Cautiously inching out after the men ran to their horses and raced off down the trail, she tried to think of what to do next. She decided going into the house was dangerous and she certainly did not want to be caught there. Nor was she eager to see what they had left of poor Kerr. Following Colin’s escape path put her too close to the enemy and could mean they ended up between her and the children, which would be useless if not dangerous. The only other thing she could think to do was get back to Callum and, she prayed, all his friends, for they could help her and the children if it was needed.
Staying within the cover of the trees, she picked up her skirts and ran. Every step of the way, Bethoc watched for the men after Cathan. They were on horses, which gave them some advantage but it also made them much easier to see and avoid.
She halted just inside the trees and looked around. Colin’s route to the cave was long and winding, which it had been planned to be. He had told her how to follow but even as she had acted like she was paying attention to his words, she had been thinking how lost she would be if pressed to use it. As far as she could tell, she was there before the men. Taking several deep breaths, she bolted for the path up the hill. She moved just enough brush to get inside and hurriedly put it back. When she turned to speak, she found all of Callum’s friends were still there and so were Colin and all the children. Choking back a sob, she rushed over to Colin and hugged him.
“Here now, Bethoc.” Colin awkwardly patted her back. “I told ye we would come here. Ye didnae need to fret yourself sick.”
“Aye, but those men were there and they saw some sign in the back, right near where ye showed me how ye would escape and they have followed it. I feared they would end up between ye and me.”
“Robbie,” Callum said, “think ye best get the horses up here. And the path up here should be brushed clear. How quickly do ye think they can follow the path ye took, Colin?” he asked as his friends moved to do as he asked.
“Nay quick at all,” said Colin. “I made it twisted as I could, going round on itself in places, walking in the water in others, and walking on rock as much as we could. Nay matter how good they are at tracking, they will have to keep stepping off the path to search out where the trail they just lost starts up again.”
“Good lad.”
Bethoc let go of Colin, hugged the other boys, and then picked up Margaret and hugged her. She had been so terrified for all of them she realized that, blood or not, they were her family. Now she feared they would still have to place their fate in others’ hands. After what they had just done to Kerr, she knew these men were not ones she could face alone.
“How did ye get away?” she asked Colin.
“Da came back to the house and told us to get out, to run, far and fast,” Colin replied. “He looked scared. Real scared. I dinnae ken why I did it, but told him he should come too. He said nay, said he wasnae good to us but will be now. Said he had stains on his soul. Asked him if he meant the bairns. He said aye, that he had smothered them as soon as they were born. I just left him there. We grabbed what we could and we ran, just as he told us to. I carried Margaret and Bean carried Cathan so we could move faster. I just left him,” he whispered in an unsteady voice, “and he is dead now. Aye?”
“He is dead but he ne’er gave ye up to them.”
“Suspicion that was what he meant about being good to us now. It was bad?”
“Aye,” she whispered, hearing his screams and pleas. “It was verra bad.”
“Then mayhap he cleaned some of the black off his soul.”
She stared at Colin for a moment, thought of all Kerr had suffered without telling them anything, and nodded. “Aye, mayhap.”
Callum stepped close and put his arm around her. “Ye were there.”
“Aye,” she said, and knew she wept, could feel the sting in her eyes followed by the warm wetness of tears on her cheeks. “Only saw a bit but heard too much. And yet he ne’er told them,” she said in wonder.
“Poor lass.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I did naught to help him.”
“And what would ye have done?” snapped Colin. “Rushed in to be killed at his side?”
“Nay, of course not.” She glared at him. “I could have distracted them or something.”
“How? By making them hesitate as they planned how to kill ye, too? Ye couldnae do anything.Wecouldnae do anything.”
“The lad is right, Bethoc, e’en if he could be gentler in the saying of it,” said Callum, and gave the poor boy a hard look of reprimand. “Ye had five large, hardened men and ye, a wee lass, or the lads, all small, all weaponless. Nay, sad as it is, there is no cause for guilt here.”
Robbie returned with the horses. “Simon’s clearing the path. No sign of the men yet.”
“Good.” He looked at Colin. “Seems the lad here gave them a treacherous path to follow.”
After putting the horses in the back of the cave with Stormcloud, Robbie walked up to Colin. “Winding with lots of rocks, a bit of water?”
“Aye,” said Colin.
Robbie patted him on the shoulders. “Good. If they are good trackers, ye delayed them, and if they arenae, they may ne’er get here.” He looked at Callum. “I saw a spot at the top of the hill I can safely watch for them.”
Callum nodded and Robbie collected a bow and a quiver of arrows before he walked out.
