by J W Murison
‘They would have said if they were,’ I reassured.
Connie and John appeared with his transfusion equipment. He laid it out and called me over. ‘I’d better take you first then.’
I stripped off my shirt and while he took blood from one side Robyn bandaged up the other. I smiled at her, but she struggled to return it. The jar began to fill quickly and he took a moment to examine my back.
‘A fine piece of work if I do say so myself.’ He seemed quite pleased with himself.
‘I’ll have to agree with you on that score.’
He returned to young Graham. We had a small bottle of chloroform normally used by the vet when he turned up. While he listened to his heart, Connie dripped small amounts on to a cloth. ‘That’s enough for now Connie,’ he cautioned. ‘Oh damn,’ while his back had been turned I had filled the jar. ‘That’s too much.’
‘Well you’re not putting it back in,’ I told him.
He disconnected me. I stood and immediately sat again as a wave of dizziness washed over me.
‘Robyn, take him through to the kitchen and give him some sweet tea and soup if there is any,’ he ordered.
I was guided away with an arm round her shoulder and John took my place at the jars.
I felt weak and chilled. John joined me presently and Robyn went back to assist her father. ‘I don’t envy those poor lassies tonight. He put a drain in his chest while I was giving blood. Thought I was going to be sick.’
‘Don’t be daft man, how much blood and guts have you seen in your time?’
‘Nah Alasdair, that was a lot different to what we were used to. Seeing that I realise it takes a special type of courage to do that man’s job.’
If John said it then it must be true, for the man who sat opposite me already possessed a boundless supply of courage.
Chapter 36
It was almost two hours before Fiona showed up. She appeared in tears, spitting fire. I was the first to get skewered, then John.
‘He disobeyed a direct order,’ John roared back.
I decided to intervene. ‘Leave it John; she’s worried sick about the lad.’
‘Damn it man, we all are.’
‘Don’t even try that with me,’ she hissed back. ‘Graham wasn’t one of your toy-soldiers you can order about at your leisure. He is just a young man; you should have kept a better watch on him.’
There were now five men around the table. Each had given his life’s blood to try help save the lad and every one of us had given a little more than he should have, yet all felt the sting of her words.
‘He couldn’t be in better hands,’ I tried to reassure. It didn’t work.
She whirled, ‘if you think I’ll change my mind about that little slut just because her father’s butchering my son then think again.’
It was too much, the dark veil threatened, ‘If I ever hear you say one more foul thing about Robyn again, Mrs. Mc Donald, I’ll throw you out of my house and you can wait for news of your son outside in the cold.’
She blanched at that but was saved by the radio crackling to life at my side. It was Tam with his prisoners and the police. The bodies and weapons had been collected now that the police were satisfied there had been no illegal killings. The bodies were taken in and laid in the entrance hall. I eyed them dispassionately. A police sergeant doffed his cap and pulled back the covers off their faces. ‘Have you ever seen the faces of any of these men before Sir?’
‘No.’
‘He covered them up again and dragged over his two prisoners. We went through the ritual again. Then I took him through to my study where everyman had to give a statement. I think he secretly enjoyed sitting at my big desk.
I stayed with him until all the men had been interviewed. A small fleet of vehicles arrived to take away the bodies, prisoners and evidence. The sergeant stayed to wait for the outcome of the operation.
The tension in Connie’s kitchen was palpable. Things had been happening since I been away. Robyn was now sitting in there too with a small plaster in the crook of her arm.
‘What’s happening Robyn?’ I asked.
‘The operation’s going quite well. One of your men arrived I think he was a medic.’
‘That’ll be Jojo Johnston.’
‘Yes I think that’s him. Father got him to take over from me. Mrs. Mc Donald gave us Graham’s blood group. It’s the same as mine. He thought it a good idea for me to give a transfusion.’
I almost laughed aloud. Fiona certainly wasn’t saying much now. She was keeping her head down and her eyes on her tea. Robyn’s cup was empty. I picked it up. ‘Would you like another?’
She made to get up. ‘I’ll get it.’
I pushed her back down. ‘No you won’t. You’ve had quite a night, I’ll get it.’
She smiled gratefully. It was almost another hour before the Doctor reappeared with Connie in tow.
‘Mrs. Mc Donald.’
Fiona got up and left with him. She never came back, but the Doctor did. Connie had collapsed into John’s arms so I got up and made her a cup of tea. He waited until we were all settled before saying anything.
‘I’m sure you all want to know how he is. The operation, despite our rather primitive surroundings, no insult intended, went rather well. Providing he catches no infections and there are no complications he should make a complete recovery.’
There was a spontaneous cheer. He held up a hand for silence, ‘however no one can be 100% sure and it is still very much in God’s hands.’ But we knew.
The police sergeant waited until he’d finished his cup of tea before taking a statement from him. He left shortly afterwards. I made us all something to eat, the women laughing at me standing at a hot stove with an apron on.
I did bacon and eggs for everyone and they went down a treat. I sat next to Robyn and found her gaze constantly on me. She placed a hand into mine under the table and squeezed it hard. The men began to slip away.
The police had insisted I kept a guard on the truck and the site of the shooting until morning. Black Tam appeared and we filled him in on the how everything went. He was going to stay on all night and said he would inform the sentries on his rounds. Young Graham had a lot of friends out there this night.
‘What kind of state’s the truck in, Tam?’ I asked.
He grinned. ‘As you ordered, Sir, all the tyres are out but there’s not a scratch on it elsewhere. I doubt if the police will be able to get a recovery vehicle up to it.’ We burst out laughing.
‘What are you bunch of rouges up to now?’ The Doctor asked, laughing himself.
I shrugged. ‘What can I say; a free truck won’t go amiss in the Glen. I’m sure we can find a use for it.’
Robyn looked round the laughing faces and burst out laughing herself, ‘Alasdair Sinclair, I do swear you are simply encourage-able.’
I slipped in to see Graham before I want to bed and nodded to Jojo. He was staying with the patent overnight. ‘How is he now?’
‘He woke up for five and minutes and took a small drink of water. He’s resting soundly now and has good colour.’
‘That’s good to hear. How are you, Fiona? There’s a spare bed if you want one.’
‘No thank you Laird, I’d rather stay with him throughout the night.’
‘I understand.’
She looked up with tears in her eyes. ‘He said he just wanted Rory to be proud of him.’
I gripped her shoulder in a reassuring manner. ‘I know he would be. Rory often spoke of Graham with the greatest of fondness. He loved him very much. I’m sure Graham misses him too. We all do Fiona, and there’s more than one person in this Glen saying a prayer for both tonight.’
‘Thank you.’
I left her and went and had a bath to wash the smell of death off me. I could hardly drag myself in to bed.
Chapter 37
Robyn watched Alasdair drag himself away up the stairs. She knew she should go to bed too, but knew she wouldn’t sleep. Most of th
e men had begun to leave. Each tipped their caps to her on the way out and somehow it made her feel special.
She found Connie back in the kitchen tidying up, putting away some of the big pots they had used to boil water in.
For long moments both women stared at one another, then simultaneously they burst into tears. John shuffled nervously for a moment and then announced he was going to check on the bairn.
He stopped in the doorway and turned back to them. ‘You two did a brilliant job tonight, you should be proud of yourselves; damn it, I’m proud of you; and Robyn, there’s not a man in this Glen who wouldn’t be proud to serve you as they do Alasdair.’
He left them clinging to one another for support. Eventually they broke apart.
Connie smiled. ‘He’s right you know. I’m so glad you’re going to be Mistress of the Glen.’
Robyn's spirits immediately plummeted. ‘Please Connie, don’t.’
Her smile only broadened. ‘You'll see.’
‘Can I help?’ Robyn desperately tried to change the subject.
‘You can help me wash the dishes if you like. The men are cleaning out the gun room.’
Robyn shuddered. ‘I'm glad it’s not me.’
Connie’s smile turned bleak. ‘I know how you feel. I hope I never have to go through anything like that again.’
‘Nor me.’
‘You were both very brave.’
They spun to find Robyn’s father in the doorway. He came over and gave his daughter a hug. ‘I’m very proud of both of you. It isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do and you were both thrown in at the deep end, but now I think you had better leave those things until the morning and get some rest yourselves.’
Connie shook her head. ‘I don’t think I could sleep right now. It keeps going round and round in my head, besides, we’ll probably have a lot of visitors tomorrow. If I leave this lot until the morning I will never catch up.’
Robyn smiled at her father. ‘I know exactly how she feels. I’m going to stay and help her. Why don’t you go up?’
‘Yes I think I will. Good night then, but don’t overdo it.’
With those words he left. The two women worked in silence. When they had finished they sat down to a cup of tea. Connie looked bushed but Robyn’s thoughts were screaming round and round in her head.
Connie noticed. ‘What's the matter Robyn?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I keep seeing Alasdair walking through the door with his arm all covered in blood. A few inches farther over and it might have been him on the table, or dead.’
Connie nodded and her eyes took on a faraway look. ‘I know. I keep hearing his voice on the radio saying that one of ours was hurt and knowing only John was with him. I almost cried with relief when his voice came on and told us it was young Graham.’ Fresh tears sprang to her eyes. ‘Oh God Robyn, I’m a terrible person.’
Robyn took her hand. ‘No you’re not Connie I had the same thoughts about Alasdair.’
Connie forced a smile. ‘Maybe we’re both terrible then?’
John reappeared. ‘Sorry to disturb you, but the youngster needs feeding. Will I bring him through, Connie?’
Her eyes filled with love as she regarded her very tired looking husband. ‘No John I’ll come through.’
John smiled. ‘Ok, night Robyn.’
Robyn smiled back. ‘Goodnight John.’
Connie stood and regarded Robyn for a long moment, then left the words unsaid, but Robyn knew she was going to bed to make love to her man, while she had to go to bed alone, her love left unfulfilled.
Robyn got undressed slowly then washed herself carefully in cold water. Sitting in front of the roaring fire she dressed for bed and brushed out her hair.
Thoughts still screamed inside her head. Images of the operation would flash into her mind before she could prevent it, and again and again the sight of Alasdair walking through the door, his arm covered in blood.
As she made her way over to the bed a wave of giddiness swept over her. Robyn collapsed to her knees; a hand reached out and clutched the embroidered bedspread for support.
A sharp pain lanced through her body as Alasdair’s face came once more to mind. She saw his smile, felt his lips brush hers and felt the deep burning heat in her loins as his hands swept down over her gentle curves. The bedspread became entangled in her fist as she gasped for air.
Suddenly the pain was gone and a warm glow began to infuse her whole body. The pain, the fears, the worries seemed to ebb away. Robyn regained her feet. She never looked back as the door clicked quietly behind her. She knew what she had to do.
Chapter 38
No sooner had I seemed to have closed my eyes than a presence in the room woke me. I looked up to find a very nervous Robyn standing over the bed. It was testimony to my tiredness that she had been able to open my door without me awakening, but I was fully awake now and alert. Her beauty was breathtaking. She stood before me in a white silk negligee that hugged her every contour and I could see quite plainly that she was naked beneath it. I felt my heart begin to hammer.
‘Robyn, what are you doing here?’
‘I’m - not really sure. I couldn’t stand being on my own anymore. I almost lost you tonight, and I’ve never even really got to know you. I can’t live with that Alasdair, not again.’
I made up my mind there and then that I would marry this woman and damn the Glen. If they didn’t like it they could lump it. I reached out a hand and she took it. I drew her down on to the bed and pulled back the covers. She slid in, in a manner so natural and graceful it took my breath away.
I gathered her into my arms and held her to me, cool silk against naked flesh. I played with her long dark tresses, gazing into her eyes, studying her face. My hands slipped from her hair on to her naked shoulders. I pushed down the thin strap, leaned over and caressed the spot with my lips. The heat within our bodies began to build. A soft sigh escaped her lips and her hands became entangled in my hair. I kissed her throat and she surrendered it to me.
I moved up to her lips. Kissing gently at first, running my tongue along her bottom lip then the top, sucking them in one at a time. She gasped at the new sensations which engulfed her.
My hands ran down her side, over her hips, found the hem of the negligee and slipped my hand under to make contact with hot flesh. Her breathing became quicker and shallower. As my hand caressed her naked buttocks she shuddered. My own breathing was suffering no better.
I felt my erection begin to dig in to her and moved it. There was no way was I going to let her see or feel it before we had made love. This was one woman I didn’t want to see running from the bedroom.
I stripped her of her single garment slowly, moving it down an inch at a time, caressing and kissing all as it revealed her body.
She cried out quite violently as my warm breath first caressed her nipples then sucked the first into my hot mouth. It hardened dramatically, surprising me with its size. I moved further down, nipping her sides with my teeth as the negligee slipped over her navel and I tasted it.
Her dark curls were revealed to man’s gaze for the first time as I felt the rumble deep in my chest. She cried out as I swept the garment off in one movement.
I half covered her with my body. Looking, touching, caressing, our excitement built. I could have taken her then, I was ready; too ready, I knew. I touched her everywhere but that most secret of places. She began to pant with frustration. Her hips moving of their own volition as I brushed over her soft dark curls.
I only hoped she was ready enough as I slipped back down her body, my tongue seeking. She didn’t begin to panic until my tongue slipped along her upper thigh.
‘Alasdair!’ Her voice quavered.
‘Hush lass,’ I reassured, ‘trust me,’ and she did.
She cried out half in fear, half in ecstasy as I tasted her sweetness for the first time. I caressed the length of her with the tip of my tongue, separating her folds, dipping deeper, drinking of her vir
gin juices.
Her hips began to thrash as she came closer to the brink. I slipped a finger inside her caressing gently, feeling the veil but being careful not to break it.
Her cries became louder, her movements more violent. ‘Oh Alasdair, Alasdair please!’
It was too much; no longer could I keep myself from this pleasure. Her legs opened automatically as I moved up her body. I prayed she was ready enough. Her cries of pleasure turned to a scream of pain as I stretched her beyond that which was natural.
Nails dug into my back causing me to cry out in sympathy. Legs thrashed helplessly on the bed as I ripped her veil asunder. I filled her, drew back and gently filled her again until she could take no more, then lay still within her.
I watched as the pain lines etched on her face began to fade. Her eyelids fluttered open and I sank into those liquid pools. She reached up and drew my lips on to hers.
‘Lift your legs,’ I whispered into her mouth, and they reached up and locked themselves around my back.
I began to move inside her again. Never in my life had anything felt so right. I knew I would have to posses this woman forever. I lifted myself up and watched as she began to feel the pleasure of love for the first time.
I looked down and groaned at the sight of her beautiful body beneath me. The length of me glistened as I drew it out of her to plunge back in again. Her cries were now those of pleasure, not pain, and I cried out like-wise as the sensations overwhelmed me. I stopped worrying and started enjoying.
Our bodies came together with more and more force as she thrust against me seeking, trying to take all. Never before had I felt so wanted or needed and I gave of my all.
Her cries, like the first flight of a young eagle, reached fever pitch. I felt a flood of warmth as she reached orgasm and it pitched me over the edge. Our cries, our love flooded together and left us exhausted, spent.
She bore my full weight as I gasped for breath. Her arms encircled me, holding tight. We lay like that for an eternity. I moved inside her and she whimpered. I knew I had to withdraw but wished I could lie within her embrace forever.
She cried out once more as I withdrew and folded her in to my arms. No words were said for a long time. None were needed.