by Jenna Stone
And with that, I strode from the room, headed on my own version of a warpath.
***
The sun glinted off Brennan’s sword as he stood poised for attack, legs crouching and active, anticipating the next move of his assailant. He shifted his weight from side to side, testing the strength of his wounded leg. There was pain, tightness about his quadriceps where the injury was still healing. Mentally, he was ready, even if he wasn’t quite there yet physically. He pushed his body to fight off the pain. This wasn’t more than he could handle.
The sword was heavy in his hand, his body had grown weaker from disuse, yet the weapon felt as though it was it was an extension of his right arm. He circled his opponent, daring him to make the first move. He was poised and ready.
Devon met his challenge and landed a blow with his sword that was easily blocked. The reverberations of the blow traveled up through the sword, testing Brennan’s fledgling strength. Devon’s first blow was a question. Just how much could Brennan handle? Was he well enough to fight? Brennan answered the exploratory blow will all of the strength that he could muster, landing a crashing at Devon, which he deftly blocked in one fluid motion. Devon had always made sword fighting look easy. He moved with the grace of a cat, charging, retreating and analyzing his opponent, waiting for the right moment to strike his deadly blow. Devon spun and returned the challenge, sword meeting Brennan’s in a deadening clatter. The twang of metal striking metal filled the air as the men sparred. They exchanged blows for a few minutes until Devon was satisfied with what he had seen, and gave the order for Brennan to cease.
“Not bad, man!” Devon complimented his friend, driving his claymore into the ground and clapping Brennan roughly on the shoulder.
“Not good, either,” replied Brennan, clearly dissatisfied with the weakness of his muscles, a side affect of his lengthy break from training due to his injury. “I’ve a long way to go, Dev, but it’s a start, no?”
“Yer stronger each day, man. Even in yer weakened state, yer a damn sight better than most swordsmen.” Devon said, seeking to bolster Brennan’s spirits, as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
“I thank ye for that,” Brennan said, leaning on the hilt of his claymore, more exhausted by the swordplay than he wanted to let on.
“I’ve a favor tae ask ye,” Devon paused, brushing his disheveled hair back from his face and waiting for Brennan to regain his breath. “I brought ye here for a reason, tae test yer strength,” he admitted, watching his friend recover from the exertion of their sparring.
“Oh?” Brennan questioned, now curious, breath still ragged.
“I need ye tae look after Kate,” Devon said, speaking directly to Brennan. “Collin’s having me lead the band of men to the Cameron lands. I needed to see that ye were able before asking this of ye.”
“I’ll look after her. Protect her with my life.” Brennan meant what he said, feeling honored that Devon would entrust him with such a mighty job.
“I don’t expect Collin tae trouble her, being that he hasna yet received her dowry, but nonetheless, I don’t trust him. I don’t like the way that he has been looking at my wife,” Devon said, eyebrows knit together angrily as he thought of his brother.
“So, ye’ve taken to the lass?” Brennan questioned, struck by the possessive manner in which Devon had claimed “his wife.”
“Verra much,” Devon smiled, slightly embarrassed. “Ye ken how it is. I’ve seen ye with Leti,” he chided.
“Women have a way of doing that to ye,” Brennan smiled back.
“If ye sense danger, or any situation arises while I’m away, take her from the keep. I think that Lochaven is the safest bet, well protected as it is. Kate could hide there in safety while ye get word to me in the field,” Devon said, jaw set sternly, voice serious. “I’ll not have the lass harmed by my brother,” he said voice ringing with threat.
“She will be safe in my care,” Brennan promised as he cuffed Devon heartily on the back, seeking to assure his friend.
“I trust ye, brother. I ken that ye’ll keep her safe.” Devon nodded, securing the deal.
“I think that it might be you that needs my protection,” Brennan said, looking over Devon’s shoulder towards the keep. “Because here comes yer precious wife, and she looks like she’s about to kill ye,” Brennan warned as he watched Kate approach, the anger evident on her face.
***
I was mad as hell as I stomped towards to two warriors. Good thing they had their weapons, because they might need them shortly. I walked directly up to my husband, stood to my full height and placed my hands on my hips. “When were you going to tell me?” I demanded surprised by the intensity of the anger in my voice.
“Tonight. I didna want ye fretting,” Devon said matter-of-factly, meeting my glare with one of his own.
“You asshole!” I stomped my foot violently on top of his, grinding my heel into his toes.
He didn’t even flinch. “Are ye done?” he asked.
“Done with what?” I asked, fuming with emotion. I wanted to kill him.
“With yer tantrum.”
“Devon McClain, I am your wife! How could you possibly not tell me that you are leaving for war tomorrow?” I shouted surprised by the emotion that rang from my voice.
How could he leave me here? Leave me here alone?
“I said that I didna want ye worrit. Ye’ll be safe, I’ve taken care of everything. I wouldna leave ye without protection,” he said firmly as he motioned for Brennan to leave us alone to hash this situation out privately.
“Protection isn’t what I’m worried about, you oaf! I’m worried about my husband leaving for war! You could be killed, and then what would I do?” I sniffled, and wiped my now running nose on the sleeve of my dress in a most unladylike fashion.
“Is all of this about me? Yer worrit about me returning to ye in one piece?” He asked, chuckling slightly.
“Ummhmm,” I mumbled, sniffling again. “And I’m mad as hell that you didn’t tell me as soon as you knew that you were leaving.”
“Oh, Kate,” he said, as he reached forward and crushed me against his chest. “I’m sorry that I didna tell ye,” he whispered against my hair as he stroked my neck and held me close. “I promise ye that I’ll be fine. I’m not used to answering to anyone besides myself. I’m sorry for my oversight. Ye must ken that this is what I do, battle is what I’ve done my whole life. Rest assured that I ken how to return in one piece.”
“Promise?” I whispered against his chest.
“Promise.” He said as he raised my chin up so that I could look at him. “I’ll be fine,” he smiled. “It’s nice to know that someone cares, though.”
“More than you can imagine,” I said, looking up at him. “I need you to tell me things like this. I don’t like being the last to know.”
He bent down and settled his lips on mine, an act of apology that needed no words. I knew that he felt bad about not telling me and I felt the anger that I had held towards him dissipate from my body with the touch of his lips. He broke away from me slowly, hovering so that our lips nearly touched as he looked into my eyes, searching to ensure that he had in fact been forgiven.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he nuzzled my nose with his. He could read me like an open book and I knew that my eyes no longer harbored any anger or resentment. Content that he had been thoroughly forgiven, he pecked me again on the lips and grabbed my hand.
“Let’s go then lass. I leave at first light and I want tae spend the rest of my time before I go with my beautiful wife,” he said as he gathered me up against him and started to walk towards the stables, shoving his sword into his belt with his free hand. “I had planned to take ye out for a riding lesson this afternoon. Are ye game?”
“No,” I said honestly, enjoying the warmth of his body as we walked together. I had divulged that I was terrified of horses, having been thrown from one and injured badly at a young age. Devon being a confident horseman and a self professed lov
er of horses had taken my fear of them on as a challenge, vowing to teach me to ride, whether I wanted to learn or not.
“Let me rephrase that,” he chuckled, knowing now that I was not a lover of horseback riding. “Will ye partake in a lesson if I keep it short? Ye ken that I’ll feel better when ye can at least sit a horse without fallin’ off.”
“Only if I get to choose what we do later,” I smiled seductively up at him.
“How could I say no tae that?” he kissed the top of my head and ushered me through the doors of the great stable.
Jaime the stable man saddled Stanley and a much smaller mare and tied them to a post in the stable. Stanley whickered softly and raised his head at the sight of his master. He nuzzled Devon in the chest and stomped his foot, ready to go out for a ride. Devon patted the stallion’s strong neck, and scratched him behind the ears. He loved his horse and it was clear even to the casual observer that the horse returned his affections.
I surveyed the small mare that I would be riding. She didn’t look threatening at all, in fact, she looked like she was about to take a nap. Her head hung down low and she swayed slightly from side to side as her eyes melted closed. I hated to disturb her.
“This is Biscuit,” Devon said, untying the mare’s reins and looping them over her head. “Let me help ye up, lass,” he said, holding out a hand towards me.
I walked toward him and took his hand. He offered his other hand as a footstool. I put my foot into his hand and he hefted me up and into the saddle. I took the reins and held onto the pommel so hard that my knuckles turned white. I could feel my blood pressure rising and the horse hadn’t taken a step.
Devon swiftly mounted Stanley and kicked him into motion, clicking his tongue so that Biscuit reluctantly spurred into slow motion and followed along.
“Ye can make the clicking sound with yer tongue or kick her slightly to get her going. She’ll not go tae fast mind,” he instructed over his shoulder.
My blood pressure began to rise as she lurched into motion. I was terrified of horses, except when I was riding with Devon. Longingly, I wished that I was on his lap now. I bit my lip, noticing how handsome he looked seated confidently upon Stanley.
How does he do this to me?
Biscuit ambled after Stanley, looking pathetic next to his massive form. Devon gave me instruction as we rode side by side, telling me how to steer left or right or bring the horse to a stop by pulling the reins toward myself. I began to feel a bit more comfortable now that I knew how to steer and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Biscuit indeed would oblige me and heed my instructions. Devon led me through a trot and a slow gallop and again I felt my blood pressure rising, but I was proud that I remained atop the horse.
I wanted to please Devon by being a good student. Only for him and the reward of his encouraging smile would I subject myself to learning to ride a horse. I would face my fears for him.
“McClain!” we heard yelled from behind us in greeting, and we simultaneously turned to see Jaime approaching astride a large gray horse. He pulled up along side Devon, horse lathered from exertion from chasing after us.
“What’s amiss?” Devon questioned, sensing that something was wrong.
“Information from our spotters, the Camerons have moved their camp. Thought ye would want tae ken right away, might help ye with preparations for tomorrow.” Jaime said, breath spilling forth as a white cloud in the chilly early winter air.
“What details have ye?” Devon asked, glancing from Jaime to me and then back to Jaime.
“They’ve moved tae….”
“Lass, why don’t ye ride on up ahead, yer doing just fine. I’ll catch up with ye when we’re done here,” he said, cutting Jaime off mid sentence.
I made the clicking sound with my tongue as Devon had instructed, spurring Biscuit into motion and she obediently ambled forward. I hated to think of my husband going off to war and I was glad to have permission to leave this discussion of the details and plotting of the McClain clan’s first move. I pulled my cloak around me, balling it up around the pommel of the saddle so that I could hold both with one hand. I held the reins with my left hand, fingers numb and stinging with the cold of the early winter air. My breath came in billowy clouds, curling into the gray air that had the distinct feeling of impending snow.
Feeling more confident, I kicked Biscuit into a trot and she hesitantly began to pick up speed. I hoped that Devon was watching and that he would notice that I was improving in my horse riding skills. Biscuit began to veer to the left as there was a small pond coming up in front of us. At the last minute, I decided to jerk her reins to the right, choosing to stay to the right of the pond so that I would not go out of Devon’s path of sight.
Biscuit did not agree with my split second change of plans and her front legs locked up beneath me. As she came to an abrupt stop that I was not expecting, the momentum threw me up and over her head and I was flying through the air! I landed with a large splash right in the pond, and the icy cold water took my breath away.
The water was a shock to my body and my heart hesitated to beat and my lungs tried to regain the ability to breath. My skirts billowed about me in the frigid water. I had trouble coordinating the movements of my body in order to keep my head afloat. I knew that the pond was not deep and that I could easily stand up, but the shock of the cold water on my system made my muscles slow to respond to the directions of my brain. I coughed and took in a fair amount water into my mouth, which tasted of fish and seaweed. My skirts became tangled about my legs as I tried to stand up and get out of the pond.
I finally forced my muscles into obedience and my feet touched the squishy muddy bottom of the pond. My lungs ached from the cold and the ingestion of water that had occurred as I struggled to right myself in the freezing water. I stood frozen in the water, gasping for air, and willed my body to put one foot in front of the other to walk towards the shore. My mind was hazy and my body was slow to respond. I no longer perceived the cold.
My eyes struggled to focus and the first thing that I saw was Devon riding like a madman towards the pond. There was a look of sheer terror on his face. He brought Stanley to a stop next to Biscuit and in one movement, he dismounted the horse and dove into the pond after me. His arms were around me, uprooting me from the mud bottom of the pond and he lifted me up, carrying me to the shore.
My breathing was ragged and I felt the water in my hair beginning to freeze into strings of ice against my back and chest. It felt oddly crunchy beneath my frozen fingers.
“What happened, lass?” Devon demanded, shivering as he held me to his wet body. His shirt was freezing beneath my cheek, but I had not the energy to move myself away from the frozen linen. His hands frantically searched my body for injury and his eyes were wild with fear.
My lips moved to answer him, but were silenced by the chattering of my teeth. I could not answer his question.
“We have tae get ye back tae the keep. Hold on, sweetheart,” he commanded setting his mouth in a hard line, gathering me against him as he mounted Stanley and kicked him into a sprint towards the Castle.
I felt Devon’s muscles quivering from the cold beneath me and I knew that he too was freezing from the shock of the frigid water. The rhythmic movement of Stanley’s hooves beating the frozen Earth lulled me into a sleeplike state, allowing me to almost forget about the chattering of my teeth. I no longer felt the cold. I was numb.
“Doona go tae sleep, Kate!” Devon barked, shaking my shoulder. His fingers were like ice against my skin. I blinked a couple of times, driving the sleep from my brain, knowing that he was right. If I allowed myself to go to sleep, I might die. I began trying to move my fingers and toes, and found this movement to be painful. I forced myself to continue the movement, keeping my mind busy with the task so as not to fall asleep.
We arrived at the castle and Devon bounded off of Stanley with me in his arms, leaving the horse standing in front of the castle reins dangling in the breeze. Devon pushed open
the door to the keep with his shoulder and we were met by the wide eyes of a young maid who had been caught off guard by our hasty entrance.
“I need hot water. Send a bath up to my chamber immediately. My wife has had an accident,” he bellowed at the maid. “It would be wise of ye tae hurry,” he added with an air of threat in his voice. He took the stairs up to our chamber two at a time, carrying me in his arms as if I weighed nothing at all.
We burst through the door and Devon sat me down in front of the dismal fire, which had nearly gone out from lack of wood. He grabbed kindling from the small pile next to the fireplace and stoked the fire, blowing on the coals to ignite the flames. I stood frozen, watching him, unable to move, dripping the remnants of the pond onto the flagstone floor. The kindling took fire and Devon grabbed two large pieces of wood and settled them atop the beginnings of a roaring fire.
Having started the fire to his satisfaction, he turned to me. “Take off yer clothes,” he said. It was an order. “We need tae get ye warmed up or ye’ll die from the cold.”
I was in such a state of shock that I couldn’t move. My teeth chattered and my muscles quivered uncontrollably from the cold that had settled into my bones.
“Help,” I whispered, turning around to expose the laces of my gown. I knew that my fingers were not up to the task of unlacing the gown, in fact, I couldn’t even feel my fingers.
Devon struggled with the laces of the gown, his own fingers half frozen, and pulled it from my body, dropping the sopping mass of cloth onto the floor. I was now clad only in my thin chemise and I looked down to see the thin fabric clinging to my body, highlighting the fact that my nipples were standing at attention from the cold.
“Ye’ll need tae take that off too,” Devon said, tossing one of his clean linen shirts to land on the overstuffed chair beside me. “I’ll turn around,” he said, and turned towards the fire. I watched him without moving as he now turned his attentions to himself and removed his dripping clothes. He had to be freezing too, but his focus had been to take care of my needs first.