“Your master told you not to take me beyond the castle and here you are dragging me out,” Joan said and he laughed.
“Who has to ken I took ye out? It has to stay between us,” Aidan said as Joan leaned on him from the fear of falling off the horse. They headed off to the town in the direction of the blacksmith's workshop. Upon arrival, Aidan excused himself to go inside and meet the blacksmith.
“I have some new swords if ye would like to look,” the old man said as he took Aidan's sword. “Newly forged.”
Aidan went through the table where the daggers had been laid out and perused them until one caught his eye. It was a small dagger that looked almost like a table knife. He ran his hand on the blade and he felt the familiar pain that came with a fresh cut. He turned back to the smith who had already started to heat up his sword and raised it so the smith could see it.
“Ah, that one. A delicate thing. Perfect for a child in training. Goes for two pounds,” the old man said, and Aidan took it his money bag to pay.
“I will be back for me sword by sunset,” Aidan said as he slid the money to the old man, who bowed in appreciation.
“I will have it ready by then, Sir Aidan,” he replied.
Aidan came out of the shop and was met with Joan's laughter. He looked around and saw his horse tied to a tree and Joan on the other side of the road with a woman. Upon taking a closer look, Aidan started to grow angry. He dashed toward them and tugged Joan from the woman.
Gavina!
“We must leave now, Joan,” Aidan beckoned her closer to him.
“Aidan? But why? Gavina here was just—”" Aidan interrupted her.
“We must leave now,” Aidan said as he pushed Joan behind him.
“Aidan, I was just talkin' to yer friend here. She will meet more people along the way, ye cannae stop her from makin' friends,” Gavina laughed before bringing her voice low so only Aidan could hear. “Is she ye new mistress?”
Aidan reeled back, anger visible on his face. “How can ye say such a thing?” Gavina laughed and Joan only looked more confused. Aidan knew she could sense the tension between himself and Gavina.
“I apologize, Aidan. I only wanted to ken if Eimear had a rival,” Gavina said and Aidan balled his hands into fists.
“I nae longer have anythin' to dae with Eimear,” Aidan said through clenched teeth. “If she was the one who sent ye to dae this then…”
Gavina silenced him with a wave of her hand. “Why would I listen to anythin' yer mistress says. She is below me.” She put a hand on Aidan's shoulder, and he jerked back. “Has yer father come around to finalizing our union?” she asked.
“I will nae be wed to ye,” he said and Gavina's smile fell.
“Ye have someone else in mind?” she teased as she looked at Joan who was looking at her fingers behind Aidan. Aidan blocked Gavina's view of Joan and the woman frowned at him. “Is it her?” Her voice became lower and harsher.
“That doesnae concern ye. If you will excuse us, we have some things planned,” he said and turned to Joan. “Come on. We have to leave. We will come back for me sword by sunset,” he said, and Joan beamed at him, warming his heart. He mounted the horse and helped Joan on the horse behind him.
“Goodbye, Gavina,” Joan chirped, and Aidan saw Gavina give her a tight smile. “What were you talking about?”
“Nothing. She is a friend, daenae worry yer head about it,” Aidan said as she turned the horse and galloped away from the town into the forest.
“Where are we headed?” Joan asked as she peeped over his shoulder and saw that they were going away from the town.
“Ye love to explore and I can't wait to show ye the Highlands.”
“I thought we were already in the Highlands,” Joan said, looking up at him.
“Yes, but we are going to the mountains around me master's town. Hold on tighter,” he said and she wrapped her arms around him and interlocked her fingers. “Can ye ride a horse?”
“No.”
“Luckily, here is yer chance to learn. Hold the reins,” Aidan said as Joan looked back at him, surprised. “I'll stop him for ye,” he said as he tugged at the reins a little and his horse came to a halt. Joan hesitantly took the reins from Aidan.
“Is this safe?” She turned to him and he chuckled. She could feel the rumble in his chest.
“I did ask ye to dress like this for a reason.” Joan looked down at her attire. Instead of her usual dress, she was wearing riding attire that Aidan had taken from his mother. At first, she thought it would be too tight on her, but she was surprised to see that it fit her quite well. “Now I am going to hold on to ye so ye daenae fall off,” he said as his hands held her by her waist.
He felt her tense at his actions and he whispered in her ear. “Relax or my horse might throw us off. He is a quiet one but when ye become tense, ye might tug at the reins too hard and he might throw us off,” Aidan said, and she nodded as she relaxed her muscles. “To get him to walk, ye only have to give him a little tap with yer left foot.”
Joan did as told but the horse did not move. “Am I doing this wrong?”
“No. He is nae quite used to ye yet. Try it again, a wee harder this time.” Joan nodded and tapped the horse a bit harder this time and it stopped grazing on the grass and slowly started to move. “Great, now do the same thing to make him trot. Ye have to be relaxed at this point or ye will bounce off. Do the same to get him to gallop,” he explained to her and soon they were galloping away with the wind in their hair.
“There is a flowing river close by. We can stop there for today.”
“How do I stop him?” Joan asked as they ran into a clearing. She could see the river Aidan was talking about.
“Hurry, pull at the reins, nae so hard,” he said and she did as she was told except she tugged a little too hard and the horse buckled his hind legs, throwing them both off his back and into the river.
Aidan saw Joan scramble off him and fall backwards into the water. Their clothes were soaked and the fur on their clothes, which was now heavy, weighed them down. “I am so sorry! I did not intend to…” Joan trailed off when she saw his shoulders start to shake. “Aidan?” She rushed toward him and he started to laugh.
He threw his head back and laughed, pointing at her. Joan slowly started to laugh with him until the echoes of their laughter was the loudest noise in the still forest.
“Did ye see how terrified ye were?” Aidan said amidst laughter. Joan sat next to him in the water, her back to his arm.
“I thought you were injured,” she giggled as a small fish swam past her knees. They both went quiet after that and just sat in the river while their horse grazed on the fresh grass. “Thank you,”" she said as she dipped her finger in the water to distract a fish.
“If ye keep thanking me like this, I might decide nae to dae anythin' more for ye,” he said as she turned to face him.
“How else can I show my gratitude?” she asked, and she went back to distracting fishes. He threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her to his chest, his chin resting on her head. “How long have we been out?”
Aidan looked at the sun and squinted. “It is around noon. Dae ye want to head back?”
“No. Not yet,” she said as she held his arm around her shoulder. Neither of them spoke after that, allowing them to hear the chirping of birds and the occasional neighs and huffs that his horse made.
Aidan looked down at Joan who had a small smile on her face as she laid her head on his chest, a hand in the water. She rose her body up to give him a soft kiss and settled her head in his lap, watching the water with Aidan.
She looks happy and content. It makes me heart warm knowing I caused her to be this happy.
By the time they arrived at the estate, the Laird was already waiting for them. He looked angrily at Aidan and Joan as they entered the estate. “I gave ye orders, Aidan!”
“I only went to get me sword sharpened.” Aidan shrugged, and Joan hid behind him.
“Yo
u took the English lass! I told ye nae to take her out!” the Laird bellowed as he stomped over to them. Aidan had a hand out to protect Joan as his father stooped in front of them. “And Gavina! She came here and waited for ye!”
“I daenae need to express me thoughts on Gavina,” Aidan said and his faither angrily grabbed his shoulder and shook him.
“What has gotten into ye! This English lass has influenced ye!”
“Leave Joan oot of this. She has done nothin,'” Aidan said as he moved out of his father's grasp.
“Ye disobeyed me orders because of her! She has turned ye against me!” The Laird reached for Joan but Aidan grabbed his hand and pushed his father back. The Laird stumbled but regained his composure soon after. His eyes were wide with shock that quickly turned to fury. “Take her away from here.”
“Nae,” Aidan said as he stood up to his father. “Joan will stay with me and nowhere else. England is not safe for her considering the war, she will stay by my side where I will look after her till the war is over!”
Aidan could feel the violence rise within him. To him, force must be met with force and peaceful resolutions were for cowards. His father was the same and he knew. They were both men who would rather fight for a meal than share it. He truly feared for Joan, he was not going to put her in harm’s way because his father forced him to.
"I daenae want to see her here by daybreak," the Laird said and walked away, leaving the two of them behind.
“Aidan, you should have not done that!” Joan came up to him. “He is your master and…”
“Forget him. Come along,” he said as he pulled her along with him until they got to his room. “I daenae want ye to stay in that room alone tonight. Ye can stay here for tonight.”
“But Aidan…”
“No. Ye can change into comfortable clothes but ye should stay with me tonight. Me master is very furious and I do not trust him in that state, he might try to send ye back without me knowledge. ” Joan let out a deep breath and nodded. She left for her room to get changed and went back to meet Aidan. She looked uneasy in her nightgown as she got into Aidan's bed. “Make yerself comfortable. I will be working on some things. I will join ye when I am done.”
Joan nodded and turned on her side.
“Goodnight,” she said and he muttered the same to her. She still couldn't sleep. She stayed up, listening to Aidan talk to himself as he worked. Hours later, she heard him push the chair out and it fell to the ground. He did not bother to pick it up and she felt the bed dip on the other side. She tensed when she did not feel any more movements. She yelled when a heavy arm draped over her waist.
“Ye are still awake?” His voice sounded tired. “Relax and go to sleep. Ye have nothin' to worry about.”
Joan closed her eyes and finally, she fell asleep.
Eimear tucked her red hair behind her ear as she watched the men in front of her argue about a good hiding spot. Her work had been made easy when she overheard that the Laird and his son had a disagreement over the English lass. It became easier when Gavina complained about the English girl to the Laird. She had a plan, and everything seemed to happen in her favor, except for a few hindrances.
Aidan trails behind her like a faithful dog, it would be almost impossible to breath in the lass's direction. Aidan only ever wants to bed women, but he seems different with Joan. It is almost as if she has cast a spell on him.
If I can get rid of the English lass, then Aidan would nae doubt take me as his wife. Aidan's mother has been putting a lot of pressure on him to choose a wife and his faither insisted he marry Gavina because she is the daughter of a Laird from another clan.
If I can get both women out of me way, I have a chance to be Aidan's wife. Being his wife means I would eventually become the wife of a laird myself since Aidan would take over his faither's position when the old man dies.
His mother is nae so fond of me, but that wouldnae matter much since she is desperate to see her son married. I have nae sacrificed me body for him all this years in vain.
Aidan is mine, and I'll have what is mine.
“Have ye decided?” she asked the two men who had stopped bantering.
“We will take fifty pounds. Nothing less,” one of them said and the others nodded.
“I will pay ye hundred pounds each if ye it is done right,” she said and the leader smiled at her. “I daenae want any harm to befall the man, ye can take the girl and dae as ye wish. Just keep her away from this town. Dae we have an agreement?”
“Consider it done.” The leader of the bandits grinned as he rose to his feet.
Eimear counted half of the payment and handed it to him.
“We shall meet ye here in a week to collect our money.” Eimear nodded as the five men left the abandoned inn and she left a few minutes after them.
Soon, I'll be his only choice.
Chapter 13
“I warned ye about this Aidan,” Ian said as he polished his sword. “I understand yer relationship with the girl but going against yer faither? Isnae that too much?”
They had been in the town again against the Laird's wishes. Aidan had brought Joan out, promising her that he would settle his differences with his master. Aidan had taken her to Ian's house.
“Faither is wrong about her. Joan means no harm to Scotland. I need to keep her safe till the war ends. I cannae have her living in a town we might attack. She daenae deserve that,” Aidan defended Joan who was outside with the horses. Aidan noticed that the two horses had taken a liking to her and she seemed deeply interested in them.
“Ye are the only person that ken that. Yer faither doesnae ken. She is English, to everyone else, she is the enemy. Ye cannae expect us all to welcome her as if we are living in peaceful times. They took our men first and they daenae plan on stopping. The Earl of Aberdeenshire has to be ready or we shall lose to such a weak town.”
“Joan is not a threat and ye ken that!” Aidan snapped and Ian shook his head.
“I am nae saying that she is a threat, I am just saying that Joan is English. She is the enemy,” Ian tried to explain but Aidan had already gotten to his feet.
“Ye cannae be serious Aidan. Ye want to risk all of the respect and love that yer people have for ye for a woman?”
“Ye ken that we will win this war with our hands tied behind our back and blindfolded. Scotland is not in any danger from the English, but Joan is in danger from both sides. If anyone loved me, they would care about who I loved,” Aidan said as he picked up his sword and left the room. He shut the front door behind him and Joan came over to him, his horse following behind her.
“Shall we leave? Today we can explore more of the Highlands,” he asked as he patted his horse, but Joan hesitated.
“I do not want to go out, Aidan. Your master is the Laird, I am scared of what he may do if he comes to know about our disobedience. I am not from here and he might not spare me even if he spares you.”
“Joan, ye worry too much. I have lived with him for many years. No harm will come to ye while I am here. I will speak with him to be more lenient with ye,” he said with a reassuring smile. “Shall we go?” he asked, and she nodded.
He had her dressed in riding attire he had taken from his mother's wardrobe again. “Am I going to ride again?” Joan asked as she started to mount the horse. Aidan acknowledged how quickly she had learnt how to mount his horse from their experiences on the journey to Scotland.
“Of course,” he said and got on the horse with her and they once again rode off into the forest, which was not so far from Ian's home.
They soon came to the river where they had been thrown the day before and Joan urged the horse to a stop. Aidan playfully ruffled her hair to celebrate her success. “Let us get some rest for now. We can continue later,” Aidan said as he dismounted the horse and helped Joan down.
“I think I have begun to understand the basics,” Joan said as she sat on the grass and Aidan joined her. “Where will we go after this?”
“I
daenae ken yet,” Aidan said as he leaned back on the tree, closed his eyes, and savored the moment.
I feel at peace around Joan, her presence alone makes me worries dissolve, and I don't have to be anyone or anything.
A rustle in the bushes caused him to sit up, a hand in his sword. Joan got up after him as he took out his sword and raised it high.
“It might be an animal, Aidan. You don't need to get…” Joan hadn't finished talking when a man lunged out of the bushes, sword ready to strike. Aidan met his speed with enough force to throw the attacker back. As the man recovered and rushed toward Aidan, he was kicked into the bushes by Aidan's startled horse.
Highlander's Cursed Bride: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 11