Page 72 of A Dangerous Highland Affair

“Aye,” she said, listening.

“It was a job…a while ago—I mean, it wasnae meant to turn out the way it did…,” he stopped abruptly, his breath coming in waves. “I didnae mean to…”

Teasag glanced into Neacal’s eyes. They had darkened over as he recounted his tale.

“It doesnae matter what happened afore, I ken yer going to change, aren’t ye?” said Teasag, encouragingly. It was more hope than anything else, as he had not promised her anything yet.

“Aye, but I cannae change the past,” said Neacal, gloomily. “Well… the wee group o’ us, the lads, we found a troop o’ soldiers fresh in toon”, he glanced quickly to Teasag.

“Aye,” nodded Teasag calmly. She didn’t like it much, but at least he was honest with her now.

“But Ruaidhrí managed to get caught wi’ his hands in one o’ the officer’s pockets. Well, all hell broke loose… an’ the whole brigade came for us…,” Neacal’s voice grew distant as he recounted his tale.

“What happened?” Teasag asked breathlessly.

“Well, we tried to get oot o’ there afore we were brained, but one o’ the officers caught us… that was Marcas…,” he continued.

“…He collared me an’ pinned me against the wall. I mean, I cannae blame him… An’ he an’ his brother Donald, gave me a fair kicking… That’s when the rest o’ the crew—Robbie, an’ that, came in to save me…”

Neacal paused, glancing about warily. The approaching hooves had passed, and there was nobody about. Once he was satisfied, he continued.

“The next thing I ken is that one o’ them have got a crossbow pointed at Marcas, an’ his brother,” Neacal said, looking down. “So I start running, but as I did, the lad holding it, Ruaidhrí, well, I dinnae why, but he points the bow at Marcas’s brother’s head, an’ says…Give us all yer coin or else…’

Neacal’s eyes meet hers beseechingly. “Well, that wasnae in the plan, I can tell ye…”

“Aye,” said Teasag with uncertainty. “Well, why did ye have a crossbow if ye were nae gonnae use it?” she asked. Her eyes ran across his, searchingly.

“It was only as a backup, I nae planned this…but the lad, Ruaidhrí, he was the youngest an’ a wee bit giddy…” he paused awhile. “Well, things were getting out o’ hand, but I couldnae just leave, so we all waited, while Marcas hands over his pocket. An’ he does, just like that. It was… so easy, Teasag…” Neacal’s voice quivered a moment, then carried on.

“…So now Ruaidhrí had thought he was some big man, holding them all wi’ this crossbow. The problem was, he was just a bairn himself an’ didnae ken what to do wi’ it, an’ his hands are shaking all around…”

Teasag watched, utterly consumed in his story. The look on Neacal’s face told more than his words. She could see that he was utterly squashed.

“Well, he had done as asked an’ we were telling Ruaidhrí to put the bow doon an’ get oot, when his hand wavers, the next thing I ken, someone yells an’ one o’ the soldiers tackles him… he’s got Ruaidhrí by the neck an’ then, there’s screaming… I swear I nae e’en saw it, but the next thing I ken is Donald is rolling in agony on the floor, wi’ a bolt right in him…”

When Neacal looked at her again, there were tears in his eyes.

Teasag felt her heart miss a beat. “Was he…?,” she asked, in a barely perceptible whisper.

“Aye,” said Neacal, his face taut and gray. “He had nae chance…the worst thing was, it was all an accident. Ruaidhrí nae meant to shoot him, it just went off in his hand…och!”

Neacal buried his head in his hands, “It’s such a mess,” he said, trying to get a handle on his emotions. Teasag saw his shuddering shoulders and went to stroke them.

“I shouldnae have let Ruaidhrí come along wi’ us, much less bring that infernal crossbow… it shouldnae have come to this…,” Neacal was talking more to himself than her at this point, his hand still pressed hard against his head. Teasag watched him, agape.

She hadn’t been expecting anything like this, but it was clear to see that Neacal hadn’t had any direct part in things.

Neacal continued. “An’ if the soldier had nae tried to tackle him, it nae would have happened… och, so much for the what-ifs. The fact was it was my fault…”

Teasag was at a loss of what to say. Grabbing his hands, she held them tightly. “Nae,” she said.

“Aye, it is,” said Neacal, finally looking her in the eye. His face was calm and measured as if the storm within him had passed. “It is. There’s nae getting awa’ from it. I should nae have let it happen… an’ I’ve got to live wi’ it, so noo, ye see why it is that Marcas hates me so badly…”

Teasag nodded.

“Ye ken, I really dinnae blame him, either,” said Neacal, with a strange smile. “An’ if only I didnae have this other problem hanging over me…”

By other problem, Teasag surmised, he meant being wanted for murder. Neacal looked at her and continued.