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  Darach had got straight to the point. At speed, he told Gawain every detail of the horrors Catriona had been suffering. Before he had even finished his tale, Gawain was saddling his horse, keen to get moving. Darach was deeply relieved to discover that Dunbar was indeed a true friend to Catriona.

  “As soon as you get me in there, you must leave. You make your way straight back here and say naught to anybody. I’ll not see you banished from here too.”

  “Ach, get a hold on yourself man. I’ll nay be leaving that Castle without the lass, banished or no! Come on!”

  Darach could not help his smile at his new friend’s eagerness to help. His chances of rescuing Catriona had just doubled.

  As night began to fall, Catriona knew she must bide her time. She would, she knew, just about slip through the window. Painfully, yes, but it could be done. Catriona had studied what footholds she could see whilst it had still been light. Spending hours staring and counting stones, Catriona hoped and prayed that she had correctly committed it all to memory.

  Patience was all that was needed now. It needed to not only be fully dark, but late also. Since the death of her Da, the nigh time full guarding had ceased. Kyle, having been caught out by the Kincaid in full daylight had sworn that would never happen again. These days, the guards were out by day, with just a couple of watchmen at night. Catriona knew their bone-idle routine as well as most of the Clan did, and felt sure she had a good chance of slipping by unseen. Unless, of course, she lost her footing and fell. Peering down out of the window, her throat went dry. If she fell from here, the night watchmen would be the very least of her worries!

  With only two hours or so to wait, Catriona hoped that nobody would come by her rooms. Kyle had seemed to be sticking to his word. Not a soul had entered her locked chamber since she had left. Catriona began to pace. Patience, patience!

  Gawain drew his horse up and tethered it.

  “We’ll leave them here. They’re well out of sight.”

  “Right.” Darach simply followed him through the trees.

  “We can get almost to the Castle itself and still be covered. Then we wait.”

  “Wait?”

  “Aye, Darach, we wait. We cannae sensibly make our way in until it truly is night.”

  Darach blew out a huge breath.

  “Aye, that’s right Darach. Have patience!”

  Patience his friend said, but it would be the most difficult thing he had ever done. Sitting here in the shadows while Catriona was in peril.

  As it turned out, squeezing herself through the tiny slit of a window had been easier than expected. The last few days had made her thinner and, for now, it would be to her advantage.

  Still, to shift herself from the safety of the ledge onto her first foothold was the most physically demanding thing Catriona had ever had to do. It took all of her strength, and more besides, to stop herself from plummeting down to her death. For a moment, an image of her bloodied body, lying on the cobbles below, came to her mind. Then it was replaced with an image of Darach. She would do this for him.

  The descent had been truly awful. Just a few feet down, she had already lost count of the stones used and where the next foothold would be. Catriona was quite literally climbing blind, feeling her terrified way down the side of the rugged Castle wall. It scrapped her arms and tore at her bodice. Her fingers were sore and bloodied, and she was dizzy and sick with fatigue, thirst and maybe the start of starvation. Luckily, there had been a cup of water in her room. It was not much and she had managed to ration it. Without that small mercy, she would never have had the strength to even try this. Step by terrifying step she lowered her legs and searched for the foothold. Sometimes she found it easily, others her leg dangled and swung below her as her arms ached. Once or twice she nearly broke down in tears as she thought the step would be too far. That she had miscalculated and would hang here until her arms gave way and let go, and she would crash to the ground.

  The ground, when it came, shocked her. Catriona gasped in surprise when her foot reached it and, for a moment, she dared not let go of the stones she was clinging to, in case the ground was not really there after all.

  Finally, she let go, and turned to head quietly away. Someone barred her way and, before she could scream, a hand clasped hard over her mouth. Her eyes opened wide in fear as she tried to see who held her there.

  “I dinnae believe it!”

  “What? Gawain? What?”

  “I do believe I have just spied wee Catriona Sinclair scaling down the very walls of the Castle!”

  “Nay! Truth?”

  “Aye!”

  “Where is she?” Darach was straining to see.

  “She’s out of sight, somewhere on the ground. It was her, for certain.”

  “Let’s go and get her.” Darach was rising, ready to run.

  “Wait, just follow me. I’ll get us there quietly and unseen. Come on.”

  Darach felt relief flood through him. Soon they would have her, and could get her away from this terrible place without bloodshed. What came next he would cope with. Even if it meant riding for the lowlands before his kin could find him. It dinnae matter now, for she was safe.

  As her eyes adjusted to the light, they met squarely with the eyes of her brother, Evan. After everything she had gone through, still to be caught in the end! Tears sprang into her eyes. Leaving go of her mouth, Evan put a finger across her lips.

  “Shhh,” he mouthed silently.

  Catriona looked at him in pure amazement. Was he helping her? Evan peered quickly about him, then motioned with his eyes and a nod of his head that Catriona should make her way to the stable. Nodding her silent thanks, she set off as fast as her legs would take her.

  Reaching the stable, she peered in to check that it was empty. Finding it so, she hurriedly saddled her own horse. In the moment that she made ready to mount the horse, somebody pulled her hard by her hair, the force sending her backwards onto the ground. Kyle! Surely Evan had not set her up? Had he sent Kyle in after her? Catriona struggled hastily to her feet. Her eyes darted to and fro, desperately searching for a weapon of any kind.

  Kyle did not even speak. He was grunting, his eyes wild and his fat lips working, wet and monstrous. He had finally tipped over the edge and was spiraling down into insanity.

  Catriona spied the wooden door stay, held firmly within its slides. Before she could even get near it, Kyle had struck her a fearsome blow to the side of her head. For several seconds, Catriona thought she had lost her sight. All she could see were dark blobs darting from side to side. Hearing a throaty, vile laugh, Catriona scrambled blindly to her feet. Blinking hard, she found her vision was returning. The blow had made her feel dizzy and sick, and she did not know how much longer she could hold out for.

  Darach and Gawain were sprinting now. Having heard Catriona cry out, they no longer cared about the noise they were making.

  “It’s coming from the stables!” Gawain called out, breathlessly.

  Darach was skillfully loading an arrow into his bow as he ran.

  Kyle ran at her once more. In the split second before he reached her, Catriona raised her foot and kicked him hard between the legs. Letting out an animal’s cry of pain, he fell to the floor. Before he had a chance to recover, Catriona was freeing the heavy wooden door stay from the slides. Catriona knew she might not get a chance to mount her horse before Kyle rose again, she would have to hit him.

  The wooden stay was so heavy that, at first, Catriona wondered if she would be able to swing it. Wasting no time, she ran over to Kyle, who was still writhing, his face as white as snow. He looked into her eyes, knowing what was coming and unable to do aught about it. As Catriona swung, she shouted at him.

  “Now you know what it is to feel powerless and afraid, you evil wee beast!” And, with that, she hit him hard on the head. Kyle slumped backwards once more. He was groaning and semi-conscious. Kyle would be out of action for a good wee while.

  In the end, Catriona realized
that she had the chance to do what she had sworn to God Almighty that she would. With a few more swings, she could kill him. And yet, as she looked down at him, Catriona knew in her heart that she could not.

  Looking up to her horse, she was startled anew to see Darach and Gawain standing mutely in the doorway, each of their jaws gaping. Catriona smiled broadly.

  “Oh Lord, you came! You actually came for me!” Tears began to roll down her face. Darach and Catriona stared at each other, both mesmerized. Gawain broke the spell.

  “Ach, later, you pair. Let’s away before that madman comes to!”

  Leaping up onto her horse, Catriona set off, her two companions running like the wind for their own horses.

  She had done it!

  What none of the three saw as they fled was Evan Sinclair entering the stable. As the two watchmen guarded the door, Evan silently raised the wooden stay which Catriona had dropped, and rained blow after blow down onto his brother’s head, until Kyle ceased to moan.

  Catriona, Darach and Gawain stopped at the edge of the Kincaid Castle grounds and dropped down from their horses. All three were breathing hard, still taking in the events of the night.

  “So, will you come into the Castle with me?” Darach looked hopefully at her. Catriona should be there to tell her own story. “Even though I’ve not yet got the assurances you wanted me to find.”

  “Ach, Darach, I dinnae need assurances any more. I’ll never be frightened by anybody for as long as I live.”

  Darach pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

  “I should think not, lassie, with a swing like that!” Gawain spluttered, laughing loudly.

  “But we won’t stop long,” Darach said quickly.

  “Oh, Aye? Well, where shall we go?” Catriona’s eyes opened wide.

  “Well, I’m hoping you’ll come down to the Lowlands with me. Make me a happy man at last.” Darach looked at her hopefully and Gawain almost held his breath in anticipation.

  “If you can bear to leave the Highlands, that is.” Darach went on, filling the silence. Catriona smiled so broadly it hurt her swollen face.

  “Ach, aye, Darach Abernethy, I can bear it. Believe me, I can bear it!”

  Epilogue

  Looking out from her chamber window across the lowlands of Kinross, Catriona could hardly believe how life had changed. The Castle of Abernethy seemed lighter somehow than her childhood home of Sinclair.

  In many ways, it was the life within the Castle walls which accounted for the feeling of openness.

  Life was conducted in a noisier way, without the secret intentions and private meetings which had formed the basis of life at Sinclair. What’s more, everyone was happy. There were smiles on all the faces of the clan and she had been greeted with joy. Welcome into the Clan as if she were long lost kin. There were days when she missed her ma and wondered how different life would have been if she had married into such a Clan, but those memories grew less bitter with each passing day. This was her home now and she loved it more than she could say. Almost as much as she loved Darach.

  For Catriona, time seemed to have moved so swiftly. It was almost two years since she had escaped from her kin, yet it felt like just yesterday that she and Darach had sped away from the only home she had ever known.

  As she thought back to the fear of being denied the right to marry a man of her choosing, Catriona thought that she could never have envisaged then a life so perfect now. Catriona and Darach had met in such turmoil and married in such a hurry that she had wondered then if the odds were stacked against them. Could they really have a happy life together?

  Now, as she looked out of the window, she ran her hand gently over the growing swell of her belly and thanked God that He had sent her the very right man, and just exactly, at the right time.

  So lost was she in her reverie, that Catriona did not hear Darach enter their chamber. Slowly he crept up behind her, a huge grin on his face. Gently he pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss on the soft skin of her neck.

  Catriona gave a startled squeak.

  “Darach! You shouldnae pounce upon a woman in my condition!” She turned into his arms and playfully tapped at his shoulder.

  “I didnae mean to. You were so deep in thought!”

  “Aye, you’re right, I was that.”

  Darach kissed her sweet lips and then turned her back so he could stare over her head at the wonderful view. He stood closer behind her as Catriona returned to gazing out of the window. Reaching around, he placed both hands on her belly and gave a satisfied sigh.

  “Ach, you sound pleased with yourself! He’s not born yet Darach.”

  “You mean she’s not born yet.”

  “Oh, aye. You think it’s a wee lassie, do you?”

  “I know this bairn’s a wee lassie!” Darach said with conviction.

  “Ach, and what makes you the expert?” Catriona laughed indulgently.

  “Because this bairn just kicked my hand.

  “So?”

  “So, in my experience, lassies always, always kick that wee bit harder!” Darach let out a booming laugh. Catriona turned in his arms to look at him. Reaching up, she cupped his rugged face in her hands.

  “Aye, Darach, that we do. That we do.”

  I hope you enjoyed these 3 novella’s and one short story.

  Read on below for an extract from my latest Time Travel Novella. It is a little longer than these but still gives you the conclusion in a satisfying time. I hope you will enjoy it for it was really good fun to write.

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  Trapped in Time Preview

  Chapter One

  Once again Bridget Allardice had to pull her car over into a lay-by as hot, angry tears clouded her view. The passenger seat was littered with tissues, not one of them dry enough to be used. Bridget pulled at the handles of her oversized handbag and dragged it towards her. Making a hurried search of its contents, she finally found the last two tissues in a small handy pack. Bridget slipped them out of the packet and bunched the two tissues together. They were not going to be enough. Sooner or later, Bridget would have to pull into a motorway services and buy some more. It was a long drive to the Highlands of Scotland and she had only just crossed the border from England. With the prospect of a good few hours longer on the road, Bridget decided that she would stop at the very next services, wash her face, drink a coffee, and buy some supplies, with tissues topping the list.

  Some forty minutes later, Bridget was taking a last look at her road map before setting off from the motorway services. Her sat-nav would only get her so far. The cottage she was heading for was far too remote to benefit from anything like a postcode. Still, the sat-nav would get her as far as the area of Marwick Loch. Beyond that, Bridget would have to rely on the none-too-detailed road map and public spirited locals.

  The face wash and coffee had made Bridget feel less wretched, although she winced with embarrassment as she recalled the looks she had received as she had scampered to the restrooms, tear stained and desperate looking. Still, she didn’t know those people and they should have minded their own business.

  Bridget’s mobile phone, which she had tossed onto the passenger seat, began to flash and she could see it out of the corner of her eyes. Without looking at the caller ID, she knew it would be Hugh. Bridget had silenced the ring tone before leaving the service station. The phone had trilled on and off since she had set off from London in the early hours of the morning. Bridget could barely believe that she had crossed the border into Scotland before it had occurred to her to silence it. The flashing stopped, she could see that much. After a few minutes, a short burst of light indicated yet another voice mail message. It was a message that Bridget simply did not want to hear.

  In the eight years, she had been in a relationship with Hugh Rattray, this was the first fight they’d had which
Bridget had felt truly signaled the end. Sure, they’d had some hum-dingers in their time, who hadn’t? Their eight years together, the last seven in the same apartment, had seen the usual run of the kind of spats most couples know by heart. Oh, but this was different. Bridget knew deep down in her very bones that Hugh had lied to her. The painful details of their final conversation haunted her as she drove.

  “I simply do not know why you would think that. To be honest, Bridge, I’m totally insulted by this!” Hugh had stood his hands on his hips, his handsome head thrown back and staring at Bridget as if she were some kind of a fool. Then he moved and the way he strapped his arms across his chest and tilted his head to one side was the final confirmation. Bridget knew all of Hugh’s mannerisms, and the mixture of defensiveness and arrogance were so apparent to her. He was lying.

  “Hugh, I know what I heard. And this whole business of working late...”

  “Oh, Bridget, please don’t be such a typical woman. A man works late… therefore, he must be having an affair. Honestly, I’d never thought you were one of those.”

  “One of what?” Bridget could feel Hugh beginning to wear her last nerve.

  “The paranoid girlfriend type.” Hugh’s head tilted over in the other direction smoothly, as if gliding on some kind of invisible rail. Bridget could feel bilious anger swirling and rising within her.

  “Don’t insult me.” Her voice was low and calm.

  “Oh, come on Bridge!” Hugh began to laugh at her. “Listen to yourself and you’ll realize that my description is spot on!”

  “Listening to you makes me realize that I am far from paranoid. This paranoid girlfriend crap sounds more like the last line of defense. I heard her in the background.”