The Bride Ship
by Donna and ABs

The ship rolled back and forth on the high seas, making the already miserable passengers even more so. The nine girls bound for the Americas huddled below, wondering when it was going to end. 

There were four sets of sisters, all from the eastern part of Scotland. Grace, Hope and Faith MacDonald were daughters of a magistrate in Aberdeenshire, and ladies in their own right. After their father's death, their oldest brother had made arrangements for them to be married off to various business acquaintances of his. The stories of the others were much the same. Suitable men for unmarried daughters were in short supply in Scotland because of various wars that had depleted their numbers, so the red heads Patience and Prudence MacInnes were given passage on the Bride Ship as the girls called it meet the men that their family had betrothed them too, sight unseen. Neither girl was happy about that arrangement. The actual voyage was funded by a prosperous landowner, who was sending his two lovely golden haired girls, Mercy and Joy, to the colonies along with a sizable dowry of farm animals and equipment in the hold of the ship. The fourth pair, Temperance and Blessing MacPherson, were daughters of a local minister, who had arranged their escort, the Presbyterian priest, Father Walter McBain. He was in the next cabin, bemoaning the fact that he had even accepted the position in that church in Canada, and that he had been saddled with the girls in the process. 

Suddenly, there was a loud crashing sound, and everyone was tossed onto the floors of their cabins, 
scrambling to grab something as the ship began to list. McBain, who had recently been ill, rushed out to see what was going on, but the movement pushed him back into his cabin. He heard the women screaming in fear, and he thought for a moment about one of them; then he pushed the memory of her face away, prayed to God for forgiveness for his weakness, and asked for strength to save them all, not just Temperance MacPherson.

The door to the girls' cabin flew open and one with bright red hair struggled to get out. "Father McBain! What is happening?" she called out. "Have we run aground somewhere?"

"Yes, Prudence," he sighed, "I believe that is what has occurred." He grabbed his Bible and ventured out again. This time he was able to make headway. "Stay in your rooms until I can see for sure what the matter might be."

He made it up onto the deck of the ship, and to his surprise, found that they had indeed run aground on a sandy reef near a small cove. There was no sign of any human habitation as far as he could see. Just trees. Lots of trees. But something else was odd. The crew of the ship was missing. He called out the name of the Captain and his First Mate, but there was no answer. The life rafts were still on deck, so they hadn't taken them. Could they have all been washed overboard?

Looking out to the foaming water below the ship, he hoped not. They would have been sucked under its angry waves! However, to the other side, he could see the sandy reef inviting him to run that way, toward shore. If they took that, they could avoid the deep, churning water and make it to safety. Trying not to think uncharitably of the crewmen (though this of course meant they had all fallen to their deaths when the ship ran aground), McBain avoided the notion that they had all taken this way out, leaving him, the women, and all their cargo aboard ship.

The ship seemed to have stabilized, so he went back to check on the girls. They were all very lovely young women between the ages of 17 and 20, just ripe for marriage. And all of them had husbands lined up in the Americas. McBain wondered if that was where they were. If so, there was hope. He could still accomplish his mission, and then go to the church in Canada that was waiting for him. 

For now, he had to get them to shore, then search for some way to find civilization. Thanks to the cargo hold full of livestock, sent by Squire Campbell as a dowry for his daughters, they could survive until he figured a way out of this mess. The problem was that McBain was not an overly hearty man; he was not at all sure how to set up a camp, and the thought of single-handedly managing nine women was frightening to say the least!

All of the girls, thank heavens, had managed to get through the shipwreck with nothing but a few bruises. The ever practical Campbell girls, Mercy and Joy, appraised the situation carefully, and they told McBain that they could build some holding pens for the livestock easily enough with the materials at hand. The oldest MacDonald girl, Grace, said she would help them. 

Faith, her youngest sister, took Blessing and Patience to see what sort of food supplies were available, and Prudence and Temperance went to go check on the animals and to see what else could be useful. Only Hope stood on the deck, bewailing their fate. She was rather spoiled, and had wanted to go to London, not some backwater town in America. 

Father McBain rolled his eyes at this, but did not trouble himself with her female "vapors". He had work to do. They had to put up some sort of shelter for themselves, and unless he did it quickly, he would be sleeping out in the weather. Because they had to build two. It would not be seemly for him to sleep in the same hut as the women.

The problem was, if he started to tear the ship apart to use the materials, and did not manage to make two shelters, he would not be able to go back on board to spend the night there in its relative safety. 

He and the three girls who were going to build the pens lowered the ramp from the side of the ship, and so were able to descend to the reef without too much difficulty. Once on the shore, they found plenty of driftwood, and there were strong vines growing on some of the trees that could be used as rope. Using a couple of tortoise shells they found on the beach as shovels, the girls started to dig holes for the fence posts. The sooner they got the fence up, the sooner they could unload the poor animals. One of the prize Thoroughbred stallions could be heard kicking his stall in the hold, demanding to be let out. 

"A lot of good he is at the moment," McBain thought to himself. He had stripped off his black jacket and rolled up his sleeves, but he still looked like a man of the cloth. He wished there were some other man to help him, though he begrudgingly admitted the women were of good Scottish stock and could handle any chore. He just wished he had another strong back to help with the shelters. 

Once the pens for the horses were up, the girls ran back to the ship, and with the help of the others, they soon had them unloaded. There were two stallions, and six mares, all of the best stock to be had. The last horses off the ship were a pair of bred Clydesdale mares, who very carefully made their way down the ramp. Grace led one of them up to McBain, telling him that Temperance was bringing the harness. The horse could haul any of the heavier building material easier than him. 

He smiled thankfully, but knew at the same time that a blush was rising on his now sweaty face. Temperance was bringing the harness! Could he manage to take it without making a complete ass of himself? He doubted it.

A moment or two later she came over, and he rushed to her aid. The harness was big and bulky, and she was nothing but a little thing. Not that she was weak, of course, just dainty. And very feminine . . . 

"Father?" she asked, snapping him out of his reverie. There were chuckles from behind him, and his face really did flush bright red. Grace shushed the other girls, and they got busy building the pens for the other animals still inside the hold of the ship.

It was hard work, but by the end of the day, they had accomplished a lot. All the animals were safely off the ship, and two shelters had been built. Joy and Faith volunteered to do the cooking that night, while the others gathered up fresh grass and water for the livestock. All except Hope, who was sitting alone on the beach, a scowl on her face. She was a lady! Not a common drudge! The other girls were used to her temper tantrums, and were ignoring her. Eventually she would come around to her senses and help them.

The bigger structure, for the women, did not really have enough room for each to have a bed, so they used the hammocks the seamen had used. McBain apologized but the two redheaded MacInnes sisters, Prudence and Patience, thought it was going to be quite a lark sleeping in them. He just shook his head and went into his own, much smaller, shelter. It was late and he was bone tired. 

He could hear the girls giggling for a while, then one of them led them all in a song of thanksgiving. It was the sound of their sweet voices singing an old hymn that helped McBain finally drift off to sleep.

***

Over the next couple of weeks, they improved their situation on a daily basis. Hope finally decided she would have to dirty her hands a bit, and started to help the others The nine girls worked together well, and McBain found that all he had to do was go hunting on occasion. They had been shipwrecked for 17 days when a sail was sighted. A ship was entering their cove! 

He was hopeful, and ran down to the beach, waving his arms. "That won't do, Father," said Prudence MacInnes. Pulling up her skirts a bit, she tore off a petticoat and waved that. There were more feminine giggles at her behavior - and his red face - but some of the others did likewise. They had to get that ship's attention!!

Just then, however, there was a noise to their rear, and looking landward, McBain and his charges suddenly heard a loud yelling, like a banshee's wail! Then a hoard of male riders descended on them from a hill above the cove!

Jumping out of a rowboat that had come from the ship now anchored in the cove, men were jumping into the shallow water, running to the shore, bright swords flashing in the sunlight. A sandy haired man led the way, his eyes glowing with a fierce light. "Get the women to the ship!" he yelled at 
McBain. Connor led the way; with Blackthorn, Christian, Racine, Samari Duncan and several other strong bodied seamen all ready to fight for the castaways. 

The Reverend did not stop to ask questions. Grace asked about the animals but he said, "You women first!" While the new men fought off the attackers, he would try to save as many of the animals as possible, but they could not get more than a few chickens in the long boats.

Several other seamen were headed to shore and they started to lead the horses along the reef. Their ship was anchored on the other side of the wreck, and they led them up the wreck's ramp, and over another ramp onto the Dòchas, taking them down into the hold. The girls were clinging to each other on the deck, watching the battle on the beach in horror. Connor was facing a dark haired man, and they were battling it out fiercely. 

With the women safe, and the animals being loaded, McBain had time to think. He'd saved a musket from the wreck and had been using it to hunt with. Now he got it from his hut, but when he raised it to fire, he froze. It was one thing to kill an animal for food, but quite another to take the life of another human being.

"No," said a voice from behind him, and the musket's barrel was pushed downward. "It has to be done with swords! No time to explain, but we have to get out of here. Now!" As the seaman spoke, the head of the darker man flew off his shoulders, and suddenly the sky was rent with lightning far worse than any storm McBain had ever seen. All the other combatants scattered, as the victor seemed to become a human lightning rod, attracting all of the bolts and absorbing them into his body, screaming in what seemed to be mortal agony. 

"Dear God," said McBain, watching. He held the gun slack in his hands, then looked at the weapon and dropped it like it was diseased. He turned to look for his Bible and found Temperance standing beside him, holding it. He saw her face and looked away, ashamed at his own cowardice. 

The man being consumed by the fire from heaven dropped to the ground like a limp rag doll after he was released. The men that attacked them had disappeared, fleeing back the way they had come. The loss of their leader had caused them to retreat. McBain and the girls watched in awe as Connor attempted to struggle to his feet, bent over double.  Kronos had managed to make a slash to the belly had almost cut Connor in half before the Highlander dealt the killing blow.  Samari Duncan hurried to his side, supporting him. "I'll be okay," Connor said through gritted teeth. The long, bloody wound) across his belly was already in the process of healing. "Get all their belongings on board. Don't leave anything behind that those bastards can use." 

"I thought Methos said Phoenix already took Kronos' head," Samari said, but Connor shushed him. The younger cousin saw Temperance and McBain looking at them in fear, and he nodded, going off to do what Connor had asked.

Temperance shivered slightly, and reached out to grab the Father's arm. She did not know if she should hide in his arms, pray, or offer help to the man who had saved them.

Connor stumbled to a rock, and sat down heavily. The pain was gradually subsiding, and the deep gash he was holding together with his hands was closing quickly. After a few moments, he was recovered enough to stand without his legs wobbling underneath him. He cleaned the gore from his sword, noting without comment that the body of Kronos had disappeared, leaving (nothing but) a red stain in the sand. Walking to McBain, he greeted him with a nod. "I'm Captain Connor MacLeod. We spotted the smoke from your campfire apparently the same time they did. It's a good thing we were here. You would be dead by now, and the girls . . ," he trailed his sentence off, not wanting to go into details with the frightened Temperance standing there. "Miss, if you would show my men all that needs to be taken with us, I would appreciate. I want to set sail with the tide."

She nodded, efficient despite her fear, and went to help where she could. On the ship, Grace made an attempt to return and help as well, but she was restrained. "Less people that go off," a seaman told her, "as less gotta get back on."

McBain watched Temperance go, his feelings raw on his face. When he turned to Connor, the Highlander was looking at him thoughtfully. "Thank you, Captain MacLeod," said McBain, offering his hand. "I am Father Walter McBain, and I was transporting these women and some livestock to their intended husbands in America. Then I was to go to Canada and begin my mission. Can you tell us where we are? Can I get them to their destination using your ship?"

"I'll tell you everything once we get on board," the Captain said, leading the way to the ship. Once there, Connor stripped off his bloody shirt, tossing it to one of the crew to be used as a rag.  While he watched the man wash the dried blood off his body. McBain's eyes widened. There wasn't even a scratch on the man's belly now!

As he put on a clean shirt, Connor explained to McBain and the girls that they were not in America, or even on the same world. "We call this place Edan," he said. "It is a wild and dangerous place as you saw, but also one of great beauty and great potential. We don't know why the powers that run this place pick and choose who comes here, but we do know that there is no going back. It is a place for new beginnings and second chances. And like it or not, it will be your home for the rest of your lives." 

Hope dropped to her knees, wailing out loud, and Grace rolled her eyes, telling her to hush. The rest of the girls were stunned, but seemed to take it well. A new world here, or a new world in America. It was much the same to them.

Connor's men worked quickly, and soon the camp they had made on the beach was stripped bare. Others were going through the wreck, transferring all the goods still on board to the Dòchas. Once they had everything that they could possibly carry, Connor order the wreck torched, and as the Dòchas slipped out on the rising tide, the Bride Ship burned, sending up a huge column of smoke behind them.