It seemed like part of what he had heard of the Lowlander women was correct.  He shook his head.  In the Highlands if the husband died, the wife would become the head of the household till she married again.  Which was encouraged so that that if there had not been a heir to the household there could be one.She was in for quite a change when she got to the Highlands.  How she accepted the change would tell a lot about her.  He looked up at the night sky and the stars above.  The moon was only half full but gave off light to see by.  "Well as I said before, ye can learn the use of the bow.  I will teach you.  We have a long way to go back to the highlands and it will take a few days to get there.  You will have a new life there one that is very different then here."  he grinned.  They came to the barn and he gave a slight bow to her.  "Good night.  I will see you in the morning bright and early."  He opened the barn door and closed it behind him.<br/><br/>After laying out his bedroll, he brushed his horse down and talked quietly to him. He was tired but he did not feel like he would be able to fall asleep for a while. As his men settled down into their bedrolls he looked out the barn door at the night sky. The sun had set and the moon was up and shinning brightly. Not a full moon but a half moon, and it still lit up the night with the soft glow of its reflection. "Well mother." he whispered to himself, "Me thinks you will like her." he chuckled. She had worried he would not marry, even with several available highlander women that would have loved to be his wife. He was about to turn and head to his blankets when he spotted the torches in the distance coming their way. He stood there watching as the line of torches approached. Who would be coming to the farmstead that time of night he wondered. As they grew closer, he could tell they were carried by men on horse back. The hairs on the back of his neck rose as he had a bad feeling about the approaching men. "Up lads, trouble is a foot." he called out softly to the others.<br/><br/>They rose to their feet and joined him at the door and looked out. "English!" Nathan spat on the ground. Indeed it was English Soldiers. A scowl appeared on Duncan's face and he slowly drew his sword. The English had been raiding and killing along the southern boarder of Scotland for some time, trying to instill fear in the people. These had come up further then that and it only meant they meant trouble. The English rode up and formed up by the house. One of them called out to the others , "Burn it all, and kill everyone. There be no marriages between clans here!"<br/><br/>Duncan pushed the barn door open hard and began running towards the English with his sword at the ready. He was followed by Angus and the others. Halfway to the house, Duncan and the other Highlanders gave out their battle cries causing the English to turn and look in surprise at them. They had not expected the Highlanders to have arrived so early. Duncan and the others were among them in no time and five men fell from their horses before they could draw a weapon, their blood soaking the ground. The horses were startled and moved about nervously causing the English to try and control them. But most were able to draw swords, but it was to no avail. Evidently these English had never fought Highlanders before. They expected Scots that bore pitchforks and the like, not swords and know how to use them. Some of the English were thrown by their horses and hit the ground hard.