IT WAS GOING TO BE a long night for them all and Ben was content just to have Alison near him. She didn’t want to talk much and that was fine with him. She seemed to have something on her mind and he hoped it was his kiss. Once Ben suggested the torch was driving the cow further away, Dominic took the hint and backed off. Yet even in the pale light, she was still hesitant to look at him.
“Perhaps you should practice,” Ben mentioned once the cow started to lie down again and they stopped to watch.
“Practice what?”
“Looking at me. ‘Tis bound to get easier if you practice.”
She took a deep breath, turned to face him, and looked into his eyes until she was certain he would become uncomfortable. The stare down always worked on her sisters, but Ben was not the least bit intimidated. Finally, she laughed and looked away. “You have done a little practicing as well, I see.”
It was good to hear her laugh. “I have three brothers and a father who taught us not to look away when a man challenges us. ‘Tis a sign of weakness.”
“Yet I am not a lad.”
“Aye, but you would have thought less of me if I let you win.”
This time she grinned. “True. Edana is the only one who can beat me and she taught all of us the same as your father taught you. ‘Tis dangerous to look away. The hard part is not letting yourself think of anything that might distract you. Do you agree?”
“I do. What were you thinking of just now?”
“I was thinking I should let you win. I already insulted you by letting you think you were unpleasant to look at, and I decided I should be kinder.”
“So you let me win out of kindness.” When the cow got up and moved again, he waited for Alison to start and then walked beside her. The light didn’t follow. He took hold of her arm and stopped her so he could look back and protect her if need be. Just then, Dominic noticed and hurried to catch up.
Once Ben let go, Alison resumed walking and the conversation. “Normally, I would not let you win.”
“I see. Perhaps someday I will challenge you.”
“Perhaps I will accept.” Her smile matched his and he was right, the more she looked at him the more comfortable she got doing it. She could still avoid his piercing eyes in the daytime, she guessed, if she needed to, but for now it seemed natural to look at him especially when he smiled. He was more than pleasant to look at, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.
CHAPTER IX
ALISON’S FOOT SUDDENLY hit a rut and to keep from falling, she reached out and grabbed Ben’s arm.
Just as quickly, he put his other arm out for her to grab. Yet as soon as she caught her balance, he moved away. “Perhaps we should have Dominic come closer.”
She rolled her eyes. “I would rather fall on my face.” The cow stopped again and so did she. “Do you mind my asking so many questions?”
“Not at all. It helps to pass the time.”
“Would Neil ever banish a lass?”
“I do not know.”
“But for what sins would he perhaps consider banishing a lass?” she asked.
“Neil honors all lasses, but I suppose if a lass killed a child or maybe even an adult without good cause, then Neil might banish her.”
“But not if she commits adultery?”
He raised an eyebrow and turned his grin to her, “Are you planning to commit adultery?”
Alison giggled, “Hardly, but I did hear of a lass who did. Her son was born with dark hair but her husband’s hair was yellow.”
“What happened to her?”
“I am not sure. She swore she had not bedded another lad, but her husband did not believe her. I think he sent her and the baby away, but kept the other children. Then he had the priest set her aside so he could take another wife. But then do you know what happened?”
“Nay, what?”
“His new wife had a child with dark hair too.”
Ben frowned, “What did he do then?”
“I do not know.” Alison knelt down and stroked the cow’s neck, but the cow seemed to find that annoying, so she stopped and stood back up. “For what cause can a lad set his wife aside?”
“Other than adultery?”
“Aye.”
“I have heard of a lad who set his wife aside when she gave him only daughters and no sons.”
“Lads are very fond of sons, are they not?”
“It would seem so.”
“Can a lass set her husband aside?”
Ben had to think that question over. “I have never heard of it happening, but I suppose so. However, a lad who loves his wife would not set her aside for any reason.”
“But some lasses do not love their husbands quite so much after they are married. My mother very much regretted matching herself with my father.”
“Did she love him when she married him?”
Alison brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “Edana says mother thought she did. I wonder if ‘tis possible to be certain before marriage.”
“I do not know. Perhaps you should ask some of the other lasses.”
“Well, it has nothing to do with me, naturally. I was just curious.”
He let that comment go unanswered and kept quiet for a little while. “I could tell you what love is like for a lad.”
She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it. She looked to see if Dominic could hear and when she was sure he couldn’t, she nodded.
He took a deep breath and glanced around to be sure they were safe. “Of a truth, ‘tis more maddening than anything else. A lad thinks about her constantly, wonders where she is and if she is thinking about him.” Ben watched Alison’s face for some hint that she felt the same, but she kept her eyes lowered and her face blank. “Then he waits.”
“Waits for what?”
“For her to fall in love with him. It can take a long time and he must be very patient.”
“But when he chooses a lass, does she always fall in love with him?”
He laughed a nervous sort of laugh. “Nay, a lass has a mind of her own. Now, ‘tis my turn to ask a question. Do you already know the answers to all these questions?”
“Aye, but some of what we hear comes into question later. I only wanted to know the truth and I believe you tell me the truth.”
“I am glad you trust me.” He hoped she would ask more questions about love, but she got quiet again.
For the remainder of the night, they followed the cow and talked of unimportant things. When dawn came, Dominic went home and left the two of them alone. Not long after, the cow lay down and her stomach began to look as though she was holding her breath. The birth finally proved to be twins as Ben suspected, but they were tiny and even thumping them on the head did not cause them to breathe.
Alison was sad, but not devastated. She knew the calves were too small to live and was glad they did not suffer. The cow knew also and eventually went back to the herd. Then there was nothing left to do but go home and try to get some badly needed sleep.
Ben took hold of her elbow to make sure she didn’t fall and was pleased when she didn’t pull away. “Do you have another question to ask me?”
“About what?”
“I am not sure. It just seems as though there is something you would like to ask but don’t know how.”
Perhaps if she had not been so tired, she might not have been so vulnerable, but her words came tumbling out before she took time to think about it. “I wondered if...I mean, when you kissed me I...I felt an odd sensation. Can you explain it?”
She was being direct again and for a moment, he wondered if he would ever get used to that. “I believe what you are asking about is desire. ‘Tis natural for a lad and lass to desire each other when they are in love.”
Alison stopped walking and pulled her arm away. “But I am not in love!”
“Neither am I...now. If I kissed you now, you would probably not feel a thing.” He waited to see what she would do. She held her eyes down, but he could see her dart them
back and forth, as though she were considering it. Gently, he lifted her chin and slowly lowered his lips to hers.
His kiss was so soft, she hardly felt it at first, but then he put his arms around her and pulled her so close it was as if they were of the same body. Then he pressed his lips harder against hers, began to show his passion and her knees felt as though they were about to buckle. Her head swam with need and soon she had her arms around him too. She wanted more of his kiss and more of him.
Abruptly, she realized what she was doing and pulled back. Furious, she made him let go of her and stomped away. “That is not fair!”
He had to hurry to catch up. “What is not fair?”
“You did not warn me about that. Desire is what makes a lass want to marry a lad.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “That is what I hoped it would do. I love you, Alison and I want you to marry me.”
“You know very well I do not intend to marry and you know why. I thought you understood. You said you did.”
“I do, but I cannot help what I feel any more than you can. You love me too. I could feel it in your kiss.”
“Stay away from me, Ben MacGreagor. I...I do not love you.” She pulled out of his grasp again and ran the rest of the way, determined not to let him see the tears in her eyes.
HIS FLASK WAS EMPTY and Comine MacDuff missed the whole thing. Instead, he was fast asleep in the forest.
FOR THREE DAYS, SHE stayed away from Ben, but Alison was miserable. Her late night pacing made the other sisters cranky, so she went outside. She dared not go far in the dark, so she leaned against the cottage wall and folded her arms to think. She’d been thinking for days and so far nothing was resolved. Was he right, did she love Ben? It was so hard to stay away from him. She thought about him constantly, wondered where he was and if he was thinking about her—just as he said a man in love does. Nevertheless, even if she loved him, she didn’t want to die in childbirth.
Suddenly she thought of a question she had not thought of before. Millin’s candle was still lit so she walked next door and knocked.
It only took a few seconds for Millin to open her door. “Oh my dear, am I ever glad to see you. Come in, come in and I will pour you some wine and tell you the news.”
“Thank you.” Alison closed the door behind her and quickly took a seat at the table. “What news?”
“Well, Jonrose spotted an unfamiliar lad wearing a MacGreagor kilt after the noon meal.”
“Did they catch him?”
Always frugal, Millin poured a sip of wine in each of two goblets, but just a sip and she calculated it exactly. She put the flask away and sat down opposite her guest. “Nay, they did not, but they will. Now, tell me what has upset you.”
“I am not upset...befuddled is all.”
“Then maybe I can help. What befuddles you?”
Embarrassed, she folded her hands in her lap and stared at the table. “When a lad and lass...you know...after they marry, is there any way to prevent having a child?”
Millin smiled. “You want to marry, but you are afraid of childbirth?”
Alison took a deep breath and let it out. “How did you become so wise?”
“‘Tis not wisdom, ‘tis a common question. You are not the first to fear it, nor will you be the last. But most lasses do not die.”
“My mother did.”
“I know, but she had eleven children before she died. As near as I can tell, she gave birth nearly every year. Perhaps it is too much for some lasses.”
Alison frowned, “But how could she have prevented having too many children?”
“I do not think God wants us to prevent having children or he would have given us a sure way.”
“Except never to marry.”
“Aye.” Because of the look on her face and the seriousness of the discussion, she put Alison’s goblet in her hand and urged her to take her sip. Then Millin got up, recovered the flask and put in another sip. “You could refuse to marry. But that only works when you do not love a lad. If you love him, there is little you can do about it. The heart goes where it wants to go no matter what we do.”
“But a strong lass could refuse to marry a lad even if she loves him.”
“True.” Millin watched the lass take her second sip and set her goblet down. “Many have tried doing just that, but if you do not marry Ben, some other lass will.”
It was like a bolt of lightning and Alison looked stunned. “I had not thought of that.”
“My dear, the pain of losing the lad you love is far greater than the fear of death or the pain of giving birth. Take it from one who knows—a broken heart never completely heals.”
CHAPTER X
SHE DIDN’T REMEMBER thanking Millin or even saying good night. Nor did she remember passing a guard or even noticed if there was one. All Alison could think of was getting to Ben. She loved him and she wasn’t going to let any other woman have him. She wanted to marry him and be in his arms forever. She even wanted to have his children now that she understood.
She went to his cottage first, but there was no light in the window. She turned down the path, quickly reached the end of the village, and began to run down the glen toward the horses. Unsure of where she would find him, she stopped for just a second to try to remember which animal might be ready to give birth—the sheep or the cows? She decided to head for the cows.
JUST AS HE REACHED out to grab her from behind, Alison started to run again. Comine could not believe his luck. Finally, she was alone and he missed. He slipped back into the edge of the forest and started to run her same direction. Luckily, his legs were longer and it was easy to keep up with her. Mindful to be ready to stop when she did so she would not hear him, he gradually got ahead of her and then stopped to wait. His heart was pounding and it was all he could do to keep from breathing too loud.
HER SMILE WAS WIDE, her legs were not even tired and Alison’s heart was on fire with anticipation. There he was, with the cows just as she hoped. “Ben!” she shouted.
He would recognize that voice anywhere and instantly got up to turn around. His smile quickly faded and his eyes widened. “Alison, look...”
Too late. The man had her from behind, put a knife to Alison’s throat and was pulling her into the forest. Instinctively, Ben put two fingers to his mouth and gave his loudest whistle. It began with a high pitch, ended much lower and it was the one signal the clan dreaded most - something awful was happening. Just as quickly, he drew his sword and ran into the forest hoping to get behind the attacker.
Comine was not afraid of just one man. He laughed, turned himself and the woman around and started to pull Alison out of the woods into the pasture instead.
Ben slowly moved toward him. He hoped to keep the man out in the open where he could fight him easier and so far so good. “Let her go.”
“I claim her as my bride and you cannot stop us.”
Ben tried to inch forward again, but the intruder pulled Alison several more steps away. “You cannot just take a lass.” In the distance, he could hear his whistle being repeated and men were beginning to shout.
“I can do whatever I want.” Comine backed up still more and then adjusted his grip on Alison. “My mother said this lass is the one and promised she will be mine.”
It was Alison’s worst nightmare come true and the man had her completely immobilized. At least she hadn’t lost her breath and still had the wits to try to think. If only she could reach her dagger, but he had such a strong grip on her arms, it was impossible. All she could do was watch Ben and try to let him know she was all right with her eyes.
ABOUT TO GET READY for bed, Neil heard the whistles and stuck his head out the window. “Where?”
“In the pasture,” someone shouted.
“Alison,” Neil whispered. He yanked open the door, raced down both flights of stairs and flew out the door. With Walrick and Gelson right behind him, he ran across the courtyard, past the new cottages and into the glen. When he got cl
oser to the pasture, he slowed.
As if they somehow knew ahead of time, all the sisters were already there. They stood with their arms folded in two rows with the little ones in front and the older ones behind. Each was breathing hard from running, and glared at the man who had Alison in his grip. Other men with torches had also reached the scene before Neil and had the man surrounded, but Ben was the closest to him.
“Back away,” Comine yelled, waving his dagger at Ben and then returning it to Alison’s neck.
Neil instantly motioned for all his men to step away. “I am Neil MacGreagor, let her go.” The sisters, he noticed did not move back.
“You do not scare me, MacGreagor. This is my bride and I am taking her.” Comine waited for someone to say something else. Yet when they didn’t try to talk him out of it, it emboldened him. “I will have her horse too. Bring the mare to me.” No one moved and Comine’s boldness began to subside. Even so, as long as he had the woman, he could demand anything he wanted. “I’ll have that matching stallion too. He will be a wedding gift to my bride.”
Alison seemed calm enough, but Ben wanted to kill the man and kept trying to think of a way to do it. If he could get close enough he could grab the man’s hand. Yet there was no guarantee he would not cut her before Ben reached him.
He glanced at Neil and then at Walrick, but neither of them seemed to know what to do either. Cautiously, Ben took a step forward. Maybe he could drive the intruder into the reach of the MacGreagors behind him.
This time Comine only grinned. “I know what you are doing and it will not work. Mother said you might try that trick.”
Marti Talbott's Highlander Series, Volume 4 Page 10