“At least he had the sense to use it when he needed it.”
When they walked back into the kitchen it was a lot more crowded than it had been. Matthew had collected his wife, Red, and all the children. Reid had arrived and he and Robbie were deep in discussion about the cider mill works Robbie had seen and the mixes he had tasted and heard about. When Belle returned to her seat near Emily, Geordie sat down and abruptly found himself the focus of his whole family.
“What?” he asked as he poured himself some coffee.
“How was the ocean?” asked Nigel.
“Beautiful. We stayed at Belle’s house, which is up a hill but on the ocean. Just have to get down the hill.”
“Walk down some stairs,” said Robbie, “which is where I stumbled and broke my already broken leg. Abel”—he nodded toward the boy—“called it my bad leg.”
“But Belle fixed it,” the boy said.
“Well, we are not sure of that yet, Abel.”
“What did you do?” asked Abbie.
“Just put the bones together as they should have been put together the first time. We have discovered that massaging his leg and hand appears to help with the muscles and nerves.”
Abbie frowned and slowly nodded. “I can see how it might. What do you use?”
“A lotion my father made up. Nothing special, except it does help ease any cramp or pain the patient may suffer from. Robbie is the one who noticed that when it was massaged into his leg or hand, it also aided in the mobility of both.”
“So, how often do you put on the lotion?”
“Twice a day on his leg and whenever he wants some on his hand. The hand appears to be more of a problem because the muscles and nerves were damaged. From what I could feel beneath the skin, the bones in his hand have healed correctly, no thanks to the men who hurt him. But the bruised muscles and nerves need more help.”
“So massage. Well, there are three of us who can work on that regularly.”
Belle wondered which three the woman meant, but decided not to ask.
Conversation was constant and often there were several going on at the same time. Belle found it interesting yet oddly tiring. When Geordie quietly took her by the hand and tried to slip out of the kitchen, she thought he was insane to think he could sneak away from this crowd. Noah stood in the hall and grinned as if he thought the same. It surprised her when Geordie bolted for the stairs.
“Get a good night’s rest, lad. We’ll get to the ceremony tomorrow,” said Mrs. O’Neal.
“Running willnae save ye, brother. Didnae help me or Matthew at all. Ow! Dinnae pinch, Emily.”
“Bastards,” Geordie muttered as he ducked into their room and dropped onto the bed.
Belle watched him for a moment, then asked, “What was that all about?”
“Mrs. O’Neal.” He sat up and took his boots off. “Ye ken I said we sort of accepted Iain as our da?” Belle nodded. “Weel, Mrs. O’Neal has become the other parent. I ken it is an odd thing.”
“No, not when you think on how young you all were. But that really doesn’t tell me what was meant by all of that.”
“I’ll show ye where the washroom is.” He took her by the hand and led her down the hall. “We can talk when we get back to the room.”
They each took their turn washing up and using the facilities. Then he led her back to their room. She opened her bag and put away the clothes she had brought with her, then went to sit on the bed. When he sprawled next to her, she turned to look at him.
“Ready to explain?”
“Ye said ye love me, aye?”
She leaned over and gave him a kiss. “Aye,” she said and smiled.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down, giving her a kiss that left her breathless. “Then ye wouldnae have any objection to marrying me?” He kissed her throat.
“Now? We have not really decided where we will live.”
“I have been leaning toward us returning to the ocean after a nice visit.”
“It is pretty here.”
“Oh, aye. But I cannae sit on the hillside and listen to the waves kiss the shore. I cannae take a deep breath and smell that ocean air. I cannae go rowing. I was just getting good.” He turned his head to hide his grin over the questionable look she gave him.
“But your family . . .”
“Love them, every single one, the ones who are blood family and all the rest. But it is nay such a chore to come for a visit, is it, and I can contribute to them so they can come to us now and again. And, if we change our mind, we can always come back and set up house.”
She settled down in his arms and laid her head on his chest. “All right then. I could not really decide. As I said, it is pretty here. But I did worry about where you go when you need a lot of supplies, and the forest we drove through was so thick and dark. I don’t know about the wildlife here, so didn’t know how dangerous it might be.”
“I will be honest—a lot more dangerous than any wood ye would ride through at home. Though that moose I saw when I was there didnae look all that peaceful.”
“No, moose can be difficult. Unpredictable. You don’t get them here?”
“Never seen one. Bucks, but no moose. What we have are cougars, wolves, snakes.” He smiled at her when he felt her twitch at that.
“Poisonous?”
“Aye.
“I think we have cougars, or mountain lions as they are sometimes called, but they rarely come down out of the hills. Animals seem to have the sense to stay away from people and their places. But here there is not much divide between settled and open land. The wildlife at home are mostly racoons, skunks, woodchucks, and the like. We have some rattlers in the mountains. Oh, and wild turkeys walking about in packs, or is that flocks?”
“Flocks.”
She idly undid his shirt and slid her hand over his chest. “So you wish to marry me?”
“I do. Rather thought ye would be agreeable, since ye said ye loved me and were discussing with me where ye might like to settle.”
“Ah, yes, I was doing that.” She slid her hand down to his pants and undid them.
He kissed her and gently undid the buttons on her gown. By the time he ended the kiss they were both mildly feverish in their need to be skin to skin. Geordie pulled her over until she was sprawled on top of him. About to say something concerning the marriage he knew they would soon be pulled into, all thought of warning her went right out of his mind when she began to kiss her way down to his stomach. That small, soft hand of hers curled around his erection and she began to stroke him. Her long, silken hair caressed his thighs as she kissed him there and he jerked in reaction, his whole body tensing. She pulled away a little, watching him through the tangled fall of her hair around her flushed face.
“No?” she whispered.
“That wasnae rejection, love—just surprise.” He threaded his fingers in her hair and very gently urged her to continue.
Geordie was beginning to think he had completely misjudged his ability to endure the pleasure she was giving him when she took him into the warm heat of her mouth. He clenched his teeth in an attempt to keep as quiet as possible. It was not long before he decided he was going to waken the whole house or end this too soon, and not as he wanted to. Catching her beneath her arms, he pulled her up his body. To his relief she took care of settling herself on his body, sliding them together in the slow, careful way that he needed her to. He reached up to caress her breasts as she rode him before pulling her down to kiss her as his release rolled through his body. Geordie then swallowed her cry as her own pleasure peaked, her body tightening around him in a way that nearly brought him to release again. Then he held her close, stroking her back to soothe her as she slumped on top of him.
He knew he was falling asleep when he finally told her, “Ye ken how ye asked what all those fools meant as we came up here?”
She slid over to curl up next to him. “You mean all that yelling?” She felt him nod. “Yes, so what were they on
about?”
“Be prepared,” he mumbled as his eyes closed. “The wedding will be tomorrow.”
Belle sat up to stare at him, and clenched her fists when she saw that he was already fast asleep. “Coward,” she scolded him as she curled back into his side, closed her eyes, and joined him in sleep.
* * *
Mehitabel snuggled next to Geordie and he slid his arm around her, holding her closer. She was just sliding into sleep when she abruptly snapped awake again. She was sleeping with Geordie, in his family’s home, and they were not married. What had she been thinking last night?
Belle was just swinging her legs over the side of the bed to get up and move when she realized that she had no idea where to move to. She yanked on her undergarments and frowned as she struggled to recall last night. After all, she had been daft enough to just accept that they were sharing a room, so she was not confident she would correctly recall where the washroom was, or what he had said.
Belle was still sitting there when the door opened and Mrs. O’Neal walked in with Emily. Right behind them was Matthew, who set a table up next to the bed. He grinned and winked at both of them, then walked out as Mrs. O’Neal set down the tray she carried.
“Eat your breakfast,” said Emily. “We’ll be back after we break our fast and bring your gown, Belle.”
They left before Belle could say anything. She looked at Geordie. Then, unable to think of what she wanted to say, she drank some of her coffee in a desperate attempt to clear the fog her mind was trapped in. Go simple and be direct first, she told herself. “Where’s the washroom?”
“Go out the door, head left. White door with a wooden sign hanging on it. If it says unoccupied, turn it over to say occupied and go in. Slide the bolt inside to secure it. Towels and all, already in there.” He lifted the lid of a dish. “Oh, heaven. Mrs. O’Neal brought us bacon.”
Shaking her head, Belle left him to enjoy his bacon and hoped he left her a few pieces. She grabbed a robe and her little bag of necessities, then left. Following his directions, she found the washroom and it was unoccupied. As she darted inside, she turned the sign to occupied, and also secured the door. She had never seen such things as a sign and a bolt to secure a door in a bathroom. Then she remembered how many people were in the house and decided both were needed.
As she washed up, she tried to decide if she was afraid or excited. She was going to be married soon and realized that she had never really planned to be, even when she had decided she was in love with Geordie. She would have preferred a little warning, some preparation time. She would also like to be closer to her family so that she could have Auntie with her.
After washing up and cleaning her teeth, Belle hurried back to the bedroom. She was pleased she met no one in the hall as she made her short dash back to the bedroom. Ducking into the room, she shut the door behind her and saw Geordie sitting on the bed grinning at her.
“Ye ran back, didnae ye?”
“Of course I did. I am in my underclothes. Your Mrs. O’Neal and brother walking in caught me by surprise but don’t plan to let that happen again. I see you got dressed.”
“I did.” He hopped off the bed and pointed at the tray with a couple of covered dishes on it. “I left ye some bacon.” He stopped next to her and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Now I am going to wash up.”
He was annoyingly cheerful, she decided, and smiled sweetly as she asked, “Are they bringing your gown, too?”
She squealed in shock when he picked her up, walked over to the bed, and dropped her on it. Belle sat up just in time to see him shut the door behind him. She was about to indulge in a long litany of curses when the door opened and Emily stepped in, Mrs. O’Neal right behind her.
Emily held up a gown and spread it out on the bed. Then she and Mrs. O’Neal turned to face her, and Belle wondered why she had the urge to run—far, and fast. Which was silly, she decided. She wanted to marry Geordie and she liked the two women. Yet, she could not shake the feeling she was being pushed into something that might go badly.
“She has that look, Emily,” said Mrs. O’Neal.
“I can see that. I remember it. You know, Belle, you are allowed to say no. We would never push you to the altar. We just know it is where you want to be, and we want to be the ones to get you there.”
“All right.” She shook away her unease and smiled at them. “Then let us get started.”
Chapter Eighteen
Geordie tugged at his suit coat and glared at his brothers. “Ye ken, I never had a chance to propose to her.”
“Dinnae worry on that. Ye would have bungled it anyway,” said Matthew.
“Ye cannae be sure of that. I might have proven verra eloquent.” Geordie did not think his brothers should laugh so hard and loud at that. “Rude bastards,” he muttered.
“So where are ye going to live?” asked Lachlan.
“We will start by returning to her home,” said Geordie, and he could see that his brothers were not too pleased. “I gave it a lot of thought and I want to be near the ocean. She has a fine home and it has an interesting history. I know that I can come back here if it turns out to be no more than a whim.” They all murmured agreement with that. “I just like it there. Like the ocean. Like that her house is above and set back from the ocean. And remind me that I need to show ye all my drawings of a shower bath. She has one on her back porch. I like what I have met of her family. I even like her pets—Thor, Odin, and the cat, Loki.”
“Aye. Ye need to go back and see if it is a good fit,” said Iain. “I was hoping everyone would stay around here, but suspected some of ye would find something ye liked more. And she seems to be a good lass. Took in Morgan without a complaint, I am betting.”
“Och, aye. I was a little bruised by that as she was actually sent to me, yet she has taken to Belle. And Abel, too.”
“Aye. Um, why does she call him frog boy?”
“Belle called him that,” Geordie said and told them the story. He grinned as they all laughed. “He is a good lad. Smart, too, I think.”
“Aye, one of those ye will have to keep a keen eye on.” Iain stood up and stretched. “Best we wander down to the kitchen or wherever Mrs. O wants us to be. And dinnae worry, I will be wanting those drawings of the shower bath.”
As they all left the room, Geordie talked to Iain about the shower bath. As he had suspected, all his brothers were interested. When they reached the downstairs hall he saw Morgan standing in front of Abel, her hands on her hips, one hand gripping her wooden doll tightly.
“Something wrong, Morgan?” he asked as he moved to stand next to her.
“I was just trying to explain something to this boy. He is being thick-headed.” She raised her doll and glared at Abel. “I was just going to fix that.”
“Och, nay, lass. Ye cannae hit him with your doll. Annoying as he may be, that could cause an injury ye will feel bad about later.” He almost laughed because the look she gave him told him she did not think she would regret it. “It is wood, after all.”
Iain bent to look closely at the doll. “Huh, it is oak. Must have taken a lot to make it.”
“My papa did it before he went to heaven.”
“And a verra good job he did, but, dearling, ye hit the boy with that and ye could do him some real harm. Ye dinnae really want to do that, do ye?”
As Morgan glared at the boy and considered that, Abel said, “Nope. You don’t.”
“Why don’t I?”
“Because I am Mehitabel’s brother. Her only brother, so I’m important to her.”
From what Geordie could see, Abel was in danger of being whacked just for the arrogant statement. Then he noticed Belle standing in the kitchen doorway. She was smiling and shaking her head, then assumed a stern expression.
“Mrs. O’Neal is making sweets for the wedding and there might be some spoons to lick for well-behaved children.”
Both children turned toward her. Then Morgan nudged Abel aside and marched off to the kitch
en. Abel watched her with narrowed eyes, then glanced at his sister.
“That wasn’t very well-behaved,” he told his sister as he hurried into the kitchen.
Geordie looked at her and grinned. “Are ye still certain they will get along?”
“Yes. Well, as long as he doesn’t throw a frog at her, and she doesn’t crack his head open with her doll. Go into the sitting room for a while. We are trying to make a nice luncheon for everyone.”
He watched her go into the kitchen. She was looking very fine. The gown fit her nicely, hugging every curve on her slender body, and the ivory color brought out a slight copper tone to her skin. Her long black hair was pulled back from her face and braided to stay there. Then he wondered who “everyone” was and hurried into the sitting room.
* * *
Belle looked at all the food they had made and, after taking off her apron, rubbed at her lower back. It was a feast. She had to wonder just who was coming to this wedding.
“You look a bit frightened,” Emily said as she handed Belle a cup of coffee.
“Just how many people are coming? And why?”
“Most of our neighbors, the Powells and their families, and several people from the tiny collection of shops we call a town. I am not all that sure they care why, because for them the why is Mrs. O’Neal’s cooking. I don’t recall anyone even asking which brother was getting married.” She grinned when Belle laughed. “It is a gathering. The ones that can get away are always ready to come to one of those.”
“It is pretty much like that where I live.”
“Small towns.”
“I fear so.”
“We’ll take some coffee into the men.” Emily got a tray and Belle moved to help.
By the time they got into the sitting room, the men were deep into conversation about the shower bath. After handing out the coffee, Belle sat next to Emily. When she glanced at the woman, Emily just grinned and shook her head.
The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away Page 20