Episode 11: Calum's Command

By Leigh Barker

Clan: Season 2, Episode 11. Calum’s Loss

A Bitesize 1-hour Read.

Dutronc brigade has been incorporated into General Chevalier’s column to be used to screen Chevalier’s men from the English shot.

With their officers dead, the English column is scattered across the floodplain without direction and the French Dragoons are thundering down the meadow eager to tear them to pieces.

It is up to Calum to take command and save the English army from the French assault.

He knows he is saving one sworn enemy from another, but the French are led by Colonel Dutronc, and he and his men killed Catahecassa. So he will do his best to save the English. But against overwhelming odds, there is little chance of success.

He and John could leave, it’s not their fight, but this is they love and were born for. So they will stand.

The French will kill them all, but Calum will make them pay a high price. In blood.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leigh Barker
• Release date: Sep 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310752759

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...

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Clan

(Season 2)

(Episode 11)

Calum's Command

Copyright 2015 Leigh Barker

Published by Leigh Barker at Smashwords

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ISBN: 9781310752759

Calum’s Command

General Chevalier’s immaculate dragoons followed Dutronc’s scruffy and battle-worn men down the slope, then eased back from their headlong gallop and spread out across the meadow. They trotted now, shoulder to shoulder, their sabres glinting in the sunlight and their horses’ hooves beating a steady rhythm through the earth.

The English square began to ripple as the men instinctively moved backwards, and Calum knew that the moment one of them ran, they would all run. And they would be dead. The dragoons would hack them to pieces, and the ones they missed would be easy meat for the infantry advancing from the right at a steady trot.

He moved behind the front ranks, pushing men back into line. Stand or die! Your choice! But even as he shouted at them, he knew they were going to break.

A corporal and three soldiers shouldered their way back through the lines and into the middle of the square, looking around urgently for an escape route.

Calum ran to them, conscious that every soldier facing the oncoming dragoons was watching, ready to bolt.

You want to run? he said, and grabbed the corporal’s shoulder. You want to run?

The corporal wrenched his arm free and growled his answer.

Then run. Calum drew his pistol and pointed it at the corporal. He jabbed his finger towards the line facing the river. But not that way. You and your cowards get to go out front.

He put his pistol an inch from the corporal’s forehead. Now! Move!

He pushed the corporal back through the front lines, then turned to the other three men. And you go with him.

They started to back off. Calum raised his pistol. One. Two…

The soldiers followed their corporal, who was now being helped on his way by the men he’d deserted. He staggered out of the square, with his three followers close behind, looked at the advancing cavalry and ran to the left, towards the safety of the forest. A half-dozen dragoons spurred their horses to a gallop. The deserters covered thirty yards before the troopers thundered past them on both sides. The dragoons didn’t slow, and when they wheeled their mounts to return to the main body, they left four bloody corpses crumpled on the grass.

The English front line stopped moving and visibly stiffened.

Steady now, lads, Calum called. Wait for them. You know the drill.

John slapped him on the shoulder as he passed. Not lost the knack of motivating men, have ya, laddie? He headed for the side facing the infantry, who’d slowed to a fast walk, their muskets and bayonets pointing ahead. M’be I’ll try the same trick with yon bonnie English. He was grinning.

Calum looked past him at the advancing French infantry, then up the slope to the two hundred and fifty dragoons. Against either one they had a chance, a good chance, but not against both.

He put the thought aside and walked along behind the