4. Chapter 4 - Magnus
CHAPTER 4 - MAGNUS
SIDDALL’S FARM - 1775
T he farmer strode across his land tae meet us with a flintlock rifle in his hand and a firm expression on his face. Though he seemed determined, he was also slow, taking his time.
“Sire, m’name is?—”
“Thou art… English?” He licked his bottom lip. The rifle was held loosely on his forearm, pointed at m’toes.
I scowled. “Nae, Scottish, the English are vile and?—”
He raised the end of the rifle tae point at m’knees. “Which draws forth a question… what is your purpose…? A sizable man, such as yourself, seems thou… ought to take a side…”
“Sire, I…” I shifted. “I want tae get m’wife tae a… safe harbor afore I go tae war.”
The man remained tense and disbelievin’. “Are thou a redcoat?”
I shook m’head.
Kaitlyn muttered, “Definitely not.”
The man scoffed at her. “From where do you hail?”
Kaitlyn said, “Oh um… Florida.”
I wondered if she knew what side Florida was in this war — when the farmer drew his rifle up in his hand and pointed it at m’chest. “Thou art English, I knew it. The crown holds Florida.”
Och nae.
I put m’ hands out, placatingly, and gestured with a finger for Kaitlyn tae step back. She drew behind me. I said, “M’apologies, sire, we are not English, my wife dinna understand the question. She thought ye meant, ‘where are ye comin’ from, now , directly .’ We landed at the port in Florida, on a ship from England. Twas harrowing and the only passage we could find. This is why we are in need of rest — we fled Florida and hae journeyed here?—”
“The road is very long.”
“Aye, tis, we… tis why we need rest and food. My wife is from the same place as I, Scotland, Kenmore, Perth and Kinross, near Loch Tay, hae ye heard of it?”
The farmer shook his head.
I continued, “A beautiful land, in’it, my wife?”
Kaitlyn nodded.
I said, “Not as beautiful as this land though, nor as free, that is why so many of m’fellow Scots are coming, however we can, tae raise arms against the English king.”
The man narrowed his eyes even more, keepin’ his rifle raised taeward m’chest. “Why are you on my land?”
I kept my hands raised. “We, m’wife and I, are on a long journey and need a place tae rest and a meal?—”
“Where are you going, dressed like that?”
I looked down and tried tae be charmin’. “Aye, m’apologies, sire, we find ourselves in need of fair lodging and the address of yer town’s best tailor.” I smiled, hopin’ tae disarm him.
He lowered the rifle tae m’toes once more, then slowly said, “I am Jothan Siddall.”
I lowered m’arms. “Aye, Master Siddall, I am Magnus Campbell, and this is m’wife, Madame Campbell.”
Siddall nodded. “Master Campbell, there are accommodations up the road…”
I followed Siddall’s eyes up the road. It looked tae be a long distance, I couldna let him send us away. “As ye can see, my wife and I arna appropriately attired for the journey and… I hae payment, I could pay ye for yer assistance, Master Siddall.”
He nodded and looked up at the sky, bidin’ his time. “I could load the cart and take you to town, but… Madame Siddall has supper on the stove, and there are chores yet…”
Kaitlyn’s stomach growled.
I drew open the top of the drawstring bag and pulled out a wee garnet. “We haena had a good meal in days. I could give ye this in exchange for a room, a meal, and a ride in the mornin’ tae town.”
Siddall took the stone, held it up tae the waning sun, and spun it in his fingers. He dropped it intae his coat pocket, lifted the rifle tae his shoulder, and turned. “Follow me.”
He trudged taeward the house.
Och, I was relieved. I put out m’arm for Kaitlyn and we fell in line behind the farmer.