In the Hamilton of the Scottish Highlands, a family suffered a profound loss. On a beautiful autumn day, Rory and Isabel Hamilton were en route to visit friends in a nearby village when their carriage was ambushed. As two assailants leapt onto the carriage to seize the reins, Rory, quick to defend his family, drew his dirk. He thrust wildly, managing to embed the blade in the shoulder of the larger attacker. But his defence was short-lived. The second attacker, with a swift, deadly thrust of his short sword, struck Rory directly in the chest, a direct hit to the heart. Isabel, though she fought bravely, was quickly overcome. Their lives were tragically and brutally cut short.

The Hamilton children were left to navigate a new world. Eighteen-year-old Angus, the eldest, with his younger brothers Callum, age 14, and Evander, age 10, and older sister Esther, who was 16, along with five-year-old Lorna—a girl destined for greatness—inherited the farm. Their parents had been third-generation farmers, and the children, through both learned skills and inherited wisdom, had the genetic blueprint for survival. Angus immediately assumed the leadership role, a position his siblings fully supported. His first command was for them to work as a unified and orderly team.

Esther’s duties were extensive for a young girl. She was responsible for caring for Lorna—feeding, bathing, and attending to her—while also managing household chores and preparing all the meals. The family was predominantly cattle and sheep farmers. Angus took on the care of their two bulls and ten cows, as well as the four horses that roamed freely on the back farm. He would take the cattle for grazing on a rotational basis, just as his father had done before him. The milking was done at daybreak, with Evander assisting. Once the milking was complete, Evander would attend to his other duties: feeding the chickens, collecting their eggs, and tending to the vegetable garden in front of the homestead. Callum took responsibility for the thirty sheep and goats. Life was a formidable task, but in true Scottish tradition, they never complained. Instead, they buckled down and did their part.

Life, however, had a way of disrupting even the best-laid plans. One such incident occurred when their ornery and mean-spirited neighbour, Bruce, tried to take advantage of their youth and situation. Hoping to steal their land, he herded his cows onto their property. The resistance he received was unexpected. Angus and Callum, armed with their father’s rifles, fired off warning shots in his direction. Bruce initially ignored them but quickly fled with his animals when an enraged Angus shot and killed his prized cow without compunction. Bruce, well aware of his reputation and the community’s dislike for him, chose not to report the incident. He knew he held a losing hand and decided to fold. He now saw the Hamilton children’s strong resolve and realised that any thought of restitution would be foolhardy.

The first year brought success to the Hamiltons. Three of their cows calved, and fifteen lambs were added to the sheep flock. To augment their food supply, the two older boys took turns hunting rabbits every other day. They were superb hunters, never returning home empty-handed. On a rare occasion, they even shot, killed, and skinned a male white-tailed deer. They always spared the female deer to ensure continued breeding. Another animal they relished was the wild boar that occasionally roamed the surrounding areas. Some of the meat was cured, providing them with delicious bacon for their occasional breakfast of bacon and eggs.

Another setback came in the fourth year when they endured one of the coldest winters on record. Temperatures regularly dipped below freezing, and heavy snowfalls were interspersed with rain, demanding that they wear layers of clothing and weatherproof jackets whenever they ventured outside. The horses had to be brought into the shed, where specially made coats were fitted to protect them from the biting cold. The long nights were a welcome reprieve, offering them much-needed rest, but the shorter, daylight hours made farming and hunting a mammoth task.

One evening, as they were sitting around the fire, Lorna suddenly asked, “Why do the boys have Scottish names but Esther and I do not?” Esther replied, “It’s a shame you never got to know Mum and Dad better, but they named us. Dad named me Esther because he loved a sermon about the beautiful slave girl who won a king’s heart and helped protect her people from annihilation. Mum loved to read, and one of her favourites was the newly released novel, Lorna Doone, which inspired her to name you Lorna.” Satisfied, Lorna promised to read the book one day.

Despite these so-called setbacks, they managed to persevere and were more than happy to see the end of winter and the arrival of spring. The snow melted, and the earth was reborn in glorious colours, putting them all in a festive mood.

The years passed quickly, filled with trials, tribulations, and moments of joy and laughter that made life not only bearable but very exciting. Ten years had passed since their parents’ passing, and the children stood at their gravesites for a memorial service. It was aptly attended by friends and conducted by Pastor Robbie Knots of the Presbyterian Church to which they belonged. Words from the Psalmist David were read, with emphasis on, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.” Quietly and tearfully, the attendees were then invited to a wonderfully prepared meal at the farmhouse, which had been expanded over the years.

The family had not only grown physically but also numerically. Angus had met and fallen in love with a young girl named Elizabeth (Lizzy), whose family had purchased their old neighbour Bruce’s property. Their courtship was brief—one year, to be exact—and when Angus asked her parents for her hand in marriage, they gave a resounding yes. They were very fond of this strapping, handsome man. As a wedding present, both families contributed to the cost of a new two-bedroom house that was being built on the farm for the couple. Pinewood for the new home was shipped from the Kinross Sawmill, while they imported redwood and oak from Norway for the furniture. Angus insisted on building a home fit for a queen, which earned his wife-to-be the nickname “Queen Lizzy” and the playful title “Your Royal Highness.” While she was initially embarrassed, she soon learned to wear it with pride. Their homestead was indeed built for a queen and cost a queen’s ransom, with Elizabeth’s parents happily taking on the greater portion of the costs, as she was an only child.

The day of the wedding was a blessing with warm, cloudless skies. The church service was attended by most of the surrounding community, and as was customary, they celebrated a “Penny Wedding.” It was a true celebration of Scottish camaraderie, where guests contributed food and drinks to be shared by all at the town hall. It was a day of music, dancing, and feasting. This tradition forged strong community bonds and offered young people a chance to mix, mingle, and find new courtships. As part of the entertainment, Lorna, fleet-footed and light-stepping, gave a beautiful display of sword dancing. The crowd cheered, requesting an encore, which she graciously accepted. A few “gentlemen” became drunk and rowdy, but any fisticuffs were avoided by the pastor’s stern command. Everyone went home happy, some with a sore head from overindulgence, while the newlyweds went straight to their new home, where Angus, as was the custom, carried Queen Lizzy over the threshold.

This new arrangement did not bring about new dynamics to the farming. The only adjustments were that Lizzy helped Esther with meal preparations, as they all ate together, and took charge of the vegetable and new flower gardens.

Now a teenager, Lorna had learned to hunt from a young age, tagging along with her brothers on their trips. She was a natural huntress, fearless, with an innate ability for tracking and bringing down her prey. Unlike her brothers, who used guns, she preferred to develop her prowess with a bow and arrows. She viewed it not just as hunting but as a form of excellent sportsmanship. The boys still hunted, but she took on the greater responsibility of putting meat on the table. She stalked and killed red deer and wild boar, not only for their savoury meat but also because they were destroying the pasturelands. The wild boar, with their razor-sharp tusks, were dangerous, but she had developed a foolproof hunting method that ensured her safety. When she went rabbit hunting, she would return with no less than a dozen strung together and carried over her shoulder. On rare occasions, she would hunt wildcats for their fur, a task that required silent approaches, lightning-fast nocking of an arrow, and perfect accuracy.

A visiting troupe of stage entertainers lost one of their actresses, Maeve Lintec, an Irish lass with reddish hair and emerald-green eyes, to Callum. He was instantly smitten the day he attended a show and laid eyes on her. For them, it was definitely “love at first sight.” He learned that she was raised in an orphanage, and out of respect for her troupe, he begged the troupe captain for her hand in marriage. Two months later, when the troupe packed up to move to the next venue, there were sad goodbyes and well wishes for Maeve in her new role as a soon-to-be-betrothed wife. Their loss was Callum’s gain, and he was elated. He viewed her as a blessing from heaven, one he felt he did not deserve but one he deeply appreciated.

History repeated itself. He had a two-bedroom house built on their property, with furniture crafted by a renowned woodsmith, Olav the Norwegian. The highly skilled craftsman built him a four-poster bed fit for a king and other furnishings from oak. Just like his older brother, a customary “Penny Wedding” was held, but instead of spending their first night in their new home, they booked into a nearby hotel for a week-long honeymoon.

While his house was being constructed, the main dining room was extended to accommodate the growing family. There was also a new addition: Queen Lizzy gave birth to identical twin boys, Logan and Taylor. Logan was the elder by two hours, and even as a baby, he displayed a mischievous dominance over his brother. For some inexplicable reason, Esther nicknamed them “Mischief” and “Goodboy,” referring to mischievous Logan and the quieter Taylor. Lizzy now had her hands full raising the twins, and Maeve took over assisting Esther with her duties. Lorna, who had now lost her title as the family baby, took great delight in spending time with Lizzy and the boys. She would promise them, though they couldn’t understand, that she would make them hunters just like her. They loved the attention she lavished on them.

Esther was courted by a number of men, but she found none who fit her ideal partner. The family tried encouraging her to be less picky, as they felt some of her suitors were quite good catches. She, however, threw them back into the “pond” and opted to wait for the right man at the right time.

Evander, now on the brink of manhood, charmingly declared, “I’m a free young man not willing to be roped in by any filly. I will remain a bachelor for a very long time.” He was a dapper young man who liked to dress fashionably when he was out and about. His sisters, noting his style, called him Adonis, referencing his dark, brooding handsomeness. As they say, fate, or faith, has a way of playing tricks on us, and this is what makes life so interesting. Evander’s desire for a long bachelorhood came to an abrupt end the day Pastor Robbie’s niece, Josephine (or Joey, as he would later call her), came to visit.

On Sunday morning at worship service, he laid eyes on this angelic being sitting at the front of the church. She did not have wings, but when she turned around, and he saw her beautiful face framed by her powder-blue bonnet, his heart began to race. Even though he only saw the back of her head for the rest of the service, that one look was etched forever in his memory. After the service, it seemed she had the attention of a legion of young men, all stopping to introduce themselves. It didn’t take long for Evander to approach her. Introducing himself, he confidently whispered in her ear, “We belong together.” Shocked by his boldness, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there with nothing but a broad smile. Mission accomplished: no more unsuitable suitors would bother her. He was fully aware that he had not been formally introduced and couldn’t simply go to the manse to visit Pastor Robbie. His only alternative was to wait for the following Sunday, attend service, and hopefully get a proper introduction.

Time waits for no man, but for Evander, it was the longest week of his life. He found himself counting the hours as days. Sunday morning finally arrived, and his excitement did not go unnoticed by his family. Esther let loose the first volley: “What’s with Evander? He’s normally the last to get ready for church, but today he’s way ahead of us all. Plus, he’s wearing his best outfit, normally reserved for special occasions!” Lorna, who had overheard and had seen the short interaction between her brother and the young woman last week, chimed in, “Folks, your erstwhile, ‘I’ll remain a bachelor’ brother is in love and in a great hurry to get to church and speak to the lady in question before any other suitors approach her.” Evander’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato as his siblings laughed at the onslaught. Angus and Callum, laughing loudly, blurted out simultaneously, “How the mighty have fallen!” Elizabeth and Maeve, his sisters-in-law, stood by smiling, not wanting to make his suffering any worse.

The family coach, pulled by four horses, was ready. The family climbed in, except for the two elder boys, who sat on the front bench to guide the horses. Arriving at the church, Evander allowed the women and the two little boys to get out first, only then alighting from the coach himself. They entered and were seated in their regular row at the back, but Evander ventured further to the front, where he found an unoccupied seat. At the end of the service, he stood up and approached Pastor Robbie, requesting a formal introduction to his niece. He later found out that the pastor had already decided to make the introductions, as his niece had inquired about the “brash young man” who had accosted her the previous week.

They were introduced, and it didn’t take long for them to wander off to find a private spot on the church grounds. Evander and Joey’s courtship got off to a good start when he invited her to a dance at the town centre hotel, and she accepted with Pastor Robbie’s blessing. The condition was that he treat her like a lady and have her back at the manse by midnight. He was more than happy to comply. From there, things happened in quick succession, and before that year was up, history had another repeat performance for the Hamiltons. Evander, like Callum, chose to have his cottage built on the farm, some distance away from Callum’s.

That same year, while Evander’s house was being built, a stray dog, scrawny from starvation, was taken in and cared for by Lorna. She named him Fierce, even though he was timid—a result of the cruel treatment from his previous owner. Over time, he gained confidence and began to show a stronger character, soon accompanying her on hunting trips.

One day, with the weather too inclement for hunting, she decided to visit Lizzy, planning to play with her two nephews. As she walked into the living room, she spotted a copy of Lorna Doone on the table. She picked it up and went to find Lizzy. “Elizabeth, is this your book? May I borrow it, please?” she asked. “Of course, you may, Lorna. After all, my husband told me how you got your name. It’s a beautiful story, and I am sure you will enjoy it,” Lizzy replied. That very night, Lorna read the book by candlelight, unable to put it down. By early morning, she had finished the last chapter, closed the book, smiled to herself, and appreciated her name all the more.

Everyone tried to play matchmaker for Esther, but Cupid was not cooperating. They eventually began to accept that Esther would die a spinster, a fact that did not seem to worry her in the least. She was happy with life as it was.

Lorna, however, had a near-death experience, and looking back, she could only say she survived miraculously. She had gone out one morning on a hunting expedition in the nearby forest, her bow and quiver of seven arrows slung over her shoulder, her hunting knife strapped to her side, and her faithful companion, Fierce, trotting behind her. While stalking a pack of wild boar—a male, two females, and five piglets—she heard a gunshot that reverberated through the trees. The shot was close by, a surprise since this part of the forest was on their private property and off-limits to other hunters. The sound distracted her, and in a split second, she realised her predicament. The male boar had spun around and was charging at her with a dangerous speed, its tusks looming closer. Unable to draw and notch an arrow in time, she planned to use her agility to jump out of its way, hoping to spring clear over it.

Fierce, in a brave effort to protect her, attacked the boar head-on, receiving a mortal wound. A single, razor-sharp tusk cut him wide open, and his death was instantaneous. By now, Lorna had notched an arrow, and with an aim guided by pure anger, she shot the boar directly through the heart. She would normally spare the rest, but this time, she used her hunting prowess to kill all six, including the piglets. Her fury was not yet satiated, and she went in search of the illegal hunter who was ultimately the cause of Fierce’s death. She eventually cornered a youth, barely sixteen and a stranger to these parts. Looking at her fully drawn bow and the arrow pointed at his heart, and the fierce anger on her face, he knew his life was about to end. He could do nothing to stop it; his gun was unloaded.

Lorna had never killed a human being and was not prepared to start now. “Who are you and what are you doing hunting on private property?” she demanded. In a shaky, barely audible voice, he replied that he was sorry and did not know it was private land. He introduced himself as Bruce Milton and explained that his family was on their way to Edinburgh to seek refuge with his late father’s brother. His mother, sister, and younger brother were hiding in the woods further back, and he had been hunting for food. Upon hearing this, her anger dissolved, replaced with pity. She was well aware of life’s hardships. At her request, he took her to his family. Seeing their plight, she had them gather their meager belongings and follow her.

First, she hid Fierce’s body in a shallow grave, meaning to return later to give him a proper burial. Next, she skinned and cut the meat from the three piglets and one of the sows, telling the family she would return later with help for the others. She then led the family to the main farmhouse. Callum and Evander were on hand to help. Angus had not yet returned from town, where he had gone to arrange the sale of two cows and purchase supplies. The two brothers returned to the woods to collect the rest of the meat and dispose of the carcasses. A proper grave was then dug, and Fierce was laid to rest as a full member of their family. While they were away, Esther set up an area in the barn where the family would stay overnight. It was summer, and they would be comfortable with the blankets she provided.

The next day, after breakfast, the Milton family was given some cash and victuals for their journey to Edinburgh. With grateful hearts, they waved goodbye and set off on their way. Over the next couple of days, everyone set about their duties, assisting each other when needed. But all was not well with Lorna. She was not her usual joyful, lively self. Lizzy spoke to her husband, Angus: “Have you noticed your sister’s withdrawn state lately? Lorna is not herself.” Looking at his wife, he replied, “Now that you mention it, yes.” Lizzy retorted, “Then do something about it. She has taken the loss of her faithful companion, Fierce, badly. Fill that emptiness by getting her a new companion, another dog.”

The next morning at family breakfast, Angus informed everyone about his talk with Lizzy and that he was going to the next county to see Jock Baynes, a farmer who bred hunting dogs. He planned to buy one for Lorna. Looking at his sister, he asked, “Will you come along with me and choose the one you would like?” Excitedly, she replied, “Yes, yes, yes!”

Brother and sister went to the barn, and at the stable, they saddled two horses and were on their way. Two hours later, as the sun sailed to its zenith, they arrived at Jock’s farm and were greeted by a choir of barking dogs from the kennels set away from the farmhouse. They found Jock busy at the kennels, introduced themselves, and explained their mission. He led them into the kennel area, where dogs were kept in separate enclosures. As they walked past each one, he spoke about the dog within, giving details about its pedigree. When they had just heard about the Scottish deerhound in the enclosure on their right, Lorna exclaimed, “Can I have him? His quiet demeanour reminds me of Fierce. What is his name?”

Jock, turning around, said, “Good choice, young lady. He is faithful and a well-trained hunting dog. His name is Macbeth.” The price was agreed upon, and Lorna immediately began to play with him, hugging him and bonding with her new friend. That afternoon, Macbeth was introduced to his new home and to his owner’s family. The two boys, frightened at first, finally patted him. Lorna spent the next few days familiarising herself with her new companion, and only a week later did she take him on their first hunting excursion. It was a successful hunt, and they brought home the meat of a red deer that she had brought down.

As summer gave way to autumn, two exciting incidents took place in the Hamilton clan. First, to everyone’s joyful surprise, Esther had met a man, Joshua Muir, in his early thirties, at a church function. Second, Maeve, beaming with pride, announced that she was three months pregnant with the birth of her first child expected before winter. Esther, after a short whirlwind romance, was married in a quiet ceremony conducted by Pastor Robbie.

At the Christmas dinner table, Angus asked all to stand and raise their glasses for a toast. “Firstly, we thank and praise God for keeping us, providing for us, and filling us with joy and peace. Secondly, we are grateful for the legacy of our dearly departed parents, Rory and Isabel Hamilton. And lastly, to us. We have remained true to each other, and our family bond has grown even as we have grown in numbers. To all… Cheers!”