The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman Read Free Book Online Page A

vacuous vapor, I had nothing to do with this. I only came on this trip to keep her company. It seems to me you are the one at fault here. So tell us how we get out of here.”
    He looked around. “Weel, you could go that way,” he said, pointing to his right. “Or you might try that way,” he said, pointing to his left. “Or mayhap ye should go both ways,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest and pointing in both directions.
    Elisabeth threw up her hands. “I would like a straight answer for a change. One that makes sense.”
    “Let’s back up for a minute,” Isobella said. “Where can we rent a car or catch a bus?”
    “Ye willna find those things here,” he said.
    “Why not?” Isobella asked.
    His expression was rather mischievous. Isobella thought that finally they were getting somewhere. Then he said, “Ye are in sixteenth-century Scotland, and we havena such things.”
    Isobella gasped. “You mean the sixteenth century? The Early Renaissance period? Oh, Lord! What are we going to do?” She turned to Elisabeth. “Do you realize what this means? We have traveled back five hundred years to the beginning of the Renaissance.”
    “All I am thinking right now is how much I would love to punch you, flat out.”
    Isobella ignored her and turned back to Douglas. “Is Henry VIII King of England?”
    “Aye.”
    “I knew it!” Isobella fairly jumped around, thrilled and dumbfounded at the same time. One rational thought managed to slip through and she smiled. “I guess that’s one way to get rid of Jackson. He hasn’t even been born yet.”
    Elisabeth was not looking very happy and obviously didn’t give a flip whether Jackson had been born or not. “You’re jesting, right? This really isn’t the sixteenth century, is it?”
    “Aye, ’tis the year 1515.”
    “Who is the king of Scotland?” Elisabeth asked, her brows knit with serious intensity. Isobella gave her an astonished look. Elisabeth wouldn’t know the correct answer if it was written down on a piece of paper and handed to her. Isobella had to think hard for a moment before deciding that was when King James V was just a babe.
    “’Tis the infant King James,” he replied.
    “Why did you bring us to Mull?” Isobella asked.
    “Ye are here because ye asked to be.”
    Isobella shook her head. “I never asked to come here. Why would you say that?”
    She saw a spark of amusement in the blue depths of his eyes. “Ye will understand when the time is ripe.”
    They were interrupted by the animated sounds of rolling chaos that suddenly filled the air around them. They listened to the clamor of clanging swords and the shouts of warring men. “I think we better stop talking and start praying,” Isobella said, looking over Elisabeth’s shoulder to stare at the warring knights.
    “I hope they are friends of yours,” Elisabeth said, turning toward the Black Douglas, “Could they be English?”
    “English!” Isobella almost spat the words out. “You can’t leave us to the mercy of those English bastards!”
    A smile curved across the fine mouth of the Black Douglas. “That’s a lass!”
    “We need more than compliments,” Isobella said. “This isn’t looking good for any of us. Well, not you perhaps, since they can’t run you through, but it’s something we need to worry about.”
    Elisabeth agreed. “You’re already dead. They can’t hurt you. But our predicament is a bit different. Are you going to take us back or just hand us over to the enemy?”
    They had only a brief glimpse of his broad smile before his image began to lighten and grow dim, before it faded completely away.

Chapter 9
    In trouble to be troubled
    Is to have your trouble doubled.
    — The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe , 1719
Daniel Defoe (1660–1731)
English novelist and journalist
    Morning arrived. An uneasy wind stirred, brisk and chilling. The horses were restless as the Mackinnons rode on, caution their constant companion. They welcomed