Nessa sighed. “I wish I could feel as happy as you, Mairi. Don’t get me wrong, I love my son, I just don’t want to have another.”
“Why?” Mairi asked.
“I had a horrible time carrying my bairn,” Nessa said. “I was sick the entire time, and then the delivery was awful.”
“You did have a hard time,” Flora said. “It’s just like that for some women. Just because you were sick the first time doesn’t mean the next one would be the same.”
“Does Eadan know you don’t want any more bairns?” Mairi asked.
“He does,” Nessa said. “We argue about it often.”
“I’ve told you before Nessa, I can give you a drought to drink every morning to help prevent you getting pregnant again,” Flora said. “As long as you have Eadan’s permission to take it.”
“You also said it doesn’t always work. I won’t take the chance of going through that again,” Nessa said. “I don’t share the marriage bed with Eadan anymore.”
“Oh, Nessa, no wonder you’ve seemed so sad lately,” Flora said to her.
“My marriage is surely not a happy one anymore,” she answered, sighing as they passed by another group of villagers. “Does it seem as though a lot of people are coughing?”
“I noticed that too,” Mairi said. “I hope sickness isn’t coming to the village.”
“I also noticed,” Flora said. “I was going to ask Ina about it if we ran into her.”
“Mairi,” they heard a man call out. “Mairi Scott.”
Mairi turned towards the man who stood on the edge of the village. “My name is Mairi,” she answered, “but it’s Mairi McCabe.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, “you look just like a woman I used to know named Mairi Scott.” When he finished speaking, he turned and began quickly walking away.
“Wait,” Mairi called after him, “I’d like to talk to you,” She ran after him.
“Mairi, wait,” Flora yelled.
But Mairi didn’t listen. Not because she didn’t hear Flora, but because there was something very familiar about the name Mairi Scott. “Stop,” Mairi called after the man again, “Please, stop.” The strange man kept walking, leading her out of the village and into the woods on the outskirts.
“Well that was easier than I thought it would be,” said another man, as he stepped out from behind the trees, “good work Donovan.”
“You’re right, brother,” Donovan answered, “it was easy to get her to follow.”
“What’s going on?” Mairi asked. “Who are you?”
“My name is Lord Stephen Thompson,” the man said. “You’ve been very difficult to track down Mairi Scott, but now that I’ve found you, you’ll be coming with me.”
“She won’t be going anywhere,” Nessa said, as Flora and her caught up and walked up behind Mairi.
“And who is going to stop us from taking her?” Lord Thompson said, laughing softly. “Three women again me and my men?”
“What men?” Mairi asked.
Lord Thompson let out a shrill whistle, and ten men dressed in various chainmail and armor also stepped out of the trees. “These men,” he told her, smirking.
“What do you want with me?” Mairi asked. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“I’ll explain it all on the way back to England,” Lord Thompson said as he grabbed Mairi by the arm and pulled her towards him.
“Let her go,” Nessa said, jumping on his back and hitting him repeatedly as Mairi struggled to get free, kicking at his legs and hitting his arm.
“Get off me,” Lord Thompson said, not letting go of Mairi and trying with his other arm to grab Nessa. “Donovan, help me.”
“Leave her alone,” Flora said, kicking Donovan in the shin as he approached. Donovan raised his hand and struck Flora, knocking her to the ground.
It was at that moment they heard the sound of horses approaching them. Mairi and Lord Thompson turned at the same time to see the McCabe men, and at least two dozen of the Gleann guards charging towards them. Eadan reached behind his back and pulled his broadsword, the rest of the men followed his lead and did the same. The look on Alastair, Ham, and Eadan’s faces, were enough to strike fear into most men. Lord Thompson let go of Mairi and quickly said, “you’re safe this time, Mairi, but I’ll be back. Let’s get out of here.” He then took off running back into the trees with his men close behind to where their horses had been hidden for a quick getaway.
Mairi and Nessa were helping Flora back up on her feet when the men arrived. “Follow them,” Eadan yelled to the rest of his men and brothers as Ham and Alastair quickly dismounted and ran to their wives. “If you catch them, bring one back alive, but you can kill the rest. No man hits one of the McCabe women and lives.” The men took off in pursuit of the women’s attackers.
“Are you alright?” Alastair said as he reached Mairi, pulling her into his arms.
“I’m well,” Mairi told him. “A bit shook up, but not hurt.”
“Did they hurt you?” Ham asked Flora, placing his hand on her stomach, which didn’t go unnoticed by any of his brothers. “Do you need to see Ina?”
“We’re alright,” Flora assured him.
“I’ll kill that bastard for striking you,” Ham told her, pulling her towards him and wrapping her in his arms.
“Nessa?” Eadan said, walking up to her.
“No harm was done,” she assured him, stepping back from him.
“Did I see you jump on that man’s back?” Eadan asked, not being able to keep the smirk off his face.
“I couldn’t let him take our Mairi without a fight,” she answered.
“My wife, the hellcat,” Eadan said to her, getting a small grin out of her.
“What in the hell are you women even doing out here,” Alastair just about yelled. “You were told not to leave the keep without one of us.”
“I needed those herbs,” Flora tried to explain.
“I thought it would be safe,” Mairi chimed in. “There hadn’t been any sign of Lord Thompson for over a month now.”
“Until today,” Alastair said, now that he knew Mairi was safe, he was very angry. “You and I will be having a private discussion in our room once we get back to the keep.”
“Why can’t we discuss it now?” Mairi asked him.
“Because while we’re discussing, you’ll be over my knee with my hand being applied to your backside,” Alastair told her.
“I’m sorry, Alastair,” Mairi tried again, suddenly a bit afraid. “I won’t leave without an escort again.”
“You’ll be sorrier by the time I’m done with you,” Alastair told her.
“We thought it would be safe,” Flora said, trying to help Mairi.
“We’ll be having the same discussion,” Ham told his wife quietly.
“But I’ve been to the village by myself many times,” Flora said. “You’re being unfair.”
“Would you like to discuss it now in front of everyone?” Ham asked. “There’s a perfectly good log over there for me to sit.”
“I’ll wait until we’re in our room,” Flora said, her face turning red.
The three McCabe men led their wives over to their waiting mounts, once their women were safely settled in front of them, they turned towards the castle and the safety of home.
Chapter 8 Punishment
Alastair never even looked at who was in the hall as he led Mairi through, passing his Da on the way. “Is something wrong?” Hamish called as they went by, seeing the look on their faces. Alastair looked angry and determined, while Mairi looked almost afraid.
“Rory or Craig will tell you,”Alastair called over his shoulder, not stopping, “I’ll be down to get Cam soon.”
Hamish watched as Ham and Flora entered next, with Ham leading Flora with the same determined look that Alastair had, but Flora being much more vocal than Mairi had been.
“This is as much your fault as mine. Damn it, Ham, you’re not even listening to me.” Flora was saying as
they passed. “If you would have taken me like you promised, this wouldn’t have happened.” Ham never responded as he led Flora out of the hall and up the stairs.
Next came Eadan and Nessa. The two walked side by side but were not touching. The relationship between them had been worrying Hamish a lot lately. He wished they’d work out their problems.
“Can you watch Eadan Hamish for a few more minutes, Da?” Eadan paused and asked. “I need to speak with Nessa in private for a few minutes.”
“Of course,” Hamish told them.
The two followed the same path as the two couples before them, before Rory and Craig came into the hall. “What the hell is going on?” Hamish asked them.
“I think our sisters are going to be sitting very carefully at the evening meal tonight,” Rory answered. “It’s been an eventful day Da. Let us get a cup of wine, and we’ll tell you all about it.”
**********
Alastair led Mairi into their room and closed the door behind him. “Take your gown off,” he told her. ‘I’ll let you keep your shift on this time, since this will be the first serious punishment you’ve had.”
“Alastair, please,” Mairi began. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.” A tear slid down her cheek, and she began to shake.
“Mairi?” Alastair asked confused, “why are you crying?”
“Please don’t hit me,” she said through her tears. “I won’t do it again.”
Alastair walked over and picked Mairi up, carrying her over to a chair that sat in the room, he settled her on his lap with his arms tightly around her. “I was so scared when we returned, and you weren’t here,” he whispered against her hair. “I love you so much; I couldn’t bear it if anything happening to you.”
“If you love me, then why do you have to hit me?” she asked, another tear rolling down her cheek.
“I’m going to spank you, Mairi because I love you,” he explained. “You put yourself in danger today, that’s something I won’t allow. I want to make sure you never put yourself in a situation like you did today, ever again. This spanking is to help you remember that.”
“But I didn’t know that those men would be out there looking for me,” she told him. Then she remembered something the man named Donovan had said, “Alastair, one of the men called me Mairi Scott. Do you think that could really be my name?”
“Scott? I’ve heard of the Scott’s before. They’re a lowland clan, so I’ve never met any of them,” he said. “We could send a messenger there to see if they might know you. Does that name sound familiar to you?”
“Nay. But I’d like to know for sure. How far are the lowlands?” she asked him.
“At least a sennight of traveling,” he told her. “Maybe more with it being winter.”
“Will you send a messenger right away?” she asked him.
“I’ll look into it as soon as we’re done here,” he told her, lifting her off his lap and standing her on her feet. “Trust me, Mairi, take off the gown.”
“I’m scared,” she admitted.
“I’m going to spank you hard, Mairi,” Alastair told her, “but I promise, when I’m done the worst that will happen is you’ll be a bit tender sitting for a day or two. Do you think I’d really hurt you more than that? I’m spanking you because I love you and want to keep you safe.”
“I don’t understand,” Mairi told him.
“I’m going to make sure you never place yourself in danger like you did today again, and when it’s over I’ll hold you as long as you need me too,” he said to her.
Mairi was still scared, but Alastair was the first man that she could remember who had never lied to her or been unkind. With shaking hands, she undid the fastenings on the top of her gown and let it slide off onto the floor. Once she was standing in just her shift, she stared at the floor, embarrassed to be standing this way.
“Look at me, Mairi,” Alastair said firmly, but not unkindly. Mairi looked up, her eyes once again filled with tears. “Come lay across my knees, let’s get this over with.”
Mairi knew there would be no talking Alastair out of the spanking that she knew she deserved, she put herself in the position that he’d asked her to. Alastair reached down and grabbed the bottom of her shift, pulling it up to her waist, baring her.
“Nay, Alastair,” Mairi said, “can’t you leave my shift down?”
“Wives get spanked on the bare, Mairi,” he explained. “In the future, I’ll have you strip down to nothing, but with this being the first punishment since we’ve married, I didn’t want to make you feel that uncomfortable.”
“I’m still scared,” she said so quietly he barely heard her.
“Do you think I’d ever really hurt you?” Alastair asked, putting his hand on her bare arse and rubbing softly.
“I don’t think so,” she answered truthfully.
“Besides,” he said grinning, “the first time I see you naked I’d rather be loving you, not spanking you. Are you ready to get your punishment over with?” Mairi didn’t answer but nodded her head in agreement. “I’m going to give you fifty with my hand. If you ever put yourself in danger like you did today, the next time it’ll be fifty with your hairbrush.”
Alastair said no more as he raised his hand and began bringing it down repeatedly on her arse, striking first one side and then the other. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“That’s ten, Mairi. Do you need a break?” Alastair stopped and asked.
“Nay,” Mairi said to him. “I just want to get it over with.”
“And I want you to think about why this is happening,” Alastair told her as he began again. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack . “You are never to put yourself in danger again.” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. “What would our son do if something happened to you. I know I couldn’t live without you” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
By this time Mairi had tears dripping off her face onto the floor below, not because Alastair was hurting her, but because the words he spoke showed how much he loved her. She couldn’t remember anyone loving her like this.
“I’m sorry,” she said, sobbing. “I’m so sorry.”
“Last ten, Mairi, and then we’ll be done,” Alastair said, wanting to finish as much as she did. He had tried to make the punishment as easy on her as possible, using only his hand. He knew from the talks they’d had that the other men in her life had not been so gentle with her. He not only wanted her to never put herself in danger again, but also to trust him to never truly hurt her. He raised his hand again and began the last set, this time striking just a bit harder, alternating between her sit spots. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“Ouch, ouch,” Mairi yelled as the last swats landed.
Alastair finished and lifted Mairi to sit on his lap. He wrapped her in his arms and rocked her silently as she held onto his tunic and cried into his chest. He rubbed her arms and back, comforting her as much as he could. “Please don’t ever scare me like that again, Mairi,” he whispered into her ear before kissing her on top of her head. “When we returned to the keep, and you weren’t here, I was sick with worry.”
Mairi lifted her head and looked into his eyes. She was surprised to see them filled with tears. “Are you still angry with me?” she asked him.
“I was never angry with you,” Alastair explained. “I was angry at myself and my brothers. If one of us had stayed back with you at the castle, this never would have happened.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said. “We should have listened and stayed inside like we were told. I am sorry, Alastair. I’m just glad you came upon us in time.”
“We hurried back because of what we found,” Alastair explained. “There were three dead carcasses at a camp that must have been used for some time. We also found a dirk that Owen’s friend John identified as English. That’s why we came ba
ck so quickly. I had a feeling something wasn’t right.”
“I’m glad you did,” Mairi said to him. “Alastair?”
“Yes Mairi?”
“Will you kiss me?” she asked him. “I just want you to kiss me.”
“Always,” he said, bringing his lips down onto hers. He kissed her again and again, each one lasting just a second or two longer than the one before.
Mairi wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer. Loving the feel of his tongue as it tangling with hers. Soon she began breathing heavier, and she couldn’t stop thinking about what it would feel like for Alastair’s naked body to be against hers. She wanted that more than anything.
“Alastair?” she panted when their lips once again separated.
“Yes, Mairi?” Alastair answered softly.
“Do you still want to see me naked?” she asked him.
“More than anything,” he said to her, looking her in the eye.
“Then take me to bed, husband,” she said.
“Are you sure?” he asked her.
“I’m sure,” she said, grinning at him. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
Alastair picked her up and carried her over to the bed they shared. He set her down slowly until her feet touched the floor. Still looking her in the eye, he caught the bottom of her shift and began to pull it up until he pulled it over her head. For the first time, he let his eyes wander down her body and back up again.
“Beautiful,” he said to her. “You’re absolutely beautiful.”
“And you have too many clothes on,” she said to him, grabbing his tunic and trying to pull it up and over his head, he bent down to make it easier on her. Once his tunic was off, she ran her hands down his bare chest, through the slight smattering of hair that covered the bulging muscles there.
Alastair again picked her up and laid her on the bed; she watched as he pulled off his trews, leaving him as naked as she was. He climbed on the bed over the top of her, once again bringing his lips down on hers. He brought his hand up and gripped her breast, squeezing it softly at first and then a bit harder as he ran his thumb back and forth across her nipple until it hardened. He dipped his head down, catching it in his mouth and sucking on it, getting a taste of the milk their son needed to survive.
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