Highland Trails of Love

by Barbara Bard

  Drew pinned her to the ground, his strong arms making sure she knew her place. It was as though she was caged by flesh, and there was nowhere else she'd rather be. The ground trembled because of the force of his thrusts, and Sarah felt the tension rise within them both. Drew was getting harder and faster. His hips thrust powerfully. His hands tightened around her, not willing to let her go.

  Sarah gasped. Drew moaned. His hand found her thigh and lifted her leg up, getting even deeper. Sarah's mouth hung open. Sweat dripped from Drew's temples and felt like it sizzled on Sarah's aching skin. Everything was on fire. Everything was filled with desire and she knew that something glorious was about to happen.

  She moved her hand up Drew's back, through his hair, and pulled his head down so that their foreheads were touching. Their mouths were so close that each rushing, gasping breath became one, and their hearts beat to the same rhythm. Then Drew bellowed loudly, a warrior's cry, and Sarah felt him release inside her. Their bodies convulsed wildly as the orgasmic sensations took hold, seizing her in a tremendously hot and heavy explosion that rendered her mute and incoherent.

  Drew pulled himself away and rolled onto his back. Sarah followed his momentum, draping her arm over his heaving chest. Their bodies glistened with sweat under the sun, and they lay in the afterglow of passion, drained and delirious, but entirely satisfied.

  In that moment she knew that sometimes a barbaric Highlander could be nobler than an English lord.

  Chapter 18

  For a while after the two of them enjoyed each other's bodies. Drew gazed at Sarah with great ardor. Never before had he seen anyone so beautiful, so lovely, nor had he experienced the feelings that trembled inside his heart.

  He did not know what this English girl did to him, but he had fallen in love and there was no going back now. He was going to take her back to the Highlands and make her his wife. It was strange for him to admit so because she was English, but she was everything he dreamed of.

  They stayed in each other’s arm for a long time. They made love again, this time better and more passionate than the last time. After they made love Sarah grew quite modest, covering up her femininity by putting her clothes on again.

  “Are ye sure ye hae tae dae that, lass?” Drew asked with a smirk.

  Sarah smiled, and rolled her bottom lip under her teeth. Drew didn't know why, but the way she acted so coy only served to drive him even crazier with desire. He wrapped his kilt around his waist and pushed himself up over to her, taking her in his arms again in a loving kiss.

  “I must. You do not understand what I've been through. I cannot risk Lord Flynn finding me,” she said.

  “But I am glad I have met a man like you, someone who has proven to me that not all men are cruel.”

  “Was he really that bad?” Drew asked.

  Sarah's face turned to the ground, not wanting to think about all the things he had done.

  “He scolded me, belittled me, and released his temper on me. When he punished people the punishments were humiliating. He struck fear into my heart. That was why I left. I could not bear to live a life with him.”

  “I am glad ye were here, and nae just because ye saved my life, although I wish ye did nae hae tae run because ye were being mistreated,” he said softly, looking at her earnestly. Then, anger flashed in his eyes. “And I will make him pay for the way he treated ye, he will pay with his blood.”

  “I am glad too,” Sarah said, then doubt flickered in her eyes.

  “But what are we to do now? The world is ours, Drew. We could run away and leave the war behind. We don't have to think about Lord Flynn anymore. We could find a small place to settle, get married and have children of our own.”

  Drew hung his head.

  “I cannae dae that, lass. I cannae turn my back on my clan. But I know ye might nae want tae return with me. My brother will be anxious about my disappearance. I hae tae return and join him on the battle field, we need tae win the war together. If ye need tae go and be safe I'll understand. But Lord Flynn cannot escape my blade, he must be punished for his crimes, and I will be the one who punishes him.”

  “I don't want to be anywhere other than with you,” Sarah said, the words rushing out of her mouth. She clutched Drew's hand desperately.

  “Then ye'll stay,” he said, “but I hae tae go back.”

  “I understand,” Sarah said, looking in the vague direction of the south, where the rolling hills and wide fields of England lay.

  “Dae ye truly want tae leave your home?”

  “There's nothing there for me, my home is with you now,” Sarah said, more than a hint of sadness in her voice.

  As soon as the sun was out, Drew got up to prepare the horse for their journey back to the war. Sarah got up to fill their water skin and wrapped up what was left of their food in her bag. They got ready to get underway. The closer they got to leaving the sadder he was that he had to leave this place. It was good for a time to be able to forget about his responsibilities and leave the world behind, to lose himself in the arms of this woman, but his duty called him. He only hoped that it wasn't too late.

  Sarah wrapped her arms around his waist as he guided the horse back to the battlefield. They galloped at breakneck speed through the forest. Drew's warrior blood was boiling again now, needing to be with his clan as they fought the English.

  He tried not to think about what would happen when he came back with Sarah. It was already bad enough that Blair had taken an English woman, but with the both of them?

  Things were already tense enough, and in some ways Drew felt as though he was betraying his clan for falling in love with Sarah. Especially after he had been so adamantly against Rosemary and Blair's relationship.

  He felt shame, he did not know how he would look his countrymen in the eye and explain to them. They would never understand. No matter how Blair had tried to explain to him, he never understood. His cousin Declan would be furious.

  But Blair had been right. When the heart beat fiercely it was important to listen, and Drew knew that Sarah was important to him. He had never felt more alive, more complete, than in that glade with her. It was almost strange how someone he had only known for a few days could make such a profound impact, but she had saved his life, in more ways than one. His place in this life was next to her.

  Soon enough they returned to the battlefield. The cries of war greeted their ears long before their eyes ever saw anything. Drew charged his horse to go faster, as they galloped to the open field. Sarah held on tightly to his waist as she was deafened by the noise coming from the war. Drew pushed the horse on, not wanting to waste any more time as he knew it could be the difference between life and death for his clansmen.

  The trees thinned and they were soon able to see the battle in all its ugly glory. Bodies laid strewn over the field, the green grass dark, soaked with the blood of thousands of men. There was a heavy stench of death hanging over the field, and although the sun shone just as brightly in the glade there was a heavy sadness about it. The sound of clashing steel rang through the air, breaking the silence, and it was a world away from the solitude they had enjoyed in the glade.

  Drew slowly brought his horse to a stop at the edge of the battle ground. They were surrounded by dead soldiers, mostly English soldiers. His countrymen were winning the war.

  “What a sight,” Drew said, gazing out at all the dead English. Sarah was silent. He heard her sob. “I'm sorry, lass. I dinnae mean anything by it,” he said, then turned the horse around back to the Scottish camp.

  When Drew got to their camp ground, he got down from the horse and helped Sarah down. He was about to sneak quietly into the camp and return to war when he was sighted by one of his countrymen. He ran back to the camp and announced Drew’s return in a loud and cheerful voice.

  Drew's return was heralded with a greet cheer. The Highlanders were in good spirits. The wounded were getting treatment and sharing ale, enjoying the victory. They raised their glasses to him as he return
ed.

  “Blair will be pleased by your return!” Declan said.

  “Is my brother still alive? Where is he?” Drew asked with an anxious look on his face.

  “Oh aye he is, fighting like a tempest in the heat of the war. And who is this ye hae brought back wi' ye?”

  Drew tossed a look over his shoulder. Suddenly he felt very self-conscious.

  “A lass I met in the woods. She treated my wound and saved my life.”

  “Oh aye, I see why ye hae taken a break from war,” Declan said, winking. The young man had obviously been drinking too much ale. Drew flushed with embarrassment. “And what is your name, lass?”

  “Sarah.”

  Drew cringed as she spoke. Declan's eyes went wide as he heard her English accent. His brow furrowed and his expression changed entirely. He looked at Drew, daggers in his eyes.

  “Are ye as mad as your brother? What are ye hoping tae dae? Cannae ye see what will happen? I thought ye were different, Drew. I thought ye were loyal. Ye talk us out of challenging Blair then at the first sign ye betray us tae. I cannae believe ye would dae this,” Declan said, shocked.

  “It's nae what it looks like. She's a prisoner of war,” he said. The words were out of his mouth before he'd even thought about them. Declan was placated, but he felt great shame in his heart. Sarah was not a political prisoner to him. She was the woman he loved and wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He could not tell Declan all of these at the moment. It was better they finish one war before starting another.

  Drew hoped Sarah understood why he had to say that. He looked at her and noticed the sadness etched on her face. It broke his heart into many pieces. His people would never truly accept her because she was English.

  Drew quickly dismissed Declan, got on his horse and rode to the heart of the battle camp.

  As soon as the horse had steadied, he got down and help Sarah down from the horse also. Immediately she was on the ground, Sarah started to walk away from the camp ground as fast as her legs could carry her as sobs racked her body all over. Drew secured his horse and ran after her as quickly as he could. He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She looked distraught. Her eyes were red and tears dripped down her cheeks. Drew recoiled in shame.

  “Sarah...I am so sorry for what I said earlier. I didn’t mean it but I didn’t want to start a fight with my cousin. I was not ready…” he began explaining again when Sarah cut him short

  “Don't. Don't say anything,” she said, tearing her hand away from his. “You don’t have to say anything. I am the one who is to blame. I can’t believe I agreed to follow you back, what was I thinking. Your people will never accept me as your wife. They will hate me because I am English. I'm such a fool. I'm such a fool. Your cousin already hates me.”

  “Nay, lass, ye are not a fool. They will come around. My people would love you when they get to know you. They will see the kind, strong and confident woman I see when I look at you. You need to give them time. Declan is just acting this way because of all he had been told about the English. He is still young and he has all that rage and anger within him. I was hot headed like him also but I know better now.”

  “Yes I am. I am going to be a stranger in my husband’s home. Your people will never accept me as one of their own. How am I going to raise my children in a place that would never accept them?”

  Her voice trembled with emotion. The strength and tone of her words caught the attention of everyone around. Drew stood firmly, pressing his lips together.

  In a storm of tears Sarah was ready to leave, ready to storm away from the camp, but Drew couldn't let her. Seeing her like this made him feel small, and despite what it meant for the clan he knew that he wanted to be with her and have her by his side. He would fight his entire countrymen if he has to just to have her by his side. He walked up to her and placed a hand on her arm. This time she did not shirk it.

  “I'm sorry, lass. I'm truly sorry from the pit of my heart. I did nae mean what I said. I spoke without thinking. I should hae been more careful with my words. I dinnae want ye tae think that I was lying. What happened between us, everything I said, I meant. I did nae know what love meant before I met ye. Ye saved my life. Ye showed me that I cannae hate all English, and ye opened my eyes to something new. Ye are not a prisoner. I am the prisoner, Sarah. Ye hae my heart.”

  Sarah calmed. Her body quieted and she turned around to face him. Her liquid eyes stared at him. She swallowed down her feelings and exhaled deeply, trying to keep her voice steady and even. It was then that she also realized, he must have only said it to protect her too. She put herself in his shoes for that moment, and saw she would have done the same thing to go unnoticed.

  “Do you mean everything you say?” she asked.

  Drew took her hands in his and gazed into her eyes. He placed her hands on his heart.

  “I dae,” he said, smiling at her. Sarah's lips twitched into a smile. It was the sweetest sight Drew had ever seen, and he knew in that moment that he wanted to continue making her smile forever.

  Suddenly, Sarah seemed to become aware that all eyes were on her. She bowed her head demurely and wiped the tears from her eyes. There were still many things Drew did not know about her, but one of the things he could tell was that she did not like being the center of attention. Drew cleared his throat and pulled her away to a private tent that had been erected. Before he did so, he told a messenger to run out onto the battlefield and tell Blair that he had returned, and that he was safe and well.

  “I feel so foolish, I should not have runaway like that. I should not let my emotions get the better of me next time” Sarah said.

  “I am the fool. I should nae hae said what I did. I did nae mean tae make ye think ye are less than ye are. I will never dae that again.”

  “This is a complicated situation. But I don't understand, what did that man mean when he said that you were as bad as your brother?”

  “Did I nae tell ye? My brother Blair returned with an English lass recently when he was out hunting. Much of the clan did nae like that. There were some who plotted against him. I managed tae stop it, and in truth I did nae approve either. Choosing an English lass disnae look good tae our people, especially when we are in a war. But that was then, when I did nae think it is possible tae feel this way about another person.”

  “You mean there's another English girl like me here?” Sarah said, her eyes lighting up.

  “Aye, at least, I believe she came with Blair. He found her in the woods just like you found me.”

  “What's her name?”

  Drew scratched his beard and averted his eyes from her.

  “I dinnae know if that's the best idea. People may think the two of ye are plotting. It might be best if ye stay out of each other’s way for a wee while, till the dust of the war settles.”

  Sarah stepped forward and looked at Drew pointedly.

  “I am alone here, Drew. If there is another English girl, I am going to talk with her because she is the only person who truly knows what I am going through. I am not going to stay out of sight just because your clan doesn't like the thought of me being here. That's treating me like a prisoner, and we've already made it clear that I'm not one of your war prisoner.”

  She spoke with real fire in her belly and authority. He could see the spark in her eyes as the words flew out of her mouth. He had never seen her like this before and Drew was impressed.

  “Ye hae changed from when we first met. Then ye would nae speak at all, but now ye are saying what is truly on your mind. You sure do know how to have your way when you want to,” he teasingly told her as he rubbed her cheeks.

  “I suppose you must be rubbing off on me,” she teased. Then she grew more serious again. “Please Drew, tell me her name. I wish to speak with her. She will understand what I am going through and would be able to comfort me. She would also be there to keep me company when you ride off into battle to fight Lord Flynn.”

  Drew sighed, knowing that he wasn't able t
o deny Sarah her request. He was quiet for a moment, then finally gave him.

  “Her name is Rosemary, although I cannae tell ye where she is in the camp.”

  “Rosemary? Did you say Rosemary?” Sarah asked, her face white as a sheet as if she had seen a ghost.

  “Aye,” Drew replied, and before he could say anything else Sarah was already out of the tent and running through the camp screaming Rosemary's name.

  Chapter 19

  Sarah couldn't believe that there was a chance Rosemary was alive. That she was here in the same camp with her. It seemed almost too good to be true, and although she did not want to raise her hopes too much for fear they would be dashed it made sense.

  The bandits had said that Rosemary had been with a Highlander. What if it was Blair? She thought she was never going to see Rosemary again. On several nights, she laid awaked and mourned her. But Rosemary was here, alive. She thought her heart was going to bust out of her chest.