Page 55 of The Highlander's Pirate Bride

“’Tis early still and I see smoke from a chimney. Mayhap if ye can drag yer poor wee body a little further we may find a lass or lad who’d welcome a gold coin in exchange fer a piece of cheese and a slab of fresh baked bread.”

“Aye.” He managed a grin. “’Tis a prospect dear tae me heart.”

After hunting around, they found a track not far from where they’d left the boat. As it was heading in the direction of the smoke they held high hopes for, Maxwell suggested they follow it and they set off. Once they were in sight of the tiny stone cottage with its smoking chimney, his spirits lifted.

The door to the cottage was open, but when they peeped inside the sole occupant was an old grey-beard, rocking himself gentlybefore the fireplace. Maxwell rapped on the timber door causing the old man to startle and look around fearfully.

“Dinnae fear us, grandfather.” He spoke in a soothing, measured tone. “We mean nay harm.”

The man’s eyes were fixed on the claymore affixed to Maxwell’s belt. Seeing the fear in the old man’s eyes Maxwell unbuckled the claymore took and laid it on the table. The old fellow nodded his approval.

“D’ye have troubles hereabouts?”

The old man nodded. “’Tis a wild part of Skye. A few miscreants have made the woods their home. They come and steal chickens or whatever food they can.”

“Ye’ve naught tae fear from us.” Maxwell looked around the neat cottage. “D’ye live alone here?”

The man shook his head. “Nay I bide here wi’ me son and his wife and his two weans. They’re all out in the hills now searching fer some of our beasts that have got loose.”

“D’ye ken when they’ll be back?”

“Nay. They may be gone all day. It all depends on the beasts. If they wish tae come home or nae. Ye’d best wait outside if ye wish tae meet wi’ them.

Aileen sucked in an audible breath and Maxwell glimpsed the anxiety in her eyes. It would be a mistake to tarry here much longer.

“We’d best nae wait, grandfather. We’re needing something tae break our fast.” He said this in as gentle a voice as he could manage. “We’ve had nay food since the day before yesterday and tonight we’ll be setting off for the Small Isles.”

Aileen took out her purse and retrieved one of her gold coins. “If ye’ve some cheese and a bannock or two we’d be especially grateful.”

Maxwell nodded enthusiastically.

As the old man got to his feet Maxwell proffered his right hand in a gesture of trust, and they shook hands together.

“I’m Will MacLeod. I’d be happy tae help ye break yer fast.” He led the way to a small cupboard where the shelves held an assortment of jams and pickles, a pitcher of milk, a fresh-baked loaf of oat-bread alongside a wedge of cheese.

“Fer two gold coins ye can break yer fast with whatever ye please. Dinnae take it all, fer me daughter-in-law will nae be pleased.”

“Aye Will, we’ll nae leave ye tae starve.”

They helped themselves to enough to tide them over for another day but, mindful of the remote place they were in and thinkingof the old man facing his daughter’s wrath when she found her cupboard was bare, they left plenty of the delicious-looking food on the shelf. They supped on milk, and took the loaf, some cheese and pickles.

Maxwell thanked the old man for his trouble, adding, “And, should anyone be enquiring after yer two guests, my name is Joshua Turnbull and this is my sweet lady-wife, Janet.”

The old man narrowed his eyes. “How is it then, Master Turnbull that I heard yer wife calling ye MacNeil, and ye calling her by the name of Aileen? Are ye recently wed that ye forget each other’s names.

Maxwell winked, hoping Will, like the wedding-guest had done, would assume they were eloping lovers. “Ye’re right, we’re recently wed. Sometimes we forget.”

Will followed them to the door and when they reached the turn in the path, he was still standing there keeping an alert eye on these mysterious strangers.

“D’ye think he’ll be questioned by Sutherland’s crew?” Aileen asked.

“Nay, lass. Dinnae forget we’re on the Isle of Skye now and the MacLeods are nay friends to Sutherland. I doubt his men would come ashore here in this hostile place.”

They wandered back to the spot where they’d left the boat. To Maxwell’s relief, it was still there, its covering of bracken ferns undisturbed.

After making themselves as comfortable as was possible on the rocky shore, remaining well-hidden behind the boat, they tucked into the food they’d brought from the cottage. Once they’d finished off every crumb, Maxwell drew a breath. There were matters he needed to discuss with Aileen before any more time passed.

“’Tis nae far tae Canna from this place. If we set off at dusk we’ll be there afore dark.” Maxwell spoke quietly, his heart missing a beat as he contemplated this plan. All of a sudden, the notion of parting company with Aileen didn’t bring the relief he’d once imagined it would.

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