Tomorrow, however, her reign as the fastest person in the Borders could easily come to an end. And if it did, then she would have to accept Fingal Stewart as her husband. She had to admit to herself that he had been very patient with her waiting to consummate the marriage. She had put all thoughts of consummation from her mind these past weeks ever since the marriage contracts had been signed, making her legally his wife. She felt a bit guilty about that day, for she had not dressed herself in a beautiful gown for the signing. She had the Aisir nam Breug to show him, and signing the documents that would make them man and wife was but a bit of legal business to be swiftly concluded. She had dressed as she usually did, but then so had he.
And on the morrow they would both be dressed for their combat. But afterwards, she promised herself, she would dress herself properly for the blessing of their union, and the feast to come. Mad Maggie Kerr might be considered a hoyden by most who knew her, but she did know how to dress like a lady. There was that wonderful burgundy velvet gown trimmed in marten in her wardrobe she might wear, or perhaps the dark green velvet with the gold trim. To her surprise, she fell asleep considering her gowns, but she had awakened before dawn, her head clear. Climbing from her bed, she ran to the window to see what kind of a day it would be. It was gray, but on the horizon a weak sun was just struggling to rise. To her relief there seemed to be no wind as the bare trees stood black in stark relief against the light sky. The water in the moat was liquid, not ice. It hadn’t frozen the past night, which meant it was warmer despite the month.
Without waiting for Grizel, Maggie opened the trunk at the foot of her bed and pulled out a pair of breeks. They were soft with age, and she always wore them when she ran. Yanking off her night shift, she dressed herself quickly. First came a cotton chemise that just reached her midthighs. Then came her shirt and breeks with a leather belt to hold them up. She ran a brush through her hair, then tied her rich brown locks back with a scarlet ribbon. “I’m ready!” she said aloud as Grizel entered her bedchamber.
“Yer eager then,” her tiring woman said. “Well, so is everyone else. The laird is in the hall with Father David and the Netherdale Kerrs. I passed yer husband on the staircase coming down as I was coming up for ye.”
“Then ’tis time,” Maggie agreed.
“I’ll bring yer boots and stockings for the riding,” Grizel said, picking up the items as she spoke. Then she quickly followed her mistress downstairs.
“Good morrow, all,” Maggie greeted them, bounding into the hall.
“Good morrow,” they greeted her back.
“Are ye ready, Granddaughter?” Dugald Kerr asked her solemnly.
“I am, my lord.”
“And ye, Fingal Stewart, are ye ready?”
“I am, my lord.”
“Then let us go out to the courtyard where the race will begin and end,” the laird said as he led the way. Once outside, he spoke to them both. “This will be a harder challenge. A footrace across the drawbridge, down the path into the village, through the village, around the kirk at the end of the village, and back the same way. The second part of the challenge is a horse race that follows the same path as the footrace but for one exception. Before ye may recross the drawbridge, ye must ride about the keep once. The final part of the challenge is a combat with claymores to be held here in the courtyard.
“When first blood is drawn, the match is over. If either of you cannot finish any part of the challenge, your opponent is declared the winner. Do ye both understand the rules of this competition?”
“I do, my lord,” Fingal Stewart said.
Maggie nodded. Then she looked at Lord Stewart and said in an almost defiant tone, “I run in bare feet, my lord.”
Fingal smiled at her. “I don’t,” he said in a pleasant voice.
“Do ye not think that gives ye an advantage?” she demanded of him.
“Nay, I think ’tis ye who has the advantage, madam, but ’tis a cold morning. I prefer to keep my boots on,” he answered. “But I’ll be happy to wait to begin this contest between us if ye decide ye will wear yers.”
“She’s clever,” Rafe Kerr said softly to his father.
“How so?” Lord Edmund wanted to know.
“She’s used to the track she’ll travel in her bare feet. In boots the road would not be familiar. She could stumble, and lose time. But her bare feet know the path very well.” Rafe said. He shook his head admiringly. “She’s a braw lass, Da.”
“Are ye ready then?” the laird asked the two combatants, and when they nodded in the affirmative he said, “Then we begin. On yer marks. Get set. Go!”
Maggie leaped forward. The wood of the drawbridge felt firm and sure beneath her bare soles. Her feet knew the way well, and with each pump of her legs her speed increased. She breathed rhythmically, and knew she would not begin to feel even slightly winded until she was crossing the drawbridge again. Head high she ran, and before long she felt the ribbon holding her hair begin to loosen, and then it flew away. As her long hair blossomed about her, she heard the triumphant cry of the lass who had caught the ribbon. It was an unspoken rule that when Mad Maggie Kerr’s ribbon blew off during a race, only a woman might have it. The single street of the village was lined with Kerr clansmen and women watching the lady meet her latest challenge.
She was about to turn her head to see how far behind her he was when a movement by her side caught her eye. Maggie swiveled her head slightly and to her astonishment found herself looking into the face of Fingal Stewart. And she realized he was running as easily as she was. He grinned wickedly at her. As they raced around the kirk at the end of the street, Maggie increased her speed; however, to her surprise, he kept up with her. As they raced back down the village street, she began to feel a burning in her lungs. She was racing, she realized, faster than she had ever raced before.
They were both breathing hard as they struggled up the path to the keep. Maggie forced a final burst of speed as she reached the drawbridge and pounded across it. But Fingal Stewart would not be beaten, meeting her speed with his own. Together they raced into the courtyard, shoulder to shoulder and gasping for air as they did.
“ ’Tis a tie!” Dugald Kerr shouted. “Well done, Maggie and Fin! Well done!”
But Maggie wasn’t listening to her grandsire’s praise. In a final sprint, she dashed across the courtyard barefoot, and leaped upon her stallion’s back, urging the beast from the keep’s enclosure. At first surprised that she would not take a moment to accept the congratulations of those assembled, Fingal Stewart followed her lead, exhorting his stallion to follow and catch up with her.
Maggie flattened herself as she leaned forward on the stallion’s neck, goading him onward. No man had ever beaten her in a footrace. None had ever come close. Yet Fingal Stewart had tied her, and done it fairly. Worse, she suspected he could have even done it in his bare feet, though he chose to wear his boots. Had he worn them to give her the advantage? God’s foot! Now she would always wonder, and she could hardly ask him because had he tried to give her the advantage, it would seem a paltry thing to do.
Then her ears caught the sound of hoofbeats as his stallion caught up with hers. The two beasts screamed at one another rearing up, teeth bared, their hooves striking out as their riders sought to get them under control and racing again. It had been madness to pit two ungelded males against one another, but neither Maggie nor Fin was willing to ride another horse.
