was different. He thought and felt deeply. When lads said things, it hurt him. I dinnae ken why, but the others wouldnae leave him alone.”
“Even Duncan? And Charlie and Alex?”
“No, but they didnae stop anyone, either.” Callum swallowed. “Nor did I.
“I told him to fight back. He was bigger and stronger than all of them, but he wouldnae.
“One day, he flew out of the byre on his horse. I jumped out of the way, and I cursed him.”
Callum did not speak for a while. His jaw clenched. Mari put her hand on his shoulder.
He glanced at her and went on. “He didnae come home. We found him the next day hanging from a tree.”
Mari choked tears back.
Callum said, “For years I would ask myself, what if I’d stopped them, or said something to Robbie? Why did I not go after him? The last thing he heard anyone say was my cursing. But no matter what I might have done, Robbie was dead. I could not bring him back.”
“So when you saw me that day at the cliff, you saved me.”
His dark gaze met hers. “Aye, I found you in time.”
“And you made my life better than it could have been.”
“I wasnae looking for a wife at the time,” he said, with an unexpected grin which soon faded. “But I saw you at the edge of that cliff, and I was determined to stop you. That’s all I wanted. Until I spoke with you.”
“I dinnae recall saying anything special.”
“No. I suppose I was won over by your kicking and clawing.” Callum grinned.
With a self-conscious smile, Mari said, “Aye. How could you not have been charmed?”
With a glint in his eye, he said, “Well, I saw enough emotion in the first two minutes I’d kent you to make me wonder what ten minutes more might bring.”
“Oh that’s what you thought, did you?”
“It’s more what I felt. For by then, I was in love.”
Mari put her arms about his neck and pressed her body to his. She whispered her love in his ear, and he took her mouth in a devouring kiss. So much had been lost to them both, but they’d found one another, and they would not let go.
*
Callum woke Mari with a light kiss before dawn. “Lass,” he whispered into her ear. She stirred a bit, but drifted back to sleep. He moved to her mouth, kissing and whispering, “Mari, my love.”
Mari smiled and kissed him. “Not yet,” she said, pulling him toward her.
He grinned, tempted, yet knowing that farmers rose early. But when Mari swung her leg over and climbed atop him, he chose not to deny her. When, some minutes later, they both were blissfully awake, they both heard footsteps outside.
With a curse, Callum said, “Time to go, lass!” They scrambled to saddle and mount their horses. As the byre door opened, the farmer jumped aside as two riders on horseback galloped out of the byre toward the hills beyond.
When they were far enough from the farm to be safe, Mari surprised Callum by racing past him with a joyous laugh. He caught up and rode beside her across an open stretch, until he had to spoil her fun by leading her back onto their route.
“We’ll follow the drovers’ roads into the highlands. There’s a more direct military road, but we dinnae want to risk a chance meeting with the king’s men.”
So they veered away from the path they were on and crossed over the gentle slopes of fields. Mari shocked Callum by jumping a hedgerow.
He raced to catch up. “God’s teeth, lass! I didnae know you could ride like that.”
“And how would you?” she said with a bright smile. “But I can!” She urged her horse to go faster as she laughed over her shoulder.
When they slowed down at last, Callum took the lead, and they soon found themselves on a drovers’ road.
As the sun rose well into the sky, Mari said, “Och! Callum! Are you not hungry?”
“Aye. It’s a shame we’ve so little to eat.”
“What? Did we not bring food with us? I thought I saw—”
“Eggs?” Callum pulled a fresh egg from his pocket.
“Where did you get that? Well I ken where. But when?”
“I went for a walk in the morning and found them.”
“Found them?”
“Aye. Under a hen.”
“You’re a terrible, thieving man, Callum MacDonell.”
“Aye. So I dinnae suppose you would stoop to eat one of these. What a shame, for I have six.”
“Six eggs!”
Aye,” he said, feigning remorse with a frown.
“Your penance is to cook them,” she said, leaving the path and heading toward the sound of a burn.
Sometime after they had cooked and eaten the eggs, they were packed up and ready to go when Callum grabbed Mari’s wrist and yanked her close beside him, with his finger to his lips. They stood still and waited as the rattling sound of a wagon approached, and then passed them and rode down the road.
Through some overgrown brambles, Mari caught a glimpse of grain sacks on the back of a wagon.
Callum whispered, “It’s only a badger, but we dinnae want to be seen, lest he tell the wrong folk that he’s seen us.”
They walked parallel to the road for a mile or so to be sure they would not be seen over the hedge wall that lined this stretch of the road. Then they mounted their horses and rode on.
The sun burned high in the sky when he asked, “Are you hungry, lass?” His broad smile proved he knew the answer.
Her answering look left no doubt.
“When we get to Crieff, there’s a drover’s inn there. We can give the horses a rest while we have a hot meal. If you like, we could sleep there.”
“If I like?” Mari rubbed her back and shifted her weight in the saddle. “I’ve never ridden so much. I may not be able to walk if ever we do stop.”
“Dinnae worry, Mistress MacDonell. I can carry you up to our bed.”
She flashed a wide-eyed look just in time to see him wink and smile. Her admonishing look soon spread into a smile as she warmed under his gaze. She found herself suddenly keen to reach Crieff.
*
A mist rolled in and rain soon fell in sheets as they rode into Crieff. The drover’s inn was a stone building darkened outside by the rain and made darker inside by the soot-stained oak ceiling. The low rumble of talk came to a halt as they walked in and looked for a table. Callum held Mari’s hand with a sure grip and walked to the bar, where he got two tankards of ale. He then led the way to a table not far from the fire, where they warmed away the chill of the rain. A grand fire crackled inside the stone fireplace that ran the length of the wall, floor to ceiling. Mari took off the drenched plaid wrapped about her shoulders and dress, and draped it over her chair. In her weary state, the flames soon held her rapt in their flickering warmth.
Callum studied Mari, with her weary expression, and lay his hand on hers for a moment before he got up and went to the barkeep to ask for a room. As a shadow overtook her, she smiled and looked up. But it was not Callum who stood beside her. Instead, there stood a hulking man who appraised her and smiled and then stood by the fire with his hands outstretched toward the warmth.
Callum eyed the man as he returned and sat down. “Wife.” Mari looked up quizzically at Callum. He had never called her wife as though it were her name. He leaned closer and added in quieter tones, “We’ve a room.” Callum warmed Mari’s chilled hands in his and leaned closer. “Drink up, love,” he said. “It’s overly crowded in here. We’ll sup quickly and then away to our room when it’s ready.”
A barmaid brought two bowls of beef pottage and bread with fresh butter. She smiled warmly at Callum as she set down Mari’s bowl. She proceeded to arrange every item on the table, taking care to lean down to afford Callum full view of the plump bosom that swelled from her bodice. As she stood, she faced Callum, with her shoulder to Mari. With a light touch to her bodice as though smoothing it down, she looked into his eyes and said softly, “If there’s anything else I can do for you, you need only ask. I work very late.”
“Thank you,” he said, promptly turning to Mari and smiling. The girl lingered for a moment of wistful longing, and then walked away.
Mari was too tired to be even the least bit amused. But thoughts of the barmaid soon faded as she savored the hot food. Callum ate, but kept stock of the room, every window and door, and each person between. It was not a large inn, and had quickly filled up as travelers sought shelter from the driving rain outside. The man by the fire returned to the bar and remained there. Mari’s eyes drifted closed.
“Mari, love.”
She awoke with a start. Her startled look charmed Callum. He could not help but grin. He stood and offered his hand. Mari took it and followed.
Their room was a small one, with mattresses stuffed with hay. While Callum bolted the door, Mari pulled back the quilt and was about to climb in when Callum crept up behind her and said, “It would not be healthy to sleep in damp clothing. Here, love, let me help you.” He proceeded to remove each item of clothing with caresses and kisses, but she barely responded. With a hopeless grin, he picked up the pace and had her in bed moments later. Callum unbelted his plaid and climbed into bed beside her. Mari nestled against him and, exhausted, fell soundly asleep.
*
Callum woke and found Mari awake. He watched her as the rain drizzled outside. “Come, love. Let me ease those dark thoughts of yours.” He nuzzled into the crook of her neck and brushed soft lips along her collarbone as he slid his hand to the hem of her shift and gathered the fabric in folds. “Och, lass. I cannot touch you enough.” As his touch quickened her breathing, he rolled onto her. They panted and breathed out deep sighs full of all they had kept safe in their hearts during the long, lonely months they had loved alone and apart. Long after, they held on, entwined and complete. Callum watched a tear trail down Mari’s temple and brushed it aside.
“‘Twas a long time alone,” Callum said in a low throaty whisper.
“Aye, love.” She turned and rested her head on his shoulder.
The drovers’ roads did not go near the towns, which was exactly how Callum wanted it. At this time of the year, they would meet with no drovers, and few travelers. From time to time they would veer off of the road to avoid other travelers. When encounters could not be avoided, they simply rode past and did nothing to draw undue notice.
After eight days of hard travel, they followed a path through the trees that lined the shores of Loch Oich. They were looking into the hills for the castle when Callum held out his hand to signal Mari to stop.