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Authors: J. Lee Coulter
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lass?”
“I will call her ‘Fergus’,” she spoke in awe. “She r e minds me of him.”
Connall chuckled as he imagined his squire’s reaction to this bit of news. “Are ye certain ye do nae wish to give her a lass’ name?”
She shook her head adamantly! “Nay, Da. Her name is Fergus.” With that said, she marched proudly from the st a bles with her prize in her arms.
The Earl followed close behind, arriving in the bailey in time to hear his squire being ribbed about looking like the bitch pup. Fergus gave him a pleading look to no avail. He shrugged in response. Perhaps his ward will change the pup’s name as often as she switched suitors…twas Fergus’ only hope.
* * *
Stephen had been trapped at this inn for a sennight shy of a month. He had suffered for a fortnight with fever and a cough. This last sennight he spent regaining his strength as the snows melted away to little more than a memory.
Feeling more like his old self he called for his captain. “McGee! Ready the men. I will nae delay one day more to retrieve my intended!”
His captain shook his head piteously as he left to gat h er the men. It was a fool’s errand. He knew this but you do not argue with your laird.
They left before the sun rose on the horizon. Ross and his warriors made good time as they traveled westward t o ward Halkirk…in spite of the mire left behind from the snowmelt. On the sixth day, they were in sight of the castle as they stayed just within the tree line.
A wicked smile crossed his lips as he contemplated his next move. How was he to reach her? He could say he was there for a visit…or just passing through, but he would never get her past the gates. No, that would not do.
“McGee! Send a man in peasant clothes within the walls to scout out a postern gate. We will set up camp a few leagues north of Halkirk and await his report.”
“Aye, my laird.” He glanced behind them at the men. There was one among them who could easily pass for an old beggar. “Liam, swap the packs from that palfrey to your mount, and then ride it to yonder castle. Scout out the walls for a postern gate or some other means of entry …and leave your sword with us. Meet us north of here in two days’ time.”
The grey-haired man nodded as he proceeded to follow his orders. Before long, Liam rode slowly toward the gates of Halkirk. Stephen did not wait to see if he gained e n trance as they followed the trees, searching for a suitable campsite.
* * *
Chapter IX
* * *
Brighde was restless. The day had turned out to be u n seasonably warm compared to the last fortnight of bitter cold. She sighed heavily. She dearly wished to go for a stroll outside the gates…just for the solitude that she could not acquire within. There was always someone about.
Amy was napping and Connall was busy practicing with his men. She chewed her lip as she considered going alone. After all…was not that the whole purpose…to be alone? Making her decision, she rose and went to gather her cloak. Donning it, she stopped short, realizing she would never get past the gates unaccompanied . A smile lit her face as she remembered the postern gate. No one would be watching it!
Before long, Brighde was slipping out of the small gate and strolling across the open space that separated Halkirk from the forest. A light warm breeze ruffled her sable hair as she soaked in the sun, fantasizing about Connall’s bairn.
So absorbed in her thoughts, she was a bit startled to find a tree before her . Glancing behind her, she knew that she had gone too far from the safety of the castle. Brighde turned about to retrace her steps when she felt a large hand cover her mouth as a strong arm wrapped about her waist. Struggling to free herself from this unknown assailant, she heard a gruff voice in her ear.
“Well…fancy finding ye here, my lady. My laird will be pleased when he sees me return with ye instead of just information. In fact, he will no longer need it since
“I will call her ‘Fergus’,” she spoke in awe. “She r e minds me of him.”
Connall chuckled as he imagined his squire’s reaction to this bit of news. “Are ye certain ye do nae wish to give her a lass’ name?”
She shook her head adamantly! “Nay, Da. Her name is Fergus.” With that said, she marched proudly from the st a bles with her prize in her arms.
The Earl followed close behind, arriving in the bailey in time to hear his squire being ribbed about looking like the bitch pup. Fergus gave him a pleading look to no avail. He shrugged in response. Perhaps his ward will change the pup’s name as often as she switched suitors…twas Fergus’ only hope.
* * *
Stephen had been trapped at this inn for a sennight shy of a month. He had suffered for a fortnight with fever and a cough. This last sennight he spent regaining his strength as the snows melted away to little more than a memory.
Feeling more like his old self he called for his captain. “McGee! Ready the men. I will nae delay one day more to retrieve my intended!”
His captain shook his head piteously as he left to gat h er the men. It was a fool’s errand. He knew this but you do not argue with your laird.
They left before the sun rose on the horizon. Ross and his warriors made good time as they traveled westward t o ward Halkirk…in spite of the mire left behind from the snowmelt. On the sixth day, they were in sight of the castle as they stayed just within the tree line.
A wicked smile crossed his lips as he contemplated his next move. How was he to reach her? He could say he was there for a visit…or just passing through, but he would never get her past the gates. No, that would not do.
“McGee! Send a man in peasant clothes within the walls to scout out a postern gate. We will set up camp a few leagues north of Halkirk and await his report.”
“Aye, my laird.” He glanced behind them at the men. There was one among them who could easily pass for an old beggar. “Liam, swap the packs from that palfrey to your mount, and then ride it to yonder castle. Scout out the walls for a postern gate or some other means of entry …and leave your sword with us. Meet us north of here in two days’ time.”
The grey-haired man nodded as he proceeded to follow his orders. Before long, Liam rode slowly toward the gates of Halkirk. Stephen did not wait to see if he gained e n trance as they followed the trees, searching for a suitable campsite.
* * *
Chapter IX
* * *
Brighde was restless. The day had turned out to be u n seasonably warm compared to the last fortnight of bitter cold. She sighed heavily. She dearly wished to go for a stroll outside the gates…just for the solitude that she could not acquire within. There was always someone about.
Amy was napping and Connall was busy practicing with his men. She chewed her lip as she considered going alone. After all…was not that the whole purpose…to be alone? Making her decision, she rose and went to gather her cloak. Donning it, she stopped short, realizing she would never get past the gates unaccompanied . A smile lit her face as she remembered the postern gate. No one would be watching it!
Before long, Brighde was slipping out of the small gate and strolling across the open space that separated Halkirk from the forest. A light warm breeze ruffled her sable hair as she soaked in the sun, fantasizing about Connall’s bairn.
So absorbed in her thoughts, she was a bit startled to find a tree before her . Glancing behind her, she knew that she had gone too far from the safety of the castle. Brighde turned about to retrace her steps when she felt a large hand cover her mouth as a strong arm wrapped about her waist. Struggling to free herself from this unknown assailant, she heard a gruff voice in her ear.
“Well…fancy finding ye here, my lady. My laird will be pleased when he sees me return with ye instead of just information. In fact, he will no longer need it since
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