Chapter 6
As the men stood in the courtyard saying their goodbyes, Angus hugged his sister for the longest time. He didn’t want to leave.
“Please doona be away so long next time,” she said, her voice muffled in his chest.
“I will no’. I promise ye.”
“I hope ye find Edna,” she said.
Inside, his heart broke a bit. His Edna was lost and he didn’t know where or when she might be. Looking around at the men who would ride with him, he felt comforted by their strength and their presence, but he was beginning to worry that their search was in vain.
No. He couldn’t think that. He couldn’t stand around and wait. He needed to search, and he would continue to ride until she was safe in his arms once again, no matter how long it took.
“Are ye feeling well?” Robert asked, as he mounted his steed.
“Aye.” He couldn’t explain his fears to Robert just then, so he focused on checking his saddle once more before swinging up onto his horse.
The others joined them and as they rode off through the gates of the Campbell courtyard Angus felt as though his heart were being ripped from his chest. Why did he wish to stay here when he’d once been so happy to leave?
He dug deep into his memory of that time.
He remembered well the inexplicable need to head southwest from the road he’d been traveling.
It was not his original choice to do so, but for reasons he couldn’t understand he’d been drawn to the bridge.
He had no idea where he was going or why, but once he was there he decided to camp there for several days.
The feeling of needing to be there was strong and so he’d stopped his wandering.
Days went by and he was content to sit by the banks of the stream flowing beneath the bridge and then one day when he’d finally decided to continue on his way, he rode his horse onto the bridge where a sudden wind picked up, whirling around him and frightening his horse.
He’d spoken soft, reassuring words to the steed, focusing all of his attention on the skittish creature.
Just as suddenly as it had started, the wind stopped and when Angus looked up, ready to proceed across the bridge he saw her.
A beautiful red-haired lass with emerald green eyes.
She was dressed in strange clothing and something about her seemed out of time.
She looked like an angel and for a moment Angus thought he might be dead and at the pearly gates, but then she spoke.
“Yer real,” she said, in a breathy whisper.
“Aye,” he replied.
She walked to his side and stood by his leg as it draped over his horse’s side.
He held out his hand to her and without thinking or questioning pulled her up behind him.
That was the day his life changed forever.
It was what he wanted and needed to return to.
He repeated the scene over and over in his head so as not to forget.
“Where to next?” Cailin asked, interrupting his thoughts.
“North towards Dunnet Head.”
“The Mackalls?” Cormac asked.
“Aye.”
They turned their horses onto the road leading north away from the Campbells and into a heavy drizzle of rain. Angus wrapped his plaid around himself, covering his head to ward off the rain and chill of the air.
Robert rode beside him while Cailin, Cormac, Dougall and Logan rode behind. Angus could hear their conversations as they spoke of their wives and children back at Breaghacraig.
“We owe much to yer wife,” Robert said, glancing back over his shoulder. “She’s made us a verra happy clan. We grow stronger every day and with the addition of each wee bairn that arrives, our clan grows in size.”
“Ye doona mind her interference?” Angus asked.
“Nay. We welcome it. She’s never done anything that has caused us harm or bother. All ye need do is look back over yer shoulder at those happy fools fer yer proof.”
“They do seem happy,” Angus said, doing as Robert had suggested. “I’ve no’ always agreed with Edna’s meddling and I’ve told her so, but there’s no denying that it’s all been for the best.”
“We should find a place to shelter for the night. We’ll no’ make it to Dunnet Head before nightfall,” Cailin called from behind them.
“Aye. I ken a place up ahead. A rock outcropping will give us shelter from the rain and a fire will keep us warm,” Robert replied, before turning back to Angus.
“I ken yer worried fer yer wife, Angus. If anyone can find her, it’s this group,” Robert assured him.
“These are the best men ye’ll find anywhere. ”
“I ken it,” Angus replied. A truer statement could not be made. These men stood for all that was good in the world. In his eyes there were none better.
“Do ye miss yer life in this time?” Robert asked, adjusting himself in his saddle with a slight groan.
“’Tis a good question. When we were back with me sister and brother and the rest of the Campbell clan, there was a yearning within me to stay there.
If I did no’ have me Edna, I imagine I would stay.
” As long as he had Edna there was no reason for him to return. Her love was all he needed or wanted.
“Then ’tis best we find her. Ye doona belong here, Angus. ’Tis clear ye belong to the future. Yer life is there in Glendaloch at the inn.”
“Aye. Yer right, me friend. These long treks on horseback are getting harder with age.”
Robert laughed out loud. “I could no’ agree more.”
Angus joined in the laughter. “Perhaps ye could retire with us in Glendaloch.”
“Retire?”
“Tis something people of the future do when they get older and they are done working.”
“Hmmm…” Robert seemed to consider this.
“I would like to visit more often, though,” Angus admitted.
“We’d enjoy yer company. When this is done, speak with Edna about it. She wants ye to be happy and if seeing yer family every now and then would do that, I’m sure she would agree.”
“She would. I’ve nae doubt. She would like to see more of ye as well.” He squirmed in his saddle once again. “Will we arrive soon? Me bottom canno’ take much more.”
“Aye. The spot is just up ahead.” Robert chuckled. “We’ll sleep well tonight I believe.”
They made camp and dug through their saddle bags for provisions to make a meal. Eleanor had made sure there was food for the next leg of their journey and they each had oats they’d taken from Breaghacraig.
The fire was blazing as they all sat around it.
Robert passed a flask of whisky to Angus.
He took a large pull before sending it on its way to Cailin.
The warmth it brought was welcome. The rain was now coming down in earnest pelting the ground with force.
As Robert had promised they were quite dry under the overhang, although the water cascaded in front of them like a waterfall, leaving huge puddles that flowed together like a raging stream.
***
Dunnet Head loomed ahead of them. The waves crashed against the craggy cliffs as the sun was beginning to set behind the home of Nick Mackall.
They announced themselves to the guard at the gates of Dunaill Castle and after a few moments they were allowed to pass through to the courtyard. Not surprisingly, Nick stood waiting for them as they dismounted their horses.
“To what do I owe the honor of this visit?” Nick asked as he clasped Robert’s hand, before turning to Angus.
“Angus!” Nick said, clapping him on the shoulder. “’Tis good to see ye.”
“We’re looking for Edna. She’s missing,” Angus explained, skipping the niceties. Now that they’d arrived he had no doubt Edna wasn’t here at Dunaill and she may not even be here in this time. He was beginning to lose hope.
“What? How long?” Nick took a step back as he glanced at the men.
Angus hesitated for a moment before speaking. “A couple of days, but there’s been nae sign of her.”
“She’s no’ been here.” A sad smile accompanied Nick’s words. His voice was soft, as though he worried that what he was saying would sting Angus.
Torches were being lit in the courtyard as the sky darkened and the Mackall clan prepared for the night ahead.
“Come inside,” Nick said, motioning towards the door. He greeted each of the men as they passed, appearing happy to see them all.
Once inside he led them into the great hall which was being prepared for the evening meal.
“Ye remember me wife, Katriona?” Nick said as he called his wife over.
The men all bowed politely.
“They’re searching for Edna,” Nick relayed to Katriona.
“Is she somewhere nearby?” she wondered.
“We’re no’ sure where she is,” Angus said. “We thought she may have come this way, but it seems she has no’.” His shoulders slumped in defeat.
“I’m so sorry. Nick, should we send the men to help?” she asked.
“I appreciate the offer, but there’s nae need,” Angus assured her, standing straighter and exuding a strength he wasn’t really feeling at that moment. “We’ve been to the Campbell’s and tomorrow we’ll set off for Castle Treun.”
“Well, come, enjoy a good meal and a warm bed for the night. We’ll send ye on yer way in the morning with provisions to last the rest of yer trip.”
The men followed Nick to a table laden with food and drink.
As they ate, the solemn sounds of a bard seated near the fire and playing a lute filled the background with a song of love and loss.
It tugged at Angus. The words reached deep inside his heart and soul.
He felt them as if they were his own. An unusual despair landed on his shoulders causing them to drop along with his head as he leaned forward.
“We’ll find her, me friend. Never doubt it.” Robert placed a hand on Angus’s back obviously reading his mood.
“Robert kens of what he speaks,” Cormac said.
“We all owe so much to Edna. We’ll never give up until she is found,” Dougall added.
Angus gazed at the group of men accompanying him and felt a strong bond with them and a renewed sense of purpose. “Aye. We’ll find her.”