She covered her mouth with her hand, embarrassed at the noise she made, but Oidche just gave her an evil look. “Don’t ever try to quiet yourself, lass.”
He took her hand, kissed each knuckle and then led her out of the room without any further conversation. She followed along, stunned into silence at the way he had made her feel.
Chapter 3
They sat next to Oidche’s father to break their fast. Malmuira could see the family resemblance between the two. They both had a strong jaw, blue eyes like the deep parts of the loch and both overly serious.
They spoke of borders, war and property all morning while she sat idly by, listening. All morning neither had cracked a smile. In fact, Malmuira had noted each of their frowns whenever they spoke, and by the end of the dull conversation she thought she would rip her hair out. Perhaps this was their normal demeanor and the excitement from the wedding had been only due to the war ending.
The meal ended after what seemed like hours of conversation, but was really in fact not more than an hour. Oidche stood up and pulled out Malmuira’s chair for her.
“Show ‘er round the castle, lad,” Oidche’s father commanded, finally cracking the smallest hint of a smile.
“Aye, Faither. Ah will show her round.”
He placed his hand on the small of her back and used it to guide her around the table and out the door. He didn’t notice her moving away from him, or if he did, he gave no indication. She stepped out of reach after they exited, leaving space between them. The more space she had between her and Oidche, the more clear her mind felt. Whenever he touched her, a hazy cloud settled over her senses. Perhaps Oidche practiced witchcraft. ‘Twas the only explanation for how he made her feel.
“Ah’ll show ye round now. Perhaps after showing ye round ah can take ye out to the loch. ‘Tis small, but nigh on the most beautiful loch ye’ve ever seen.”
“Ah would enjoy that.”
They walked towards the back of the keep and entered through thick wooden doors into the galley. “Meet Kyle.” Oidche motioned to a large burly man with a cloth tied around his waist. His kilt colors matched the keep’s plaid, but the cloth covered most of it. His burly red beard was lightly dusted in flour and his jovial brown eyes seemed to hide an old soul.
“Ah, ye must be the bonnie lass that got roped into marrying this barbarian,” Kyle said, in way of greeting.
“Ah like him.”
Oidche got a pained look on his face, “Ye shouldn’a be back-talking me in front of my new wife.”
Kyle winked at Malmuira and took her hand in his, lowering his head to kiss the back of her hand. She could tell he was still mocking Oidche in a playful manner and couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
“None of that, Kyle,” he said with what sounded like mock irritation. “He’s the biggest flirt in the highlands.”
“Biggest flirt in Scotland,” he replied, winking at Malmuira again.
“Also makes the best stew ah’ve ever tasted,” Oidche said, putting his hands up in surrender.
Kyle clapped Oidche on the back. “Glad to make it tonight for the feast.”
“There’s a feast tonight?” Malmuira asked.
“Aye, in honor of our union.”
“Any requests, lass?” Kyle asked her.
Malmuira was caught off guard. Nobody ever really paid attention to what she liked or wanted. She was immediately transported back to last summer with Siusan.
They sat hiding in the barn with a basket of berries they picked off the road near the keep. Siusan had grass in her hair and they were both covered in dirt. “Mally, ah want that big one.”
“That’s the biggest one. Shouldn’ ah eat it since ah was the one pickin’ all the berries?”
Siusan hid her berry-stained mouth behind her hand. “Ah ain’t had a one.”
Malmuira responded by tickling Siusan, who squealed and wriggled in her arms. Then she took the biggest berry, pretended that she was going to put it in her mouth, but instead put it in Siusan’s.
“Thank ye, Mal.”
Malmuira responded with a kiss pressed to Siusan’s forehead. “Ah’ll always give ye the best berries.”
“Well, ye got any requests?” Kyle interrupted Malmuira’s daydream.
“If ye got any berries, perhaps a cobbler or a tart?”
“Easy enough, lass. Ah like this one, Oidche. Keep a hold on her.”
“Ah plan to.” Oidche put his arm protectively around Malmuira’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. When he touched her, it felt like electricity passed back and forth between the two of them.
“Go show ’er the barn,” Kyle instructed. “The galley’s no place for yer wife. We got plenty of help.”
“Ye just want me out of yer hair.” Despite the protest, Oidche was smiling and led his bride out of the galley.
Oidche led Malmuira into the stables just outside the keep. Earthy smells filled her nostrils, which, oddly, soothed her. The smell of the horses reminded her of home and made the ache that had been growing in her belly dull a bit.
“This one is mine.” Oidche had stopped at the last stall where a pitch black stallion stood. The stallion’s hooves pounded as he moved back and forth in his stall, eager to stretch his long muscular legs. “Whoa, whoa.” Oidche pulled a lump of something grainy out of a bag hung on the back wall and gave him a treat. The horse’s teeth crunched on the morsel loudly and his stamping eased.
“He is a fine steed.” Malmuira rubbed his nose with her hand after letting him breath in her scent.
“Aye, finest in Scotland. Bred from champions proven in battle.”
“My mare is near here,” Malmuira said, suddenly eager to share. Her mare was better bred than any horse she had seen, even compared to this champion.
She showed him over to the stall. Her mare stomped one hoof on the ground, eager to get out and run. Malmuira grabbed the same treat she had seen Oidche offer his horse and gave it to the mare.
“Aye, she’s a fine horse. No’ as good as my stallion, mind ye, but fine nonetheless.”
Malmuira scoffed at his evaluation.
“Ye’ll not find a better bred beast in Scotland, let alone this barn.” Malmuira lifted her head, jutted out her chin and narrowed her eyes.
“Ha! Ah’ll show ye then. Saddle’r up, lass.” Oidche left to gather his tack and saddle.
Malmuira felt a sense of glee. She had never been beaten yet by any of the men at the keep. She would show him. Her mare was the best in Scotland and she wouldn’t have her new husband thinking otherwise. Gathering up her saddle and bridle, she set about getting her mare ready to ride.
“So ye know yer way around a horse,” Oidche commented. He had finished cinching the saddle and climbed atop his horse. He waited near Malmuira while she finished adjusting the saddle.
“Of course ah know me way around a horse. Ah’ve been ridin’ since I was a bairn.” She jumped atop her mare with ease and followed Oidche outside.
“Righ’. Then ah’ll race ye to the loch. Ye know the way, righ’? Ye passed it on yer way here.”
Malmuira nodded. “What do ah get if ah win?” She had absolutely no doubt in her mind that she would out ride him and any other man that challenged her skills.
“If ye win, ah’ll not bother ye for the rest of the week at night. Ah’ll sleep in the barn.”
Relief passed through Malmuira like a wave of the sea. To be able to get away from Oidche at night and not worry about what her duties entailed would be wonderful.
“Alrigh’. Ah’ll take it.”
“Not so fast.” Oidche’s blue eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight. He moved his horse closer to Malmuira until his leg pressed against hers. “If ah win, ah get ten minutes with ye to do whatever ah want.” He reached over and ran his hand quickly up the inside of her thigh. She shivered and a thrill ran through her.
“Deal,” she replied.
He didn’t even say anything before he spurred his horse on in the direction of the loch. M
almuira urged her mare into a sprint as fast as she could. There was no way she was going to let him win.
Oidche was ahead of her already with his head start. The lousy cheater, Malmuira thought to herself. From this vantage point she did have a nice view of his backside, however. Even with the distractions of a full speed sprint, Malmuira could appreciate the ripple of muscle across his calves and thighs. He wore a loose linen tunic that did little to hide the definition in his arms, and a kilt that showed off the lower part of his thighs while he rode.
She was shaken from her thoughts when Oidche’s stallion slowed and splashed a large amount of water out of a creek she hadn’t noticed. She was close enough to him that the water splashed up on her and her mare. Her mare jumped across the small creek in a single bound and ran after Oidche.
“Ye got me wet,” she yelled after him.
“That’s what ah’ll do tonight when ah win,” He hollered back.
Malmuira had a feeling that she didn’t want to know what he meant. She shook it out of her mind and focused on getting ahead. Spurring her horse on harder, she leaned down into the mane of her horse, hoping to make herself smaller and create less resistance. She started gaining on him. The sun felt hot on her neck as it rose higher in the sky. Not much farther to the loch.
Oidche spurred his horse, faster, faster. She didn’t know if she would catch up. Oidche was the best horseman that she had ever seen. He rode as one with the horse, graceful and fluidic. She realized as she watched him that had he been on a lesser-bred horse, he would still ride just as well.
He reached the loch first. A sinking feeling fell in the pit of Malmuira’s stomach. She had lost. He crowed in delight.
“Ah beat ye. Guess ah’ll get my ten minutes tonight.” He was already pulling the saddle off of his horse.
Malmuira felt sick to her stomach. “Ye only beat me because ye cheated.”
“Ah didn’t cheat. Ah just started at the beginning. Ye started after that.”
She scowled down at him with a look she hoped would wither him where he stood. It had no such effect, unfortunately.
“Care for a walk? Ah’d like to stretch my legs.” He didn’t seem to notice her sour demeanor.
“Aye,” she said with an exasperated huff. Malmuira jumped off the horse and removed the saddle, propping it up against a stone so the air would dry it. The horse was covered in a thick layer of sweat, her hair plastered to her skin, but Malmuira could tell the ride did her good. The horse had been forced to pull a cart for a week, so running must have felt very good to her.
Oidche was over next to his horse, unpacking a couple saddle bags she hadn’t noticed before. He spread some fabric on the grass and pulled out an array of food and some flasks of wine. “Care for some dinner, first?”
“Aye, ah’m famished,” Malmuira replied. She sat on the fabric and Oidche sat next to her. He handed her a chunk of dark, seedy bread and lay back on the ground staring up the clouds. He patted the ground next to him, so Malmuira lay down next him and chewed on the chunk of bread. The clouds passed overhead, highlighted from behind by the bright sun. Malmuira could hear a whistling bird from a tree. It really was a gorgeous loch.
“Ye ride better’n any man ah’ve ever seen.”
“And ye ride better than any woman ah’ve ever seen.” She laughed at the face he made at her. “Ah still think my mare is the finest horse in Scotland, but ye ride well.”
The clouds rolled by slowly and the only sound they could hear was the birds and some buzzing insects. “My sister Siusan and ah used to look at the clouds and imagine they were shapes of things. ‘Twas a game ah made up when she was a wee bairn. Ah read about it in a book. That one over there looks like a butterfly.” Malmuira pointed to a puffy white cloud with what looked like wings.
“Ye can read? ‘Tis unusual for a woman.” Oidche sounded surprised.
Malmuira felt a wave of panic overwhelm her. She wasn’t supposed to let anyone know she could read. Her father had warned her many times not to share her knowledge with anyone. She hadn’t meant to let it slip. The conversation had just come so naturally. “Aye, ah can read and write. Ah wasn’t supposed to tell ye about it though. My faither taught me. Ah hope ye don’t think less of me. Women aren’t supposed to be sharp enough to read an’ write.”
“Ah don’t think less of ye. Ye’re sharp as a knife, ah can tell. Makes sense that yer faither would teach ye. Could be a useful skill to me.”
And then, as if nothing had happened, he continued their conversation. “When we were bairns, me brother and ah used to play that game. But we saw swords and warriors in the clouds.” His deep voice took on an air of nostalgia as he spoke.
Malmuira felt a sense of relief. “If the clouds were warriors, then it would rain down fire and swords.” The imagination of children had few boundaries. Malmuira still played with her sister, teaching her to pretend a stick was a bairn or that a tree was a person.
Oidche reached over and took her hand in his in a sweet gesture. She nibbled on the bread, acutely aware of the way that his fingers were intertwining with hers.
“Ye and yer brother, are ye close?” She spoke of the older brother that Lara had told her about. Lara always spoke fondly of her older brother, but since the war started hadn’t been able to speak to him directly.
“Aye, thick as thieves we were.”
“Where is he?” She hadn’t been introduced to him yet.
“He died in the war a couple years back,” Oidche replied.
“Oh. Ah’m sorry.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“Aye, me as well. He was a good man. The best. Yer people ambushed us on a trade agreement with another clan. We took them down best we could, but not before they killed my brother. Ah still remember that day like it were happening now. Ne’er ye mind that though. ‘Tis not talk for a woman.”
Malmuira felt her defenses go up. She dropped his hand and sat up, looking down at him. She dared not speak her mind, but the comment stung her to her core. She was used to comments that claimed she needed protecting or that she was somehow breakable. “Ah didn’t realize that ah couldn’t hear about yer brother.”
Oidche sat up, staring her down. “It’s about war. War is complicated and messy. Women are fragile creatures. The fairer sex.”
“Ah am not fragile. Nor am ah the fairer sex.” She angrily brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand. “Ah can outride anyone in a fair race, and up until today ah hadn’t been beat. Ye cheated anyhow, so ah still don’t think it was my loss.” The way she was speaking would have gotten her a good slap across the mouth in front of most men. Apparently, Oidche wasn’t like most men.
He took her accusation in stride and set his jaw. She saw the vein near his eye pulse, and his eyes narrowed. “Ah beat ye fair and square and ye wouldna thought nothing of me losing, but since ye lost, ye think that ye were cheated. Ah’m a better rider than ye and ye know it.”
Malmuira jutted her chin out in defiance. “Give me a chance that’s fair and ah’d beat ye.”
“Fine.” Oidche jumped to his feet and began shoving the food back in the saddle bags. At this point, the sun was starting its decent, and evening would soon be upon them.
They both threw their saddles on their horses, careful to keep them tightly cinched so the saddle wouldn’t fall at the speeds they would be riding. Malmuira felt bad for her poor mare. She checked her hooves to make sure they looked good, so as not to injure her in a silly game. Of course she had to win this silly game.
After mounting her steed, she walked her horse near Oidche. “Alright then, let’s go.”
“We hadn’t decided on terms,” Oidche pointed out.
“Ah don’t know. If ah win then no ten minutes, and ah get two weeks alone.”
“Not good enough, lass. I already got my ten minutes.”
Malmuira grimaced. She wanted desperately to get out of that.
Oidche didn’t seem to notice her discomfort. “If ye win,
then no ten minutes, but ah still sleep near ye. Nothing more, just sleep. That way nobody in the keep asks me questions. If ah win, ah keep my ten minutes and ye sleep naked all week.”
That request gave her pause. What if she lost again? The thought of sleeping naked all week was terrifying to her. But if she did, she preserved her pride and bought herself some more time to get comfortable around Oidche.
“Ah’ll do it.”
Malmuira tried hard to keep her mare moving as fast as possible. They had both started out at the same time and soon Malmuira took the lead. She laughed, carefree and wild as the wind whipped through her hair. Riding was one of her favorite pastimes. It was the only time that she felt the weight of her world melting away, giving way to feelings of pleasure.
“Ya…. Ya!” She urged her mare forward through the grass. As the sun started to set and the air around her cooled, she saw the keep beginning to take shape in the space in front of her. The horse was breathing hard, air rushing in and out of her nose. Malmuira knew she was pushing the horse, but the run was good for her. It wasn’t unusual for Mal to run her through the fields at home.
She was so close. She dare not look back at Oidche, lest she fall or the horse slow down. She kept her face pointed forward and her body arched over the horse. A few moments later, she crossed the boundaries into the keep and walked the mare to the stable, only then taking a moment to look back. Oidche was still a ways off. She could have her mare in the stall and watered before Oidche even approached.
She moved as fast as she could, wanting to prove to him she was so good that she would finish everything before he even completed the race.
He sauntered into the stable leading his stallion just as she finished up.
“What took ye so long?” Malmuira said with a smile.
Oidche frowned, furrowing his eyebrows together. “Ah don’t like to lose.”
“Get used to it,” she teased.
She followed him to the stalls. “Guess ye lost yer ten minutes?”
Given to the Highlander (Highlander Bride Series Book 1) Page 3