regshoe

Oh, absolutely, you can read slash into those relationships if you want. At the same time, they're consistent with the type of homosocial behaviour that was common in the 18th century. What marks Keith and Ewen's relationship, for me at least, is the intensity of their homosociality. Take Edinburgh, for instance — Ewen is under no social obligation to let Keith go after their encounter, hell, he's arguably under a military obligation to capture Keith. But he lets Keith go. And Keith, meanwhile, may save his life from the firing squad, which fulfils any obligation he has over Ewen saving his life, but the fact he goes back to tend to Ewen, and later his ride to Fort Augustus, to explain his actions to Ewen after hearing what Guthrie did... As you say, it's very different to any other bond Ewen has with another man, and it's very significant.