A Lesson in Passion

by Jennifer Connors

  They all stared at the grove and beyond, not really seeing anything because of the trees. Finally, Alec came riding up the hill. He had a smile on his face, so she assumed it went well.

  “Damn MacBains. So brave facing five McKennas... not so brave facing far more,” he was laughing with her guards. “Come Ginny, yar needed. Some men are hurt.” He held his hand out to her and was promptly lifted onto his lap.

  “Is Ian alright?” Ginny could hear some panic in her voice. Alec heard it as well.

  “Nay, he was injured,” Alec stated with a grim expression. He wanted to see how Ginny reacted to the news. She reacted as he assumed she would.

  “What happened? Was he hit by an arrow, sword, what???” Ginny was frantic. “Can't you ride any faster?”

  “Ginny, he will be fine. He will have ya to tend to him,” Alec said evasively. He knew a little about love. He loved his wife with a passion he didn't know was possible. As the wind whipped past them, riding down the hill, Alec knew for certain that Ginny was in love with Ian. He also knew that she wasn't likely to live her life in happiness with Ian married to someone else.

  He pulled the horse around the trees and Ginny caught her first sight of the battle. There were a few bodies on the ground. Some looked beyond repair. Ginny was relieved to see that they wore different plaids than the McKennas. When Ginny spotted Ian, she barely let Alec stop the horse before she jumped down and ran to him. His back was turned to her and he was giving orders to his men. She didn't want to disturb him, but needed to touch him.

  Reaching out, she gently touched his arm. Ian turned suddenly, causing Ginny to jump in surprise. He laughed when he saw her shock.

  “Alec said you were injured,” Ginny said trying to cover up her impatience.

  “Aye,” he said. Then lowered his head and whispered, “but I'd rather show you when we are alone.” His eyebrow went up and a boyish grin formed on his face. Ginny could do nothing but smile.

  “I'm guessing you'll survive. Are there others who need my immediate attention?”

  “Aye, come with me.” As they walked away, Ian continued to give orders to his men in Gaelic, so Ginny only caught part of the conversation. Ian had scouts that he would use to hunt down any other MacBains on McKenna land. They would prepare for war and they would call in their allies.

  When Ian stopped, Ginny stared at a man who was pretty beaten up. His face was covered in blood, along with a huge gash that ran the length of the man's chest, from right shoulder to his left hip. He laid on the ground, shaking slightly.

  Ginny didn't think she could save him, but was willing to do something to make him comfortable, when Ian commanded, “Keep him alive, Ginny. He wants to die, but I need information from him. He likely knows the MacBain's plans, since he is his younger brother.” The last part Ian stared directly at the prisoner. Ginny could see the shock in his expression at being found out.

  “Curse ya, McKenna. I wouldnae tell you anything. Ya might as well keep yar English whore away from me.”

  Before Ian could speak, Ginny said calmly, “Sir, you are not the first person to call me a whore today. My guess is that you don't want to end up like the others. I mean you no harm. Please let me help you.” Ginny had dealt with difficult patients and could be very sweet and charming if it had to come to that. In this case, she definitely had to be sweet and charming.

  The man calmed down and stared her in the eye. “Verra well, lass. Do what ya will.”

  Ginny smiled and turned to ask the nearest warrior to grab her bag, “I think it must have fallen near the tree line,” she said, pointing in the general direction. Ian gave orders to two other soldiers to stay close and make sure the MacBain prisoner didn't try anything troublesome toward Ginny.

  Upon closer inspection, the wound to the man's chest was only superficial. It could be easily sewn up, but that wouldn't help him against infection. When the warrior returned with her bag, she asked if he could get her hot water. The warrior just stared at her incredulously.

  They were still arguing when Ian returned. Ginny stood and spoke softly to him. “I need hot water to treat him or he will come down with fever and die. What do you want me to do?”

  Ian looked thoughtful for a moment and said, “We will bring him back to the keep. Ya canna help him much out here.”

  “ Fine,” she replied and watched them as they threw him on a horse and rode to the keep. That will be one unpleasant ride for him , she thought as she sat on Ian's lap, holding on for dear life as he rode faster.

  Once back at the keep, Ginny employed Maude to assist her in getting everything she needed. Although Ginny could have used Maude's help, the soldiers told her to leave once everything was set up. Couldn't have such a young, impressionable girl in the presence of the evil enemy, after all. The men finally arrived with the prisoner and plopped him on a table.

  With a pot boiling in the hearth, she deposited her knife, needle and thread. She took more hot water to wash her hands and to meticulously clean the wound. Although the man never said a word, his face would contort with pain during her deeper inspections.

  “What's your name, sir?” Ginny wanted to distract him before the real fun began.

  “Why do ya care, English? Ya know he only means to kill me soon anyway.”

  “Why would Ian ask me to save you then?” she asked, perplexed by his logic.

  “So he can ask me questions. Torture them out of me if necessary. Ya canna be that naïve,” he said contemptuously.

  “Are you the one who shot the arrow that nearly took off my head?” she asked tartly.

  The man laughed in response. “Aaah, yar a brave one. If it weren't for the accent, I would think ya a Highlander. No wonder the McKenna keeps ya around. Alas, nay, twasn't my arrow. Mine wouldnae have missed.”

  It was Ginny's turn to laugh. “I asked your name, sir.”

  “Campbell MacBain,” was his only response.

  “Well, Campbell MacBain, let me give you a bit of advice. Perhaps, Ian plans to torture information from you, but right now, you should be worrying about me. I can do this nicely, or I can do this... not so nicely. Do you get my meaning?”

  “Aye, I think I do.”

  “Good. Now that we understand each other, I can continue,” Ginny continued cleaning the wound. She then moved onto his face, which was more blood than deep wound. Once she washed away the blood, she could see how handsome he was. His wavy brown hair framed his strong jaw. He had light blue eyes, the color of the sky. His nose, although perfect for his face, was slightly askew, probably having been broken a few times. Ginny enjoyed the view for a moment.

  “It seems that my biggest job is closing the wound on your chest. Do you faint at the sight of needles?” she said with a smile on her face.

  Campbell laughed. “Och, English, what ya must think of me.”

  “My name is Ginny and so far I'm quite impressed with your restraint. Let me just get what I need.” She turned to the fire and retrieved the needle and thread from the water using some wooden tongs. She set herself up and carefully washed her hands. Once the needle was threaded, she began to sew up the wound, making the stitches as small as possible.

  Campbell's chest was muscular, with a smattering of hair the same color as on his head. She was leaning over him, working from top to bottom, having to lean across him so as not to disturb her light. As she worked on his right shoulder, she could hear him breathing. At one point, she was certain he was smelling her hair. The two McKenna soldiers were still standing there, in case the prisoner tried anything, but didn't say anything while she worked.

  It took some time, considering the size of the wound. It seemed overheated in the keep, but Ginny was certain it had more to do with the fact that their enemy's brother was here, rather than the heat from the hearth. At times, it got so quiet, when Ginny dropped something, it echoed throughout the room. The soldiers soon became bored and were talking in low whispers to each other, so Campbell began to speak to Ginny.

&n
bsp; “Yar a bonny lass, Ginny. Has anyone offered for ya yet?” he eyes sparkled with mischief when he asked.

  “No, I'm not spoken for.” Ginny voice sounded a little forlorn. Campbell immediately called her on it.

  “Were ya hoping that the McKenna would offer for ya?”

  Ginny looked up from her work and stared into his beautiful eyes. She could feel an attraction there, despite the whole blood enemies thing. Ginny didn't want to reveal too much, but she began to open up to those eyes. Better be careful , she thought to herself. Danger, Will Robinson, Danger.

  “No. Why would the head of a Highland clan offer to an Englishwoman?”

  “Well, normally, he wouldnae. However, if she were a particularly bonny lass, with a healing touch and a compassionate nature, he may be swayed,” his eyes fairly shone in the dim light of the keep. She noticed that he had a great smile. His teeth, very straight and white, seemed abnormal for this time period. Once again, the absurdity of romance novels, where the heroes were always clean, good looking and healthy.

  Right answer, considering , Ginny thought wistfully. A girl could really get lost in those eyes. Ginny wasn't a fool, she could tell she was probably being played, but she could enjoy the ride. He would find out that she wasn't ever going to betray Ian, but let him think she was all mushy about him.

  “A good looking man like you must have a sweetheart at home,” she said, leaving it almost like a question.

  Campbell smiled again and tilted his head to the side. He knew his smile was one of his best features. Many a lass swooned at the sight of his smile. “Nay, no sweetheart.”

  “No sweethearts, huh? Well, then maybe a few broken hearts,” Ginny was flirting with unexpected skill, lowering her eyelids and staring at him while she continued to work. She was often at a loss when speaking to strange men, but she was quite good at engaging Campbell. She thought it had something to do with it all being make believe.

  “Och, Ginny. Ya make me forget yar the enemy,” he smiled at her once again. This girl could be helpful to him. If he could convince her to help him escape, he would take her with him and make her his mistress. He'd already heard that she was McKenna's mistress. He could make her a lot happier with him.

  “I'm not your enemy, Campbell. I don't see what you have against the McKennas though,” Ginny said trying to assuage any guilt over flirting with him.

  “Ya dinna know them like I do, Ginny. Ya should beware. The lot of them have no honor,” he replied.

  “What do you mean? What have they done to you?” Keep him talking, she thought and maybe something useful will come out.

  “It is a long story. A long time ago, the Laird McKenna stole a MacBain for his bride. When my clan fought to get her back, she was killed in the battle. It caused the bad blood.”

  Ginny didn't mean to be so blunt, but said, “Was it your men who killed the McKenna soldiers, stole Aileana and sold her to those animals?”

  Campbell's eyes turned away for a moment, then returned to her eyes. “Nay, Ginny. I wouldnae ever let that happen.” He was lying about something. Ginny could not have known better if he was hooked up to a polygraph. She silently finished sewing up his wound.

  When done, she slathered the stitches with a salve to help prevent infection and dressed it as best as she could. She had him sit up, while she wrapped long strips of cloth around his chest. He hadn't attempted to speak to her again either. The silence became uncomfortable, especially after the easy rapport they had earlier.

  Just as she was washing her hands, Ian stormed into the keep. Walking right up to the prisoner, Ian eyed him suspiciously. He grabbed a chair and ordered Campbell to sit in it. Ginny went about cleaning up her things, while Ian paced around the chair where the prisoner sat. Suddenly, Ian lashed out and back handed Campbell so hard he was thrown to the floor.

  Ginny gasped and ran over to Campbell. “I just spent all that time putting in stitches. You don't need to pull them out so quickly.”

  “Ginny, leave now. Ya havenae a place here.” Ian left no room for argument, but naturally, that didn't stop Ginny.

  “Ian, may I speak to you? Please.” she asked as nicely as she could after helping Campbell back into the chair.

  “Nay.”

  Ginny turned to him so Campbell couldn't see her eyes. Silently, Ginny was trying to convey that speaking to her was in his best interest. But of course, most men couldn't take a hint even if it were gift wrapped. “Please, Laird.” Then she mouthed she had information. Ian squinted his eyes, sighed loudly, grabbed her arm and dragged her across the room.

  “What?” Ian hissed at her when they were out of earshot.

  “I just spent the last hour with the man. Did it occur to you that maybe I'd gleaned some information from him that might be helpful to you?” she hissed back. Ginny always considered herself a patient person, but this man could drain the patience from a saint.

  “Verra well, what do ya know, Ginny?” It took all her willpower not to walk away from him and leave him hanging. The condescension in his voice was aggravating her to no end.

  “Well, first of all, he thinks I'm your mistress. The man is from another clan and thinks I'm your mistress. And he made overtures that he would happily take over that position if I were amendable.”

  “And what was yar response to that?” Ian could barely keep the anger from his voice. He would now feel no remorse when he killed the bastard.

  Ignoring his question, she continued, “He spoke about the bad blood between your clans. Some relative stealing a bride, her getting killed, yada, yada, yada...”

  “How does this help me, Ginny,” exasperation filled his tone.

  “I asked him about Aileana. He knows something, but I don't think he, or his clan, is involved. But he definitely knows who is and is probably willing to die to protect them. So I suggest you consider the MacBain's allies.”

  Ian thought about what she said. He went through the MacBain allies in his head, trying to determine if any of them seemed likely. Then he thought again about the bastard wanting Ginny for himself. He looked at her, with a gleam in his eye, and said, “Ya never looked at my wound, Ginny. Ya spent all that time with the enemy, but ya didnae take care of me.”

  The soft burr in his voice was intoxicating. Hadn't she decided to never let him touch her again? Ginny was having a hard time remembering why that was. His cerulean blue eyes were looking at her so intensely, his head bent low as if he was going to kiss her. Then it occurred to Ginny why. He wanted Campbell to see and realize he had no power over her. Ian held all the power.

  “If you wish me to treat your wound, perhaps we should go upstairs where it is more private,” Ginny had no intention of letting him have her, not after all that had transpired, but she was in the mood for a little payback. She figured for sure he would take the bait.

  He chuckled low. His arrogance was intolerable. It's true she wanted him and he knew that she could have him anytime she wanted.

  “Nay, lass. Perhaps later... I have something to take care of right now,” Ian finished his sentence with a growl.

  “ Don't pull out those stitches, Ian.” Ginny still wanted some payback. “I'll have to take another hour restitching him, bent over him, providing him a clear view of me.” Her eyebrow shot up in mock understanding.

  Ian growled. “Ya willna be near him again. Ya best go and find Maude. She will have ya to supper tonight. I will be busy in here.” Ian turned and watched Campbell, who had been staring at the pair the entire time.

  * * *

  Ginny did find Maude and had supper with her family. She returned to the keep, very late since Maude's mother kept her there with funny stories about Ian as a child. There were a dozen soldiers milling around in the great hall. Ginny looked around, but didn't see Ian among them so she continued up to her room. The chamber was dark, since no one had bothered to light a fire or candles. Great , she muttered to herself. It was bad enough being so useless, but being reminded of it for something so simple was
nearly intolerable.

  As Ginny crossed the threshold, she was suddenly grabbed from behind and pulled up against a tall, muscular body. There was a large hand over her mouth and another large arm across her chest. She relaxed a bit, thinking it was probably Ian until she heard the voice.

  “Good evening, Ginny,” the voice rasped quietly. Ginny still recognized it immediately. It was the prisoner, Campbell MacBain.

  “If I take my hand away from yar mouth, will ya promise me not to scream?” he asked in the whispered tone.

  Ginny slowly nodded her head up and down. She felt the hand move from her mouth and move lower to the top of her tunic.

  “Thank ya, Ginny. I will release ya now, please dinna do anything rash.” Campbell released her and Ginny slowly turned around to face him. In the dimness of the room, she could barely make him out.

  “Didn't anyone ever tell you that if you want to escape, going up stairs isn't the best move?” she asked, sounding impatient and sarcastic.

  He chuckled over her tone. “Well, ya might be right. I do have a problem now if I dinna wish to get recaptured.”

  “How did you escape in the first place?” she asked curiously, not particularly afraid.

  “Those McKennas thought I was asleep, so they weren't paying much attention when I came from behind.”

  “What? You didn't hurt them, did you?” Ginny was appalled. Not surprised, just appalled. These people didn't seem to think anything of killing and maiming.

  “Nay, they will recover. I dinna envy their headache though. When I went to leave, some more men came in and I ran upstairs to hide. It was just lucky ya came along.”

  Ginny sighed in disgust. “Well, what's your plan for getting out now? You know I won't help you and you know I won't just sit here and wait for you to...” Ginny stopped. She could be a complete idiot at times, but this had to top the list. Was she just telling him that he would have to eliminate her before leaving. Thankfully, in the dark, he couldn't see the look on her face.