Mountain Man's Bride

by Lauren Wood

  As for Caitlin, she wore a frumpy frock that she had altered to make it easier to fight. Her parents had been lost at sea and she had one brother that was never the same after he came back from battle. He muttered underneath his breath constantly, swinging widely in the night with nightmares that made her realize that he had seen things that nobody should.

  It took awhile for her to actually pick up a sword and be able to carry it with the grace of a warrior. She practiced every day, putting her body through its limits and beyond. She liked having power in the palm of her hand, but she knew that they would never accept her, as an equal on the battlefield. It didn’t matter. What mattered the most was what she thought about herself. Those that knew her felt that she was a woman of independence. What they didn’t realize was that she had no desire to care for a man. She wanted something else, but what that could be was still a mystery. She did crave everlasting love, but that was, as mythical as the unicorn.

  “I’ve been training for this day for, as long as I can remember. I’ve been waiting for the moment that I can finally show myself and not be ridiculed for carrying a sword. There are very few women that know how to fight.” “I may not want a man to cower to, but I would like somebody that I can stand with against overwhelming odds. I don’t want a man to think that they need to take care of me, when I am more than capable of taking care of myself. I looked at Kelvin and I see regret for not taking the bull by the horns and doing something about this attraction.”

  “Don’t say that I didn’t warn you. What I’ve taught you already is enough to keep yourself from being killed. Unfortunately, in battle there are too many variables that you have to account for.” They were away from the prying eyes of others. In the field, they were able to let themselves go and enjoy the thrilling moment where one of them would be supreme over the other. “I know that you have the tools, but let’s see if you can truly utilize them when you need them the most.” He had to admit that he enjoyed sparring with Caitlin. He swung the sword and was quite amazed that she was able to lift such a heavy object on her own.

  The clang of the metal felt like they were really fighting to the death. He moved to thrust forward, but she swung her sword around to deny him his target. They were enjoying the early morning hour, taking solace in the fact that everybody else was most likely sleeping. They had never been discovered and they hoped that they never would be. The sound of healthy competition was in the air. Those wildlife that were around came to witness the spectacle in front of their eyes. They did not interfere. It was not lost on either Kelvin or Caitlin but they had garnered an audience once again.

  “Is that the best that you’ve got? You’re supposed to be this big strong intimidating man. Show me what you would do if somebody was about to try to kill you.” She was breathing heavy, taxing her lungs with the exertion of what she was putting herself through. “I really don’t know how much more I can take of this. We’ve already surpassed the 10 minute mark that we usually do. I know that he’s testing me, but I think that he’s waiting for a chink in my armor.” Every time she moved, that slit up the side of the grayish white dress would show off her porcelain and creamy skin.

  Kelvin was looking at her, but not as an enemy, but as a potential love conquest. He would have enjoyed making her succumb to his baser instincts, but this was, as far as he was going to get with physical contact. It did distract him from the object of his desire, as she wielded that sword with a speed that did not seem possible by a female form. She may have been breathing heavy and her face was flushed, but she did not give up.

  “I’ll let you know when I’m ready to give up, but I think that it will be a cold day in hell when that happens. Little one, you show potential and I believe that you would surprise many. The way that you have been drawn to the sword is a testament to your late father Shamus. I had the fortune of standing with him on the battlefield and his blood lust for vengeance was very much evident in his eyes. I see that same fire in yours.” What he didn’t want to say was that he could translate that into the bedroom. He could make her yearn for his touch, but he was not going to take the risk of alienating her.

  Licking his lips and staring at her naked thigh was his final downfall. He had stopped all momentum, unable to take his eyes off the prize. Her sword swung his around and before he had a chance to counterattack, his sword was flying and landing near a tree several feet away. She stepped forward and swept him off his feet by moving her leg to the back of his and collapsing his knee. He was down at her mercy with that sword and the steel of the blade digging into his skin. There was a trickle of blood that landed on the blade. Caitlin took it away and used her fingers to smear it across her face.

  “I don’t think that it’s fair that you look like that. I will say that others will have the same problem. They won’t know how to take you and the element of surprise is going to be your best weapon of all.” He touched the wound, but it was merely a nick and nothing to really worry about.

  “I see your point. They will never suspect that I have skills with a sword. They will laugh heartily at my expense and that will be the last thing that they ever do. They will pass on to another life, cursing themselves for allowing their misconceptions to get the best of them.” I had heard through the Grapevine that there was something going to happen a few miles to the west. It was only ravings of the drunk, but I’d learned that there is always a semblance of truth in any story.” Caitlin felt bad that she had bested Calvin and did not want to be the cause of bruising his delicate male ego. She also felt exhilarated and that adrenaline pumping through her veins was enough to make her want to do it again.

  “You do know that I’m going to want a rematch, as soon as possible. I’m not suggesting that we do it right now, as we need to get back to the village, before they know we are missing. We’ve been gone a little longer than our usual time. I blame myself for that. I wanted to push you past your own endurance and I think that I accomplished that.” He was a little hurt that he had allowed her to step inside his private space. He had always prided himself on knowing his surroundings. The one thing that he was good at was knowing how the other man was going to think. That was the main problem. Caitlin was not a man and she had those feminine curves and sexual openness that made it impossible not to want more than just a passing glance.

  Chapter 2

  Caitlin had everything prepared and to avoid detection, she had wrapped her flaxen locks underneath a plain scarf of her own making. She did not want to be questioned by the sentry that most likely would be in the area. If this was really going to happen, then whoever was coming from the west was going to walk into a trap. It was primarily an ambush and she did not think that it was fair or just. A fair fight was one on one and to do otherwise would be dishonorable.

  “I stand here and look over the countryside. I know that I am in the presence of what god built. I am insignificant. Anything that happens here today is a small ripple. It means absolutely nothing in the long run, but to me it means more than I can ever say to anybody. Kelvin may have a basic idea of how important this is to me, but I don’t think that he truly grasps the concept of a woman fighting alongside a man. It was not like I was stepping into new territory. Women from other clans had taken a step in the right direction.” Caitlin wore her family’s colors with a green and black tartan that covered the important parts. She wore that kilt with the pride of a highland warrior. She did not have anything underneath and one wrong move would make her subterfuge well known to those in the area.

  Caitlin was hiding and she could see that some of her brethren were scattered about. They had no idea that she was there and she wanted to make sure that they never found out. Caitlin wasn’t even sure of what she was going to do, until the man in a yellow and black tartan rode by on his horse. Once he moved in between the trees her brothers would easily be able to jump him. From everything that she had heard, this had something to do with jealousy. Apparently, Ian Mackenzie was supposed to join in wedded bliss with a rival
chief’s daughter. He was on his way there now.

  Ian felt there was a shift in the air. He instinctively knew that the hairs on the back of his neck predicted danger. He saw nothing to warrant that feeling, but he had learned never to dispel what his body was trying to tell him. It was one of the rare gifts that he had gotten from his father. That particular gift had to be honed. There were times that he didn’t understand what was going on. He needed his father to help him with a guiding hand.

  “I’m afraid that is, as far as you go, Ian.” He stopped, pulling on the reins of the horse and looking around to see that he was no longer alone. He swallowed hard, and narrowed his eyes on the enemy and feeling that it was time to let loose the beast from within. “This is nothing personal, but the union of you and the chief’s daughter cannot happen. I’ve been tasked to make sure that you never make it to your final destination. This may seem unfair, but we know of your prowess with a sword. To go one on one against you would be playing right into your hand.”

  Caitlin had heard stories, but she never believed what they were saying. It seemed impossible and those times that Ian had survived were by sheer luck alone. “I know that you are only following orders, but that’s not gonna stop me from finishing what I started. Stand down or face the wrath of the Mackenzie Clan.” He knew that he was outnumbered, but he couldn’t have cared less. He had been in tough situations before and had walked away unscathed. He didn’t think that he was going to do that this time, but bloodshed was the byproduct of any war. “You all know that this doesn’t have to happen. You can walk away, before this escalates even further. I will have no ill will and you will not fear retaliation.” His best weapon was speaking the truth. Those that knew him had always been well aware that his word was his bond

  “We would really like to do that, but that’s not an option. This is going to happen and you may as well deal with the reality. Stand down from your horse and let’s get this ugly business out of the way.” Finn knew that this was wrong, but his leader Colin was adamant that Ian be taken care of in the most extreme way possible. He was to be a message to those that wanted to stand against the clan of MacDougall.

  “I think that we can all agree that today is a good day to die. The sun is shining and the birds are singing in the trees. If this is where we meet our maker, then I know that I will die with a smile on my face. This is not the end and it is only the beginning of our journey.” He landed heavily, carrying his sword over to the five men that had decided to send a message. “I’m going to give you one more chance to walk away, while you still can. You know how good I am, which is the reason why you brought along your friends. My exploits are legendary and there isn’t anybody in any clan that doesn’t know my name. Women fall at my feet and men cower in fear of having my blade stuck in their chest.” His attempt to use psychological warfare was working on a couple of them.

  Ian’s hair was down past his shoulders, unruly and unkempt like that of a warrior should be. He had recently bathed in a stream nearby, but for the most part he still looked like he was ready to fight to the death. His eyes watched all of them, never taking a moment for granted.

  Caitlin was impressed that Ian was willing to take on five men. He could’ve easily turned tail and made the horse race by them. That was not the type of man that they were dealing with. Caitlin had to admit that this man really was a cut above the rest.

  “I know that these are my brothers and, but for some reason I am rooting for the underdog. Everyone knows that Ian Mackenzie can take care of himself. People have sung songs about him and there were even rumors that he had been born with a sword in his hand.” Caitlin watched what was going to happen and felt the need to do something to even the odds. The battle began and from the moment that it started, she knew that they eventually the numbers would catch up to Ian.

  First blood was had by Finn. He was able to catch Ian off his game and concentrating on two others. His blade sliced across Ian’s left forearm, but thankfully it was not his primary fighting hand. It hurt like hell, but he showed no semblance of any kind of pain. He whirled around and decided to make a statement of his own. He ran through one man and watched the life drain from his eyes. The blade got stuck underneath his ribs, as he fell to the ground with his two hands holding onto the blade for some kind of support. That only cut his hands, but that was only a part of the story.

  Seeing one of his own fall, Finn made an ungodly scream to the heavens above. He surged forward; consciously aware that he was putting his life on the line for something that he didn’t even believe in. It did not matter and his duty to his chief was clear. There were four of them left and that still gave Finn the confidence to take the fight to Ian.

  Ian noticed that they were surrounding him, giving him very little options and not a lot to strike back at. When one came forward, the other sliced a part of his anatomy. He was bleeding like a stuck pig, but he was not going to allow that to deter him from his destiny. He fought valiantly, putting on a show that was worthy of spectators. He killed one more by slicing his jugular and letting the blood spray into the air, as a reminder of just how good he really was.

  This petrified one that didn’t seem to have the experience underneath his belt for battle such as this. He fell gurgling on his own blood and waiting for the death shroud to cover him once and for all. He would drown in his own fluids, painfully and quite aware that his life was coming to an end.

  The blood loss was causing Ian to lose focus and to fall back a step. He stumbled and looked like he was going to faint. By sheer will alone, he forced himself to stand, even though it was by swaying on his 2 feet. He lifted the arm without the sword and motioned with four fingers for the other two to come and receive the same treatment.

  He felt like he was on the precipice of a victorious comeback, but then something happened. He heard the rumbling and looked in time to see that an avalanche of rocks was converging on the battle that was ensuing.

  “We need to finish this right now and right here.” Those words echoed in his ears, as Finn had decided that not even an avalanche was going to keep them from doing what needed to be done. A rock slammed into his shoulder and he was knocked off balance. His broadsword struck into the shoulder of Ian. It was meant to go into his heart with one long stroke, but his aim was a little skewed by the rock hitting his shoulder. Had it not been for that, Ian would have been laid to rest to join his ancestors in the afterlife.

  Finn watched, as a huge boulder landed on his friend and comrade in arms. It crushed him beyond recognition.

  Chapter 3

  Finn could only hope that his death was painless. He came forward with a buildup of adrenaline that made him a force to be reckoned with. He had Ian at a disadvantage. Ian had dropped his sword and was now kneeling at his mercy.

  Caitlin had caused the avalanche, but the outcome was not exactly what she had hoped it was going to be. Her main purpose of causing the avalanche was to bring this fight to an end. Unfortunately, she did not take into consideration that Finn was a man that did not recognize defeat. Both Finn and Ian came from the same kind of warrior breeding.

  She moved down the hillside, conscious of the fact that her feet were a little unsteady after the avalanche. The dust that had settled around the area had obscured her vision from what was happening between the two fighters. She should’ve known that their highlander code would not allow them to run away to fight for another day.

  She heard the anguished scream, as she shielded her eyes and tried to make out who was coming out on top. “I don’t want either man to die, but I have this need of seeing Ian at his best. I shouldn’t feel this way. I’ve only met the man in passing during times of peace amongst my people. I’d never tried to hide the fact that I was interested in him, but he gravitated to those that were more comely and available.” Caitlin slipped a couple of times, but she was able to hold her own. The worst of her wounds was a deep gash in her hand. She had to stop momentarily to attend to the wound. She found exactly what sh
e needed in nature itself. She applied what most would consider a poultice.

  “This is not over…you will pay for this… AHHHHH.” The voice was that of Finn, as he looked up at the man that had finally gotten the better of him. He thought that he had him, his sword driven through to the bone in Ian’s shoulder. That feeling of victory superseded everything, so he did not notice the small knife that Ian had pulled and stabbed forth into his chest. It did not kill him, but he did know what it was like to be on the receiving end of defeat. It was not a pleasant taste in his mouth.

  “You’ve gotten complacent. I should kill you, but I’m not going to do that. You deserve to fight against me again. I know that it is foolish and if the reversal of fortune was in your favor, you would not hesitate to bring me down to my knees.” Ian was standing, but the blood loss was making him woozy. He watched Finn’s eyes flutter closed and instinctively knew that he was no longer alone. He spun around with that same knife showing the signs of being plunged into Finn along the blade.

  The sun streaming from behind the figure made it appear that he was walking towards an angel. “It’s not your time.” the words made him smile, but if it wasn’t his time, then why per chance was an angel here to greet him. She had flaxen hair that had fallen from her scarf and the kind of body that he would want to explore with his tongue from the top to the bottom. He licked his lips with anticipation, even though his death was very much near. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.” He saw the angular shape of her face, but did not recognize the woman in front of him.

  “I am ready to join my ancestors. Take me to them and let me rest finally.” He was practically begging for the relief of death. The pain was undeniable and those wounds that he had been inflicted with were seeping through his clothing. He walked shakily, holding the sword against the ground, as a form of a crutch to keep himself from collapsing altogether. “You are here to guide me to the afterlife. Take my hand and let vanquish the pain that I’m in.” He lost his balance, fell to his knees and then stood up defiantly. His breath was short and raspy. He felt the blackness envelope him. He knew that this was the end. He also knew that his soon to be love, Kathleen was going to be disappointed.