Page 2 of A Laird and a Fugitive

“The dogs will lose our scent,” she replied.

No doubt it was a lesson she had learned from their father, Caroline thought. He had often taken Nessa hunting. In fact, he had tried with all three of his daughters, but Nessa was the only one who took to it naturally.

“Up here, we cannae outrun them. We need tae wait for darkness tae fall,” Nessa said, gesturing to a tree. She ran towards the trunk and jumped up, taking hold of a gnarled branch. The leaves were thick and leathery. She pulled herself up, legs swinging, until she was straddling the branch. Caroline turned to Tara.

“I cannae.” Tara was shaking her head.

“Ye must,” Caroline urged.

She put her hands against Tara’s hips. Nessa reached down. Tara was sniffing and sobbing. It was hard for her, Caroline thought. It was hard for them all. In the distance, the dogs were barking, horses whinnied. Deep voices rolled through the forest like thunder, calling their names. The fine hair on the back of Caroline’s neck prickled.

“Ye can dae this, Tara,” Caroline said, and used all her strength to lift Tara up.

She jumped and Nessa grabbed a hold of her wrists. Tara dangled for a moment before kicking out against the trunk, using it to climb up. She was shaking her head and muttering to herself as she did so. When she was hoisted up to the branch, she began adjusting her disheveled dress and smoothed down her hair, backing away to the far end of the branch that flowed into the trunk. She drew her knees into her chest and breathed heavily, her eyes wide with fear.

Nessa was still dangling from the branch, stretching out her hand. Caroline fixed her face in determination and hitched up her dress. The damp clothes were cold against her palms. Water trickled from her boots, quickly absorbed by the hungry soil. She summoned all her might and jumped up, pressing her foot against the trunk, using it as leverage. She clung to Nessa’s hand.

Nessa strained and pulled Caroline up with a heaving exhortation. Caroline was draped over the branch like clothes drying on a line. She pulled herself up into a sitting position.

“We need tae get higher,” Nessa warned. Caroline nodded in agreement, for they were on the lowest branch. Tara groaned.

“Dae ye want someone tae see ye? If they realize we’re up here, they’ll have us cornered,” Nessa said. She began climbing, moving about the tree as naturally as a squirrel. Caroline took a moment to speak with compassion to Tara.

“I know this is hard. It’s nae what any of us planned. Believe me, I dinnae want any of this tae happen. But it is happening, and it’s my job tae keep ye safe. I hae been daeing it for all ye life, aye?”

“Aye,” Tara replied reluctantly.

“Then trust me again now. I know ye are tired. I know ye are hurt. But we cannae allow our uncle’s men tae find us. Whatever fate awaits us, we share,” Caroline said, although in her heart she knew she was lying.

A look of resolve came upon Tara’s face. She inhaled deeply and then rose, wringing out her skirt. She went ahead, following Nessa’s path. Caroline trailed behind her. As they ascended the tree, the ground became more distant, and more dangerous. A fall from this height would kill them. Caroline tried not to look down, for her head became dizzy with vertigo when she did. Nessa kept climbing and climbing. The leaves rustled as they passed.

Eventually, Nessa stopped. There was a wide network of branches that were obscured from view by a thick veil of leaves. Tara once again positioned herself against the trunk. Caroline leaned down, straining her ears to listen for the hunters. She put her finger to her lips, indicating to her sisters that they should remain silent.

The next few moments were filled with tension. Caroline’s heart beat so loudly she feared it would give them away. Their wet clothes emphasized the cold, and it made them shiver. It wasn’t long before they heard the dogs yapping near the stream. The heavy boots of men splashed across the water.

“They cannae hae gone far,” one of them grunted.

“Let’s fan out. They must be here. Can ye imagine the reward we’ll get if we’ll find them?”

“Aye, perhaps a night with one of them.” The man cackled.

Caroline winced at the evil intent. Tara and Nessa recoiled. This world that had seemed so safe for them had suddenly become dangerous. Without their father to protect them, Caroline struggled to see a way forward. But she reminded herself that she was a well-educated young woman, the daughter of a Laird. Pride flowed through her blood and she was not about to wilt in the face of pressure.

She could not allow herself to suffer this fate because her sisters depended on her.

The men and dogs moved on, still calling out their names. Tara moved, intending to descend the tree, but Caroline shook her head.

“Nae yet. We need tae wait for darkness tae fall,” Caroline warned.

The pale light of the day faded. Tara slumped against the tree, her head nestled against the crook of a branch, and she fell asleep.

“I dinnae know how she can sleep at a time like this,” Nessa scowled.

“It’s been a long day,” Caroline replied.

“Aye, that it hae. I wish I hae time tae fetch my bow. I could hae taught those guards a lesson in loyalty. I cannae believe how quickly they turned on us.”

“They depend on the Laird for their coin. His word is law,” Caroline’s words were faint and shrouded in fear. “I want ye tae promise me something, Nessa. If the worst should happen, I want ye tae take Tara far away from here. Be safe. Find a small part of the world and hide.”