Calum's Exile

By Leigh Barker

Season 2, Episode 1: Calum’s Exile. Clan Season 2 kicks off at a cracking pace!

...Cumberland’s army, fresh from their easy victory at Culloden, is running amok right across the Highlands.

And against the systematic slaughter ordered by the king, our heroes Calum Maclean and Big John Mackintosh must make a dash for Glasgow to find passage to the New World, or die trying.

Their 150 miles journey is through a country swarming with English soldiers who are murdering men, women and children and plundering anything of value.

Every day they remain in their beloved Scotland, they are in mortal danger, but they can’t just ride by and let the innocent perish.

Colonel York is dead, but his hand reaches from the grave for one last act of vengeance. The assassin sent to kill Calum is the best of the worst. Unstoppable, and without mercy.

The new journey has begun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leigh Barker
• Release date: Nov 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311323873

Leigh Barker

Leigh was born in Dudley in the middle of England. He has been a merchant seaman, a (useless) electronics salesman, a programmer, and a business analyst. And now he is a full-time writer, but that doesn't make him a bad person.He is presently writing 4 series:Clan, following the adventures of Calum Maclean as he tries to avoid the Bonnie Prince but still protect his beloved Highlands.The Hellfire Legacy Series follows US Marine Master Sergeant Ethan Gill and his team as they take on the jobs too hot for other special forces. They go where they're sent; South America, Middle East, Korea, but their most dangerous missions are on US soil.Volume #1: A Whisper of ArmageddonVolume #2: The Hellfire LegacyVolume #3: The Orpheus DirectiveEden, a three-volume series -Trinity is at war with Lucid, the son of Lucifer, and he will do whatever it takes to win. The Archangel Gabriel has an army but he needs more. He needs heroes, but they are few and far between. Which is why he gets Dylan and co. Not too much luck in Heaven then.Volume #1: Eden's Last HeroVolume #2: WinterwoodVolume #3: Requiem for Eden.Soldiers is set in 1914 and follows John Regret and his 12-man squad on their suicidal mission to find and destroy the German howitzer nicknamed Big Bertha. Find it before it drops it's thousand-pound shells on the allied army retreating across France. A seemingly hopeless mission that just cannot fail.Other occasional series include:Anarchy, the 'completely true' stories of men doing what men do when there's nobody to keep them in check. Create mayhem and behave like monkeys on speed.Coffee Break Reads - each issue has 5 stories short enough to read while taking a break from life. A mix of adventure, love, disaster, and fun. All with one thing in common; for a moment they transport the reader to another world.Episode 1 of each Season is free and can be picked up with other free books at:https://leighwbarker.com/my-library/Just copy the link above and paste it into your browser and you're there...

Book preview

Clan

(Season 2)

(Episode 1)

Calum's Exile

Copyright 2014 Leigh Barker

Published by Leigh Barker at Smashwords

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ISBN: 9781311323873

Calum’s Exile

Calum stood at the top of the steps in front of Moy Hall and looked out across the loch one last time. He was going to miss Scotland, but the Scotland he’d known was now in its death throes at the hands of Cumberland’s army.

Lady Anne stood beside him and saw the sadness and pain reflected in his pale blue eyes. She stayed silent, letting him come to the end of his journey and return to the present.

He turned to her and smiled, but the smile was tired and simply underlined his sorrow.

Will you write to me? she said quietly.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked out across the loch again so he wouldn’t betray his feelings for this woman, the wife of his clan chief, his friend. If I can find somebody to write the words for me.

She sniffed. You write as well as anyone I know, Calum Maclean.

He looked at her, knowing it would be for the last time. She’d hardly changed at all during the doomed rebellion, just a little tired and lost. He brushed her wild hair from her eyes. Yes, he said.

Yes what?

Yes, I’ll write to you.

Don’t bother if it’s going to cause you that much trouble!

She turned away and he took her arm, turned her back and kissed her. She leaned against him, and for a moment they were lost between a future that could never be and a past that was gone forever.

She pulled away and walked quickly to the big doors. Take the horses, she said, without turning around. He would see her tears.

Calum could see the horses being led out of the yard by Donald Fraser. Calum remembered the last time he’d seen the man, on the night they’d sent Lord Loudoun’s regiment scurrying back to Inverness. He glanced back as Anne closed the door and wondered if the blacksmith had seen them together. If he had, he showed no sign of it as he led the horses to the steps.

I’ve shod them for you, Donald said. They’re fine animals and will get you where you need to go.

Calum went down the steps and patted one of the horses on the neck. I’m obliged, Donald, but I canna take them. We’re not coming back.

Aye, I know. Donald pointed up at the closed door. Lady Anne said you’d say that. But you’re to sell them and pay for your passage, he continued quickly before Calum could protest. Take them, Calum, or I’ll have to answer to m’lady.

Calum chuckled. I’ll not wish that on you. He took the reins. The English are running amuck. He looked up the steps. You watch out for her.

With m’ life.

Calum put his hand out, and the blacksmith shook it firmly, turned and walked back to the barn.

Alone now, with the cool wind coming