CHAPTER FOUR
After being defeated and captured in battle in 1173, King William the Lyon yielded the independence of Scotland to England. In 1189, Richard I The Lion-hearted of England restored the independence of Scotland in exchange for cash to support the Third Crusade. The wealthy, Laird Andrew MacLaaran, had helped provide funds to restore William as the King of the now independent Scotland��
It was shortly after that, Andrew married Angela and eventually moved his family to the Scottish Highlands and built Castle MacLaaran��. 
Sara MacDougal, born in the year of Our Lord,1204, was the last child of Laird Mathew MacDougal and his only daughter. Sara spent her early years on the large MacDougal farm just west of the village of Gaspard. Her older brothers teased her endlessly, so she became a bit of a tomboy in self defense.
She loved horses and insisted that she learn to ride like the boys, straddling the full size steeds, rather than riding sidesaddle like a lady. She loved the wind in her hair as she raced through woods and across the farm's meadows, vaulting over every wooden or stone fence in her path.
Her mother insisted that she also be trained in the ways of a lady. She pampered Sara, having fine gowns prepared for her to wear at every evening meal. Sara fussed a bit, but in order to keep peace in the family, she would normally allow her servant to assist in bathing her, doing her hair and helping her dress��. 
Although seldom seen by people other than her family, it was obvious that she was a rare beauty. Her father had high hopes of marrying her off to a wealthy family, some potential son-in-law that might be what his sons had so far failed to provide him. They still were just hunters and playboys.
The MacDougals and the MacLaarans never got along. In spite of Andrew MacLaaran's objections, Mathew's sons constantly slipped into MacLaaran territory, hunting for deer and trapping for furs. As MacLaaran grew in stature, Andrew gave his gypsy friend, Ian MacLeod, the job of patrolling his forests�.. 
This finally resulted in the death of one of the young MacDougal lads, when Ian caught Donald MacDougal poaching a deer deep in the MacLaaran forest. Ian tried to arrest him, but the lad drew a knife and attacked. Ian was forced to fight back and sadly had to kill the young man.
Although there was nothing he could legally do, Laird Mathew was furious and swore the MacDougals would someday even the score. The only time the two families saw much of each other over the following years were at the May Day affairs each spring.
In 1214, William the Lyon passed away and Alexander II became the King of Scotland. Robert MacLaaran was 12 at that time and Sara was 10 and they had never really met, or at least had never noticed each other. The new King meant very little for the children, but the politics of Scotland began to change. The young Alexander was aggressive and immediately began efforts to drive the Vikings out of the Western Isles.
Tension also grew between England and Scotland as they argued over their border lines. Small border skirmishes began to erupt and two of the older MacDougal lads went off to join Alexander's army. With the two older brothers away and Donald lying in his grave, only William MacDougal was left. Things were pretty peaceful between the two clans for the next six years.
It was the May Day celebration of 1220 when Robert discovered Sara MacDougal. Over the years, the major event held each spring was the May Day Race. Each clan in the area chose their best horse and rider to carry the flag for their family. The race was run from MacLaaran Village, down through the forest to the lake and back, approximately two miles overall.
The rules were quite simple. Ride down to the lake, make the turn there at a small stand where a judge and several townspeople could confirm the horses had indeed reached the turn, then race back to the village.
The two older MacDougal sons had dominated the race for years, but with them away and Ian teaching Robert how to handle a horse in a race of this type, Robert had won for two consecutive years. You had to pace your steed in a race like this and save the horse for the eventual stretch run, the last quarter mile across the meadows east of the village.
Robert was quite confident, knowing that he had beaten William MacDougal by over 5 lengths the previous year. He was surprised at the starting line when it wasn't William wearing the MacDougal plaids. Instead it was a much smaller lad, probably barely sixteen. The only rules were that the chosen rider had to belong to their clan and the horse had to be out of their stables.
The 'boy' was aboard a small, gray speckled mare, another surprise for a two mile race, where endurance counted almost as much as speed. Robert knew the importance winning this race meant to the various clans, so why would the MacDougals make this sudden switch?
Robert glanced over at the south end of the temporary grandstands where the MacDougals were sitting. Laird Mathew was of course sitting in the front row, with a smug smile on his face. Was this a trick?
With so many males off in the army, there were only five entries this year. The MacLaarans, MacDougals, MacDonalds, MacPhersons and the MacLeans. Only the MacDougals and now the MacLaarans had won this race in the last twenty some years, mainly because they were the richest clans in the immediate area and had the best horses to choose from.
One of the tavern maids had the job of dropping the hankie to start the race. She stood there in the middle of the road, scared to death, as the horse pawed at the turf. When she closed her eyes and dropped the hankie, there was nothing but dust as the five horses raced off.
Davey MacLean took the early lead and Robert tucked in behind him, letting Davey set the pace. He glanced back over his shoulder and saw the mare running about five or six lengths behind the tight group up front. It was in the forest where they crossed the bridge over the creek that he lost sight of the MacDougal entry. Obviously, the mare just couldn't stand the pace. But, why had Mathew MacDougal had such a smug look on his face.
When they reached the lake to make the turn, they broke into the open across a small meadow. To Roberts surprise, there was the mare, leisurely making the turn in front of them. How had MacDougal gotten passed them without crossing the bridge?
He must have taken a dangerous short cut and vaulted over the creek, instead of using the bridge. Robert realized he had to stay with the mare, make the similar jump on the way back and then beat him in the stretch run.
The other three riders churned off back across the meadow towards the bridge. Robert followed MacDougal on the mare, actually riding up almost beside him to get a better look. MacDougal looked so young, almost pretty, and winked over at him as he came along side.
There was no turning back now, the commitment was made. Sure enough they left the path and raced through the trees dodging low hanging branches and leaping over two old stone fences. Robert had to fall back a bit in order to get through the small openings.
The mare obviously knew the route and, being smaller, seemed to just follow the deft handling of the young rider, racing through the trees untouched. Robert managed to stay right behind them, in spite of being struck by several low hanging branches that drew blood on his cheeks.
Then he saw the jump coming and the mare accelerated under the lad as he leaned down and whispered in her ear. Robert smacked his mount's haunches and urged him onward. This was a dangerous leap and he might even lose his horse. The mare cleared the creek beautifully and Robert followed. It was close, very close, and Robert was almost thrown off as they landed hard on the other side.
The mare was now a full five lengths in front of him and running hard. When they finally reached the clearings and the main road, Robert saw they were far ahead of the other three horses. It was now between him and the MacDougal lad.
He dug in his spurs and urged his steed onward. They gradually closed the gap. Four lengths, then three. He could see the village square ahead and he was gaining ground now. Two lengths, then one!
That's when the rider looked back and her cap flew off! A female!! Good Lord!! She bent low and again urged the mare on. It was too late. Robert was still a half length behind her when her mare broke the ribbon.
They reined in their horses as they reached the end of the street, her cheeks now pink from the final energy expended down the stretch. Yes, his horse was a tad faster, but he had been beaten by clever planning and marvelous horsemanship. Her skill in the jump across the creek had provided the slight lead that she needed.
They dismounted and he immediately congratulated her, asking just who she was and where had she learned to ride like that. Of course, she was our heroin, Sara MacDougal. They walked the horses back as the stable boys ran up to take the reins.
Sara of course was greeted with the cheering MacDougals and the general applause of the village females. A woman had bested the men in the annual race, something to crow about for an entire year.
That evening at the May Day dance, Robert MacLaaran surprised everyone buy asking a MacDougal to dance. When Sara hesitated, he smiled and said, "You owe me at least a dance."
Neither Andrew MacLaaran or Matthew MacDougal were pleased as the couple danced around the floor, obviously chatting and smiling. Sara's father insisted after the dance that they leave the party. Sara was both embarrassed and furious, but her father was having none of that and the entire MacDougal family left.
The next morning Andrew was waiting when Robert finally came down to the hall for breakfast. "Robert, losing the race was bad enough, but spending the evening dancing with a MacDougal was worse. Do NOT let Yer hormones interfere wi' politics again!!"
To Be Continued