by Hyman, F. S.
She giggled. She looked at Derek who only stared at Colm. He turned his gaze to her. The intensity she saw in them made her catch her breath. He lips tilted into a promising smile. She blushed.
They finally reached the outer gates of Bondlach. The wall stretched at least two miles on each side. The gate was over ten feet tall, with a steel fortified gate. Annabelle could see the retainers patrolling the walls.
“Will they allow us in?” she asked eyeing the men looking down on them.
“Aye, lass,” Derek said waving a hand at the guard.
The gate began to swing open. They walked their horses in, the men yelling greetings to Derek and Colm. Annabelle looked around as they rode through the village. She noticed that the huts were well thatched and that the villagers seemed content. She watched as children ran around in play and women stood around chatting to each other. She could see the men in the field just beyond the village.
“Why, Derek MacDougal! It has been a long while since we have seen ye,” an older woman said walking up to the horses. An older man walked up with her.
The woman was regal in her plain brown gown. Her black hair was outlined in touches of white, her skin was slightly wrinkled and tanned. Her clear blue eyes looked at Derek with fondness. Her husband stood beside her in his kilt and white shirt. It was smeared with dirt, a testament to the work he had already done that day. His rust colored hair was peppered with grays and his face was also tanned from a life outdoors. He stood at six feet with broad shoulders. He also looked at Derek with fondness through soft brown eyes.
Derek smiled down at the woman.
“Hello, Alba and Duff. I hope we find ye well.”
“Aye. I see ye brought Colm with ye. Yer parents and brothers arrived days ago,” Duff said eyeing Colm, his eyes no longer soft.
Colm only inclined his head. Annabelle wondered about that.
“And who might this be, Derek?” Alba asked him looking curiously at Annabelle.
Derek smiled and turned to his wife.
“Alba and Duff, allow me to present my wife, Annabelle.”
They both gasped at the same time.
“Yer wife?” Alba said, exchanging a look with Duff.
Annabelle wondered at it.
“Aye,” Derek grinned, seeming not to notice the exchange.
Duff cleared his throat.
“Weel, I am sure yer clansmen are anxious to see ye. They had assured us ye followed right behind them.”
“We were detained for a few days,” Colm supplied. He stared at Duff, who stared back at him belligerently.
“Weel, ‘tis nice to meet ye, Annabelle,” Alba said, stepping up and grasping her hand.
“Nice to meet ye,” Annabelle returned.
“Ye best be off to set yer parents’ minds at ease.”
Derek nodded and nudged his horse forward. Annabelle followed him, waving at the couple. Colm came up the rear. He never looked back.
“Nice couple,” she said.
Colm grunted. Derek glanced toward him, but turned to Annabelle.
“Aye. I always stopped by their hut on the way to the keep. They used to have a daughter about two years younger than me,” he said, sliding another glance to Colm, who stared forward as if not listening to their conversation.
“Used to? What happened to her?”
“She died,” was all he said.
Annabelle had a feeling he was not going to elaborate and she felt she should not pressure him with more questions. They continued through the village, Derek and Colm greeting some more of the villagers. Bondlach keep looked like a giant white tower that rose up into a parapet. It sat on top of a hill like a beacon. They went through a smaller gate in a shorter wall that surrounded the keep. Derek explained that, though shorter by two feet than the previous wall, this wall was six feet thick which would make it hard to penetrate. When they finally reached the courtyard of Bondlach, they were met by a huge man with bright red hair and equally red beard. He stood with an intimidating stare on his face. He eyed them as they came to a stop in front of him. Derek raised his eyebrow at the man.
“’Tis about time ye get here!” the man finally shouted in a booming voice, breaking into a grin.
Derek and Colm dismounted and walked up to him, each taking his arm in a hearty greeting.
“Where have ye been? Laird Breac said that ye were right behind them.”
“We got delayed,” Derek returned, with a matching grin on his face.
“Delayed? Ye mean by the Bruces?” the man asked, frowning.
Derek shook his head. He turned toward Annabelle as she slid down from her horse.
“Nay, although we did run into them. This was our delay,” he said, smiling at her.
She gave him a sidelong glance and then walked to where they were. Tobias looked toward where Derek indicated and his eyebrows shot up. The woman was beautiful. His eyes shown with appreciation.
“Weel, weel, and what a delay ‘tis,” he said and bowed to her.
“Annabelle, meet Tobias,” Derek said to her.
She glanced at him and turned back to the big man.
“Nice to meet ye, Tobias. Derek and Colm have told me much about ye,” she smiled at him.
He raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
“Doona believe everything ye hear,” he winked.
Annabelle giggled and turned back to Derek who was looking at the other man.
“Come inside! Yer Da was about to send out a search party fer ye. We were expecting ye long ago,” Tobias said, waving them before him into the keep.
“Ye must be tired, Annabelle. There are refreshments laid out in the great hall, but I will have one of the servants show ye to yer chamber,” he continued, coming around them.
“Nay, but I thank ye. I amnae so tired,” she replied, looking around her at the keep and all of the people milling about.
“Are ye sure? I ken how tiring Derek can be,” he winked at her and she blushed.
“Really? I havenae experienced that yet,” she said with mock sincerity.
Tobias stared at her and then burst into robust laughter.
“I like her, Derek!”
Derek smiled and looked at her.
“Aye, I think I will keep her,” he said quietly.
Annabelle stared at him, but before she could say anything, Laird Breac came storming up.
“Where have ye been? Yer mother has been worried about ye! Ye were supposed to have been here right behind us! Colm, I sent ye to make sure he got here on time,” he said, rounding on Colm
“Aye, ye did. And he is here on time,” Colm smiled.
Laird Breac scowled and then turned back to Derek.
“Come and give yer mother ease to ken that ye have arrived,” he grumbled and turned back toward the great hall.
Tobias chuckled and led them to where the others were gathered. The hall was almost filled to bursting. Everyone was laughing and having a good time. Annabelle smiled as she followed Derek into the room. She remembered when the MacAlpins would gather, it was much like this. They would have gathered again at her wedding with Laird Harold McInnis, but that would not be anymore. Her smile faltered. She wondered if her Da would have sent a reply to Dunkirk when they returned.
They walked up to a group of men. Annabelle immediately recognized Derek’s brothers. They had his same coloring and features. One was a little stouter than the other two, but he was no less intimidating.
“Weel, Derek, I see ye decided to grace us with yer presence. I am sure Eilidh is to blame fer yer delay,” the taller man said.
Derek chuckled.
“Nay, ‘twas nay Eilidh, although she was a distraction,” he replied, winking at his brother.
Annabelle scowled at him, but he did not seem to notice. The other men laughed and nodded in agreement. Laird Breac growled.
“Then what kept ye?” the shorter man asked.
Derek glanced over at Annabelle. His eyebrow shot up at the look on her face. She looked l
ike she was ready to fight.
“What ails ye, lass?” he asked her.
Annabelle just looked at him with murder in her eyes and did not respond.
“I asked ye a question,” he said to her, his eyes darkening.
Annabelle refused to answer. She was not about to embarrass herself in front of these people she did not know because of jealousy. And she admitted to herself, that’s what it was. The way he talked of Eilidh as if he still wanted her. And maybe he did, but it made her angry to think that he would so disrespect her to talk about his whore in her presence. Did her feelings not matter to him? She gave him another scathing look, and then turned on her heels and stormed away. She did not know where she was going, but anywhere would be better than here.
“Annabelle!” Derek yelled behind her.
She kept walking toward the door they had entered the keep through. Before she could reach it, she turned as she heard Derek’s name being called in a female voice.
“Derek!” a high pitched voice yelled from the doorway.
Everyone turned as a very buxom beauty came strolling into the room. She was lithe with long golden hair and a slender figure. She was neatly dressed in a golden arisaid that accentuated her generous bosom and slender waist. Annabelle turned and followed the woman as she slinked her way toward where Derek still stood. Annabelle looked at Derek’s face and was not surprised to see the smirk on his lips. She watched as his eyes roved over the woman with marked male appreciation. She almost stopped in her tracks at the hurt that suddenly overwhelmed her. Here was her husband openly admiring another woman.
When the woman reached him, she put her hands on his arms and pushed her generous bosom against his chest
“Derek, it has been way too long since ye’ve been here. I’ve missed ye,” she said with a sexy pout and ran her hands up Derek’s arms to his chest.
“Have ye now?” Derek asked laughter in his eyes.
“Aye, ye have stayed away far too long. I have been so lonely without ye,” she purred, looking at him from under her lashes and winding her arms around his neck.
“I doubt that, Maura,” he chuckled.
“I have, Derek. Let’s go make up for lost time,” she said planting an open mouthed kiss on his lips.
Annabelle gasped in surprise. Then she got angry.
“Why, Derek, who is this?” she asked him sweetly.
Derek stiffened, breaking the kiss. He had forgotten about Maura until she came into the room. She still looked good enough to eat, and he had on many occasions. He was amused by her display, and was surprised that he was not as aroused by her as he once was. He knew that she was entertained by any number of other men when he was not around and did not believe her when she said that she had been lonely. When she kissed him, he was curious as to why it did not move him like it once had. In fact, he was mildly irritated at her boldness.
Derek turned and looked at his wife. She stood not far behind Maura with a serene look on her face. He studied her eyes and could see the storm brewing. He had learned that her eyes revealed what her expression did not.
“Is this another of yer hures? How many do ye have, Derek? Will any more show themselves?” she asked as calmly as she could.
“Hure! Who are ye calling a hure?” Maura demanded turning toward Annabelle.
“Why, ye. Arenae ye one?” Annabelle asked her in all innocence.
Derek watched the women and then looked at his brothers. They were looking at Annabelle with curiosity and amusement. He realized he had yet to introduce them to his wife. Annabelle stood with her hands clasped before her. She had her head tilted to one side as if she was really puzzled that Maura would deny being a whore. Derek decided that he should step in before things got ugly, but before he could say anything, Maura lunged at Annabelle with her claws bearing.
Annabelle side stepped her and then grabbed her by the waist. Spinning, she threw Maura onto the floor. Maura lie stun for a moment, but then she scrambled to her feet and ran at Annabelle again. Annabelle pulled back her fist and punched Maura in the nose. Maura stood with surprise on her face and then crumpled to the floor. There was a stunned silence from everyone that watched and then the men burst into raucous laughter.
Annabelle turned to Derek, who just stood looking at her with a strange look on his face. She did not care and walked up to him and slapped him across the cheek. The strange look instantly took a deadly turn. All was silence again.
Annabelle stood her ground against him, although inside she was trembling. She knew that she should not have hit him in company, but she was so angry and hurt that she acted without thinking.
“If ye ever do that again, I will beat ye within an inch of yer life,” he growled out to her between clenched teeth.
“I will do as I please, Derek MacDougal, because ye obviously will do the same,” she said to him, not taking her eyes from his.
He closed the gap between them until his full height towered over her. She had to tilt her head back to keep his gaze, but she was not going to let him see her fear.
“Aye, I will do as I please, and ye will obey me,” he said.
Annabelle did not respond. She gave him one last look and then stalked from the room, this time making it out of the front door.
“Annabelle!” Derek yelled as he started after her.
“Who was that?” Aster asked Derek, stopping him with his hand on his arm.
“My wife,” Derek scowled as he left the keep.
Chapter 17
Derek watched as Annabelle disappeared into the stables. He followed her in and watched as she saddled the horse she had ridden here. Her movements were sure and precise. She patted the horse on the nose as she fit the bit into his mouth. She made sure the saddle strap was tight and guided the horse from the stall. He caught a glimpse of her face and was surprised to see tearstains on her cheeks.
“Annabelle,” he said walking toward her.
She looked toward him but did not respond. She put her foot in the stirrups and mounted the horse.
“Annabelle,” he repeated as he grew closer.
“What do ye want, Derek?” she said with irritation.
“Where do ye think ye are going?” he demanded.
Annabelle looked at him for a moment and then nudged her horse forward. Derek reached out and stopped their progress.
“I demand ye tell me where ye are going,” he growled at her.
“I would think it would be obvious, Derek. I am leaving. Ye doona need me here,” she said nudging her horse to move once again.
“Ye are my wife,” he said, halting the horse again.
“Why did ye marry me, Derek? Ye doona need a wife. Ye have many who are willing to warm yer bed. Why didnae ye just let me go home and marry my betrothed?” she demanded, frowning down into his face.
Derek reached up and yanked her off of the horse. She yelped in surprise but managed to wriggle from his grasp once her feet touched the ground.
“It doesnae matter now. Ye are my wife and ye will remain my wife. Ye willnae be leaving,” he said stepping toward her. She stepped back.
“I willnae live like this. I willnae live wondering which bed ye are in at any given moment. Let me go back home, Derek. Ye can live freely with her hures and I can go home and try to salvage the contract my Da made with Laird Harold. Maybe he will still have me,” she said.
Derek rushed her and pushed her against the stable wall. She gasped as the air was pushed from her lungs.
“Ye willnae go back and marry another. Ye are my wife and I willnae release ye!” he said close to her face.
“Let me go, ye brute! Ye havenae choice in the matter because I release ye! Ye can go be with yer hure and have one at every keep between here and England. I doonae care,” she screamed, trying to hold back her tears. “I willnae live like nothing is happening right under my nose! I willnae be a laughingstock because of yer inability to keep yer manhood under control. I will return to Kinloch and I willnae see ye again!”
She pushed at him with all of her strength but he would not budge. His grip on her arms tightened.
“Listen to me weel, Annabelle. If ye try to leave, I will hunt ye down until I find ye. What belongs to me remains mine, and ye are mine,” he said.
“I belong to nay mon,” she cried.
“Ye belong to me,” he repeated and crushed her lips in a bruising kiss as if to seal the statement.
Annabelle tried to wrench her mouth away from his, but he was persistent. His hands roved over her body roughly. He kneaded her breasts through her gown and pushed her hard into the wall. She pushed and pushed but he would not relent. He reached down and pulled the hem of her gown up to her thighs. He roughly pushed her legs apart and moved into the space they created.
Annabelle finally wrenched her mouth free.
“Stop it, Derek!” she cried still trying to push him off.
“Ye need to learn who is in control. I am in control and ye will obey me,” he growled kissing her neck and shoulders.
“Get off of me, Derek! Go lay with yer hure!”
Derek stopped abruptly and struck her across her cheek. She gasped and grabbed her face. She looked up at him.
“Ye willnae speak to me thus any longer, Annabelle,” he said menacingly. His eyes were like steel.
“I will lay where I please, and right now I will lay with my wife,” he said and threw her to the ground.
Annabelle could not stop the tears from falling down her face. She lay immobile as Derek came down beside her. He continued his rough treatment of her, pulling her gown down below her breasts and pulling the hem up to her waist. He positioned himself and thrust within her. She held back a cry as he continued thrusting in and out. Finally he lay still on top of her. Annabelle bit her bottom lip to stop its trembling.
“I canna believe that I was beginning to… I hate ye, Derek MacDougal. Never doubt that,” she said in an unsteady voice.
Derek grunted and moved to the side. Annabelle forced her legs to hold her as she stood. She put her gown back to rights as best she could and brushed as much straw from her hair as she found. She ran her hands over her face and left the stable without looking back.