No Time for a Man

   No Time for a Man

Suzanne Marsh

The skirl of the bagpipes lifted her spirit, she hated the thought of marrying any man, especially the red-haired devil who stood before her. He stood tall for a Scot over six foot with green eyes that glared like emeralds at her. She did not care that he was the MacLeod of Dunvegan, a man who could crush her father in minutes if he marched on Tioram. She knew her father would pledge her hand to him while he was here. A strong bond with the MacLeod of Dunvegan would help protect Tioram in the coming years, now that Charles Stuart was in Scotland somewhere. Katherine knew her father was involved somehow with the Jacobites and Stuart, but he did not explain to her how deeply he was involved, he had she would have understood why the MacLeod was here. What she would not give to be a fly on the wall of the library where they were speaking,

The library door creaked open as the MacLeod strode out with Katherine’s father behind him”

“MacLeod, I will see ye in ten days from at Culloden. Charles Stuart will regain his throne here

in Scotland” Within that moment Katherine realized the MacLeod was not a man to fear but a man on a mission to put Charles Stuart back on his throne. They had waited years for him to reappear, then the clans would begin to gather to do battle with the English invaders, would Scotland ever be free? Katherine had not seen Charles since she was a small child she wondered if he had changed his appearance to enter Scotland under the English noses. Once the MacLeod had cantered off toward his home in Dunvegan, Katherine strode quietly up behind her father:

“Now father, ye will be tellin me the likes of what the MacLeod wanted of ye.” Her father turned to face his beloved daughter:

“Katherine, ye know the Bonnie Prince Charlie is here in Scotland, I am sure the English

are just as aware of his presence. The MacLeod has asked if I would raise an army

we are to meet at Culloden Moor ten days from today. Katherine, will ye be helpin me

to raise that army? The peasants like ye and will follow ye, it nay matters if they are Catholic

or Protestant what matters is that we put Charles Stuart on the throne of England, Scotland and

Ireland. Katherine it tis what we need to do for Scotland to get rid of the bloody English.

Katherine ran up the stone steps to her rooms in the castle, she searched the room for the trousers she had worn when mucking out the barn. She would go to Culloden with her father or in spite of him. She quickly tied her hair up, put an old Tam O Shanter on her head, and rolled up the sleeves of her white shirt. She promised she would help raise an army, but she did not promise not to go.

The men came in from the fields to hear Lady Katherine speak, most knew her from her childhood and would gladly follow her to Culloden. She rode a large black stallion whom she called Brutus. The pipe and drums began to play; as they marched off into the sunset. The small army traveled slowly, Katherine kept herself secluded, she knew her father would send her back to Tioram, and pat her on the back for doing his bidding. She convinced herself this time she would show him she could fight and manage Tioram Castle, and be a lady all at the same time.

The small army led by Katherine arrived at dusk on 14^th April 1746, the smell of smoke told Katherine she had found their encampment. She had to remain out of her father’s way he would no doubt have a hissy fit knowing she was here. She stayed with the men while her father went to find the MacLeod of Dunvegan. The clans with their own standards arrived slowly at first. Katherine recognized the standard for the MacDonald clan, and Fraizer clan, then she noted the Stuart standard, Prince Charles himself was here. She hoped he knew how to fight a battle and win, the Highlanders had to win or face English rule. She noted a rather pale young foppish man standing next to a tent. She walked over, and he turned:

“Katherine, is that you? After all these years, where is your father's child?”

Katherine was shocked that Prince Charles would remember her:

“He is about somewhere your majesty.” She said as she curtsied. She saw her father heading toward Prince Charles’ tent, so she quickly went in the opposite direction. Charles was pleased to see Mortog of Tioram, he strode toward him:

“Mortog, I just your daughter Katherine, she has grown into a beautiful young woman.” Mortog turned toward the prince:

“My daughter Katherine is here? Och, what am I to do about the lass I can’t send back now.”

Charles, never one to refuse help smiled:

“She could help on the battlefield, there are sure to be many wounded aye?”

Mortog excused himself from Prince Charles to seek out his daughter, he was in no mood to argue with her, he couldn’t send her back. Mortog decided to instead find the MacLeod of Dunvegan, maybe he could talk some sense into Katherine, he had seemed quite smitten with her at Tioram, how could she not listen to such a brae laddie?

The MacLeod heard Mortog before he saw him:

“Mortog, what are ye ramblin about?” Mortog turned to him:

“Jamie, me laddie Katherine is here, she is dressed in men’s clothing, she is planning to fight

on the morrow along with the rest of us. Maybe ye can talk some sense into the lass, a battle

the field is no place for a lassie.”

The MacLeod thought for several moments:

“I could forbid her if we were to be betrothed aye?” Mortog shook his shaggy head:

“That could work, yes try Jamie.”

Jamie MacLeod began to look for Katherine, although he thought he saw her several times, then he accidentally bumped into a young man who seemed to have a female figure under the shirt and trousers:

“Katherine, Lady Katherine?” Katherine shot him a look that made him completely understand why her father had been so quick to have wedded. Katherine spoke harshly:

“Well now, the MacLeod of Dunvegan, how did you know it twas me?” The MacLeod laughed:

“Katherine, you have such a beautiful face, how could I mistake you for anyone other than who

you are.” This surprised Katherine:

“MacLeod, I am going into battle on the morrow, I’d be guessing that my father put you

up to this once Prince Charles told him I was here.”

The MacLeod, grabbed her by her arm:

“Katherine will you listen to reason, I know you raised the army for your father, and I know you

want to fight alongside the men who marched with you. You are a beautiful mere slip of a girl

, not a fighter and defender. I want to marry you once the battle is fought, providing I survive.”

Katherine, her black eyelashes fluttering as her blue eyes met his green ones for the first time:

“I told you I am going into battle I will fight alongside the men who came with me, that

is my duty to them. Father can’t fight he can’t handle a claymore any longer.”

The battle of Culloden began around one o’clock in the afternoon, lasting roughly an hour. Katherine fought alongside the MacLeod. They both survived, most of their clansmen perished on the battlefield. Mortog found the MacLeod and Katherine sitting on the ground staring at the carnage, entire clans had been wiped out.

Three days after the battle, Katherine and Jamie found a small kirk, she dressed in a long blue dress with her tartan, and walked down the stone aisle, as Jamie met her. Her father watched tearfully as she married the MacLeod of Dunvegan. She promised to obey him, but her father thought about her disobedience as he watched the MacLeod put a small gold ring on her hand as she said: “I do”.