“No!” I yelled through clenched teeth. The loud gallops soon faded into the foggy night. I slowly turned, glancing all around. Every creek and rattle in the forest echoed in my head sending chills down my spine. Was this forest filled with wild animals? Were thieves and sinister beings watching me this very instant? The full moon illuminated the dirt road along with eerie shadows looming on the berm.
* * * * *
CHAPTER NINE
I blew out a breath gathering my bundle from the road. I walked for what felt like hours singing aloud every damn song I knew. At one point, I was pretty sure a large animal followed me, but I think I scared it off when I sang Four Non Blondes. My feet ached, my eyes begged to close, and my body wanted to fall into a blissful slumber. What I wouldn’t do to be in my gram’s safe house in my nice soft bed with the delicious aroma of Gerdie’s breakfast cooking below.
I stopped next to a huge oak tree on the side of the road when I couldn’t take another step. I’d just close my eyes for a few minutes, and then continue on. I sat down on the plush heather and grass at the base of the trunk and leaned my back against the tree hugging my bundle to me. Wrapping my plaid around me, I lightly closed my eyes. The forest noises seemed louder and more enhanced than before. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and pulled the plaid over my head and ears. I tried to concentrate on every happy thought I could think of and eventually fell asleep to the vision of my gram reading tales of Scotland to me.
* * * * *
I slowly sat up opening one eye as the sun glared through the trees down on me. A small smile crossed my mouth. I survived the night! I glanced down the deserted road. What time was it? Did the Immortals know I ran away? Did they look for me yet? As thoughts of bodily harm filled my head, I quickly stood up, stretched, and gathered my bundle. My stomach let out a loud gurgle. I needed food. I opened my bundle and stared at the small piece of bread left. I ravenously ate the piece, licking every morsel off my fingers as I cursed myself for ever grabbing onto Cameron.
Would I starve to death out here? Was I even headed in the right direction anymore? I remember walking in the moonlight coming across two forks in the road. I had just kept choosing the roads that didn’t look too scary. I rubbed my tired eyes one more time and moved on.
I glanced over my shoulder when a low rumble sounded in the distance. Squinting from the sun, I made out a small wagon led by a donkey coming my way. I slowed my pace and kept glancing over my shoulder as the wagon grew nearer. Finally, I made out a round, portly monk holding the reins. He wore a brown robe and ironically resembled how I imagined Friar Tuck to look like from Robin Hood.
I put on my nicest smile turning toward the approaching wagon. The monk scratched his dark brown beard as the sun glared off the bald spot on the top of his head. His cheeks flushed as he smiled over at me.
“Whoa!” the monk yelled stopping the donkey with a loud hee-haw.
“Hi,” I said taking a step closer. “I was wondering if you could help me.”
“Indeed my child,” the monk said. “I’m Brother Tomas. I travel back and forth between the burghs speaking God’s words and relieving men and women o’ their sins. How can I help ye?”
“I need to get back to Tayn.” At least I thought that was where the McDougals said they lived. Everything from the past couple days had jumbled into my memory and turned into one big mess.
Brother Tomas made a surprised expression. “Weel child, I’d say that’s quite a ways away. I can take ye south until Strath, then ye’ll ha’ ta head East yerself. I canna delay. The burgh of Baill is waitin’ for me ta say the last rights for an elderly man, but ye’re welcome ta join me.”
I chewed on my lip. Where the hell was I? How far off track did I get? “How far away is Tayn from here?” I asked weighing my options.
Brother Tomas appeared thoughtful for a moment. “I’d say a good day and a half…by horse.” I let out a sigh and glanced down the road. I guess if the Immortals did look for me, going with the good Brother here would cover my trail.
“Okay, if you don’t mind, could I ride with you? I have no money to give….”
“Nonsense, my child. I work as an extension of God’s love, no monies are required.” He smiled showing off his straight white teeth and twinkling brown eyes. “Just good company for the journey is all I ask of ye. Do ye like ta sing?”
I let out a wary laugh and climbed up into the small wagon. Brother Tomas glanced back to make sure I sat and then he jerked the reins making the cart start with a jolt. As soon as the wagon steadily rolled, he began to sing a Scottish song…and didn’t stop for a long, long while.
* * * * *
I dreamt that I returned back home in my apartment snuggled in my down comforter on my wonderful bed. Suddenly, Walter jumped on the bed and pounced on my shoulder, again and again, not stopping. “Wake-up child.” I opened my eyes to find Brother Tomas leaning over the side of the wagon with his hand on my shoulder. “We ha’ arrived in Strath. I must keep heading South, but ye should find a place ta stay for the night. Dusk will be here shortly.” He took my hand and pressed a few coins into it and helped me out of the cart. “That should be enough for a hot meal and a bed for the night.”
“Thank you,” I said baffled. I always thought medieval people would be rude and mean, apparently not.
Brother Tomas raised his palm to my forehead. “Go in peace child, may you stay safe.” I smiled and waved to Brother Tomas as his wagon trekked down the road with him singing loudly once more. I cast a glance around, discovering I stood in the middle of a dirt road running through a good sized village. The darkening sky and the thought of sleeping in the woods again made me shiver. I didn’t think the Immortals would ever be able to find me. At least I was safe from that threat. I glanced over to where laughing came from. A good size inn stood across the way. My stomach rumbled with the thought of a hot dinner. All I had the whole day was an apple that Brother Tomas had given me.
I walked through the open door noticing a full room. Wood tables and chairs filled the room with wood steps leading upstairs on the far wall. I overheard vulgar comments, flirting, and a few heated conversations as I made my way to an empty table. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone as I felt the weight of disturbing stares upon me.
“Wot can I get ye maim?” I looked up into a huge bosom spilling over the edge of a low-cut barmaid dress.
“Um, a hot meal and a bed for the night?” I pulled out the two coins. “Whatever these can buy.”
“Aye, I’ll get a bowl o’ stew and tell Cormag ye need a room.”
“Thank you.” I watched the curly, red-haired woman strut between the tables gaining a couple pats on her backside and a kiss blown her way. She went up to what looked like a bar and leaned over the edge of the wood counter to talk to a big, baldheaded man with a full red beard. He glanced over at me and stared until I lowered my gaze. A mug of ale sloshed over the sides onto the table when the bar maid thunk’d it down in front of me. The barmaid had already walked away when I glanced up.
I scanned the taproom of the warm inn realizing I was the only woman other than the five barmaids that sauntered and flitted around the room. I pulled my plaid tighter around me as a rather creepy looking man smiled over at me.
“’Ere ye go, nice and hot,” the barmaid said as she clattered a bowl filled with stew and a small loaf of bread on the table.
“Thank you,” I said to her already retreating back. I tore off a wedge from the bread and dipped it in the stew scooping up a bite of carrots and meat. The hot food slid down my throat instantly warming my chilled extremities.
I was just about to take my last bite when all of a sudden, the inn door opened and a large man in a black hooded cloak walked in. A prickly sensation climbed up my spine. Somehow, I knew that man had come for me. I slunk back in my chair and glanced around the room for an alternative exit. An open door straight through the kitchen was my only escape. I glanced back over to the man with the cloak and sucked in a br
eath. He had pulled back his hood. The man was Merrick. He pushed back his cloak from his side and raised his hand to rest on the hilt of a dagger hanging at his hip. Oh God! He was going to kill me. All of the Immortals must have agreed I was better dead!
His back faced me as he scanned over the room. Quickly, realizing this might be my only chance; I grabbed my things and headed toward the kitchen. When I reached the kitchen doorway, I glanced back over my shoulder. He still hadn’t seen me, but the disconcerting thing was he stood at the table I had occupied. Shit! Did he know I had sat there?
“No customers back ‘ere!” I turned looking up at a huge burly chest blocking my way to the kitchen. Just my luck, the man with the red beard stood in front of me with his hands on his hips completely blocking my way.
“Please, I-I need to leave,” I said glancing over my shoulder again.
“Use the front door like everyone else!”
“Please,” I begged. My hands grew clammy knowing my time was running out. Merrick now stood at the bar talking to the barmaid that had served me.
“Maybe we can work out a payment,” the baldheaded man said, suddenly grabbing my waist and pulling me tightly to him. His breath reeked of garlic and onions. I let out a yelp as he grabbed my butt pulling me closer still. Quickly, I glanced over my shoulder. Merrick stared right at me. A scary smile fell across his lips as he took a step toward me.
I pushed and struggled with my captor when I remembered a move my dad had taught me before going out on my first date. Without delay, I brought my knee up to Cormag’s crotch as hard as I could and hit my palm upward at his nose. The man screamed out falling to his knees. “Uh! Ye bloody bitch!”
I quickly jumped over him and ran through the kitchen to the open door that granted me freedom. I glanced over my shoulder to find Merrick shoving his way through the crowd that hunched over the injured barkeep who screamed in agony.
I burst out into the cold dark night and ran to the nearest alley which was across the street. I hunched down in the shadows and kept an eye on the inn waiting for Merrick to show up. I waited and waited, but I never spotted him. My breath finally slowed. I slowly stepped out from the shadows and peered down both sides of the street. Could I be lucky enough to have lost him?
“We need ta stop meeting in the dark, lass.” I jumped whipping around as Merrick grabbed a fistful of my skirts.
“Let me go!” I quickly brought my knee up.
“Ah, ah, ah,” he said blocking my blow. “I already witnessed that one in action. Ye’ll ha’ ta do better than that.”
Hastily, I pulled my dagger out from the side of my belt and struck out with it. I felt it sink into something soft and meaty. I couldn’t see in the dark, but I think I got Merrick right in the stomach.
“That…wasna…verra…nice,” Merrick ground out through clenched teeth. I pulled the dagger back out and shoved out of Merrick’s arms as he fell to the ground on his hands and knees. I took off running with everything I had until a cramp ached in my side. I had to stop and rest. I couldn’t keep running. I made my way to the edge of the village where an old dilapidated cottage stood.
I pushed open the door which hung on one hinge and prayed no little critters claimed the cottage as their own. I went straight over to the corner and sat on the floor hugging my knees to me as I panted quick breaths. My heart raced so strongly, I could’ve sworn the whole village heard. Suddenly, a twig snapped right outside the wall I leaned against. I held my breath listening. Nothing. Slowly, I exhaled, when without warning, a fist punched through the decaying wall. The strong hand grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the cottage through the wall creating a huge hole. I coughed as I lay sprawled out on the ground with an enormous weight on top of me.
“Dinna ever do that again lass, unless ye want me ta kill ye!” roared Merrick. “I may be immortal, but getting stabbed in the stomach hurts like bloody hell!”
I opened one eye looking up into cold blue eyes and a strong chin covered with dark stubble only a few inches away from my face. “Aren’t you here because you are going to kill me?”
Merrick narrowed his eyes at me and I noticed the muscle at his jaw ticked. “As much as you shouldna be here, we willna kill you.”
“Why should I trust you? No one argued with Alexander when he mentioned the idea.”
Merrick stared at me hard. “Weel lass,” he said coldly, “Ye must o’ stopped snooping a bit too soon. No one seconded Alexander.”
“Get off me! I can’t breathe,” I said trying to push him off.
“If I let go, will ye promise not ta run anymore?” I nodded. He slowly released one arm pausing a moment as if he didn’t really trust me. He gave me a hard look that warned I better not run away and then abruptly stood up holding his hand out for me. I ignored his hand and stood up on my own. I rubbed my shoulder, the one that went first through the wall. It ached painfully and I bet in the morning there’d be bruises. “I wouldna had ta be rough if ye would o’ stopped and listened ta what I had ta say.”
I gave Merrick a dirty look. “I just want to go to sleep in a nice soft bed. I’m going back to the inn where I have a room waiting for me,” I said through clenched teeth.
Merrick crossed his arms over his chest. “I dinna think that’s such a good idea since ye kicked in the owner’s bloody jewels.” I stopped and dropped my shoulders. He was right. I couldn’t go back to the inn.
I turned to face Merrick with my tail tucked between my legs. “So what do we do now?”
“We might as well make this fine establishment our ‘inn’ for the night,” he said grinning. “Unless ye ha’ a better idea.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER TEN
A loud rumble of thunder echoed through the sky and in the next minute a steady rain poured down. At least the old crofter’s cottage roof still appeared intact for the most part. Merrick had started a fire in the old hearth and now sat next to the smoking sticks feeding the fire with small twigs. I left my spot at the front door and was just about to sit down, when my toe caught a raised stone sending me flying forward. With my arms grabbing the air I tumbled right into Merrick’s lap. A low chuckle escaped him.
“If I didna ken any better, I’d think ye want me ta warm ye up.” Merrick grinned as he peered down into my face. “‘Tis goin’ ta be a verra, verra, long, cold night.” He slowly pushed me from his lap off to his side, but kept his arms around my waist. “Ye better get some sleep,” he whispered close to my ear. “Ye want ta return with energy when ye see ye’re mon. I’m sure he’ll be ready for a tumble beneath the sheets.”
I pushed his hands away. “What are you talking about? Who’s my man?”
Merrick’s face transformed into a cold, bitter scowl. “The spineless whelp ye run around with, Grant Connell. I didna think he was ye’re type. I guess I was wrong.”
“He’s not my ‘type’, he’s just a friend,” I said defensively.
“Then what is ye’re type?” he asked softly. I paused a moment as Merrick’s tan face reflected shades of gold from the fire’s light mesmerizing me.
“I-I don’t know,” I said quietly dropping my gaze from his handsome face.
Merrick slowly reached over taking my chin in his warm, strong hand. “I bet I ken, lass,” he said softly. “Ye’re type is any mon who’ll drop everything when ye beckon him. Ye’ll promise false words o’ love ta keep him by ye’re side where ye can use him until ye tire of him…that is only as long as he pleasures ye in the be-“
“Shut-up!” I yelled hitting his hand away from my chin. “You don’t know anything about me, or what I need from a man!” I stood up with fists at my sides. “How can you even talk about love! A big stupid brute like yourself wouldn’t know love if it hit him square in the face!” Merrick quietly turned and tended to the fire. I could tell by the muscles flexing in his arms and his clenched jaw that he fought for self-control. He probably wanted to strangle me. He just made me so mad saying those things. He deserved it. I closed my eyes. M
aybe he hit too close to home with what he said. “Listen, I-I’m sorry,” I whispered. Except for noticing the small hesitation in his movements, I wouldn’t have known he heard me. “I’m just tired,” I said. “I’m going to bed.” I studied him for a long moment before retiring to my plaid. I had spread it out over the dirt floor off to one side of the fireplace to use as my bed. The fire radiated enough heat to where I didn’t need a blanket to cover me. I lay down with my back facing Merrick pretending to fall asleep.
A long while later, I heard shuffling and figured Merrick laid down to sleep. “I ken ye’re not asleep, lass,” he said quietly. “And ye’re right, I dinna ken what love is.” My eyes opened and I stared into the dark shadows flickering on the cottage walls wishing I could take back the hurt I had clearly caused him. At that moment, I truly regretted what I had shouted to him earlier. I had hurt feelings I didn’t think an Immortal like himself possessed.
* * * * *
I inhaled a deep breath of roasted meat. My dream was incredible. I must be hungrier than I thought, because I practically tasted the bacon and the sizzling and popping of the juices was so real. I slowly opened my eyes. Merrick sat in front of the fire roasting a small rabbit. “It’s aboot time ye wake up,” he said picking and poking at the roasting hare. “We ha’ a long day ahead of us.”
I groaned as I slowly sat up stretching my aching, stiff body. “That smells good,” I said quietly testing the waters. I wasn’t sure if he was still mad at me.
“After we eat, we’ll ride back ta the castle.”
“Ride? Where’s your horse?”
“Dante’ is out back.”
“Are any other Immortals here?”
Immortal of My Dreams Page 10