by J W Murison
Chapter 39
It was morning and she was gone. All that was left for me was a faint scent of her against my pillow. The sense of loss crushed me. I quickly got washed and dressed and found her with Connie and John in the kitchen. There was an odd atmosphere; Connie and John seemed amused. As soon as Robyn stood up I realised why, she was moving rather gingerly.
John began raking in cupboards. ‘Connie are we out of sugar by any chance?’ I scowled at him but he only grinned cheekily.
‘No, I’m sure there’s plenty.
‘Aye found it. Cup of tea Alasdair? I’m sure you could use it after your night’s exertions.’
My face flushed red with anger and Robyn was blushing furiously. I wanted to strangle him, but to say anything would have only embarrassed Robyn further.
‘How’s Graham?’ I asked, changing the subject.
‘Sleeping soundly the last time I checked.’
‘I’ll check myself once I’ve had a cuppa.’
‘Would you like something to eat?’ Robyn asked.
I was famished, but I couldn’t bear to see her limp around the kitchen. ‘No I’m fine at the moment.’
She seemed disappointed. Had she some fantasy about making her man a grand meal in the morning? ‘Unless you’re making for yourself.’
A broad grin split her face, ‘I’m famished, would you like some bacon?’
‘Yes I’d love some.’ Connie tried to help but Robyn shooed her away. I could hardly keep my eyes from her as she busied herself. Every time our eyes meet she blushed prettily. I felt a different type of hunger grow again. I wondered idly how long it would take for her to heal.
I discussed the day ahead with John. Most of it would involve the police and the previous day’s activities. I wasn’t looking forward to it but there was nothing I could do about it. Robyn fussed about if somewhat gingerly, much to John’s amusement I may add.
Once I finished breakfast, I went to check on Graham. I found him awake and alert but weak. Fiona was still there and looking very tired. A smile crossed her face as I entered.
‘Good morning Laird.’
‘Morning Fiona. How are you Graham?’
‘Lucky to be alive Sir, thank you.’
I smiled. ‘You’re thanking the wrong man. I only carried you off the battlefield as it were.’
‘I’m sorry…’ he started.
I stopped him going on with a hand on his shoulder. ‘There is no need to apologise, Graham. Your intentions were honourable and not without courage. Besides, your untimely arrival distracted the poachers and gave John and myself the chance to get the upper hand. I’m just sorry the personal cost to you was so high. I’m sure Rory would have been proud of you.’
Pride shone from his face. ‘Thank you Sir.’
‘Don’t thank me lad, I’m trying to thank you. It could as easily have been John or myself lying there if you hadn’t turned up.’
The Doctor arrived bright and breezy. ‘Good morning everyone. Ah, I see you’re awake young man, but tired I’ll bet.’ Graham nodded. ‘That’s as it should be. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave Alasdair; the lad’s a lot of healing to do yet. As for you Mrs. Mc Donald, get some sleep or you will only worry the lad and we can’t have that.’
He shooed us out. I guided Fiona up to a spare room. She hesitated at the door. ‘Can I just say I’m sorry for all the things I said?’
‘It’s amazing how fast your views change when something like this happens, isn’t it?’
She smiled weakly. ‘Yes it is. Is it true, Laird, you gave her a drink of water from the Spring of Love with your own hand?’
‘I’m afraid it is, unthinkingly I must admit.’
The smile deepened a little. ‘In that case we should be having a wedding shortly. I had better get my good dress ready.’
I smiled to myself as I descended the stairs. At least that was one convert, only two thirds of the Glen to go.
The police arrived shortly after from the big Station in Elgin and with them came detectives and forensic experts. John and I spent the rest of the day answering question after question, then going over them again and again. It was exhausting and by now my arm ached. Of course there were questions to be answered about our rifles, but both of us being VC holders smoothed over a lot of potential trouble.
Our evening meal that night was a lack-lustre affair. Robyn was on duty looking after Graham, John and Connie had been running back and forth to the door all night as men finished their work and came visiting. Everyone seemed to visit. The Doctor found me in my study nursing a thumping headache and ordered me to bed.
The next morning a fine mist spilled down off the high moors. The castle was quiet so I made myself a light breakfast. Taking a rod I went fishing and arrived home at dinnertime with a couple of salmon.
John groaned when he saw me, ‘och, no salmon again?’
Robyn took them off my hands. ‘Give them to me. I’ll do an Indian recipe.’ That perked him up a bit.
‘Going to the dance in Chapeltown tonight?’ he asked.
‘Never even crossed my mind,’ I admitted.
‘That’s good because you’re baby-sitting,’ he laughed
‘What, again?’ I protested. ‘Can’t you get one of the lassies from up the Glen to do it?’
‘Nah, he prefers you.’
‘Och aye ok then, the wee mite does nothing but sleep anyway.’
‘I’ll help if you want,’ Robyn offered.
Suddenly the task of baby-sitting took on a new quality. ‘That would be great, thanks.’
John and Connie were both grinning suspiciously. ‘Were taking the Doc and Mrs. Fox with us,’ he announced.
‘Who’s keeping an eye on Graham?’
‘Fiona will be here but the Doc thinks the lad’s out of danger now.’
I knew she wouldn’t bother us. Robyn announced she wanted to go for a walk later and suddenly everyone was too busy to be able to go, except me that was. Connie was going to put the salmon in to cook after Robyn had prepared it, so with nothing else to do we set off.
‘Where would you like to go?’
‘I quite fancy going back to where we were at the spring,’ she answered, flushing brightly.
My heart raced at the prospect, ‘Ok, that isn’t a problem.’ I collected a few things from the kitchen for a small picnic and hand in hand we set off.
The mist had burned off completely and it was a beautiful midsummer’s day.
‘How are you feeling now?’ I asked tentatively.
She knew exactly what I was referring to and blushed prettily, ‘I’m a fast healer.’
I merely nodded, what more needed saying? It was a moment in time to savour. In love for the first time in my life and walking with that love across the land of my ancestors. This land was so much a part of me I could sense its moods. Today the mountains rejoiced with me in my love and I felt its strength flow through me; and through me to Robyn.
When we arrived at the spring I laid out a blanket for us to sit on. Then from my pack I produced a leather container. Inside was a fine crystal glass. Robyn watched mesmerized as I filled it from the running spring. I offered it to her and her eyes turned liquid. ‘Do you know what I ask of you Robyn Colwin?’
‘I understand Alasdair Sinclair.’
‘Know you now before you drink the Water of Love that I shall never be parted from these hills or Glens. The responsibilities I hold here are for life. Even though we may journey away for short times I must always return. Know also this: The people of the Glen must always come before we do. There is no compromise Robyn. It is as it is and as it always shall be.’
Tears ran freely down her beautiful face as she took the glass. Could she feel the tension ripple through me? I knew Connie would have told her of the customs of the spring. If she tipped the glass untouched on to the heather I would be lost forever.
‘Know you this Alasdair Sinclair: I drink freely of this water and accept your proposal of marr
iage with all my heart. I also accept the conditions upon which the marriage will impose on me as mistress of the Glen and wife of the Chieftain of the Clan.’ With no further words she placed the glass to her lips and drank.
For God’s sake, don’t choke now, I prayed silently. It would put a hex on the whole thing. She drank it straight down then leaned across and filled the glass and handed it to me.
I took the glass from her delicate hands and without further pause for thought drank every drop from the glass. It was done.
‘Where did you learn the proper words?’ I asked already knowing the answer.
‘Connie thought I might need to know them.’
‘She’s a smart one, that.’ I reached for her and our lips met. The embrace quickly became passionate. I lifted her to her feet and took her inside.
I undressed her slowly as she undressed me. The sight of her black underwear and silk stockings lit a fire in my breast that only loving could quench. She shuddered and gasped as I ran my hand up her leg, contacting with warm flesh above the stocking tops. Her legs opened and my fingers slid beneath the cami-knickers.
I groaned as I found her ready, my fingers already soaked. Her legs opened further as I probed gently, she moaned into my mouth as we kissed. She broke free as my wet fingers began to stroke that delicate button. Her head went back and I laid her gently onto the bed. My head dipped to taste that wonderful nectar once again.
She came fast and hard and I watched her face. It was almost too much. I stood and quickly shed my last garments. She gasped in shock as she saw me fully erect for the first time. It calmed me a little.
I removed her cami-knickers, then her bra. We were able to view one another properly for the first time. She was even more of a beauty in daylight. We began to explore. I gasped as she touched me for the first time. Her breathing became ragged, her touch unsure. Her innocent fumbling filled me with a new sense of wonder.
Her legs parted as again I sought to touch her innermost self. A finger slipped inside her. She began to moan with pleasure. Her hips began to rock in time to my fingers. A flood of warmth coated them and it was too much. I slid between those silken thighs.
She screamed as I entered her, but there was no pain in that cry. I felt an intense surge of joy which had never felt so good. Never had I ever experienced a woman so tight. It threatened to release my essence too fast, but I wanted it to last longer. I slowed down, rotating my hips, making her cry out shamelessly.
Then I started stroking deeper and deeper, bringing her to new heights. I could feel the blanket beneath us become saturated but it only galvanized me further.
‘Oh no Alasdair, don’t stop!’ she cried as I pulled out, but I had no intention of stopping. I rolled her on to her stomach and pulled her on to her knees.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Trust me darling, relax.’
She did and I groaned aloud as I watched myself disappear inside her once more.
‘Oh God yes,’ she cried as I slid back out glistening with her juices. It was almost too much. I began to stroke her back and thighs. Reaching round I caressed those firm breasts. The feel of her rock hard nipples made me thrust harder and faster. Her juices splashed against my inner thighs as we built up to a simultaneous orgasm.
At the last moments she thrust back hard, trying to take all of me. I banged against her womb, too far gone to try and control myself. She screamed once more, half in agony, half in ecstasy, then we flowed together.
I collapsed on top of her. With our own breath rasping in tender throats, we lay like that for a long time.
She groaned gently with loss as I finally went flaccid and slipped out. I turned her in my arms and we kissed tenderly for what seemed an eternity. Neither of us wanted to move but I began to get hungry.
‘Would you like something to eat?’
She nodded her eyes aglow. ‘Yes I’m starving.’
I broke free and served up a few cold cuts on bread. Her hands idly stroked my back. I felt a little self-conscious for a moment, then the feeling simply washed away.
I caught her frowning thoughtfully. ‘What’s the matter?’
She shrugged and I knew instinctively it was something very important.
‘You know I’ve never done it before - well before you, but you have.’
‘I have, yes.’
‘Well, it’s just that……… I was just wondering if it was any good.’ Her eyes dropped, then she suffered a moment’s panic. ‘I mean it was really good for me – wonderful if fact; I mean was it any good for you?’
‘It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life Robyn.’ I could see she didn’t believe me for a moment. ‘I’ve never made love to a woman I was in love with before. I never realised it could be so intense, so full of joy and wonder.’
‘Really? I never realised there could be a difference.’
‘Neither did I,’ I admitted. She flushed with pleasure but there was more on her mind. ‘Come on, out with it.’
She squirmed with embarrassment. ‘I don’t know how to say this.’
‘Just say it Robyn. Don’t be embarrassed, we’re lovers now and soon enough we will be man and wife. We’re going to be together for a long time, so just ask.’
A beautiful smile crossed her face and I felt my heart swell. ‘It’s just that… … what we did there with me on my knees,’ her voice faltered a little but she went on bravely, ‘it was very nice, but is it normal?’
‘You really don’t know do you?’ She shook her head. ‘It’s perfectly normal. Don’t worry about it.’
She laughed, ‘I wasn’t worrying about it Alasdair, I was just wondering if there was any more?’
I joined in her laughter. ‘As many as your imagination will allow.’
‘Really? And what about what you did to me with your tongue? Can women do that sort of thing too?’
My heart began to hammer again and I felt a stirring. ‘Oh yes, woman can do that sort of thing too.’ It was beginning to look like I’d found myself a vixen of quality. Life had just taken an unexpected upward turn. I handed her a drink and she winched as she sat up to accept it.
‘A little tender are we?’
‘Just a little.’
‘You’re in just the right place too.’ I swept her up into my arms.
‘What are you doing Alasdair?’
‘Not only does spring have magical properties but so does the pool.’
She squealed with indignation as I carried her outside into the open air. ‘Alasdair you can’t be serious,’ she began to squirm as I waded into the pool and found herself hung up on my rapidly returning erection. ‘Oh!’ she exclaimed looking into my eyes with surprise.
‘Guess what?’ I grinned cheekily.
Her eyes blinked owlishly for a few heartbeats. ‘This is another one of its benefits.’
Laughing, I lifted her free and threw her into the middle of the pool. She screamed until the water cut it off. I could do nothing but laugh as the drenched figure came up shivering, too cold to do anything but splutter. I, for one, had bathed in this pool many times and hardly noticed the cold.
I leaned back in the water. ‘What’s the matter woman? A little too cold for you?’
‘Alasdair Sinclair you’re a total shit.’ She launched herself at me and pushed my head under the water. I came up laughing harder than ever. What ensued was a very interesting wrestling match. I’m not sure who got the better of whom. It ended with us in each other’s arms again. The effects of the cold water had passed and I found myself fully aroused again. I lifted her on to him and thrust inside her.
‘Oh, you weren’t joking,’ she cried out. But whether she was talking about the position or the water I don’t know.
Water lapped up around the edges as we made love again. We ended up lying in the shallows; the difference in the temperature and her burning heat brought me to the point of orgasm again quickly. Robyn dug her nails in to my back as I shuddered to a climax once again.
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br /> We lay together for a few moments gasping for breath. I looked down and couldn’t resist the sight I saw. Lowering my head I took one of those rock hard nipples into my mouth.
I was amazed by her response. I felt a rush of heat as my shrinking member finally filled her to the hilt and she cried out.
‘Alasdair, Oh Alasdair! It’s happening again,’ her hips crashed against mine a few more times, then the spasms passed leaving her shuddering.
Still locked together I carried her back into the hut and wrapped us both in a blanket. The rest of the afternoon we spent in one another’s arms murmuring sweet nothings.
As we walked home she asked me the fatal question that was never far from my own mind. ‘What will happen to us if the General doesn’t bring good news tomorrow?’
Fear burned in my guts as I stopped and turned her to face me. ‘For us it will not matter. Nothing will change. We will get married at the time and place you choose.’
‘But what about the people of the Glen, you have to abide by their wishes don’t you? You can’t marry me if they say no or if it threatens to split them.’
A fierce pride swept through me at that moment. Already she was putting their welfare before her own. I gathered her into my arms. ‘The people of the Glen will come to love you as much as I have; there is no doubt in my mind about that.’
Her face didn’t reflect my confidence. We walked the rest of the way in a strange silence.
Chapter 40
The day was spent in nervous preparation for the General’s arrival. It was near night when John returned with him. The General was an imposing man, obviously a combat soldier at one time by the medals he wore. I recognised most of them.
He held out his hand and I took it. ‘I’m General Grafton Craig, United States Marine Corps.’
‘Sir Alasdair Sinclair, Laird of CarnMo’r, Chieftain of the Clan Sinclair.’
He nodded. ‘Major Sinclair of the First Battalion The Gordon Highlanders?’
‘Yes Sir, that’s me.’
He frowned. ‘I read your dossier Major, impressive. However I believed the attack had left you crippled for life.’