Page 53 of How to Woo a Highlander

“I had already told ye that I didnae love Jane, and that Jane didnae want to marry me. Why did ye nae tell me that ye were in love with her. Did ye think that I would hold it against ye? We cannae choose who we love,” William spoke again.

Alastair could only bend his head and take his friend’s scolding. He had nothing to say as he was more ashamed than anything. William sighed even as he stayed silent.

“I just want ye to ken that ye have me blessin’ to pursue Jane. Although quite frankly, I dinnae think ye will have to dae any pursuin’ as the lass followed ye to the battlefield to prove her love. I support yer relationship,” William finished.

Alastair was overcome with emotion and could not meet William’s eyes. He had known deep down that this was the way William would react, but that only made him feel guilty.

Can I dae this? What about the good of the clan? What about John Baxendale’s plans and the reason for the marriage? Would this nae be selfish?

He wanted to ask so many questions, to contest the permission William had just given him, but he could not bring himself to speak as he was indeed selfish. He wanted Jane for himself, even when he knew the political plans that had been in place would fail because of it. Luckily William changed the subject.

“This war brings me nay joy. It seems that ye were right that Macpherson was inciting young lads to partake in the war. According to the spies we sent to determine the location of their camp, most of the Grant army is made up of lads. That is why their numbers are so great,” he said.

Alastair vaguely remembered that among the scouting soldiers, there were indeed young men. He frowned at the thought of how many young lives had been dragged into the war.

“I just want this war to be over,” William said, and Alastair could not agree more.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Jane had spent the past few minutes alternating between peeping through the slit in the canvas and pacing in the tent, trying to psyche herself up to make her escape. The number of soldiers was dwindling, and the perfect opportunity had just made itself available as the last soldier ducked into a tent. With her mind made up, she slashed the tent again, this time from top to bottom, creating a space where she could escape.

You can do this, Jane. You can do this.

She psyched herself up even as she waited for the soldiers around to move past to where they would be unable to see her run out and intercept her. It would be one moment, a window of opportunity that would grant her escape.

Spotting that chance, she broke out running, bursting out of the tent and pushing herself as fast as she could go, causing everything in her peripheral vision to flash by.

Almost there, you're doing it, Jane!

She had almost made it through when she was spotted.

"What? Och! Stop right there!" she heard. Sparing a glance, she saw a soldier beginning to run in her direction.

"The prisoner is escapin'!" he announced. She cursed him in her mind even as she broke out of the clearing vaguely aware of numerous soldiers being alerted to her escape.

She bounded through the forest like a frightened deer. If there was one survival skill she had, it was to run. Her feet flew over the forest floor as she took long, leaping strides, quickly covering the ground.

She did not know these woods, so her top priority was to find a place to hide. If there was a shortcut, she might end up cut off in the middle of her run from the front.

As she ran, she eyed the trees, looking for a suitable one with enough leaves to hide. For that to work, she needed to be fast enough to lose them. She sped up, nearly breaking her lungs from the exertion, and finally ran far enough to be out of their sights. She scurried up a tree as quickly as she could, hiding in its covering.

She did her best to calm her breathing as she checked the tree, making sure there was nothing in the branches that would startle her. She had just completed her quick check when she heard them approaching and remained still, watching as they ran past the tree where she was hiding.

Their small group split into three, running off in each direction. She let out a shaky sigh of relief that none had even considered that she could have been in the trees. She stayed there, resting in the cover of the tree's leaves and keeping an eye on the forest.

She needed to run again and get as far away from their camp as possible. However, it was unwise to venture forth when they had not given up on searching for her.

It was fifteen minutes before they all returned, meeting in the middle.

"We couldnae find her," the first said, breathing heavily.

"Neither could we; it is as though she just vanished."

The rest shook their heads.

"Let us return to camp and tell them that we lost her. The McKenzie spy will come and look for her himself. He ken these woods better than we dae," the first suggested, and they began trailing back to the camp together.

"I cannae believe we couldnae catch a mere lass. We would be a laughin' stock." One of them said, causing them all to grumble in agreement.