Was this really happening? And how did it happen so quickly? Yet as she gazed into his eyes, the same beautiful color as the waters of the loch she’d missed so dearly, she knew for a certainty that it had. Her heart slipped completely into the embrace of love.
She loved this big bear of a man.
“Tha gaol agam ort.”
Bear’s Gaelic was rusty but he said it right.
“I love you too,” she whispered, placing a hand against her heart.
His smile broadened and they just gazed at each other, relishing the shared moment.
“Open yer gift, my love,” he finally said.
Her hands trembled as she untied the ribbons—blue and green, the colors of their clan. Yet another example of Bear’s thoughtfulness.
She hadn’t received a gift since she was a young lass, and her excitement left her breathless. She giggled a little as she removed the lid.
Artis stared at the grand luckenbooth. She had never seen a prettier brooch in her life. “Ah Bear, it’s so lovely!”
“As it should be for a woman of your beauty.”
She felt her face color. She wished she had a gift of equal measure to give him. Her thoughts brightened when she remembered that she did have something!
She laid the luckenbooth back in the box and unpinned her clan brooch. “Tis yers now,” she said, pinning it to Bear’s coat. “Several generations of men in my family have worn it with pride. Ye are my new family, so it gives me pleasure to give it to ye, Daniel MacKee.”
“As of tonight, I am Daniel MacK-a-y, and I shall also wear it with great pride.”
“Aye, that is the customary spellin’. Let’s go tell the others. If we stay here, I’ll be wantin’ more kisses from ye and we’d create a terrible scandal because I’m sure ye would oblige me.”
He gave her a roguish smile and said in a low lusty voice, “Indeed, I would! But it would na be a scandal if we were married.”
“Aye, but we’re na married yet!”
“William is a justice of the peace now. And he can make it legal. But first we can honor our heritage and marry ourselves by a bindin’ vow of love.” He bent to his knee and pinned the luckenbooth on her. “I pledge to protect you with all the strength and spirit within my body. I pledge my love to ye for the rest of our lives and, if it be possible with God, for all eternity, forever, and ever, and ever.”
He stood and reached out for her hand and she stood as well.
Artis placed her palm against their clan’s badge. “Tugaim mo chroí duit go deo—I give my heart to you forever. I promise I have loved and will love only ye. And my love will be given with all my heart and all my soul, forever.”
He gazed lovingly into her eyes for a moment. The tenderness of his expression made her heart jolt and her pulse quicken. Her feelings for him were intensifying with every second that passed.
Then his face lit with sudden joy. “Ye said forever, but I must protest. Forever is na long enough! I want yer love for wee bit longer!” he said with a glint of humor in his eyes. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.
She was too emotion-filled to speak. She laid her cheek against his muscular chest, feeling his heart pound against her skin. His powerfully built body was a virtual fortress capable of protecting them both. The warmth of his arms was so male, so comforting, she did not want to let go of him. How long had it been since she felt loved?
And she had never known the love of a man. She was astonished at the way it made her feel—valued, cherished, and dear. Her chest swelled with love for Bear, making her feel flushed and warm. And his nearness was making her senses spin. Her clothing rapidly became heavy and constricting. She needed air. “Can we go outside for a while?”
“Aye, let’s stroll under the stars for a wee bit.” Bear took her hand and led her outside.
She took a deep steadying breath of the cool evening air. Her hand was still in his and it felt like it belonged there—as though together their hands formed a perfect union. She glanced over at him and wondered what it would be like to join with him as man and wife—would their bodies also form a perfect union? The thought made her heart race and she found herself feeling hot again.
Her insides seemed to pulse and throb as though liquid fire surged through her veins. She had never felt like this before. Why was she feeling so strange? Was he feeling the same way? She stopped and he did too. He gazed down at her. She needed him to kiss her. Gripped by desire, she reached up and drew his mouth to hers. A sizzling aura of unspent passion swirled around both of them.
He put a hand on her waist and guided her to the fort’s stable. He searched for a minute or two until he found where the hay was stored. She understood what might be coming. Could she deny herself his touch? A battle raged within her. She wanted him. That much was clear. In fact, her own compelling need shocked her.
She also knew Bear would not force her. He was a gentleman. But was she enough of a lady to stop herself?
Reaching for her hand again, he tugged her inside and gently eased her down on the fresh-smelling straw.
She looked up at him. The pulse of her throat leapt with excitement. She found his undeniable strength and power so alluring. This was a man who could safeguard her from the cruelties of the world.
He took his place beside her and gathered her in his arms. He held her snugly as he kissed her until the blood pounded in her head and other places on her body warmed and tingled.
His hand slid the top of her gown off her shoulder exposing one of her breasts to the cool air. His lips trailed down her throat and made their way to her bosom. Almost reverently, he kissed the mound of her breast while his big hand caressed the lower half. The sensation was extraordinary and seemed to make her insides pull together.
Her womanhood was aflame and she grabbed his broad shoulders with her hands, needing to hold on to him. She slid closer to him, compelled by her own desire and a need to feel all of him against her. His clean scent made her heart hammer.
His open palm seared a path down her abdomen and he reached under her gown and lightly ran just the tips of his fingers up and down her bare thigh, just above her stockings.
The gentle massage sent her desire soaring even higher. She would not be able to stand much more. She wanted something, something she didn’t understand. And her whole being seemed consumed with finding it.
Her mind told her to resist, but her rebellious body refused to listen. Her body only wanted to feel, not think. She gave herself fully to his embrace, burying her face in the center of his broad chest. Her fingers touched the clan badge she’d pinned on him. She could not dishonor her clan.
“Bear, we’re not yet married.” Trembling with longing for him, she couldn’t keep her voice from quaking. She struggled to clear her mind of the lust that swirled through it. She had to regain control.
His breath was warm against her ear. “When it’s consummated, we’ll make it legally bindin’,” he breathed, in a husky whisper.
He kissed her again, deeper and possessively. The passion in the kiss almost made her change her mind.
She placed her hands on either side of his adorable smooth face. “Bear, look at me.”
He opened his eyes and she saw desire burning in them so hot she could almost see flames.
“Nay, Bear, we canna do this yet.” She beseeched him with her eyes. “As much as I want ye, my faith demands that I wait until we are married before God and man.” She spoke the words quickly, over her rapidly beating heart, wanting to get them out before she could change her mind. And there was a strong possibility that she would. She wanted more of what Bear did to her. Much more.
“All right lass, but I swear, ye’ll not regret it if you want to go ahead. We’re married right enough.”
“Nay, we are by Scottish tradition, but na by Kentucky law. And we’re Kentuckians now,” she said. “We must marry legally. I’ll na have our marriage questioned by anyone, especially God.”
He sighed d
eeply and kissed her again, but this time his lips were soft and tender, conveying only love, not passion.
Recovering, he gently stroked her cheek with a finger and said lightly, “Ye are the most beautiful woman here. Maybe in all the colonies. Can ye blame me for wantin’ ye so terribly?”
It thrilled her that Bear found her so desirable. “Nay, I do na. And ye are the most handsome and braw man here. And I want ye just as much. Maybe even a wee bit more,” she added with a smile at him.
He took one long last look into her eyes and then stood and offered his hand. “Come, Artis, we must go back before I lose what little control I have.”
Laughing, they dusted and plucked the straw off each other before they left the stables. “Did ye get it all out of my hair?” she asked, when they reached the light streaming through the windows.
Bear gave her locks a thorough examination and found two pieces he’d missed. “I will dispose of the evidence of our wickedness,” he said, tossing the straw aside.
They were both giggling with happiness as they went back inside.
Tugging her behind him, Bear found William and Kelly, who were still speaking with Lucky.
“Pardon the interruption, but we have exceedingly important news,” Bear declared. “Artis and I are now married by pledge, in keepin’ with Scottish tradition. But we want ye to perform the ceremony William, to make it legally bindin’ in Kentucky.”
Kelly let out a cry of joy. “That’s wonderful news!”
Lucky gave Bear a slap on the back as he chuckled. “I could see that coming,” the old friend said.
Then, to Artis’ horror, Lucky plucked a piece of straw that she’s missed off the top of Bear’s tall back. Her eyes widened for a moment, but he said nothing, and winked at her.
She could feel her throat and face flushing and quickly glanced away.
“It would be my honor,” William said, “when do ye want to marry?”
“Right now!” Bear said as though William had asked an inane question.
“Well…” Artis started. She stopped, as the Governor and his wife strode up to the five of them.
“A good evening to you,” the Garrards both greeted at once.
“Good evening. Sir, Madam, we are about to have a wedding,” Kelly blurted out at once, her voice bubbling with excitement.
“A wedding!” Mrs. Garrard said. “How romantic!”
William introduced everyone to Mrs. Garrard.
“Miss MacKay, I do greatly admire your gown,” Mrs. Garrard said.
“Thank ye, Madam. I have Kelly to thank for it,” Artis replied. She smiled toward Kelly, showing her gratitude. She’d felt like a princess in some romantic tale from the moment she slid into the gorgeous gown.
“You will make a stunning bride,” the Governor told her. “We were about to start the dancing, but let’s get everyone’s attention and we will hold the wedding first.”
“Nay, if ye do na mind Governor, my wish is to wed Bear later tonight on my new land. I would like Bear’s brother William to marry us under the stars of my, nay our, new home.” Bear was right. It was time for her to look up at the stars, not down at her feet. And she would start tonight.
“Of course, dear,” the Governor said.
“Whatever makes you happy,” Mrs. Garrard agreed.
She glanced at Bear, hoping she would not see disappointment in his eyes. But he looked back at her with only love, and it made her feel wrapped in his warmth again. Her body ached for his touch.
“As far as I’m concerned, our pledges bound us in marriage. So we will do whatever ye want to make it a formality. We can marry after we leave here.”
“Thank ye,” she said, feeling her desire for him grow even stronger.
“Well, Sir, can we toast to the bride and groom at least?” the Governor asked.
“Aye, and we would be well pleased to have ye make the toast Governor,” Bear said. “Just let me get us a drink.”
Bear quickly grabbed two glasses of the rum punch from the beverage table and gave one to Artis, while William made sure the Governor and his wife were served more punch. Then the Governor’s aide called for everyone’s attention and the room quickly quieted down.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “Mrs. Garrard and I thank you all for coming and we both hope you enjoy the ball enormously. I want to thank all the delegates for their willingness to come to Boonesborough for this assembly. Your help is beyond measure. And, I have two items of wonderful news to share with all of you. First, I am delighted to report that this afternoon, Daniel MacKee, whom most of you know as Bear, succeeded in killing three villainous thieves in the process of robbing Henderson & Co.”
Men cheered and women, including Artis, gasped. She’d had no idea.
The Governor continued. “These same thieves were responsible for robbing gold from the state treasury and for many other robberies in Kentucky settlements. We are exceedingly grateful to Mister MacKee for his bravery and for riding our state of these lawbreakers.
“Last, and most important, I am pleased and honored to announce that Mister Daniel MacKee and Miss Artis MacKay will be married later this evening by Sheriff William Wyllie.”
Everyone in the room clapped and several called out their congratulations. Bear waved with a sheepish grin on his face.
“I am also honored to say a toast to the happy couple. Will you join me please?” The Governor raised his glass. “May green be the grass you walk upon, may blue be the skies above you, may pure be the happiness that surrounds you, may true be the hearts that love you.”
They all raised their cups and took a drink.
“Sláinte!” Bear proclaimed, and raised his cup to the Governor. “Cheers to our fine Governor.”
They all raised their cups again. The punch tasted delightful and Artis swallowed the rest of it.
When she grasped that Bear killed three men that day, and could have been killed, she asked for another cup.
“Let’s eat!” Bear declared. “All this romance has made me ravenous.” He didn’t want to say he’d been starving since he first arrived at the ball.
“You’re always hungry,” William said.
Bear’s belly rippled with amusement. He couldn’t deny it. He was hungry more often than not. He took Artis’ elbow. “A joyful heart creates a hungry belly,” he said, guiding her to the food tables.
After they ate, he sampled a small piece of every pie and drank a few more cups of punch. Just when he was thinking about leaving, William picked up his fiddle and joined the violinist and another musician. They performed a number of jigs and reels. The loosely structured dances, derived from the dance traditions of the Scots, kept the area set aside for dancing full and surrounded by clapping onlookers.
Bear noticed Artis tapping her toes to the lively music and humming along happily, as she watched the jubilant party goers dance.
She gave him a vivacious smile and told him, “O my luve is like the melodie, that`s sweetly played in tune,” quoting the popular Scottish poet Robert Burns.
“Would ye like to dance to sweet tunes for the rest of our lives?” he asked.
“Aye,” she said, “and a wee bit longer!”
He took her hand and they made their way to the dance floor. He had not danced since he was a young lad and wasn’t sure he could make his big feet cooperate, but for Artis’ sake he had to try. Her nearness and beauty made his heart race and that might also prove to make dancing gracefully difficult. He took a deep breath to calm himself.
“Watch out for yer toes,” he warned, “me boots are quite large and my dancin’ skills are quite dull.”
“Then we are even more ideally suited than I thought, for my boots are quite small and my dancin’ skills are well honed. I used to love to dance at our village’s celebrations.”
They danced as though they’d been dancing together all their lives, but occasionally his feet found it difficult to keep up. Smiling people gathered around and kept pointing to him,
apparently astonished or amused that so large a man could be so lively.
“A Dhiabhai!” he swore, when she winced after the first time he stepped on her toes. He hadn’t forgotten how to say damn it and a few other choice swear words in Gaelic and feared he would need to use of them all before she grew tired of dancing.
He could tell that she would not grow weary of dancing anytime soon. She clearly loved to dance and she seemed filled with irrepressible joy. When she wasn’t smiling, she was grinning. And when she wasn’t grinning, she was laughing. The sound of her laughter was something he wanted to spend his whole life hearing.
They had both been smiling when they started dancing and still were when his feet finally compelled him to stop. “Ye must let me rest wife.”
“Aye, husband, ye will need yer strength later.” She eyed him impishly, her expression hungry and lustful.
He decided it was time to leave. “Let’s find William and Kelly,” he said quickly. He grabbed her hand and in his rush practically yanked her away from the dance floor.
“My pardons,” he said, realizing what he’d done.
“Do na be troubled, I’ll keep up with ye.”
Chapter 18
Bear spread a blanket out in the back of William and Kelly’s wagon and then helped his new wife to seat herself. But this time, he sat down next to her, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and snugged her up against him. It felt so good to hold this magnificent woman in his arms. He glanced down and caught the gleam of her eyes and the sparkle of the stones in her luckenbooth. Both shimmered like stars. His sheer joy made him look heavenward.
“Look up,” he said. A clear sky left the stars free to glisten in an unveiled pageant of nature.
“It’s on the darkest nights that the stars are their brightest,” she said.
He was about to agree with her when a bolt of lightning streaked across the horizon illuminating shadowy clouds gathering in the distance. He counted the seconds until he heard the thunder that followed. Good, it was some distance away. Maybe the storm would turn and miss them altogether. The late fall night was cool, but not uncomfortably so. But a storm, especially one that left them all soaked, could make the journey home miserable.
Frontier Highlander Vow of Love (American Wilderness Series Romance Book 4) Page 12