Eyes rose, seeking out Wilt’s face. Desperation laced her tone, as Sarra said, “But it won’t work. The King has already picked another suitor for me.”
“And since when has the King’s pick meant anything to you?”
Sarra closed her mouth. This was not the time to provoke Wilt. He was distraught over his brother and his loss of funds. If there was a way she could fix this without marrying him, perhaps he would leave her be.
“Wilt—”
“Nay. There is nothing you can do, save marry me. Come, the church is just up ahead.”
Sarra followed along. Her shoulders ached from an earlier experience and she didn’t wish to cause herself more pain. When they reached the old stone church nestled deep within the woods, Sarra saw a priest working in a garden.
Wilt approached him, already speaking, “I would like to get married in this chapel.”
The priest stood. Stretching his back, he cast them a friendly smile. Inside his robe, he thrust his hands with a priestly air. “Very well, sir. When?”
“Now.”
“Now, sir?”
“Aye, now.”
“Very well. Now it is. Where is the bride?”
Wilt pulled Sarra’s by the hand until she stood between him and the priest.
“Here she is.”
“Very well. I must speak with her before we commence with the ceremony. A legally binding ceremony cannot be performed without consent from both parties. Not to mention the other formalities that must occur before the ceremony, such as I must speak with the male in charge of the young maid’s care, we must also allow time for the reading of the bans.”
Wilt was becoming more and more irritated by the moment. Instead of allowing the priest to talk with her, he pulled a small dagger from its sheath and placed it directly under the father’s neck at the place where his pulse could be seen beating wildly.
“Now let’s try this again. You will perform my wedding ceremony to Sarra of Greenbriar without speaking to her ahead of time.”
“Nay, I will not.”
Wilt pushed a little harder. The dagger pierced the skin of the priest, causing a drop of blood to run down his neck and onto the collar of his garment. Sarra’s vision swam before her.
“You are trying my patience, Father,” Wilt said with disdain. “I will be married and it doesn’t matter if the lady agrees or not.”
The priest wasn’t intimidated by Wilt in the least. “Am I to take it the bride is not going into this union willingly?”
Sarra’s was frozen with fear and afraid to nod.
Wilt answered, “You can take it however you wish. I just thought for a respectable priest like yourself it might be easier to feign ignorance of the whole matter. Don’t you agree?”
“I take it you are trying to give me a way out. A way to say I performed the ceremony under the illusion the bride was willingly entering in the union.”
“Aye, exactly what I am trying to do,” Wilt seemed proud of himself. He glanced quickly at Sarra.
“Bring the young lady into the sanctuary.”
“Nay. You will perform the ceremony outside. Now.”
The priest sighed. “This is most unusual. But if you will remove the knife from my neck, then I will proceed.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cedric was close. He’d followed the tracks all day, at times believing he’d lost the trail only to find it once again. The lone set of hoof prints led him away from the road and into the woods. When the top of a building came into focus, he’d dismounted and tied his horse to a tree, sneaking in for a closer look.
From his current vantage point, Cedric had a clear view of the kidnapper as he stood over Sarra. It would be easy enough to run out and face this man with a sword and come away the victor but he didn’t know what the captor was capable of doing.
Would he hurt Sarra before Cedric reached their position? Would a whole band of friends ride out to his assistance? Nay, the best thing to do was to stick to the original plan and hope Sarra could hold out. Surely Duncan would arrive soon.
Cedric watched the three people standing in the opening. Sarra turned her back on the priest and the other man. It appeared as if she was trying to compose herself.
When she twirled around, Cedric watched her place a finger down her throat. She spun just in time to heave onto the priest’s brown robe. The priest glanced down at himself in disgust.
“Pardon, sir, but I will have to change my robes before I can perform the ceremony.”
“Nay, you will not.”
“But I must, I have a weak constitution and the smell will be my undoing.” The priest finished his speech, turning to the one side and losing his own supper.
Wilt peered at Sarra suspiciously.
“Now why did you do that? What are you trying to accomplish?”
Sarra said nothing.
“Don’t think your horrid smell will drive me away. In fact after the vows I will take an extra pleasure in throwing you in the lake and watching you bathe.”
“You will never watch me doing any such thing, you brute!”
Wilt laughed at her pitiful attempt to insult him. His hand upon her loosened hair, he slung Sarra around in a circle and knocked her into the chapel. When her head slapped against the wall, Cedric saw her eyes roll as she slumped to the ground.
Wilt pulled a dagger from his waist and stalked toward Sarra. With a hand, he pulled back her hair, exposing a long neck. “I would hate to slit such a pretty throat.”
Cedric could see Sarra was dazed. She put a hand to the back of her head and grimaced in obvious pain. Blood dribbled down her face. She touched her lip and when she drew her hand back, blood coated her fingertips. Her face relaxed as she leaned back against the building and closed her eyes.
Cedric needed to do something and soon. Where was Duncan? Just as the thought flew through his mind, there was a shriek from the surrounding wood. Two men in kilts with war paint smeared on their faces and swords raised high jumped from behind the line of trees and ran screaming at the man and the priest.
Upon the noise, five men stepped from the shadows of the church. Swords were raised in defense. In all the chaos, Sarra was shoved against the church wall, where she fell to the ground and didn’t get up.
Duncan and the others had jumped from the woods and enacted the distraction. Now Cedric just had to walk around them and retrieve Sarra.
Cedric slipped around the edges of the fighting. Upon reaching Sarra, he picked her up and hauled her back to his hiding spot nestled amongst the trees. Nothing appeared broken and there were no obvious signs of bleeding, other than the split lip.
With his hands under her legs, he hoisted her up against his chest. Carrying the limp frame to his waiting horse, Cedric deposited the maid on the saddle, careful to hold her in place while swinging himself up behind her. He cradled her on his lap, laying her head under his chin.
He would have loved to have stayed but Sarra was hurt. Getting her to safety was more important than his desire to see one man punished, at least for the moment.
Part of Cedric hoped Duncan would save the man for him. He had plans for this individual which didn’t include a quick or painless death.
Cedric and Sarra rode until the sun began to descend behind the mountain once again. Sarra, even in her unconscious state, snuggled closer to Cedric to stay warm.
He had seen a cave on a hillside on his way to retrieve Sarra and he headed there now. They would have to shelter there for the rest of the night.
Cedric carried Sarra into the cave. Inside was a circle of rocks that had previously been used for a fire. He laid her down in the corner and went back outside to gather wood. He started a small fire in the fire pit. Then he found some long branches with leaves on them to cover part of the cave’s entrance, making sure to leave room for the smoke to exit.
With his plaid laid upon the ground, Cedric tried to wake Sarra. All he received was a mumble as he gently moved her onto the cloth.
Beside her he lay, placing his legs behind her own and covering them both.
Her body fit into his like it was made to do so. She moved against him. Every way he shifted she mimicked his direction, bringing their bodies closer. He was in the process of throwing off the plaid and getting up when she roused.
“Cedric?” she said with a slur.
“Aye, lass, it’s me.”
“Did we make it? Or am I in heaven?”
“We made it lass.”
She sighed. “I am so warm.”
Cedric couldn’t help but laugh. “So am I.”
Sarra snuggled deeper beneath the plaid. Cedric tried not to move. As Sarra found a comfortable spot, he breathed in. Her hair smelled of roses. A sound of contentment escaped her lips. With his arms wrapped around her frame, he realized he never wanted to let her go. This was as it should be.
The silence of the evening pervaded their small sanctuary and Sarra said, “Tell me a story.”
Aye, a story might distract him from his raging pulse, or the sweat which covered his palms, or the myriad of other feelings he was experiencing due to Sarra’s nearness.
This was an opportunity. An opportunity to reveal things about himself to the woman he was falling in love with. One time she had asked him about why he wanted land. Maybe it was time he divulge his history to her. He had been meaning to do so for some time but there always seemed to be something in the way.
So while the two of them huddled in a cave, wrapped in one another’s arms and Duncan and the others pursued Sarra’s attacker, Cedric placed his lips to Sarra’s ear and told her a story. A true story of love and loss.
“There once was an only child. His parents were William and Elinor. William was laird of a prestigious clan in the Highlands. Before William’s father passed away, he made William promise he would marry a girl worthy of him. William didna understand why, but his father explained. He felt a Scottish laird needed to marry a special type of woman to run his household. And she also needed wide hips.”
Cedric couldn’t help but smile before continuing. “Anyway, William’s father passed away before a wife was found that fit these requirements. William had searched all the surrounding clans for a wife and none of them were found worthy.
“But one day, while he was on his way to the Lowland clans to expand his search, he happened upon a carriage stuck in sinking mud. Without asking who might be aboard, he offered to assist the driver. William was extremely strong and tall of stature. He grabbed the rope the driver had placed on the carriage, gave one swift pull, and freed the carriage from the mud. After it was freed, a startling vision appeared. For there on the other side of the road awaited a beautiful young lady. William described her beauty to anyone who would listen many times over. He was proud to have found her.
“As they stood there, they stared at one another like long lost lovers. Elinor loved to tell how William crossed the muddy road and knelt in front of her and immediately proposed. William said when Elinor answered ‘aye,’ he almost toppled over. Not because of her answer but because of her accent. For he had not realized he had proposed to an English woman. William claimed right then he ripped a piece of his plaid and wrapped it around their hands in a hand-fasting ceremony until they could reach a priest. The driver of the carriage was distracted, trying to tie the horses back to the carriage, when William scooped Elinor up and unceremoniously plopped her on his waiting horse, swung himself up behind her and took off down the dirt road. By the time the driver noticed the lady’s departure, he was too late to catch up with her.”
Cedric took a breath. “There, of course, were repercussions for what William did. First of all, it was thought Elinor had been taken against her will. The driver had missed the hand-fasting and the proposal. Letters arrived immediately, requesting Elinor be returned to her home posthaste. Elinor explained she had married William willingly. Then she received letters telling her she would lose her inheritance if she didna return to England immediately. Most of them went into the fireplace and were burned.
“Elinor hadn’t been unhappy in England with her family. Quite the contrary. She’d been happy with her life and her family, and loved them all dearly. On more than one occasion a letter had been written to her da, asking him to come to Scotland to meet his one and only grandson but Elinor’s father wouldn’t give in. He felt Elinor had slighted him because she had married a ‘detestable Scot.’ Elinor tried to explain to her da it wasn’t a slight to him. She had seen William standing there on the other side of the muddy road, covered with grime from pulling her coach free, and love had been instantaneous.”
Cedric paused briefly. Sarra snuggled in closer to him. Taking a deep breath, he started again.
“William came home to the clan and was a revered leader. He continued to keep his people safe. But his people didna trust his wife. No matter what Elinor did, she was despised by the people merely because she was English.
“She died when her son was on the verge of manhood. William never saw the disrespect sent his son’s way. He chose to believe upon his death his son would be the new laird of the clan, purely because of his lineage. William died a few years after Elinor, and the son of course tried to assume his rightful place as leader. The son had proven himself in battle alongside some of the older warriors. Naturally, he believed they would label him fit to rule the clan.”
Cedric sighed deeply, “He was wrong. There were whispers behind closed doors. A plot for his demise was underway. His uncle, William’s brother, came to him in secret and told him he had to leave or the clan would surely kill him. This was when the son decided to seek English favor.”
Cedric stopped there, unable to continue. To do so would reveal too much.
As a soft snore filled the cave, he relaxed. Although he hadn’t spoken the rest aloud, memories of his true purpose filled his mind. Though he tried to edge away from Sarra, she only moved closer to him.
What was he doing here? There had been only a few men to fight and he’d left it for Duncan and the others. In his mind, Sarra needed to be protected. But truthfully he’d wanted her alone, to himself. He wanted to make sure she was all right.
Why was this happening? Why when land was within his grasp? Why when all his dreams were set to be fulfilled did the desire to throw it all way for a woman have to happen? For Sarra?
Slowly Cedric attempted to maneuver away. With a flailing arm, she rolled over to her other side and gave Cedric the opening he needed. Sliding away, he leaned down and tucked his plaid around her shoulders for warmth.
Cedric glanced around the entrance to make sure they were still alone. An overwhelming feeling of being watched assailed him. Slipping back into the cave to grab his sword, he clutched it, liking the way it fit in his hand.
Then moving back to the entry way and standing to the side, he tried to get a glimpse of what he might have heard. Scanning the woods, Cedric caught a sudden movement on his right.
Upon getting closer, he saw a white-tailed deer stuck in a bramble bush. It was struggling to free itself. Cedric moved in and pushed some of the branches aside, allowing the animal to go free.
As he walked back to the cave, the sound of a shrill whistle rent the air. Cedric recognized the signal and went out to meet Duncan. They met a small distance in front of the cave.
“Aye, my friend.”
“Cedric, my brother, tell me ye have retrieved the maid Sarra.”
“Aye, I did. And how did ye fare in yer part of the plan?”
Duncan rubbed his hand across his bearded chin. “I don’t think ye are going to like it.”
Cedric’s eyebrow rose in question but he remained silent.
“He got away.”
Now Cedric’s brows furrowed. How could one man have escaped them all?
“There were others at the chapel. They thought we were trying to raid the treasures. While we were busy, he ran away on foot. He couldn’t have gotten far. But with all our prints in the mud next to the chapel we can’t figure o
ut which was his. We searched, mind ye, but still haven’t yet picked up his trail.”
Cedric glanced out at the woods around the cave. The man who had taken the maid was still out there. Would he try again?
Hiding his concern, Cedric said, “Verra well. Wait here a moment and the maid and I will come with you.”
Cedric reentered the cave. He wasn’t happy about telling the lass her captor was still at large. Neither was he overly excited about sharing the news with the mistress of Greenbriar.
Coming upon the lass wrapped in his plaid, his reached out his hand to touch her face. His knuckles ran across the expanse of her cheek, the smooth skin in sharp contrast to the rough calloused feel of his work-worn hands.
“Lass?”
Sarra woke, stretching and moaning in the same breath. She choked out an, “Aye?”
“Lass, we need to return to yer mistress.”
“But—“
Sarra seemed about to speak, but then hesitated. Cedric assumed she was going to ask him about her captor, and said, “Duncan and the others didn’t find him. But we won’t give up. Come. They are waiting on us.”
She nodded and struggled to push herself to her feet. Cedric grabbed her hand and pulled her up, their bodies mere inches apart. His hand came forward and cradled her cheek. Green eyes stared back at him. She leaned forward. Moist breath hit his lips. Cedric could almost hear her pulse racing. If he bent just a hair their lips would touch. Just a hair—
“Cedric?”
Jerking backwards, Cedric jumped away from the shaky maid. What was he thinking? He couldn’t give up his land for a maid.
Clearing his throat, he said, “We need to go.”
“Aye. I guess we do.”
Sarra picked up her skirts and edged around him. Was he doing the right thing? He wasn’t sure.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When the three of them found the horses, Cedric shifted and reached for Sarra to place her on his mount in front of him, but she refused. She would walk before sharing a horse with him.
There Your Heart Will Be Also Page 14