by Kara Griffin
“Do you deem she found out about the parchment and thought Alexander would want it and so she stole it from mac Raghnaill?”
“Mayhap, that seems plausible. That would be the only reason she would take it, for him, for Alexander. I never saw her with Domhnall and don’t think she had spent any time with him. Yet even if she had she wouldn’t have told me.” Elisa almost tripped on a root in the ground, but got her footing.
“I suspect mac Raghnaill found out she’d taken it and tried to get it back.”
“Aye and he killed my family for it,” she said, desponded.
“Why didn’t he kill you?”
Elisa gave him a bewildered look. “I don’t think Domhnall knew it was me he had taken initially. For you see Mauri and I were twins and looked alike.”
“So mayhap he thought Mauri was you when he killed her?”
“That could very well be. I remember when he first took me to the village. He kept asking me about the parchment and he accused me of wanting it for Alexander.”
“What did he do when he realized he had the wrong sister?”
Elisa kept her gaze on the ground as she walked next to him. “He slapped me, but he left before he could do any further damage.”
“And the next time he came?”
“He was kind. He didn’t press me about the parchment or for information. He told me I could have run of the village but I wasn’t allowed to leave. He brought some of my belongings from home. Most of the time he left me alone.”
“He is in love with you.”
Elisa guffawed. “What nonsense, Kenneth. Why would he be in love with me?”
Kenneth stopped her by grabbing her upper arm gently. “If he sees what I see, he would have fallen in love with you. I know for what I speak. There was no reason to keep you alive. He’d killed your entire family. You didn’t have the parchment. He knew you would never give it to him. So why did he keep you?”
She shook her head. “‘Tis doubtful, that he’s in love with me. He never said any such thing to me. Besides I am wedded to you now. There is nothing he can do to me.”
“Except to bring an army to steal you back.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Autumn settled in the air, bringing with it stiffer winds and chillier nights. The night grew colder. So much so that two covers did little to warm her. The two hard-headed warriors who rode with her barely acknowledged the stony air. They didn’t even cover up as they sat by the fire. Their bare legs showed nary a single goose-bump.
Elisa thought about what Kenneth had said about Domhnall. The more she considered it, the more she reasoned Kenneth might be right. She wasn’t an immature woman unaware of the actions of men. Many a time she’d seen their lewd behavior toward women. Mayhap Domhnall wanted her. But he’d never given her any reason to believe so. She offered up a prayer of thanks to God for sending her Kenneth. Even with all his shortcomings he was a far better man than Domhnall.
Life would have been more difficult as Domhnall’s wife for he was continually warring and always away. Not that she would have wanted to spend time with him since he wasn’t chivalrous. Not that Kenneth was gallant either. But she wanted a husband who enjoyed being with her.
Kenneth wasn’t quite there yet and she knew he’d forgotten about her occasionally. One day she would be important to him. Hopefully he would realize she intended to make him a good wife. It had taken her most of the first day of riding to get over her anger at what he’d said to her the night of the celebration. She didn’t have it in her heart to stay mad at him.
“You’re being quiet.” Sean poked a stick at the fire, sending embers into the air.
“Just thinking and you?”
“Listening,” he said.
“To what?”
“To Kenneth snoring, the night sounds, for foes, your mind going a league a minute.”
Elisa smiled at his jest. “To all that? I shan’t give myself away.”
“Kenneth told me of your discussion about the parchment and mac Raghnaill.”
“He has an odd notion that Domhnall wants me.”
Sean flashed a grin; his teeth gleamed in the firelight. “He’d be a fool not to. Kenneth doesn’t understand yet. Give him time.”
“Were you reading my mind, Sean? Have you the gift?”
“Nay, but I know women and I can tell what’s on your mind.”
“Do you believe what Kenneth does about the parchment?”
“I don’t know if the parchment has any significance to what Domhnall wants. Even if it revealed who was at odds with the Norway king, Alexander would have found out through other means. Our king has a way of finding out who is in league with his enemies.”
“Then why does your king want it so badly?”
Kenneth rolled onto his back and had awakened. He took her hand. “Come, you should get some rest, Elisa.”
“I’m going to take a walk and check our surroundings,” Sean said, leaving them alone.
Elisa lay next to Kenneth. She cuddled as close to him as she could get. His warm hard body was lulling. That along with the kisses he was setting on her neck.
“Kenneth, Sean will return shortly.”
“Nay he won’t.” He lifted her skirts and glided his cold hand along her leg.
She drew in a sharp gasp. “Your hand is freezing!”
“I know I’m trying to warm it.”
His hand found the curls at her apex. Elisa closed her eyes at his fingers working their magic. Within seconds, she was writhing, wanting, and willing to have him. Her anger forgotten and at that moment, she’d forgive him anything as long as he gave her what she wanted. What she wanted was him.
“Kenneth, I’m … I need you.”
He rolled behind her and pulled her back against his chest. He used his knee to hold her leg in place to give him better access. Elisa moaned when she felt his hot hard length slide into her.
“Your body makes me hard.” Kenneth’s breath heated her ear. He whispered inexplicable words she daren’t ever repeat. He slowly thrust into her, and then continued to glide his hot member into her, making each time more affecting.
“Aye, ye want to be pleasured.” Kenneth reached in front of her and began rubbing her vagina. Elisa thought she’d go mad with each stroke. His thrusts became forceful and she couldn’t breathe, didn’t want to.
As the climax came crashing upon her, Kenneth groaned and stilled. He kissed the side of her face and she closed her eyes feeling content to fall asleep in his arms.
The next thing she knew, he was shaking her.
“Elisa, come, we need to get moving.”
She moaned at the thought of another day of riding and didn’t think her legs could withstand such torture. But she wouldn’t complain. Kenneth was doing a fair job at hiding his disgruntlement at going home as it was. He hadn’t made one comment about his desire to stay at the Gunn’s. Nor had he said why he hadn’t wanted to go to the McInnish land. Those reasons goaded her, for she couldn’t help him if he wouldn’t reveal his thoughts.
She went to the nearby stream, washed and took care of her needs. When she returned Kenneth had already put away the covers. He held her comb out to her.
“You might be needing this.”
She fingered her hair and grumbled under her breath. She must look a fright. As soon as she got all the tangles out, she tossed it back to him and he put it in her satchel.
“Are you two love birds ready?” Sean asked.
Elisa mounted the beautiful mare she’d been given. When she’d been told by Kenneth that he had taken James’ horse, she knew his friend must have put up a fight for the horse was valuable and stood as high as Kenneth’s Black. Sean’s horse was just as beautiful with spots on its hind legs and a nice shade of brown covering the rest of him. Briefly she saddened thinking of Kenneth’s horse. He hadn’t said one word about it and yet he had to be dismayed by the loss of his warhorse.
“We should stop and let the horses eat when next we come
across a meadow.”
Kenneth looked at her as if she’d gone mad. “I fed the horses already. We’re in a wee bit of a hurry, lass, to be meandering in meadows. Lest you forget there’s an army after you.”
Sean laughed.
Elisa gave him a reproachable stare. “The day is beautiful and I … I did forget.”
They started off again and Elisa couldn’t help being miserable about the long day that lay ahead. As the day drug on she kept alert and watched Kenneth. The view wasn’t bad considering his tartan rose above on his lap and she got a nice view of his naked knees and thighs. He had strong legs, strong arms, strong everything. She’d never seen a man to rival his manliness.
“Keep your eyes ahead, lass,” Sean teased, as he rode next to her.
Elisa blushed at her wanton thoughts.
By nightfall, all she wanted to do was throw herself upon a cover and close her eyes. That’s exactly what she did when Kenneth helped her off her horse. She was too tired to eat, too tired to move, too tired to care that it was cold.
Kenneth set the camp. She watched through slitted eyes as he tethered the horses, fed them, and collected twigs and branches. Sean started the fire and put something in a small pot.
The food smelled good, but not good enough to move. Kenneth covered her with another tartan and knelt next to her.
“Are you hungry, Elisa?”
“Nay, too tired,” she said drowsily.
“Aye then, Sean, you can put the hare in the stew.”
Elisa would have reproached him if she’d had enough energy and instead she drifted off to sleep.
She spent a restless night and kept waking from strange dreams. Each time Kenneth would pull her into his arms and settle her back to sleep. By morning, she was lying atop him and he held her, his arms wrapped around her back. His heated skin warmed her through and through.
“Are we close? Do we have much longer to go?” Elisa certainly hoped not. She recalled he’d said it would take days and they had been traveling a long time.
“If you get your arse moving we might arrive by evening tomorrow,” Kenneth said in a teasing manner.
Elisa jumped to her feet and promptly moaned. She was in no condition to prove anything or to move so hastily.
Throughout that day and the next, either Sean or Kenneth would stop their procession. They seemed to be listening and as if all was right, they would continue on. During their trek through an open field, they stopped near large hillock covered by a pile of rocks. Sean and Kenneth stopped and crossed themselves.
“It’s a burial mound. Many of our kinsmen are buried here,” Kenneth explained, before they moved on. “Aye, killed in a raid by marauders.”
On the fourth day, the woods had grown thicker, but then grew sparse again later in day. As they left the woods, hills of grass lay before them. Elisa’s eyes widened at seeing such a place. The land was beautiful and to her magical. She glanced around the glen believing she would see a sidhe, for fairies were rumored to live in such magical places.
There were hundreds of white and gray sheep dotting the green hills. Her breath caught at the sight. She stopped and gazed at the flock. It had been a long time since she’d seen the beloved animal. She adored sheep. Then she saw one of the sheep lying on the ground.
“Stop! Kenneth, stop.” She slid from her mare’s back and looked over her shoulder. “Is it safe?”
Kenneth nodded.
She reached the sheep that seemed to be looking at her pleadingly. Kenneth and Sean edged to her side. They stood by watching.
Elisa knelt next to it and assessed the animal. “The little ram hurt his leg. It might be broken. Do you deem the farmer knows? Mayhap we can take him to safety?” She beseeched him with pleading eyes.
Kenneth gazed at her without a reaction. “The sheep are mine.”
She drew an excited breath. “Verily, oh, Kenneth, you are so blessed. These are all your sheep?”
“Has she gone addled?” Sean asked.
For which she gave him another reproachful look. “Sheep are the most gracious of animals. Can we take him with us so I may attend his wound? We cannot leave him here. A wolf will get him.”
“Aye, let us go. Come and I’ll help you back on your horse,” Kenneth said.
“You’re really going to let her take the sheep home?” Sean asked.
“Aye, if I don’t she’s likely to want to inspect every last one of them for injury. And I’d like to find a bed by nightfall.”
Sean laughed at Kenneth’s jest. “Aye, we could do well with the meat if he doesn’t survive. It’s a wee bit scrawny. Won’t be much of a meal.”
Elisa huffed becoming affronted by Sean’s remark. She didn’t care that they made fun of her. When she got atop her horse, Kenneth handed her the sheep. It didn’t weigh much and must be a lamb for it seemed small. She held it so its leg wasn’t affected.
Within an hour the McInnish village came into sight. Elisa noticed how rundown the cottages looked. Many of the clans’ people averted their gazes and held no welcome for them. They kept riding through to the gatehouse and wooden wall until they reached the courtyard. The ground outside the main keep was lumpy and unattended.
Her breath caught when she saw the keep. It was aged with moss covering a good amount of the stone at the lower level. Some of the stones had fallen joining debris at the ground. None of the windows had coverings on them. No banners flew or could be seen. Everything appeared as if it had been neglected.
Kenneth took the sheep from her and handed it to Sean. Then he assisted her from atop her horse. Elisa stood waiting for Kenneth to direct her, but he didn’t seem to want to move either. For none of them could form words.
All hell broke loose then. A thin, aged, woman came from the entryway of the keep. Her hair was grayed, but it was long and wispy. She appeared frail and pale. She moved fast considering she used a walking stick. When she got to Kenneth, she thrust the walking stick at Sean and tilted her cheek to Kenneth. Sean, still holding the sheep, dropped the stick and stood there as dumbstruck as she.
Kenneth paled as if the woman were a ghost.
“Helena,” he said in greeting.
“Kenneth, do I not get a kiss? Nay? ‘Tis been many a year.”
“It has. You look well.” Kenneth stood still, and was about to introduce her to the woman for he had taken her hand and raised it slightly.
Elisa was about to speak, but waited for a proper moment. She didn’t want to be rude.
“Aye and why wouldn’t I look well? You would know if I was well if you came home once in a while.”
Kenneth was about to retort when the woman cut him off again.
“I see you’ve returned. You couldn’t return for your father’s burial, but you come back now?”
Kenneth gave a firm nod.
“I suppose you intend on taking position as laird? I say ‘tis about time. Be no leader here for years for all we’ve waited for you. See what your sloth has brought upon us?” She gestured toward the keep.
Kenneth shook his head and opened his mouth to respond but the woman wasn’t about to let him.
“So you wedded, have you? Brought your bride home to meet your mother? Ah at least you chose a good bonny woman. She’s appealing and looks to be able to birth a bairn. Aye, nice wide hips she has. Good news for you, eh?”
Elisa was about to curtsey but the woman wouldn’t let her. She flapped a hand at her indicating she didn’t want her to be forthright.
“Greer would have come sooner. Aye, he would have wed a fine lass, too. Och, you want to rest do you? Well, come inside and take the laird’s chamber. Lord knows I’m an old woman and don’t need such comforts.” She pointed to her walking stick and Elisa hastened to pick it up and handed it to her.
“Well come along then. You shan’t be standing there gathering wool.” The woman observed the sheep and then looked each one of them in the eye. As fast as she’d appeared, she disappeared.
“Your mother is
… lovely,” Elisa said.
Sean burst forth in laughter. “You are jesting, Elisa. I didn’t realize you were so humorous.”
“Stepmother,” Kenneth corrected. “Now you know why it took this long to return.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Patience is a virtue. Kenneth had heard that somewhere before and he kept reminding himself of that old adage. He wasn’t wont to being virtuous, but needed patience. His tolerance wore thin and soon he’d lose what temperament remained. His clan members most unwelcoming and the one person who should have been gladdened at his return wasn’t.
During supper that night, Kenneth sat at the largest trestle table in the great hall and watched apprehensively at the manners and behavior of his clan. Several guardsmen fought by the hearth. No one bothered to remove the men or stop their fray. He was about to intercede when the men bounded out the door and took their fight outside.
Not only were their manners atrocious, but they didn’t give a cosh that they sat inside the laird’s home or in front of the women. Twice he’d spied someone throwing bones to the floor and spitting food or drink, he wasn’t sure which, on the floorboards. The hall’s filth didn’t appear to bother them either. Sean and he shared a look of disgust, but Kenneth wasn’t about to reprimand them yet, for they didn’t know who he was or why he was there. All in good time.
He’d asked for Aiden and Duncan, the Gunn clansmen, who were sent to protect the clan, to be brought to him so he could get a report of the latest happenings. But the men were apparently on sentry duty and weren’t expected back until the morn.
Hastily, he left the great hall. He didn’t feel remorse or guilt for taking the laird’s chamber. Eventually he would have to rid the chamber of its furnishings and redo it for Elisa. Though Helena didn’t care about the filth she lie upon, he did, and had two of the keep’s maids come and do a quick cleaning and change the bedding before he’d occupy it. The woman was going to be difficult. If that wasn’t bad enough, he’d hoped she would help him win over the clan. That didn’t seem to be in her interest.