“I am glad someone agrees with me,” Erskine turned back to them, stopping his pacing. Despite his relief, he turned his eyes up to Billie, perched on the stall.
“Do all men settle arguments with their fists in Scotland?” Billie’s question prompted Tam to laugh, and Erskine allowed himself a small smile. “What? I am used to the streets of London. There you have fops and dandies who would rather ride a carriage to cross a street just to avoid walking near the ‘rougher’ class. I do not know what to expect of Scotland.”
“To answer yer question, nae all men,” Tam shook his head. “But we are Highland soldiers.”
Aye, we are!
Yet to Erskine’s firm thought, he saw Billie grimace. His mind went back to when Billie had accused him and Dearg of being ‘brutish.’
Please daenae think I am a brute, Billie.
* * *
Laura was sat in the room she had rented in the coaching inn with Ava Buchanan’s last letter cradled in her hands. She had brought it with her so that she had her old governess address to hand, but she found herself relying on reading those words. They were a reminder of Miss Buchanan’s kindness and the future that could lay ahead of her in Inverness with Miss Buchanan.
Laura stopped reading the words of the letter, leaving off on a line that brought Laura a coldness.
‘…I pray your father has not been taking his anger out on you recently….’
Miss Buchanan had known better than anyone else what her father was capable of.
Laura closed her eyes, thinking back to when she was just a child, around ten years old. She could not even remember what had stirred her father’s ire that day, but her father had struck her, leaving a firm red mark across her cheek. She could remember exactly how Miss Buchanan took her arm and wrenched Laura to stand behind her back.
Miss Buchanan had stood between her and her father, staring him down and refusing to move.
“Get out of the way, Miss Buchanan. You are in my employment, and you will obey my order!”
“You think I fear you striking me, sir?” She scoffed, with her chin jutted high. “Threaten me all you like; I will not allow you to strike your daughter again!”
Laura had remembered clutching to Miss Buchanan’s skirts, admiring her for her tenacity.
Laura opened her eyes, and the memory slipped away. She could not wait to find Miss Buchanan again.
I’m coming. My future life begins very soon.
Chapter Seven
“Ye will have to do it quicker than that. Try again,” Tam handed some more wadding to Laura as she reloaded the pistol.
It had been another couple of days, and yet each morning, instead of Erskine giving her the shooting lessons, he had roped in Tam to give them in his place. She enjoyed Tam’s company, and he was proving himself a good teacher, but it grated on her that Erskine was so obviously trying to put distance between them.
“Like this?” she asked as she reloaded the flintlock pistol again.
“Well, ye are gettin’ better,” Tam agreed with a nod. They were sat on two hay bales in the coaching inn stable as she practiced loading the pistol. “Believe me, how quickly ye can load the pistol is very important when faced with yer enemy,” Tam explained as he took the pistol back. “Ye might need this knowledge today. We enter the dark roads this afternoon.”
“We do?” Laura asked in surprise.
“There is nay need to fear them, really,” Erskine’s voice tore her gaze away from Tam and back to him. He had placed himself far away from her by the entrance to the stable, looking out at the fields beyond with his arms folded. “Highwaymen attacks are rare, and with so many of us, they are nae likely to take the risk.”
“He is right,” Tam agreed. “They are more likely to target ye if ye travel alone.”
“Speakin’ of which, we should get ready to go,” Erskine gestured out to the path beyond the stable wall. “The others are here.”
Camden appeared first, with Aiden and Dearg walking behind. Laura watched carefully, seeing the dark glare that was exchanged between Erskine and Dearg as they passed each other. They had not yet mended their relationship since the fight.
“How goes the trainin’?” Camden asked as he reached Laura and Tam on the hay bales.
“Best to direct the question to my teacher,” Laura smiled, pointing to Tam.
