The Wise Laird of Culloden

A long time ago, there was a peaceful landowner near Culloden known to everybody as the Wise Laird. Instead of clan feuds and conflict, he devoted his time to rearing the finest cattle in all of Scotland. However, while the laird’s herd was increasing, he was running out of space to keep them.

He mentioned the problem to his friend Cameron of Locheil, asking his advice about selling off some of his stock. The canny chief of the Camerons saw an opportunity. Locheil sadly confessed that he couldn't afford to buy such fine beasts, but he did have plenty of land for them to graze until the Laird found a buyer.

Dozens of cows were herded off towards Lochaber, however just weeks later, Locheil's cousin Rory arrived at Culloden with terrible news. A wild band of Macraes had stolen every one of them! It was a suspicious story and the more questions Rory was asked, the more he stumbled over the answers. The Wise Laird wasn’t convinced.

That night, a storm raged and Rory was forced to stay at Culloden for a few days before it passed. All the while he was falling in love with the Laird's daughter Jessie, something that the father knew could work to his advantage.

He casually mentioned that the cattle stolen from Locheil had been intended as Jessie's dowry. Without them, it seemed she would have to marry a rich, old merchant from Inverness instead of an eligible young bachelor.

The words played in Rory's mind and he rushed back home to beg Locheil to return the stolen cattle to Culloden! With the young man promising to one day pay him back, the chief finally relented. Rory reappeared at Culloden with dozens of cattle and a far-fetched story of vengeance against the Macraes!

The Laird wasn't happy about getting his cattle back just to lose them along with his daughter, so he bargained with Rory. Instead of sending his daughter off with a poor man who valued nothing more than battle, Rory had to prove he could live peacefully, tending his own herd for two years.

The Wise Laird would match however many cattle he had raised as his daughter's dowry. Rory soon discovered that peace could be far more profitable than war, marrying Jessie and living happily ever after!