Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jasper clenched his jaw and tried to ignore his mother’s tirade of abuse. If Strachan’s warning was true, they had to make haste, and he had no time to put up with her shrieking.

‘Take the men and the women and ride like the furies back to Kransmuir,’ he said to Randel. ‘Stop for no one and be on your guard until you reach the gates. Leave the cart. It will only slow us down.’

‘But vagabonds will come and get their filthy hands on our belongings,’ screamed his mother. ‘And the Carstairs clan will be irreparably offended. We will be shamed before all the West March for backing out of a marriage contract.’

‘Better you be shamed than get your throat slit,’ he bellowed. ‘Do as I say, now!’

Maeve and Glenna turned their horses around and began to do his bidding, but his mother held her ground. ‘Why turn us around on the word of that ruffian? Until you explain yourself, I will not go. Who is he, Jasper? Why must we do this?’

‘Enough!’ bellowed Jasper, so loud, he made them all flinch. ‘I am in charge here. You will do as I say and return to Kransmuir, even if Randel has to strap you across the saddle like a trussed pig to get you there.’

She blanched, and moments later, they were all setting off down the track towards Kransmuir, but Rowenna stayed.

‘You too, lass, and make haste,’ said Jasper.

She had wisely remained silent about Maeve’s predicament and the exchange with Strachan, and her demeanour was calm in front of the other women. But her face was pale, and her hands shook.

‘Tell me that you are escorting us home?’ she said quietly.

‘The danger lies that way,’ he said, indicating the path ahead. ‘I must find out who plots against me.’

‘Us. Who plots against us,’ she said, and though her loyalty did her credit, Jasper was not about to put her in danger.

‘I need you clear of this, Rowenna. I will be careful and creep up on anyone lying in wait for us. If what Strachan said is true, any ambush will most likely occur on our journey to the wedding. If I encounter no threat on this path, I will continue to Annancross and see who comes and goes.’

‘Jasper, that is foolhardy.’

He took Rowenna by the shoulders. ‘I am the leader of my family and my clan. I cannot cower behind Kransmuir’s walls while the Warden takes what is mine. If I flinch at this threat, then I am finished.’

‘But why throw your life away on the word of a man you do not trust? Please come back with us.’

‘No.’ He leaned in and kissed her. She tasted sweet and soft, like heaven itself, and, at that moment, Jasper had no doubt in his heart that he loved Rowenna.

‘I will protect you, lass, at all costs. I would give my life for you because I love you. Hold on to those words, my love, and I will return. I swear. How can I not when I have finally found happiness in this world?’

‘I can come with you,’ she said, tears welling in her eyes.

‘Are we going or not?’ shouted Randel, beckoning impatiently.

‘Go on now, Rowenna,’ said Jasper.

Rowenna grabbed his face and kissed him hard, all desperation. ‘Follow as soon as you can. I love you, Jasper. Please take care.’

He smiled. ‘I will come back to you, Rowenna. I promise.’

Once she had ridden away with the others, Jasper turned his horse into the thickest part of the woods and plodded along parallel to the track. He moved slowly, vigilantly, straining his ears for any voices or the noise of horses crashing through the undergrowth. But for mile after mile, he heard nothing save the sighing of the trees and the odd bird call.

He was many miles in and burdened by ominous clouds overhead when the hair prickled on the back of his neck. The birds had stopped calling. Jasper caught a flash of red in a thicket up ahead – the breast of a bullfinch, perhaps, or a squirrel. He narrowed his eyes to see better in the failing light as a pick of rain hit his face and then another. The heavens opened, and the hiss of rain drowned out any other sound save his heavy breathing.

A branch creaked nearby, and as Jasper turned his head towards the sound, something exploded against his temple and sent him reeling from his horse. His vision darkened as he groped for his sword. The heavy boot on his throat told him it was too late.

‘Caolan Bannerman sends his greetings,’ said a voice dripping with malice.

***

They were going too slowly. Randel did his best to spur the women on, but Joan was not the best rider, and Maeve and Glenna did not seem to understand the peril they might be in. Jasper should have told them the truth in all its horror, then they might have made better progress.

Doom lay on Rowenna. She had no way of knowing if the Strachan fellow had told Jasper the truth, but in her bones, she felt she could trust him. But even if that were true, Jasper was riding into an ambush. It was all very well to try to creep up on his attackers and be careful, but the woods were thick, hiding many dangers. And Jasper was on Carstairs land. He would not know it so well as his own.

Yet her husband was fierce, battle-hardened after years of fighting to retain his land and position in a lawless place. He was as much a villain as a laird, and Jasper had the instincts of one who had run from the King’s justice many a time. All would be well. He would find out who was loyal and who was not, and they would set their course by that.

Rowenna’s crossbow bumped against her hip as she trotted along. Knowing it was there comforted her. But what use was it if danger lay behind her, not ahead?

A fox darted out of the undergrowth, and Maeve’s horse reared in alarm and unseated her. Everyone rushed to her aid, making a fuss, and Randel dragged the young woman to her feet in an instant. She was clearly unhurt, for when he tried to brush mud and leaves off her bottom, she smacked him roundly in the face.

‘Get off me, you oaf,’ she cried.

‘How dare you put hands on my daughter,’ screeched Joan.

‘Can we just please get back to Kransmuir and end this infernal day, for my hands are freezing, and I am wet through,’ cried Glenna.

The men sighed and rolled their eyes, and Randel rubbed his cheek and glowered. What a company of fools!

They were so selfish and deserved whatever fate befell them. ‘To hell with you all,’ said Rowenna under her breath. She turned her horse around and galloped back the way she had come.

It was not long before a thunder of hooves had her turning. ‘Stop, lass,’ cried Randel. ‘Where the hell are you going?’

‘To make sure Jasper is safe.’

‘You cannot. He bid me see you all safe back to Kransmuir. He will skin me alive should any harm come to you.’

‘And I cannot abide any harm coming to him, Randel. So get those harpies back safely and return with more men to meet us on the road.’

His face took on a grim belligerence. ‘I’ll not let you go, lass.’

‘If you want to stop me, you must knock me down. And if you want to knock me down, you must catch me first.’

Rowenna spurred her horse forward along the track. It was a nimble beast, and she soon left him trailing. She heard a muffled curse and glanced back. Randel had his fist raised and had stopped chasing. She dearly hoped he would press on to Glendenning lands with haste and, one day, forgive her for her recklessness.

Now, all she had to do was find Jasper.