title: Devil's Gallop: Trips Into Scotland's Dark and Bloody Past
author:  Douglas Skelton 
description: Scotland is a country with a dark and bloody history, filled with characters who thought nothing of resorting to torture, murder, and treachery. More than a few of its ancient sites are steeped in tales of skullduggery and evil doings&#8212;castles and cairns, battle and burial grounds&#8212;each with a story to tell. Now, in <B>Devil&#8217;s Gallop,</B> Douglas Skelton bring Scotland&#8217;s dark past vividly to life. From dragons to dragoons, warlocks to warfare, he irreverently mixes fact with legend. Within these pages, you&#8217;ll find murderous monarchs, wicked witches, and nasty nobles. There are tales of cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers, religious fervor that led to bloody rebellion, and murder, abduction and villainy. Laced with a liberal dose of gallows humor, <B>Devil&#8217;s Gallop</B> is an engrossing collection of ghastly tales.
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  ![e9781420135343_cover.jpg](../images/00001.jpeg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  DEVIL TAKE THE MAN’S STUBBORNNESS
  
  
  Between Nab being carried aloft and the hounds scuttling between men’s legs
  below, the great hall was a squirming mass of unwieldy limbs. Then to cap the
  pandemonium, the door burst open and a hoary breath of winter washed over the
  company.
  
  
  And blew in William Douglas, Laird of Badenoch, with it.
  
  
  He stomped his booted feet on the threshold, shaking free great chunks of
  white. Even though he’d drawn the end of his plaid over his head, his dark
  hair was dusted with snow. His brows were drawn together in a frown over his
  fine straight nose.
  
  
  Something tingled to life in Katherine’s chest at the sight of him, but she
  tamped it down. Hope hurt too much. She’d thought herself safe from him for
  Christmas since a howling storm had roared since midday, but he’d evidently
  ridden through the blizzard to come after her.
  
  
  Devil take the man’s stubbornness.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  