Storm Trilogy

by Ria Cantrell

  At one particular crossroad, Drew saw that Bronwyn had taken the wrong turn. As they followed her route, Drew realized she had made several such mistakes. He cursed. What the hell was she thinking? Just before dawn, Drew lost her track. He stopped abruptly, reining in hard. He cursed again. Erik said, “What is it?”

  “Her Bloody damn tracks end here. She went into the woods. Why would she go into the woods? By God, how am I going to find her now?”

  “She probably went to rest for a spell. I am sure she knew that camping on the open road would be dangerous. There are no other tracks. It would seem she wasn’t accosted.”

  “Camping on the damn road would be dangerous? Riding alone in the middle of the night is dangerous beyond reason.”

  Erik looked down sheepishly. He said, “For what it’s worth, Drew. I am sorry.” Drew wanted to forgive Erik; he really did, but for the moment he was too angry to do so.

  “Erik now is not the time to appease your conscience. So help me God, if one hair on her head is harmed…”

  Erik understood the unspoken warning and cleared his throat. He had no doubt that given half a chance, the normally mild mannered Drew would not be a man to trifle with.

  “Let us make our way through the trees. She cannot have gone far, for the woods are dense. I would think her path would be greatly hindered.”

  ~~~~~

  As the disgusting animal pawed at her, she felt her blood run cold. Rape would be the best she could hope for. She was sure they were going to do worse than that to her. His putrid stink assailed her senses. He smelled of stale sweat and of being unwashed. Filth and grime covered him. His lank dark hair hung greasily past his shoulders. Bronwyn held her breath against his odious stench. His lewd leer made her stomach churn. She felt his hands on her and she cringed. She tried to push him off and she said, “Please don’t.” When he grinned at her, he showed rotten brown and broken teeth.

  “You think ye’ are better than me? You are a Scottish dog.”

  He slapped her and she bit back a cry. He ripped her chemise and grabbed at her breast. Bronwyn felt like she was going to be sick. Her skin crawled at his touch. Bronwyn slapped at his hand, but he only tightened his grip, causing her to yelp in pain. He held her jaw and started to lower his mouth to kiss her. Her nails raked his face, drawing blood.

  “You savage whore,” he swore. He slapped her so hard, her head nearly snapped back. The blow sent her reeling and she sprawled on the ground. Within seconds he was upon her. He tried to force himself on top of her but she grabbed a rock and held it in her small fist, and she slammed it into the side of his head. This time, he back handed her so hard, stars exploded in her head. She screamed.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Drew heard the piercing scream and his blood froze in his veins. He rode through the trees, not caring that branches snagged and whipped at him. He slashed his way through the branches and burst into the clearing like a man possessed. He pulled his broadsword from the scabbard slung across his back. He roared a battle cry that sounded like hell’s gates had opened.

  Upon seeing that disgusting animal pawing at Bronwyn, the dam of his restraint broke. He charged and yelled, “Take your filthy hands off of her, so help me God. I will cut your head from your scrawny neck.”

  The fiend had taken his dagger and was again holding it to Bronwyn’s throat.

  “She is mine. She will warm my bed and then you can have a turn.”

  Drew felt rage surging through his blood. He growled through clenched teeth, “She is already mine. Now let her go.”

  Drew saw pure terror in Bronwyn’s eyes. Then, the next turn of events happened so quickly, Drew could scarcely process them. Bronwyn had eased a dirk from her belt and she plunged it into the thigh of the man who was gripping her. He dropped the knife he held against her skin and flung her by the neck to the ground. She landed like a rag doll and dashed her head against a raised boulder. Pain seared through her skull and then blackness swirled and enveloped her. She crumpled on the ground.

  A strangled sound left Drew’s throat, and he jumped from his great horse swinging his sword in a deadly arc. There would be no mercy to the man who had harmed his beloved. Death was swift and true as Drew’s sword metered instant justice. The man was dead before he hit the ground. He would never be able to rape another woman and Drew hoped his black heart would forever singe in the fires of hell.

  In the meantime, Erik rounded in on the other one, who started running for his life. He charged his destrier and rode the man down. As the gore burbled forth from the gaping slash in the renegade’s chest, it pooled dark crimson on the frozen ground beneath him. Death was slower in coming to this one, but soon enough he choked on the final spurt of his life’s blood, gagging with his last breath on it. Wiping his sword on the man’s filthy cloak, Erik sheathed it in the scabbard slung across his back.

  Erik saw Drew cradling Bronwyn in his arms. She was pale and no longer conscious. Erik swallowed hard and said, “Dear God, Drew, is she…is she…” He could not finish the thought.

  “She lives, but she is just clinging to life. She has a nasty knot at the back of her skull. Her pulse is faint. I am afraid, Erik. I have never known such fear as this.”

  “What do you mean?’

  “I mean, I am afraid I am going to lose her. Erik…I think she might die.”

  “She is not going to die. Get her home as soon as you can. Rhianna will know what to do.”

  Erik looked at the injured girl and cursed. “Jesus Christ, she is pale.”

  He leaned down and felt for the bump on her head. It was a nasty one, but no skin was broken. She felt so cold to Erik’s touch. Drew was filled with pain. It was evident on his face. He mumbled, “She would rather have risked rape or murder than to trust in me. Why would she do this?”

  Since it was Erik’s words that drove Bronwyn to flee, he had no words of comfort to say.

  “Let’s get her home. She needs to be cared for and to be in a warm bed.”

  Erik held the girl while Drew mounted and he handed her up to him. Drew wrapped Rhianna’s cloak about her and took off at break-neck speed. Erik could scarcely keep up the pace but he knew that time was of the essence. Drew rode like a madman. Bronwyn had not come to, and he was afraid her life would slip away. They rode hard through the night until the pink streaks of dawn broke the darkened sky. Stopping briefly to water their horses, Drew tried to see if he could rouse Bronwyn. He tried to get her to drink something, but she remained unconscious. Drew washed her face and pressed the cold wet cloth to the back of her head. He cradled her in his arms and choked out, “God please, bring her back to me.”

  He brushed his knuckles down the side of her face and cringed at the purple bruising that had formed from the blow that evil monster had given her. Her eyelashes fluttered on her delicate cheekbones, but she did not rouse. She moaned softly and she said something in Gaelic that Drew did not understand. Drew leaned in to hear her and to feel her breath pass his cheek as she murmured in her native tongue. His heart beat rapidly in his chest. She would come to. She had to. His jaw flexed and he whispered hoarsely, “Why did you leave me?”

  Bronwyn only answered, “Cold. I am so cold.”

  Drew wrapped Rhianna’s cloak tighter around her. Erik again helped to lift her up to Drew, who was seated behind her in order to hold her securely. He hoped she could feel his warmth and that holding her would take some of the cold away. They rode for the better part of the day, quickly eating up the miles that should have taken double the time to get to their destination. They finally approached Ragnorsen Keep near late evening. Rhianna was there to welcome them and she hurried to have a look at Bronwyn. In seeing the still and pale woman in Drew’s arms, Rhianna was afraid to ask. Finally she said, “Is she…”

  “She is unconscious. She suffered a harsh blow to her head.”

  “Bring her in. I will tend to her.”

  Rhianna saw the blood splattered on Erik’s mantle, and she could only guess
what had happened. She knew that whoever had harmed Bronwyn would not be able to do so again. That was of no import now. She had to tend to this woman’s injury. Her life depended on it.

  Once Bronwyn was brought inside, Drew laid her gently onto a bed. His heart was heavy as he watched Rhianna bathe the wound at the back of Bronwyn’s head. Rhianna carefully felt the large knot at the base of Bronwyn’s skull and determined that her skull was not shattered. She assured Drew that Bronwyn would be alright after resting. Drew listened to what Rhianna had to say and then he sadly said, “I will stay on until she rouses.”

  Rhianna thought Drew was still angry at Erik and that he meant to take Bronwyn to his family’s manor. She said, “That won’t be necessary. Erik has had time to think about his actions. You are both welcome here.”

  “My Lady, Rhianna, this is not because of Erik. Bronwyn risked rape and murder rather than to trust me. She clearly does not want this marriage and I don’t blame her. No one should be forced to marry simply because a king deems it so. I will not force her to marry me.”

  Rhianna patted his arm and she said, “Drew, she was hurt and frightened. She, no doubt, thought she was sparing you. She, I am sure, was willing to sacrifice her happiness so that you would not lose your station in Erik’s ranks.”

  Drew nodded, a muscle once again prominently ticking in his jaw. His heart, which only recently felt love, was broken. The truth was, to spare him or not, Bronwyn chose to leave him. He realized that this was not the way love was supposed to be. Bronwyn had to trust him, and it was apparent she did not. He would always be English, and she would always be Scottish. The two would not mix. The division between their two worlds was such a deep chasm, it could not be bridged. Drew said, “I just need to go away for a while. No matter that Erik helped me find her; I think I need to seek my own fortune, elsewhere. When Bronwyn is mended enough, I will return and bring her home to her native land where she belongs.”

  Rhianna hugged her friend and said, “Don’t do this. Stay with her. You belong with her.”

  Swallowing down the bitter truth, Drew replied, “Lady, I was never one that believed what you and Erik have was for me. T’is time I sought my own destiny and this woman does not fit into it.”

  “But she loves you. I know she does. I am fairly certain you love her.”

  “I think she has confused love with attraction. I was there when she was lonely and frightened. What we shared was a passing diversion in a difficult situation. Nothing more. As for me, you know how I am. It is not like me to be with one woman. This was a mistake…for both of us. I am going to my home for a time, settle my affairs and seek my destiny. T’is a big world out there and surely I can find a place in it. Then, with the distance between the lass and me, the attraction will no doubt be broken.”

  Rhianna fairly growled in frustration. “Arrhhhhhh, silly men and their foolish pride! Very well. Surely, I cannot stop you. At least rest a while. You are no doubt, exhausted. I will send for you when she awakes.”

  Drew bowed formally and said, “By your leave, Lady.”

  Rhianna’s heart hurt for Drew. Since she had met Erik, she had always known Drew to be light of heart and almost playful. Except for the time he had spent with that horrible Daria, he had always been happy. It seemed all the light had gone from him. If it were not for his stupid pride, he would have been able to see the truth. She sighed, watching him walk away. Rhianna knew he was hurting, but there was nothing she could do. She was used to stubborn men and their ways. Nothing she could say would sway Drew now.

  He needed to realize the truth on his own. Rhianna prayed he would not waste too much time on such folly. For now, she set her sights back to the tending of the broken woman before her. Bronwyn was still in danger. The blow to her skull that she had received was a nasty one and she could be still gravely injured. Only time would tell. In the meantime, Rhianna set about to try to bring her back to consciousness.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  In the middle of the night, Bronwyn finally woke. Upon opening her eyes, she saw Drew sitting beside the bed watching her. She felt weak and disoriented. Not to mention the constant throbbing in her skull, that even the slightest movement caused waves of nausea to wash over her. She tried to remember what had happened to her, but even thinking made her head hurt. One thing she was sure of; Drew had saved her life.

  “Ye’…ye’ saved me.”

  “Aye, My Lady, that I did.”

  Even in the groggy state she was in, the icy way Drew had answered had not gone unnoticed. He was probably furious with her. She tried to speak but her throat felt like sand had been poured down it. Touching her neck, she winced.

  Memories of what had almost befallen her came back to her. She remembered that horrible man’s hold around her throat and the knife that had grazed her skin there. Seeing her discomfort, Drew poured her a mug of water and handed it to her. She rasped her thanks and drank the cooling liquid down. She knew she needed to apologize and she reached out to touch him, but he stood back. It was then that the level of his anger and hurt registered through her foggy mind. Of course, he was angry. She had left him and he caught her with those horrible men. She needed to explain.

  “Drew, I…” He shook his head and said, “Don’t talk now.”

  “But I…n-need to explain.”

  “There is nothing to explain. You are safe now and you are going to be alright. I am leaving in the morning. I will return in a few weeks when you have had time to recover.”

  “But where are you going,” she rasped. It bothered Drew to hear such strain on her beautiful voice. He hoped she would recover it, as well, since her voice appeared to him like that of an angel’s. God, it hurt to look at her lying there so pale and still. Bruised or not, she was so beautiful.

  Beauty was no basis to enter into a marriage, though. He had to get away from her and soon, else he would forget his resolve and be fooled into the game lovers play yet again. He should have learned about the manipulative things women could do after his dalliance with Daria. By God, were all women false?

  “I am going to return to my home for a time. Then when you have recovered, I will be happy to see you back to your native land. I promise to get you there in safety.”

  “My…my native land? But we…”

  “Lady, we should have never…” He broke off, feeling so angry; he did not trust himself to say more. He looked away from her beautiful tawny eyes and said, “Rest now. I will wait till you sleep.”

  Bronwyn realized he was going to leave her. Nothing she could say would make him want to stay, and she really did not blame him. She had betrayed his trust by leaving him. She would never force him to take her as his wife. Yes, she would always be Scottish. He would never fully trust her, despite what they had shared. She was, however, touched by his tenderness toward her, even though it was obvious just how very angry he was with her. She wanted to tell him that she loved him; that she would always love him and that she was sorry, but her brain just couldn’t form the words. She was just so tired.

  She suddenly was not able to form her thoughts in English. The blow to her head must have impaired her thinking process so she whispered something in Gaelic and exhaustion overtook her. Peaceful oblivion claimed her before the realization of his leaving actually settled into her mind. Drew heard her speak the words in her native tongue and he wondered at them. He played the sound of them over and over in his head, not able to forget them. He only wished he knew what they meant.

  When Bronwyn next woke, she was alone. She vaguely remembered the words Drew had spoken to her, and she sat up with a start, realizing he had said he was going away. She tried to get out of bed, but found herself awash in dizziness. Her head felt like it was going to explode. It all came back to her, then, as memories tumbled back to her awareness; the deplorable fiend who was going to rape her, the dagger to her neck, plunging her own dirk in the disgusting man’s thigh, cracking her head on that rock, Drew coming to her rescue and then she rememb
ered the worst of it. Drew was going to leave her.

  Drew had said what they had shared had been a mistake. Drew did not believe she loved him. She remembered how distant he had been at her bedside, how he would not let her touch him. It was then that Bronwyn knew the reality. She had succeeded in breaking his heart. Even though she had tried to protect him, she had broken not only his heart, but his trust. She had to stop him. She had to tell him the truth. She had to apologize. She had to not let him go on believing the worst. She had to stop him!

  Bronwyn tried to stand once again, only to feel the dizzying nausea as it came over her again. She felt the floor rising beneath her feet and the only way to keep the room from spinning was to lie back down. No! She had to get to Drew. She had to change his mind. Thankfully, Rhianna entered her chamber. She would be able to help her stand and dress.

  “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

  Rhianna tried to seem cheerful. The girl had to get well and if she had no hope, Rhianna feared that Bronwyn would succumb to her injury and not fight to get better.

  “In truth, my lady, I dunna’ feel very well.”

  “Please, you must just call me Rhianna. I have no doubt you are not feeling very well this morn. You have taken a nasty blow to your head. I am sure you are hurting.”

  “It seems I canna’ stand. Try as I might, the room takes to spinning and only lying on my back stops it.”