Shared by the Highlanders (4 page)

“We’re breaking camp, now, and ye’re coming with us. Get up and get shifting.” Even as he speaks he’s producing his truly wicked-looking blade to slice through the ropes binding my wrists. He pulls my cosy tartan blanket away to reach my ankles.

This is not what they said would happen. I start to protest. “What? No. You promised. You said you’d let me go.”

“Believe me, lad, ye don’t want that. Really ye don’t.”

"I do. I need to leave. I'll be missed." Free at last, I flex my stiff muscles. Absently, I note he seems to have recovered remarkably well from his injury and from my ministrations of last night, though he really should be taking things a little easier in my professional opinion.

“You’ll be breakfast if you don’t shift. Now. There are wolves surrounding us. More on the way probably. And they’re hungry.”

I kneel up, ready to put up a fight. I’m not so much scared of Will as I am outraged that he and Robbie are about to renege on their promise. If these strange, deluded men truly meant me harm, they would have done their worst by now. But even so I’ve had quite enough of their oppressive company. “Don’t be ridiculous. There are no wolves on Helvellyn.”

Will lifts one expressive eyebrow and offers me a wry grin. “No? Do please feel free to debate that point, though you’ll have to do it with them, not me.” He flicks his thumb in the direction of the thicket of trees to his right. I follow the gesture, and catch a swift, shadowy movement among the tree trunks. I’m just able to make out a long, low shape gliding in silence through the pre-dawn gloom, circling us. It’s no more than seven or eight metres away, but still I can’t be sure what it is. A wolf though? No way.

“That’s a fox. Maybe a badger. One of the horses, perhaps.”

“The horses are over there, saddled and ready to leave. Last chance, laddie. Are ye with us?”

I peer across the clearing to see Robbie already mounted, his horse snorting and pawing the ground nervously. The second mount is alongside him, also fidgety. Clearly something has alarmed them, but even so…

“You said you’d free me.”

“You are free, lad. Free to come with us or to stay and take your chance with them.”

He tips his chin at something behind me, over my shoulder, then stands and makes a run for his horse. I turn in the direction of his curt nod, and my doubts evaporate. Three huge wolves are emerging from the trees, their long, shaggy bodies carried low to the ground as they prowl the few metres toward me. A fourth follows, then a fifth. In the dim early morning light their dark grey pelts blend almost totally with the background, but there’s no mistaking their vivid yellowish green eyes. Nor their fangs, clearly visible, shining as they snarl at me. I clamber to my feet, backing away. I turn and start to sprint after Will but it’s already too late. The wolves will have me before I get half the distance to where Robbie and Will are wheeling their horses around, ready to gallop to safety.

Robbie gives a low command to his mount, and the beast swerves, then thunders toward me. He won’t make it, I know he won’t. A whistle in the air beside me is all I know of the knife hurtling past my ear. A strangled yelp, and I silently thank God that he’s hit his target, perhaps buying me a few more precious seconds. The Scot reaches me as I hurtle toward him. He leans down and snatches me from the ground just as the heat of the closest wolf’s breath scorches my neck. I’m thrown across the saddle and bounced mercilessly as Robbie seems to turn the horse on a sixpence and with a sharp kick of his heels drives his mount into a flat-out gallop, dashing after Will for safety.

I hang onto the edge of the solid leather saddle, praying I won’t even now roll off and find myself staring into those mean, hungry jaws once more. The motion of the horse under me is agony. I’m being jolted and hurled about, but I’m safe, sort of, and no bits of me got chewed by the wolves. In the circumstances I have nothing to complain about so I tighten my grip on the saddle and keep my mouth shut.

Too soon it seems to me Robbie slows the horse to a trot and hauls me upright to seat me in front of him, astride his powerful thighs. I lean around to peer back where we’ve come from, expecting to see the pack of ravenous wolves bearing down on us. There is nothing, just empty moorland, now starting to come into sharper focus in the soft grey dawn light.

“Where are they?”

“Probably feasting on that one I downed. I did them a service; he has more meat on him than you do, laddie. Still, that was a fine dagger and I’m sorry to have lost it.”

His arms circle me as he manages the reins, his movements effortless. Whatever else he may be, this man’s horsemanship is superb. As is his aim with a knife. I owe him my life.

“Thank you. For coming back for me.”

“You’re welcome, lad. Ye didn’t think we’d leave ye there for the wolves to feast on, did ye?”

Actually, that’s exactly what I had thought, but I don’t say so.

“I’ll replace the knife. If you let me have your address I’ll send the money, or another one if you let me know where you bought it. And we’ll have to inform the authorities that a pack of wolves is on the loose. I wonder where they escaped from.”

“Lad, what are you babbling about? Wolves are always on the loose, no one in authority is going to be interested, whoever that might be around these parts. We’re just fortunate the horses sensed them early enough and woke us up. The dagger was a gift from my brother. I daresay he’ll provide me with another if I ask him so you’ve no cause to be fretting over that.”

I’m incredulous. I was glad of Robbie’s cool attitude earlier, when I needed him, but now he’s taking blasé to a whole new dimension. “But, that’s rubbish. Wolves running loose on the fells, it’s dangerous. Someone could be killed.”

“Indeed, laddie. But not us, not this day at least. You cut it fine though and I’ll thank ye to shift a bit quicker next time the need arises.”

“Next time. There won’t be a bloody next time. Shit, I was so scared.” I peer behind us again. “Are you sure they’re gone?”

“Aye, lad. So, where are you intending to make for now? I recall you seemed most anxious to be away.”

I scan our surroundings, trying to get my bearings. I know these hills well, I should recognise something in the landscape, especially as the mist of yesterday has lifted and the light is strengthening by the minute.

“I was intending to return to Glenridding. Which direction are we heading in now?”

“South. We’ve had to double back the way we came to escape yonder ravening beasties, but we’ll circle around and pick up the route to Carlisle by mid-morning.”

At last, somewhere familiar. “Carlisle? Is that where you’re going?”

“No, we’re headed for Stirling. But Carlisle’s on the way. I don’t recall this place Glenridding though.”

“You don’t need to take me all the way there, just anywhere around Ullswater would be fine.” But hopefully not too far away, I’m a lot less confident about my ability to cope with a lengthy moorland trek without my pack. I have no tent, no sleeping bag, no supplies.
Shit.
At least I slept in my hiking boots and anorak or I’d have lost those too in the rush to escape being eaten alive. Small mercies.

“I reckon Ullswater’s about five miles north of here.” This from Will who has come up alongside us. “We should reach the lake in a couple of hours. Nice to see you in one piece, young Charlie.”

“Thank you. Both of you. Really, I do appreciate what you did. You risked your lives to save me.”

Will shrugs, seemingly no more concerned about the incident than his companion. I abandon any further attempt to impress upon them the seriousness of the situation. They are quite clearly deranged, but I’ll overlook that in exchange for a ride as far as Ullswater. I lean back and rest against Robbie’s broad chest, glad of his sturdy, capable presence behind me.

“What about your chest drain?” I wriggle around to peer at Will. “I should check it…”

“Ye mean this, wee Charlie?” He leans over to hand me the remains of my biro. “I managed to dislodge it scrambling from the wolves. I forgot to mention the matter as it seemed less pressing than our immediate predicament.”

“Oh, right. Well, I need to—”

“Nay, Charlie. I’ll manage without it, I daresay. I’ll stand for ye skewering me when circumstances seem dire enough to warrant it, but let’s not spoil this fine morning with such unpleasantness, shall we?”

I shrug, knowing when further agreement would be futile. We amble on in silence for several minutes as I scan the landscape around me, seeking some clue as to where we are. The terrain looks familiar, but I can’t definitely place any landmarks. Any moment though I should be able to see the tips of the wind turbines I admired yesterday, and I can take my bearings from them.

“So, that matter we discussed last night. Do you have any further thoughts on the subject?” There’s an affected casual note in his voice as Robbie asks his question. I twist in his arms to peer into his face.

“What matter?”

He ignores me, glancing over my head at Will who is riding alongside us. I swivel to face the other man.

“What matter? What is it you’ve been talking about?”

Now it’s Will’s turn to pretend I haven’t spoken. “Well, I’m certain enough. You?”

“Absolutely.”

“What now then?”

“Now, we need to have a serious conversation with our companion here.”

“Me? What do you need to talk to me about?”

My question is aimed at Robbie, but it’s Will who answers. “About your real name to start with? Or is Charlie a wench’s name, in Glenridding or wherever you really do come from?”

My heart lurches in my chest. “What? What do you mean? My name
is
Charlie.” I pause, then add defensively, “It’s short for Charlene.”

I normally hate my full name, the legacy of my mother’s obsession with Jason Donovan. I rarely use it but full disclosure seems to be called for here. “She was a fan of
Neighbours
.”

“She was what?”

“
Neighbours
. The television show. The Australian soap?”

“Now ye’re talking in riddles, lass, and it’s starting to rile me somewhat. We’ll come back to this failing of yours in due course, but for now I’ll be obliged if ye’d just answer my question.”

“What question? And it’s true, about Jason Donovan I mean.”

“Never mind that. Why are ye pretending to be a lad, wee Charlie?”

“I’m not. I just… you assumed. I never said.”

Robbie takes up the questioning. “You knew, and ye let us continue to believe ye were a boy. Even when I was roughing you up, you never let on.” Robbie’s tone has hardened, and now carries a hint of menace that was absent before. He’s angry, though I don’t really understand what grounds he can possibly imagine these two have to take issue with me. They’re the ones who grabbed me, held me against my will, tied me to a tree, then forced me to remain with them all night. If anyone should be aggrieved it’s me.

“What difference would it have made?”

“If none, then why the deception?” This from Will who has reined his horse to a stop. Robbie does likewise and I take the opportunity to scramble to the ground.

“I never intended to deceive you. I just, I thought it would be simpler. That’s all.” I stand between the two horses, my neck bent as I stare up at them, my gaze going from one to the other implacable face. “If you want to, you can just leave me here. I can manage.”

One side of Robbie’s mobile mouth lifts in a parody of a smile. “I don’t think so.”

“What? Why not. You said…”

“That we’d release you come the morning, aye. But that was when we thought ye were just a lad, chancing his arm at lifting some easy pickings from weary travellers. Things have changed.”

“They haven’t. It makes no difference. You have to let me go. You can’t…”

“Can’t what, Charlie?” Will’s tone is soft as he leans over in his saddle to study me as I cringe below him.

There’s a rustle behind me, and I spin around to see Robbie dismounting. His features are set in a harsh, firm expression, and I’m every bit as terrified now as I was when I found myself facing the wolves. Sick to my stomach, I put out my hands defensively as though I could hold either of them off if they decided to overpower me. But the pair of them—it’s hopeless.

“Please, let me go. Please, don’t…”

“So this is why. You believed if we knew you were a wench we would rape you. Or worse.”

“I, I don’t know. Perhaps. Please…”

“Didn’t you. That’s what you think, isn’t it, Charlie?” Will is also dismounting, but his voice has remained soft. Is he attempting to comfort me? To reassure? It’s not working.

“Yes. Can you blame me? I didn’t know what you might do. I didn’t know what was happening, why you kidnapped me. I still don’t. I just wanted to survive, and you said you’d let me go. I believed you. I thought if you knew I was female that might change.”

“You were right about that. These borders are no place for a wench to be wandering around alone. A band of reivers might easily pass this way and they won’t pander to your delicate sensibilities, lass. Nor would those wolves if you’d been on your own. Unprotected, you’ll not last the day, lass.”

“Reivers? I don’t understand. What are reivers and why would I need to be protected from anyone? Except you two of course.”

The two of them regard me oddly, exchanging quizzical looks. Robbie is next to speak.

“Girl, you say some odd things, and you have a most peculiar attitude toward your own safety. You seem to be in mortal fear of us, yet you have no regard for the very real danger presented by hungry wolves or lawless raiders from north of the border. Be that as it may though, we can’t leave you to fend for yourself in this wilderness. You’ll be remaining with us until we reach a town where you have kin, or failing that you can return to Stirling with us and we’ll find a place for you there. The MacBride keep can always find room for a decent serving wench, especially one with skills in healing as you seem to possess. And before you start your bloody protesting again, please be assured your virtue is safe from us. Neither one of us has ever found it necessary to take a lass against her will, and you’ll not be finding yourself to be the first.”