The Highlander's Promise

by Lynsay Sands

  And then she crested the mountain she'd been climbing and her mouth opened on a long ululating sound. The moment that happened, Aulay released her breasts, clasped her hips and pounded up into her hard over and over, prolonging her release and then joining in it with a shout of triumph.

  Jetta's heart was still thundering in her chest when she collapsed on top of Aulay, completely spent. She knew he said something to her then, she heard the rumble of sound in his chest under her ear, but she couldn't make sense of it. She was exhausted and drifting off to sleep.

  "We should really join the others fer that toast," Aulay said reluctantly, once he had enough breath to speak. He wanted to get the suggestion out before Jetta asked to do it again. He wasn't sure he'd be able to walk again after another round. The lass had a powerful passion.

  Realizing she hadn't responded, Aulay frowned.

  "Lass?" he said, lifting his head to try to see Jetta's face when she still remained silent. His eyes widened incredulously when he saw that she was sound asleep on his chest. After a moment, the sight brought a soft smile to his face, but it was quickly followed by a frown as he recalled she was newly from her sickbed and still healing. Both from her head wounds, and now a turned ankle as well, he recalled, and silently cursed himself. They should have stopped after the first time, he thought, mentally kicking himself. Now he'd gone and worn her out.

  Sighing, Aulay lay back and closed his eyes. He'd let her sleep for a bit, just a few minutes, and then he'd have to wake her, help her dress and urge her back to the keep. He'd probably carry her again, he thought, covering his mouth as a yawn claimed him. He'd noticed that her limp was more pronounced by the time the women had led her down to the church where he'd been waiting with the men, his people and Father Archibald. Aulay suspected the trek had been a bit much for her, and that for the time being she would do better to only walk short distances and rest her ankle as much as possible to allow it to heal.

  The problem would be getting her to stay off her foot, he suspected. Or mayhap it wouldn't, Aulay thought, glancing down when she shifted sleepily on top of him and his cock responded with interest. Perhaps he just needed to distract her again like he had when he was trying to keep her from actively searching out memories. They were married now, and it was a chore he'd enjoy, Aulay thought as his eyes drifted closed.

  It was pain that roused Jetta from sleep. Lifting her head drowsily, she covered her mouth to muffle a cough and then peered down at her throbbing ankle. The firelight allowed her to see what the problem was. She had slid off Aulay's chest to sleep curled up against his side and her injured ankle had somehow got trapped under Aulay's leg. The weight on it was causing her excruciating pain.

  Jetta had just started to try to slide her leg free of his when her brain woke up enough to question the firelight business. They were in the stables, which had been dark except for one torch by the door when they'd entered. There should not be firelight.

  Jerking her gaze toward the source of light, Jetta stared blankly for a moment and then sat up with horror and smacked Aulay, hard. "Husband? Husband, wake up! The stables are on fire!"

  "What?" Aulay sat straight up as if she'd poked him in the behind with a sgian dubh. Gaping at the flames climbing up the closed entrance doors, he breathed, "What the hell?"

  Jetta didn't bother to answer. He could see what the hell. Besides, she was busy pulling the top of her gown back into place and pushing down her skirts.

  "The horses."

  Glancing up at those husky words, Jetta watched wide-eyed as Aulay scrambled off the bales and hurried to the nearest stall. The man hadn't done a thing about his own clothes. He was still only in his shirt, and that was still pulled up over his head like some kind of halter. Shaking her head, Jetta coughed again and slid off the bale, wincing as she put weight on her injured ankle. Ignoring the pain, she bent to pick up Aulay's plaid, and chased after him. He'd opened the nearest stall door and had moved on to the second.

  "Husband, put yer plaid on," she said, shoving it at him as he swung the second stall door open and moved on to the third.

  Waving away the offering, Aulay pulled this stall door open as well, but then turned to stare around with a frown. The horses were whinnying in fear and banging about in their stalls, but not coming out of them. That didn't surprise her at all since it would merely take them closer to the fire.

  Cursing, Aulay turned to head toward the back of the stables, barking, "Get the horses out of the back stalls, but stay away from the front ones and the fire."

  Coughing again, Jetta glanced along the stalls and thought that they were all in terrible danger did they not soon get out of there, but the horses in the front were in the most immediate danger. The fire had not yet reached the stalls--they started ten feet in from the doors--but the flames were making their merry way toward them and frighteningly quickly.

  Straightening her shoulders, Jetta did exactly what Aulay had ordered her not to do and ran to the first of the two stalls closest to the fire. The heat was unbearable at that end of the stables, and the smoke was building up, becoming a black wall, but Jetta held her breath and felt her way and quickly opened the first stall. Unlike the animals at the back, this horse was eager to escape. The beast nearly trampled her in its panic to get away from the flames. Jetta managed to avoid its hooves, but was bumped to the side and slammed into the next stall with enough force that she swore she saw stars. Fortunately, she didn't have to direct the horse at least. It rushed to the back of the barn as if the hounds of hell were on its heels.

  Giving her head a shake to clear it, Jetta pushed herself away from the stall she was clinging to and shouted a warning to Aulay so that he didn't get trampled. She then moved to the stall across from the one she'd just opened, and then to the second in line on each side, and then the third. But she was more careful after that first horse, making sure to keep out of the way as she freed the animals.

  Jetta was approaching the sixth stall on the right before she heard the pounding. Glancing toward Aulay, she saw that he'd retrieved his sword from the bales and was hacking at the back wall of the stables with it, trying to make an opening for them all to escape. The crackle and rush of the fire must have muffled the noise he was making when she'd been closer to it, Jetta decided, because he'd actually made a sizeable hole already. One big enough for her to squeeze through, she was sure.

  She'd barely had the thought when Aulay lowered his sword and turned to shout for her. Suspecting she knew what he wanted, Jetta waved him off and opened the next stall door. She would not crawl out and leave him alone to deal with all of this and that's what she suspected he wanted, for her to escape the exhausting heat, breathtaking smoke, and searing flames and wait outside while he battled on alone. Well, he could just forget about that, Jetta thought with disgust. She was no delicate flower in need of--

  Her thoughts died abruptly when she was suddenly caught from behind, turned and swept off her feet.

  "Husband!" Jetta protested, kicking her legs. "Put me down."

  "I want ye out o' here. I'll handle the rest alone," he growled, striding back toward the hole he'd made.

  "I am not leaving you alone in here," she snapped, kicking her legs again.

  "The hell ye aren't!" he roared.

  "The hell I am!" she roared right back, and then they both turned their heads sharply at the sound of pounding and stared at the quickly enlarging hole Aulay had started. Several swords, axes and other weapons were tearing away the back of the stables like it was made of cloth.

  "Thank God," Aulay muttered, starting forward again. "Help has arrived."

  "Aye," Jetta breathed, relaxing in his arms now that they would both soon be out of there.

  By the time they reached the back of the stables, the hole was large enough for the already freed horses to escape. Aulay stood back to avoid being trampled as they rushed out, and Jetta took a moment to hope that the men outside had got out of the way in time to avoid being trampled as well, and t

hen the last horse was out and the men began pouring in.

  Leaving them to free the remaining horses, Aulay carried her quickly past them and out of the burning building. He didn't stop until they reached crisp, cool, smoke-free air.

  "Aulay! Jetta! Dear God, what happened?"

  In the midst of a coughing fit, it took Jetta a moment to glance around at that call. When she did, it was only to see that every member of her new family was now rushing across the bailey from the keep and barreling down on them. Truly, it was a beautiful sight, right up until the group drew up short several feet away, their mouths all dropping like fish out of water.

  That was when she recalled Aulay's state of dress, or undress really. Other than his shirt, which was presently gathered at his shoulders and behind his head, she was his only covering. And he was holding her high enough that she suspected she wasn't covering much more than his chest. Even as Jetta thought that, Aulay lowered his arms so that her bottom covered his jewels. At least she hoped it did.

  "I told you to put on your plaid," she said on a sigh.

  Much to her surprise, rather than be annoyed at her I told you so, a bark of laughter slipped from Aulay. "Aye. That ye did, love. And next time I'll listen, I promise."

  "Are ye both all right?" Rory asked, moving forward again and eyeing them with concern.

  "I am, but Jetta swallowed a lot of smoke," Aulay said solemnly.

  "I am fine," Jetta assured them in a hoarse voice. "Truly. We were very lucky."

  "Aye, we were," Aulay said meeting her gaze. "Verra lucky."

  "Well," Uncle Acair said, eyeing the pair of them. "Ye're covered in straw and soot and look like ye've been through a ragin' storm. I'd say ye've had one hell o' an exciting first night together."

  While Jetta groaned again and turned her suddenly heated face into Aulay's neck, he merely started walking again and said, "That we did . . . until the stables burst into flames."

  That brought about a burst of laughter that Jetta suspected was more relief that they were okay than anything. But the group remained behind as Aulay carried her toward the keep. Curious, Jetta leaned her head back and watched them around his arm, noting the serious expressions and gestures toward the stables and then toward her and Aulay. The conversation only took a moment or so and then Rory, Conran and Alick headed back to the stables while the rest of the group hurried to catch up to them.

  Of course, their position behind them gave them a prime view of Aulay's rear. Jetta noted the way Jo, Murine and Edith were looking at it with definite appreciation, and curiosity made her look down. He was her husband, and she'd never actually seen his bare bottom. Unfortunately, she couldn't see it now really either. Well, she saw the curves from above, but it wasn't a good angle. Shifting her attention back to the women, she asked, "Are Rory, Conran and Alick going to help with the fire?"

  "Aye," Saidh said. "Well, Conran and Alick are. Rory is checking to be sure no one was injured and in need o' his help."

  Nodding, Jetta glanced ahead to see how close they were to the keep. She felt bad that her husband had to cart her about like a child, and briefly considered telling him to put her down and let her walk, but her ankle was throbbing like crazy. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised. It had been aching when she'd woken, and then she'd rushed about freeing the horses on it.

  Muffled laughter drew her attention back to the women behind them, and she raised her eyebrows with curiosity.

  Noting that, Murine smiled apologetically and explained, "We were just debating how the fire started."

  "Aye," Edith agreed, and then with a teasing grin, asked, "so, was it yer passion that set flame to the stables?"

  "Nay, wife," Niels said, sliding an arm around the woman. "Aulay probably knocked a lantern over in his eagerness."

  Blushing, Jetta shook her head. "Neither is right. We were both sleeping when it started."

  "Sleeping?" Cam asked sharply. "Aulay, is this true?"

  "Aye," Aulay answered and paused to look back at the stables with a frown. "If Jetta had no' woke up . . ." He didn't finish the comment. He didn't have to. They were all now looking at the raging fire that had once been the stables. The building was fully engulfed now and men had formed a line from the stables to the well and were passing buckets of water along to be thrown on the flames. Jetta peered around at the horses milling about the bailey and hoped they had all escaped, and that none of the men who had rushed in as they left had been caught inside.

  "What woke ye?" Aulay asked and she tore her gaze from the chaos and flames to see that he was eyeing her solemnly.

  "Your leg was on top of mine, and my ankle was paining me," she admitted.

  Her husband nodded, his gaze wandering to her legs and back before he asked, "Did ye hear or see anything when ye first woke?"

  Jetta shook her head. "Just the flames burning. There was no one there."

  "Ye think someone set the fire?" Dougall asked, turning away from the chaos to look at them.

  Aulay shrugged and smiled wryly. "It seems more likely than that it started itself."

  "Damn," Niels murmured. "Then the wedding did no' help at all."

  Jetta did not miss the silencing look Aulay sent his brother. Offering her a smile, he said, "Mayhap no' in that way, but it did me a world o' good. Jetta is mine now. And archers, attackers and fires be damned, I'm a happy man."

  Turning on that note, he continued on to the keep, but Jetta peered over his shoulder at the burning stables as they went and frowned. She knew he was just trying to keep her from getting upset or feeling responsible for this latest attack, and she appreciated the effort. But Jetta was very aware that this trouble had only started with her being fished from the ocean. She just didn't know what to do about it. She had no idea why it was happening or who could be behind it, and wouldn't until she had her memory back. She needed to try to remember.

  Chapter 16

  "Oh, Lord love us! What ha'e the pair o' ye got up to now? Are ye well? Ha'e either o' ye been injured?"

  Jetta lifted her head off Aulay's shoulder and glanced around at that cry. They had entered the keep and started across the Great Hall and Mavis was rushing toward them, looking dismayed. Jetta offered the woman a reassuring smile, but it was Aulay who said, "We are fine, Mavis. No need to fuss."

  "Ye're no' fine. Look at ye. Ye're both filthy with soot all o'er ye and straw sticking out o' yer hair and--Ye were in the stables!" she cried with realization. "Were ye in there when the fire started? What happened to yer clothes, Aulay? Good Lord, ye're bare as the day ye were born. Come along now, let's get ye above stairs. Ye both need a bath and fresh clothes," she said, leading the way toward the stairs, and then she slowed to shout, "Flora, put water on to warm and find some men to fetch the bath! Then have Cook fix a tray fer yer laird and his lady. And stop gawking at yer laird's bum, 'tis disrespectful. Goodness," she muttered and suddenly turned to rush around behind them.

  Jetta stared wide-eyed as the woman moved up as close behind them as she could without tramping on Aulay's heels, and held out her skirts, trying to shelter his behind from view as they walked. Shaking her head, the old woman groused, "The maids'll be giggly all night after this show, m'laird. Ye should ha'e sent someone ahead fer a plaid and shirt ere entering. Oh, ye're wearing yer shirt. Sort of. What the devil ha'e ye done to yer shirt?"

  Biting her lip to keep from laughing, Jetta leaned her head against Aulay's shoulder again and listened to the woman mutter all the way upstairs to their bedchamber. She should have been amazed that the maid would talk so to her lord like that, but wasn't. First off, the woman wasn't a maid as she'd assumed at the lodge. While talking with the women at the tables after her fall, Jetta had learned that Mavis pretty much ran Buchanan, at least the keep itself. She oversaw the kitchen staff and maids, and saw to Aulay's comfort.

  According to Saidh, Mavis was more like family than staff. She'd been their nursemaid when young, and tended to fuss over and reprimand them all still as if they were children. Jetta got the feeling that they all liked it, and suspected the woman's mothering them helped ease the loss of their own mother. Everyone needed mothering every once in a while.

  "Here we are, just let me get the door." Mavis gave up covering Aulay's behind and rushed around them to open the door.

  "Thank ye, Mavis," Aulay said affectionately as he carried Jetta inside.

  "Yer welcome, m'laird. Ye just--Oy!" she suddenly cried with outrage. "What are ye doin'? Out o' here! Shoo!"

  Jetta glanced around with surprise to see that the rest of their group had followed and Mavis was trying to push them back out into the hall.

  "We need to talk to Aulay, Mavis. Someone set the stables on fire. We need to figure out what to do," Dougall grumbled.

  "Ye put the fire out! Ye do no' need Aulay to tell ye that," Mavis said with exasperation, still trying to wrestle them out.

  "Conran and Alick are helping with that. We are to be guarding Aulay and Jetta."

  "And Geordie and Katie," Niels added.

  Concern filled Mavis's face, but she stood firm. "Well, guards stay in the hall, no' the bedchamber. Now off with ye. They both need a bath, and Aulay needs clothes ere he receives company."

  "We've seen him naked before, Mavis," Niels pointed out with exasperation. "And we're no' leaving Aulay and Jetta alone. Someone just tried to kill them. We need to protect them."

  "What?" Mavis stopped trying to push the men out and turned to Aulay with dismay.

  "We are fine," Aulay reminded her solemnly. "But aye, someone set the stables on fire while we were inside them, and aye, I suspect that killing us was the intention. However," he added quickly when she paled, "we were very lucky. We escaped unscathed, and I'm quite sure the horses and everyone else escaped without injury too. So other than the fact that we need to build new stables, all is well."

  Mavis shook her head unhappily. "What the devil is happening? The fire, Katie shot with the arrow, and someone pushing Jetta down the stairs. I mean, Sorcha. I mean, m'lady," she added with a frown, and patted Jetta's arm. "I'm sorry, m'lady. I am just used to thinking on ye as Jetta. I'll remember to call ye m'lady or Lady Sorcha eventually."

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