Page 15 of A Fire in Their Hearts
He’s so surprised that he reaches up to catch it as I spin around and run to the plank, hoping that Samuel hasn’t pushed the dirk so far along that I can’t reach it. I’ve got hold of the handle when the Highlander slams me against the wall.
‘Trying to trick me, girl! What’s that you’re after?’
He’s far too strong for me to fight and forces my arm around to reveal the weapon in my hand.
‘A very nice piece of work,’ he says, bending my wrist. The dirk slips from my grasp. ‘You and I are going to have some fun, and afterwards you can tell me where the conventicle is taking place.’
He moves his head towards mine and I almost gag at the stench of him. I twist my head away and in response he bends my arms so painfully I scream. Suddenly he’s also screaming and I don’t understand what’s happening until I hear my mother’s voice.
‘Let go of my daughter, you heathen bastard!’
She’s rammed the prongs of the hayfork into his back and for a moment the three of us are motionless, before Mother yanks out the fork and backs out of the stall.
She’s drawing him away from me. He turns with a roar, pulls out his sword, and staggers after her.
I retrieve the dirk. Mother is blocking the way to the entrance and the long hayfork means that he can’t reach her.
‘You bitch. You’ll die for this, you and the rest of your miserable family.’
He knows I’m there and tries to keep us in sight.
We go either side of him. It’s like a macabre dance, each person seeking that brief opportunity to strike.
My foot kicks an old horseshoe. I pick it up and make a big show of hurling it at his head.
It’s enough of a distraction. Mother rushes forward, jabs him in the stomach, and jumps back out of the way.
He howls, his pain and anger making him careless, and as he slashes his sword through the air, I step in and drive the dirk into his side.
I move away just in time. The tip of his sword whistles past my face, only inches away.
He would kill me in an instant if it wasn’t for the danger of the hayfork.
The Highlander is like a wounded wild animal, enraged and terribly dangerous.
His end is hideously messy as we jab and slash and stab until he lies amongst the dirt and straw, a bloody, motionless shape.
No songs of glory will be written about this miserable death.
Mother and I collapse into each other’s arms, crying, shaking and scared out of our wits.
‘Did he hurt you?’
I’m trembling so much I can hardly speak. ‘No.’
‘I never knew a body could hold so much blood. It doesn’t seem possible. These Highlanders aren’t human,’ she says, staring at the unbelievable amount of gore.
It’s at this very moment that the Highlander’s eyes snap open and stare back at us. We scream as if Satan has risen up from the ground at our feet.
‘He’s alive! He’s alive! Mother, I can’t stab him again. I can’t! I can’t!’
‘God save us, neither can I! What are we going to do? I can’t go near him, Violet. He’s a demon.’
Our terror almost drives us insane as inch by inch the man stretches out a hand towards the entrance to drag himself forward.
*?*?*
We’re still almost beyond the ability to speak when Samuel, Hamish and my father return, horrified at the sight that greets them.
Once they’ve assured themselves that we’re not physically harmed and the figure near the entrance is definitely dead, the three men get into a serious discussion about where to put the body.
‘We can’t bury him outside,’ says Father. ‘The ground’s frozen solid, and even if it wasn’t, it would be obvious that the earth has been disturbed.’
‘The river’s too far to get him there in the time we have,’ says Samuel.
Hamish is on the verge of panic. ‘The other two will be back soon. We’ve got to do something – quickly.’
‘The stall,’ says Mother, who is recovering much faster than me. ‘The earth is soft enough to dig, then spread it out evenly and cover it with straw.’
Everyone is immediately frantic with activity.
Mother and I clean the hayfork and dirk of blood then sweep up any signs of a fight while the men dig out the soil with a furious desperation.
When they get down about four feet, they put in the body along with the bloodied straw then refill the hole and spread out the soil.
The five of us stamp around as though we’ve lost our senses.
When we’ve finished, the earth appears too neat, so we cover it with fresh straw and Father moves back the cow from the adjoining stall.
The animal moos loudly as if pleased to have returned.
By this time, it’s mid-afternoon and the light is fading as we stand around, panting with exertion and fear.
So far there’s no sign of the others returning.
Once again, it’s my mother who points out what has to be done.
‘We’ll say that the Highlander never showed up and stick to that story whatever happens. The other two aren’t bright enough to find the body and they won’t be able to prove anything. Samuel, you must take Violet away from here. It’s too dangerous for her.’
‘Where would we go, Mother?’
‘These invaders are based throughout the entire south-west of Scotland, so go east .?.?. east and north. Anywhere that’s far enough.’
‘There are Highland officers in the area and they won’t be so easily fooled,’ says Samuel. ‘They’ll be suspicious if we leave just when one of their own has disappeared.’
‘Yes, I think you may be pursued but it will be worse for Violet to remain. We can’t protect her.’
Slowly, Samuel nods in agreement. ‘All right, we’ll go and hopefully any potential blame will go with us and none of you will be harmed. We need to do it now. Hamish, will you find us whatever food we can carry and then let my parents and Calum know?’
‘Of course,’ says Hamish, straight away setting off for the house.
‘I’ll go as well,’ says Mother, heading to the barn’s entrance. ‘I’ll get you spare clothing and anything else I can think of. Douglas, they’ll need money.’
‘I’ll dig up our coin and give you a purse. I can’t believe it’s come to this. I’ll pray for your both.’ Father rushes out with one of the spades that has so recently been used to bury someone.
‘Thank you, Father. We’ll need all the prayers we can get,’ I reply, but he’s already gone.