Entrusted to a Highlander

by Donna Fletcher

  Arran walked over to her, his shirt still in his hand and Purity wished he had slipped it on first. Rain water glistened on his chest and the pungent scent of the forest drifted off him to whisper over her. The rippling sensation it sent racing through her turned her legs weak.

  Wed him.

  The words tolled like a bell in her head. She wanted his love not his pity.

  “I am not leaving you here on your own. You are going home with me one way or another. And you will be my wife one way or another.”

  “You didn’t want me then and you certainly don’t want me now, and I don’t want you.” She ignored the silent shout in her head. Liar!

  “It makes no difference what either one of us want. It is what we must do. I will be a good husband and treat you well. I will not stop you from seeing to your animals, though they will not be allowed inside our home. Listen well to my word and we will share a good life together, and I will always see you and our children kept safe. What more could you ask of a husband?”

  His meaningful words hurt her heart in so many ways. She stepped away from him, needing the knot in her stomach to ease and the one in her throat to fade.

  She spoke calmly when she was finally able to speak at all. “First, my animals are family and they live with me, in my home. Second, I no longer obey any man’s word. And finally, you ask what more I could ask of a husband—love—that is what I want from my husband.”

  “Animals in the home we can discuss. Any husband expects an obedient wife. And If I could love you I would, but I can’t. I can promise that you will be safe with me. I won’t let anyone harm you or will I let cruel things be said about you. I also don’t expect you to love me. And this final part is not negotiable—you will wed me and that is that.”

  Purity was so frustrated, she almost screamed aloud. Instead she turned and went to her garden. Working with plants and the soil always helped calm her. She would have preferred to wander in the woods for a while, but Arran would forbid her from going alone.

  She groaned. He already had her obeying him and they hadn’t wed yet. She couldn’t imagine losing her freedom, being dictated to once again. It was a horrifying thought, but how did she stop it. Arran would force her to go with him and she was no match against his strength.

  King rubbed up against her legs purring. She smiled and dropped down to sit on the ground to stroke the cat’s back. “You always know when I need some love.” Princess joined them. “You do too.” She hugged the large dog to her. “As long as the three of us are together nothing else matters.”

  Princess welcomed the kisses she lavished on her while King tolerated a couple before making it known he’d had enough.

  Arran watched the three. Purity was a loving soul and gave of that love freely. At one time he’d been loved like that by family and he had returned that love. Then that day came where he was certain he had lost his soul, his humanity. Nothing remained, not even the tiniest shred of who he had once been.

  Power and strength protected—not love.

  Purity would understand after a while, after she saw that she was safe with him. She would come to respect his commands and understand they were for the best. The one thing that did trouble him was how his loins stirred when she was near him. He had learned to control his cravings for a woman and only seek satisfaction when it became necessary. It was probably necessary since it had been months since he’d been with a woman. Yet it had surprised him when he grew aroused standing so close to her. She had a scent about her, a woman’s scent that enticed him more than any other woman’s scent had ever tempted. It had drifted off her and around him until it felt as if it stroked his shaft, arousing him far too fast. And while he would have simply thought to do his husbandly duty and bed her, he found himself looking forward to it.

  A thought struck him and he went to her. King had wandered off to lay in a spot of sun and Princess was busy sniffing through the garden while Purity jabbed at the soil with a hoe.

  “Have you ever been with a man?” he asked, standing just at the garden’s edge.

  Purity stared at him dumbfounded.

  “It doesn’t matter if you have.”

  “Then why ask?” she snapped.

  “First time for a virgin can be painful and I wouldn’t want to hurt you?”

  “How would you know that? Have you had your share of virgins?” she asked, still dumbfounded at how he even had the audacity to ask her such a question.

  “Two and one was painful and I wouldn’t want that for you.”

  How was it that he could seem kind and yet speak without an ounce of feeling? It appeared more like he was forming a plan for battle and learning all the particulars beforehand.

  Purity let out her frustration in a much needed groan. “I am not marrying you.”

  “You will. Now answer me,” he commanded sharply.

  Purity raised her chin and drew back her shoulders. “You may have commanded men, but you don’t command me. I won’t marry you and I won’t answer your question.”

  “You will do both eventually,” he said and turned and walked away.

  Purity grabbed the spear she had fashioned for fishing from the side of the cottage and walked over to Arran, busy cleaning his axe. “I’m going to catch fish for our meal today.”

  “I’ll go,” he said, setting his weapon aside.

  “No,” she said. “I do this most every day and King and Princess come with me. You’re welcome to join us if you wish.” She made sure to invite him since he would join them whether invited or not and this way she would be the one to have granted him permission.

  Purity led the way to the pool of water, a small waterfall splashing down from the wall of rocks on the far side. It was a lovely spot and a pleasant day with a brisk autumn chill in the air.

  “You should have worn your cloak,” Arran said.

  And there was his kindness again without a touch of feeling to it and while Purity should be at least a bit accustomed to him showing no sentiment when he spoke, it still was unsettling to her.

  “Fishing is no place for a new cloak,” she said.

  “I’ll make certain you have more than one cloak and you’ll need a fur-lined one for the winter.”

  She ignored him, walking to the water’s edge. There was no point in telling him again that she wouldn’t marry him and the more he mentioned it the more worried she grew that he would have his way.

  “Let me do that,” Arran said, coming up beside her and reached for the spear.

  She snatched it out of his reach. “I can do it myself.”

  “But you don’t have to. I’ll catch the fish for us.”

  He grabbed the pole from her so fast, it took her a moment to realize it was gone. She was sorry she had invited him along. She enjoyed spearing the fish and had gotten quite adept at it.

  She sat near and watched him remove the hide coverings on his legs and his boots and was about to warn him that the water was cold, but held her tongue. He’d find out soon enough. Besides, she was too focused on the strength of his long legs.

  He didn’t even flinch when he stepped in. He found a spot and stilled, waiting.

  She fished more from the water’s edge, though there were times she ventured into the water. She enjoyed the quiet and keeping a steady hand, waiting for the fish to come by.

  Purity jumped when he jabbed the spear into the water with speed and agility and captured a fish. He dropped it on the ground and turned to spear another. She smiled watching King drag the fish off.

  “He stole the fish,” Arran said, watching the cat make off with it.

  “I forgot to warn you that the first catch always goes to King,” she said.

  Arran snarled. “That was a good-sized fish.”

  “And King will enjoy it,” Purity said with a lilt of laughter in her voice.

  “And does Princess get the next fish?” he asked, annoyed.

  “No, Princess doesn’t like fish. She hunts her own food, though she does sh
are with King at times.”

  “Not by choice I would guess,” Arran said, shaking his head.

  “Neither would let the other go hungry. They are family.”

  “They are animals,” he reminded.

  “Who are family,” she insisted.

  He shook his head again and speared another fish and another soon after.

  “You are proficient with spear fishing,” she said, holding the spear, the two fish on it, as he covered his legs and slipped on his boots.

  “One learns to perfect the craft to avoid hunger,” he said and took the spear from her.

  “You went hungry?” she asked, following alongside him while Princess meandered ahead of them.

  “At times.”

  His short reply warned that he would say no more and so she held her tongue.

  They ate with barely a word said between them and as night rolled around he reminded, “We leave tomorrow, be ready.”

  The crack of thunder late in the night sounded as if it split the cottage in two and had Purity vaulting out of bed. Princess raised her head from where she slept near the fire, then plopped it down again, her eyes closing. King looked at her from where he lay curled at the foot of the bed, annoyed at being disturbed.

  They were safe, but what of Arran?

  She hurried to the door and opened it. Rain lashed at her and she tried to peer past it. “Arran,” she shouted and he appeared so suddenly it frightened her, but she was quick to grab his arm and urge him inside.

  “Step away from me,” he ordered. “You’ll get wet.”

  She shivered from the chill his wet garments cast off. “You need to get out of those soaked garments.” She went to the bed and grabbed the blanket, receiving an angry screech from King for disturbing him again. “You can wrap yourself in this blanket.”

  “No, you need it. The wet night holds a chill.”

  “I’ll wrap myself in my cloak.”

  “No, you’ll keep the blanket. The fire will keep me warm enough.” And he began to remove his garments.

  Purity hurried to the bed and told herself to turn away, not look at him, but something wouldn’t let her. Was it curiosity? She had seen a good portion of his private parts in the barn all those years ago when he and a willing woman had enjoyed an agreeable poke. Somehow it felt different now, more intimate. And never had she ever believed she’d be intimate with Arran.

  He removed his garments piece by piece, setting them near the fire to dry until he stood naked. His body stole her breath. Lean and hard with muscles that were not to be ignored. He had a firm backside and when he turned, she caught the gasp before it could escape. His manhood stood proudly enlarged, jutting out from the thatch of dark hair it nested in. She remembered he had a large manhood, women always having made note of it. But she had only gotten a brief glimpse and seeing it now—impressed. It also frightened some.

  How could something that thick and long fit inside a woman? Recalling the passionate moans of the women he had satisfied, the appendage had to have been—amazing. But those were women far more experienced with mating while she had not an ounce of it.

  What difference does it make? she admonished herself silently. You will not wed him and therefore not couple with him. Yet the urge to do so overwhelmed her. She would have what she always wanted—Arran. But not really. He would wed her out of duty and while at one time that might have appealed to her, it didn’t any longer. She wanted to be loved and if she couldn’t have that, she’d live her life out in the forest with the animals she loved and who loved her.

  Still, it didn’t hurt to look, enjoy, and imagine.

  He moved with such grace and ease, something she didn’t remember about him. It was like every movement was precise, planned, and executed. Every movement meant something, and she almost gasped again when his hand settled around his shaft to stroke it not once but several times, and she watched it swell.

  Wickedly, she thought of her own hand there, touching him, stroking him, and how it would feel, and an intense tingle settled between her legs and she felt herself grow wet.

  His words jolted her. “Go to sleep, Purity, you’ll soon know my body intimately enough.”

  Purity hurried beneath the blanket, thinking how she could avoid marrying him and also thinking of endless reasons why she didn’t want to avoid marrying him.

  Chapter 5

  Arran shared the lean-to with his mare, staring out at the rain. He had woken in the cottage, a stiffness in his neck, his head having lolled to the side once he had fallen asleep. He had slept on the lone chair, having braced it against the door. That way no one could catch him off guard. He’d be fully awake with sword in hand before anyone could make it through the door.

  Once he woke, however, and caught sight of Purity’s slender leg dangling out from under the blanket just off the edge of the bed and following it up with his eyes to imagine what lay there—he shook his head. His shaft stirred just as it had last night when he’d stroked the chill off it, though it had more than stirred this morning. It had swelled and if he hadn’t dressed and rushed out of there after she had fallen asleep, she would have woken to him satisfying himself.

  He had gone too long without a woman. It was a need that had to be satisfied and he might be wise to satisfy himself since he’d seek no other woman now that Purity would be his wife. He intended to be a good husband to her and a faithful one. He hadn’t given thought to marrying, thinking solitude best for him. But yesterday, fishing with Purity, along with the dog and the sneaky, fish-stealing cat, providing food for them gave him a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt in a long while.

  His days had consisted of battles or preparing for battles or tales of battles. Yesterday gave him a glimpse of life that might suit him. Seeing Purity in bed and the thought of what it would be like to be wrapped snugly around her—his wife—a woman who was his and his alone held an appeal. It was a good thought that plagued him and he realized that he had thought so much on it that he had had no time for memories to assault him, and for that he was grateful.

  The mare poked him in the back with her nose and Arran turned. “I’m afraid this rain keeps us here another day.” He stroked the horse’s neck. “Home may be different than I first told you. We will need to reside with Purity’s clan. What matters is that we stay together.”

  The mare bobbed her head as though that mattered to her as well.

  “There’s not much that can be done today in this rain,” Arran said and looked to the cottage. It would be best if he avoided it for now, his arousal yet to abate. And while they would wed, he would not take her before marriage, and he certainly wouldn’t do anything if she wasn’t willing.

  But would she be willing when they wed, since she insisted time and again she wouldn’t wed him? Would she be so angry with him that she would deny him his husbandly rights?

  “She knows this is the right thing to do and she will do what is right,” Arran said to the mare. This time the horse didn’t nod.

  The door to the cottage opened and King darted out followed by Princess. Both animals went off to see to their duties. Purity followed after the two, not bothering to glance around for him as she pulled the hood of her worn cloak up over her head.

  He hurried over to her and she stopped when she caught sight of him.

  “Don’t follow me, I won’t be long,” she said, hoping he understood.

  “I will keep my eyes averted while you see to your morning duties,” he said.

  “I have no time to argue with you. Remain where I can’t see you or else,” she warned and hurried off.

  Had she just threatened him? He shook his head and followed her.

  Purity made her way beneath a large pine tree, the thick branches overhead protecting her a bit from the rain. She hurried to get done when Arran’s head came into view over the top of a bush and he looked directly at her.

  “What did I tell you?” she cried out.

  “I can’t see anything,” he argued, wanting t
o make certain no one snuck up on her.

  “You can see me.”

  “Only part of you.” The next thing he knew a rock bounced off his chest. “Did you just throw a rock at me?”

  “I did and the next one will hit your head if you don’t turn around,” she cautioned and when he didn’t move, she threw another rock at him.

  Arran caught it. “I’ll do whatever is necessary to see you safe. Throw another rock at me and I will come stand right in front of you until you’re done.”

  Purity didn’t argue, having no doubt he would do as he warned. She hurried and finished and when they reached the cottage, he hurried in behind her. She stopped him from closing the door, grabbing it, and looking out.

  “King! Princess!” she shouted and repeated their names twice more before they both appeared and rushed into the cottage.

  “They’re animals. They should stay outside,” Arran said, slipping off the fur that hung around his shoulders.

  “Their family,” she said, thinking she’d be forever reminding him of that.

  She sat what was left of the bread on the small table and the last of the quail eggs. She would gather more if she was going to remain here, but it didn’t seem likely she would be staying and she was still trying to comprehend that.

  “We will leave tomorrow,” he said, moving the barrel to the table to sit on, leaving the lone chair for her.

  “I would argue with you, but it makes little sense. You will continue to ignore my wishes.”

  “I do what is best for you, Purity.”

  Her name fell from his lips like a soft caress and sent gooseflesh rushing down her arms. This was not good. Before she knew it, she’d accept the marriage bargain he proposed without question. “So you think.”

  “Trust me. It is for the best,” he said, trusting not only his instincts, but sound reasoning.

  She didn’t know if marriage to him was for the best, but there was something else she couldn’t ignore. The message George had delivered. It would all be over soon enough. There’d be no reason to remain in the woods, though what reason would there be for her to return home?