Page 197 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

"Yer gonnae hear how it really was," he said, looking straight at her. Ainslee tried to decipher what was in there, beneath his eyes. Anger? Jealousy? She really couldn't be sure.

All the same, she heard her voice coming cold and hard.

"How really whit was?"

Her voice sounded high, as it danced against the cold winter skies. Malcolm just blanked her, and began talking again, this time in a low, careful voice.

"After we set sail from the clan coast... I didnae ken what had happened, nae really, nae for ages... All I kent was, I was far from home... an' that I didnae ken when I would see shore again..."

Ainslee watched him, but it was like he had glazed over. For a time, it was like he didn't know who she was. Then he looked straight through her.

"I didnae ken if I'd ever see ye again, but it was all I thought about," he smiled, briefly, as Ainslee felt a blast of cold run through her.

"It was so long afore we saw the land again. I dinnae ken how long, but when we did, I ran away the first chance I had..."

Ainslee opened her mouth. She felt shocked. It was almost as if she was not there in front of him.

"Where were ye?" she asked. Her natural curiosity overruling her desire to fight him.

"France," said Malcolm, matter-of-factly. "The first time... Smuggling... och, all sorts, liquor, gold, everything the captain could get his hauns on..."

He took a step back from her, releasing himself slightly from her grip. Ainslee looked down. She had been totally unaware that she had been holding him. Now, slightly ashamed, she backed away.

"That's what we did. Smuggle, an' take stuff...," his eyes flitted against hers, but as soon as they did, he turned. "It's nae like I got any choice..."

He could see her making eyes at him, as if she did not believe him.

"Must have been hard," she said, her voice uneven. "Being forced to gallivant at sea... Sleeping in a different harlot's bed ev'ry time ye made land!"

Ainslee's eyes flashed in her face. She felt hot, distraught. None of what he was saying made sense. With a flourish, she turned to him.

"So ye were forced abroad... but none o' this makes sense... by who, and whit for?"

Her gaze turned towards him, sharp and staring. But he didn't give up.

"By Bruce, my brother. It took me a while to ken it, but it was obvious... To begin wi' I couldnae believe it... but tis nae other way... an' whence I discovered he was laird, it was a certainty. He killed oor father to become laird. Getting me oot o' the way was just the start o' that!"

Ainslee was agog. "I... I....," she began. There was something, a sliver of truth she detected in what he was telling her. But it seemed so hard to believe.

"I need proof," she said, firmly. A damn site firmer than she felt. Inside, she was trembling. Being this near again after so long was melting her nerve. If she carried on like this she would simply fall into his arms, and that was something that she could never do.

Malcolm's eyes sparked. "Proof?" he said, testily looking up. "Proof, ye want proof? Braw, here, have yer proof..."

As quick as a flash, he had turned, ripping his leine away from his torso. In a minute, Malcolm had removed the cotton shirt, to reveal a perfect torso - with six strong, deep welts on the back of. Seeing the red welts, Ainslee gasped.

"Malcolm, I," remorse flooded Ainslee, making her sick. Guilt submerged her. For the first time, Ainslee seriously considered that Malcolm really had been dragged off to sea.

But it was hard for her.

Believing that, might mean there was still some spark in her not quite dead. If she was not careful, it might burn her all over again.

But now Malcolm stared straight at her. Finally, his eyes did see, and connected fearsomely with her.

"I didnae leave ye," he said, his green gaze reaching sorrowfully at her. "I nae wanted to leave, an' I fought every second to be here..."

His stare implored her, Ainslee's heart almost jumped a notch.

"Lass, just think... father wasnae traitor... As if he would sell the clan! All this lies, invented by Bruce to claim the title...!"