Part 15 (1/2)

Late afternoon, while the two sisters made cheese, their mother arrived. Looking accusingly at Helen, she immediately asked: ”Has Robert been here?”

Helen answered quickly: ”Yes, he came shortly after I got here, but left soon afterward. I think he went up to the lochan.” She prayed that Betty wouldn't give her away, but her sister did not even look up from her work.

”And he hasn't come back?”

”No ... Did you send him after me? To spy on me?” The words gushed out before she could stop herself, her anger at her mother suddenly coming to a boil. ”How could you, mother?”

”You know why! You brought this all upon yourself, la.s.s. If you hadn't encouraged master Andrew, this wouldn't have happened. If he's dead, it's your fault!”

”I told you I didn't meet him. How many times do I have to repeat it?” She met her mother's accusing look defiantly. She wasn't going to give herself away, not now.

”I don't believe you, la.s.s!” Mary turned away and left the hut.

When she was out of hearing range, Helen whispered: ”Thank you, Betty.”

Her sister answered smiling sadly. ”You found Andrew, haven't you?”

”Yes, but it's better if you know nothing, Betty.”

”But he's safe, isn't he?”

”I hope he'll be soon.”

Her sister nodded, and both went back to their work.

Shortly after their evening meal, their father and brothers came up from the clachan. Helen's anxiety rose immediately.

”Has anybody seen Robert this afternoon?” asked Dougal without offering any greetings.

”No,” answered Betty. ”Mother already asked about him earlier today. Why are you all looking for him?”

Helen admired her sister's cool response.

”Because he has not been seen since this morning,” snarled Dougal. ”Come, lads, let's go to the lochan. He might still be there.”

As they marched off, Helen hoped fervently that they wouldn't discover her tracks to the cave, nor that they would search all night.

When the night cloaked the s.h.i.+elings in darkness and their youngest brother was sound asleep, Helen whispered to Betty that she would be away for a few hours. Her sister hugged her and simply answered: ”Be careful, Helen!”

She descended to the glen and hid in the shelter of the copse wood above the clachan. The moon was close to full and bathed the glen in its cold, silvery light, creating sharp contrasts of bluish greys and blacks, but lacking any depth. There were no lights in any of the cottages. Her father and brothers must have given up the search for Robert for the night.

She saw Andrew's horse grazing alone in an enclosed paddock above the crop fields, far enough away from the cottages for the dogs not to be disturbed if she moved carefully.

She realized that there was no way to retrieve the saddle from the cottage wall, where her father had hung it. Andrew would have to ride without. After waiting a few minutes, gathering courage, she slowly sneaked up to the horse and grabbed its bridle, talking soothingly to it. A single bark of a dog made her freeze for a minute or two. But it wasn't followed up by another. So, she slowly led the horse to the edge of the paddock, hiding behind it away from the cottages. Once in the safety of the woods, she took the path to the lochan, initially going slowly to avoid any noise, and then striding out as fast as her breath would carry her.

Andrew awaited her at the entrance to the cave. She didn't resist his embrace. They remained in each other's arms for a long time. Finally, she broke away and whispered: ”Andrew, you must leave now.”

”Helen, you're coming with me,” he said in a matter of fact voice.

”No, Andrew, I cannot. You must hurry. There's no time to lose! The men will all come searching again for Robert in the morning.”

Andrew put his hands on her shoulders. ”I won't leave without you. There's nothing for me out there alone!” His tone was resigned and calm. He folded his arms again around her and held her close. ”They'll kill you when they find out you helped me escape. We might as well die together ... here!”

He kissed her. She struggled to free herself. Dimly Robert's m.u.f.fled screams of rage reached her ears. He must have heard them talking. She saw in her mind his angry, red face. A paralyzing fear took hold of her, fear of Robert's violence that seemed to lurk under the surface, so easily provoked to boil over; fear of her father; fear for herself. They'll kill me! She was sure of that. And if Andrew doesn't leave, they'll kill him too.'The strength that had kept her going all day suddenly drained away. She slackened in Andrew's arms.

”Take me with you, Andrew.” Her whisper was almost inaudible, but the increased pressure of his embrace and the sudden pounding of his heart told her that he understood. Having said the unspeakable, going against her own blood, she knew that this was what she had wanted all along, but hadn't dared to admit to herself. With a gentle touch, he raised her chin and kissed her.

11.

Robert's renewed outburst of m.u.f.fled shouting shattered their moment of closeness, of finding each other.

”Why does he sound so strange?” asked Helen.

”I gagged him just after you left ... as a precaution.”

”What are we going to do about him? ... We can't leave him in there.”

”No, we'll have to bring him outside some way, ... but without untying him. Your folks will find him when they come looking for him in the morning.”

”Yes, but how can we get him through the narrow pa.s.sage, without untying him?”

”I'll have to drag him.”

They crawled back into the cave, where Helen lit a fir candle with the embers she had brought along. Robert's hatred suddenly became a stark reality. Its intensity, glaring fiercely from his distorted face as he tried to voice threats and abuse through the gag, hit her like a physical a.s.sault.

Andrew approached him. ”We'll take you outside so that your people will find you when they come searching for you.” He though wondered how. Pulling the tall man through the narrow opening was easier said than done. With his arms tied behind, the obvious manner of dragging him on his back became impossible. He would have to retie them at the front. But he didn't trust Robert to cooperate to that extent, nor did he think that Helen would fire Robert's pistol if the latter resisted. He would have no choice but to drag him on his stomach.

Suddenly, without warning, Robert kicked with his tied feet. Only Andrew's instant reaction saved him from being hit hard in the groin. He tried again, this time coming from behind. With surprising agility, Robert swivelled around and kicked again, barely missing. Helen watched in dismay.

”You've a choice. Either you cooperate and let me drag you from the cave or I leave you in here to rot.” A hard tone had crept into Andrew's voice, a tone that was unfamiliar to her. He approached Robert again. When the latter pulled back his legs for another kick, Andrew turned, saying: ”As you wis.h.!.+”

He took the fir candle and said: ”Come, Helen. We've to hurry.”

She was on the verge to protest and then noticed that he shook his head almost imperceptibly. They had not reached the cave exit when Robert's m.u.f.fled protests called them back.

”You want to cooperate?” asked Andrew with a wry smile.

Robert nodded vigorously.

”But I'll give you only one chance. Resist once more, and I'll leave you here. Take my word!”

Robert nodded again emphatically. Fear overlaid the hatred in his face.

”All right! Roll onto your stomach then.”