Part 18 (2/2)
Startled, Andrew and Helen shot around. Her father, Robert, Robin, her oldest brother, and a fourth man that looked familiar, although Andrew failed to place him right then, came trotting down the aisle, their hands on their pistols stuck in their belts.
For an instant, the seven people in the chapel stood like frozen statues. Then Andrew reacted. He grabbed Helen's hand, rushed into the minister's sanctuary, locked the door from inside, and wedged a chair tightly under the door handle. Helen was white as a sheet and trembling like a leaf.
”What are we going to do?” she moaned.
Andrew gave no answer. He studied the windows which were about six feet up. Then he moved the minister's desk under one of it, climbed on top, opened it, and peered out. It looked onto a narrow alley. The earthen pavement was about ten feet down. He swung himself onto the wide window ledge and straddled it. Bending down, he held out one hand for Helen. For a moment she looked at him without comprehension.
”Quick, Helen,” he urged in a low voice.
By then somebody was trying to open the door. Finding it locked, he erupted into angry shouts, immediately joined by several others. They began to bang loudly on the door, and Dougal's demanding voice ordered Helen to open it. The minister's weak protests got drowned out. This triggered her into action. She climbed onto the desk, grasped Andrew's hand and pulled herself up to the window ledge. When she saw the high drop, she almost backed down again. Only his firm grip kept her up.
”Hold on, Helen. I'll go ahead.”
He lowered himself, until he only hung on the window ledge by his hands, and let go, catching the fall with slightly bent knees. But even so he winced as a sharp pain shot through his thigh. Then he stood under the window: ”Sit on the ledge and then push yourself off. I'll catch you.”
She moved both legs over the ledge and looked down. Big, frightened eyes met his.
”No, I can't,” she exclaimed.
”Jump, Helen. I will catch you. I promise.”
The banging at the door got more insistent and the threats louder. She closed her eyes and jumped. He caught her, staggered backward, lost his balance, and slowly fell on his back, Helen on top of him.
”Can you run?” he asked, getting up quickly.
She nodded. He again took her hand, and they ran down the alley, Andrew limping, while Helen raised her skirts. Before entering the square in front of the church, he quickly checked if any of their pursuers were already coming out. Its door was still fully shut. So they ran past it and within a few seconds disappeared in the narrow streets, leading to the inn. A few minutes later, without taking time to change into riding gear, they galloped out of town on the road to Falkirk.
They kept to the road for about two miles, rapidly putting distance between them and the town. At a small forest near Bannock Burn, Andrew checked whether any other travelers were in sight. The road was empty in both directions. He entered the trees and headed straight into the eastern spurs of the Touch Hills south of the River Forth. They carefully steered away from any settlements, even if it meant making a detour. No word had been exchanged between them since they had left the inn. After about an hour, he slowed down and let Helen ride beside him.
”That was close,” he said. ”Are you all right?”
”Yes, but I think I've never been so frightened as when I jumped from that window.”
”I know, Helen. You closed your eyes... I love you for your trust in me.”
She smiled wearily. ”Do you think we lost them?”
”Yes, at least temporarily. There were few people on the road and it will take them a while before they discover that we left it. That gives us two or three hours head start, and they'll have trouble deciding which way we went. Hopefully, they'll go on to Edinburgh, expecting to catch us there.”
They rode again in silence.
”I was all set on getting married,” she said suddenly, her tone of voice reflecting her resigned expression. ”Maybe it's not to be... I just pray that father didn't harm Mr. Morgan and his wife. They were both so kind to us, especially Mrs. Morgan. I think she liked us. But with father, you can never tell what he might do when he's in a rage.”
”Surely, he would restrain himself in church!” After a short pause he added: ”Helen, we will find another minister. I'll not give up, if you're still willing.”
She did not answer, just looked at him thoughtfully, and then asked: ”Where are we going now?”
”I thought we would go to Glasgow, rather than stay on the road to Edinburgh where your father is bound to catch up with us since they can ride so much harder than we.”
”But we're not on a road.”
”Oh, I thought that initially we simply ride through the hills, keeping off any roads and away from people as much as possible. We still have enough food left from Mr. Nichols pouch. If they find us in these hills, it would be by mere coincidence-”
”I pray they don't.”
”I must say, I'm surprised how quickly they were on our trail and caught up with us. They must have ridden through the whole night. But sooner or later they'll have to let their horses rest also.”
”When my father sets his mind on something, he's very stubborn, and Robert must be seething for revenge.” She paused, and then continued more softly: ”His father and mother got killed in that Argyle ambush. That's when he came to our clachan... He frightens me. He has such a short temper. I don't know why I ever agreed to marry him. I'm so glad, Andrew, that you never lose your temper.”
He smiled and then asked: ”Didn't you love him at all?”
”No,” she shrugged. ”I was fond of him. When he's in a good mood, he is a likable fellow and he can be quite funny. Not as serious as you. Many la.s.ses were vying for him.”
”Would you like me to be funnier?”
”No, Andrew. You misunderstand. I love you the way you are. Serious. Considerate,” she chuckled when she said the last word, ”as Mrs. Morgan said... And I can talk with you. Robert and I never talked much. Mind you, he's not the only young man like this. Talking for him means that the other person listens to what he has to say. And that's not much. I doubt he ever read a book. I don't even know if he can read.”
”So what did he then talk about?”
”Oh, he would mainly brag about how he and his friends got drunk, or how he beat that other fellow in a fight, or played a bad trick on him.”
”You never talked about your future together?”
”No, I don't think he ever gave it any thought except that he would finally be able to ravish me. That was foremost on his mind... In fact, our last fight was because I refused to go for a walk with him, so that he could fondle me.”
”But I also like kissing and fondling you.”
”Yes, I know, but with you it's different.”
”Maybe you see it differently, because you love me.”
”Maybe. But it is different... With you I never feel used, and when I tell you to stop, you do so immediately. He would never take a 'no' for an answer. It was a constant struggle to keep him off me.”
Andrew gave her a mischievous smile. ”I can't remember you ever telling me to stop.”
”I did.”
”When?”
”You're teasing me!”
”Yes, I am,” he replied, winking at her. ”You remember how we chased each other in the heath that summer?”
”Yes. And you remember the sumptuous feasts we had on the rock?” she said, her eyes becoming unfocussed, as if she were looking inside herself.
”-and how you let yourself be caught by me?”
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