by Alyssa Stark
“I Lachlan Angus MacFarland, in the name of the spirit of God that resides within me, by all the life that courses within my blood and the love that resides within my beating heart take you, Elizabeth Olivia Campbell to my hand, my heart, and my spirit to be my chosen one,” he said with a wanting smile.
Lachlan had never been more nervous in his life.
The first light of the crisp winter morning flooded into the quiet barn. Elizabeth looked beautiful in the morning sunlight. A radiant glow had spread over her features and Lachlan was encouraged by her happiness.
He only wanted her to be happy and he silently vowed that his life’s work would be to keep her that way.
She deserved better than this, Lachlan thought regretfully.
He vowed to marry her properly, in Kirk as soon as he might.
Elizabeth Campbell deserved more than a simple handfasting in a farmstead barn.
He wanted to give her the world, but for now, he hoped that the gift of his love would be enough.
Elizabeth smiled shyly at him and he continued his vows.
“To desire thee and be desired by thee, to possess thee and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee.”
Elizabeth blushed in the morning light. To hear Lachlan speaking of such desire and possession caused her heart to thunder in her chest. She looked upon the man that was to be her husband with love and admiration in her eyes. He was so handsome, so giving of himself.
Lachlan had saved her life. And he had pledged to her a new life filled with more promise than she had ever dared to hope for.
“I promise to love thee wholly and completely without restrain, in sickness and in health, in times of plenty and in times of poverty, in this life and beyond.”
Shivers zipped down Elizabeth’s spine when she heard Lachlan pledge his love to her. His eyes shone with the truth of his promise.
He loved her.
And she loved him back, MacFarland or no.
Lachlan brought Elizabeth’s hands to his lips. He tenderly kissed her knuckles.
“Tis your turn, sweetheart,” he whispered with a lop-sided smile.
Elizabeth found her voice. It was shaky at first, but strengthened as she spoke the words of love that would bind her to Lachlan for the remainder of her life.
“I, Elizabeth Campbell, in the spirit of God that resides within me, by the life that courses through my blood and the love which resides in my heart, take you, Lachlan MacFarland to my hand, my heart and my spirit to be my chosen one.”
Elizabeth paused and looked up at Lachlan. Despite the fact that they were surrounded by two scowling fathers, it felt as though she and Lachlan were completely alone. Lachlan was all that she saw, his smiling face encouraging her so speak the truth that lived in her heart.
“To desire and be desired by thee…”
Elizabeth’s heart raced in her chest.
“To possess thee and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to love thee wholly and without restraint, in health and in sickness, in plenty and in poverty, in this life and the next,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving Lachlan’s.
“Kiss the lass and make it official,” Angus growled. He stood with his arms crossed, glowering at his son.
Elizabeth thought that she heard her own father growl in disapproval.
Lachlan bent towards her. He threaded his fingers through her auburn hair, pulling her mouth softly towards his.
“My Wife,” he whispered with an awestruck smile.
Elizabeth blushed.
Lachlan kissed the corner of her mouth.
She smiled against her husband’s lips.
He touched his lips to hers softly, kissing her as if she was the most precious gift that he had ever been given.
Because she was.
Elizabeth parted her lips and Lachlan slipped his tongue into the sweet wetness of her mouth, tasting her. Her fingers gripped his strong biceps as he deepened the kiss, causing her to swoon against his chest. Lachlan kissed her with aching sweetness, showing her the love that resided in the depth of his heart.
Liam cleared his throat in blatant disapproval.
Lachlan smiled against Elizabeth’s mouth. He drew away from her, but placed one more kiss upon her ruddy lips.
“We’ve much to celebrate,” Angus said as he clapped Liam roughly on the shoulder. “Let’s head back to the keep or we’ll miss the Hogmanay celebrations.”
..oo Chapter Eleven oo..
“You’ve never been first-footing?” Lachlan asked in disbelief.
“No, my father never allowed it,” Elizabeth said, and then catching her error, she added, “I mean that Campbell never allowed it.”
“Twill be my pleasure to take you on your first first-footing then!” Lachlan said enthusiastically as he winked at Elizabeth and mounted his stallion. He extended his hand eagerly towards her and she smiled up at him. Lachlan lifted Elizabeth into his lap and settled his plaid about her shoulders. “The auld folk say ‘tis good luck to be first-footed by a man that is tall and dark,” Lachlan said as he wrapped his arm protectively around Elizabeth’s waist. “Tradition has kept me busy each Hogmanay, as I am one of the few MacFarlands in possession of such qualities,” he added with a chuckle.
Elizabeth had not noticed that Lachlan was a fair bit darker than most of his clansmen. She found his dark hair and gray eyes mesmerizing. Lachlan stood out from his clansmen, most having shades of blonde or red hair.
Excitement overwhelmed Elizabeth. To be on such an adventure in the dark of night, held in Lachlan’s arms was most exhilarating indeed. He overwhelmed her now, his body was in such close proximity to hers that her heart sped up in response to the close contact. His masculine scent was arousing and Elizabeth suddenly found herself wishing that Lachlan would kiss her again.
“Mind you, Beth ‘twould be considered bad luck if you were to enter one of the cottages before me,” Lachlan warned as he patted her leg in sympathy.
“And why is that?” Elizabeth asked, feeling slightly insulted.
“Tis bad luck to have a woman be your first-footer, ‘tis said to bring bad luck for the whole of the following year. But to have a woman with red hair first-foot ye! ‘Tis a disastrous combination,” Lachlan said teasingly.
Elizabeth slapped Lachlan playfully in the chest.
“The clan will already be cursing me for handfasting a Campbell, but should ye show up at their cottage and bring ill luck as a first-footer, I’d be banished henceforth!”
“I suppose that I should feel honored to have handfasted a man endowed with the proper qualities of a lucky first-footer?” Elizabeth laughed as she gazed up at Lachlan. He was handsome and the cadence of her heart increased as she looked at him.
“Perhaps it was my good luck that brought ye to me,” Lachlan said with a smile as he trailed his fingers down Elizabeth’s cheek.
Elizabeth felt color flush her face.
Lachlan reined the stallion to a stop.
He lifted Elizabeth’s mouth to his and captured her lips in a sweet kiss.
“Perhaps I am lucky, for fate has granted me a wonderful gift in you,” he breathed against her lips.
The moonlight bathed down upon them, causing the heavy snowflakes to sparkle in the midnight sky. Elizabeth did not feel the cold. Lachlan’s tender words had lit a fire within her.
She reached up and traced her fingers lightly down Lachlan’s jaw line. Being with Lachlan kindled a newfound boldness within her. The faint dusting of stubble tickled her fingers, feeling so alluring and masculine beneath her touch. Elizabeth brushed her fingertips over Lachlan’s lips, eliciting a shudder from him. He closed his eyes, remaining completely still and she explored the planes of his face with her fingertips.
Ever so slowly, Elizabeth pressed her lips against Lachlan’s.
He growled low and in his throat, exhilarated by the boldness of Elizabe
th’s kiss.
Her lips parted and he took entry to her mouth, brushing his tongue against hers. Elizabeth moaned against his lips as pleasure zipped down her spine.
Lachlan deepened the kiss, claiming Elizabeth’s mouth fully. His hand brushed over her breast and he brushed the peak of her nipple through the fabric of her gown.
Elizabeth gasped with pleasure into his mouth.
Never before had she felt such an arousing feeling as Lachlan’s light touch over her breast. His thumb flicked over her sensitive nipple again, causing it to become erect.
Elizabeth opened her mouth desirously and welcomed Lachlan’s kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth passionately, staking claim to her. She tasted so good, so warm and welcoming was her kiss.
Lachlan broke away from his sweet wife’s mouth.
“Careful, Wife,” he chuckled.
“And why would I be careful?” Elizabeth asked playfully.
“You are causing me to have second thoughts about going first-footing,” Lachlan chuckled, his breath warm against Elizabeth’s mouth.
Elizabeth blushed. She traced her fingers lovingly down Lachlan’s jaw line and then brushed them over his lips.
“I would not want to be the reason for bringing bad luck to your clan,” Elizabeth smiled demurely, her lips a breath away from Lachlan’s.
“Our clan,” Lachlan smiled, correcting her. “And ye could never bring bad luck.”
“Even if I was the first to cross your threshold at Hogmanay?”
“Aye. Even then,” Lachlan smiled. “For I do believe that ye are the best luck that has ever befallen me,” he whispered as he kissed Elizabeth once more and then spurred his horse into the darkness of the midwinter night.
..ooOOoo..
Lachlan knocked on the door of the small cottage, smiling like a mischievous boy as he glanced over his shoulder at Elizabeth. He had made sure that she stood well behind him, not wanting to burden the owners of the cottage with the ill luck of having a woman first-foot them, especially a woman in possession of beautiful auburn hair.
Lachlan winked at her playfully and turned his attention back to the door of the cottage.
Elizabeth could hear the excited squeals of small children from within the house, the pitter patter of their feet against the floor boards as they ran to answer the door. Snowflakes fell heavily, gathering on the crimson fabric of Lachlan’s plaid that he had lovingly wrapped about her shoulders. The sound of laughing children coupled with the freshly fallen midnight snow lent a magical quality to the scene.
Elizabeth felt a smile spread over her face.
She could not remember a time when she had been happier.
The door of the cottage swung open and the flock of children scattered, giggling as Lachlan stepped over the threshold. They cheered and clapped as Lachlan handed their father a small satchel of salt and an earthenware jug of whiskey.
Lachlan turned and motioned to Elizabeth to join him.
“May the new year bring your family health and happiness!” Lachlan greeted the farmer and his family as he ushered Elizabeth into the quaint cottage and closed the door behind him. “May I present my wife, Elizabeth?” he added with a smile as he wrapped his arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders.
“Lachlan!” the farmer said in surprise. “Congratulations!” he said with a genuine smile. “Please come in, Elizabeth. Warm yourself by our hearth fire,” he said with a welcoming smile. “This is my wife, Emily. And this here is Angus, named after Lachlan’s Da,” he said as he ruffled the hair of his oldest son who appeared to be about seven years old. “And that is Caitlin, and Isobel,” he said, pointing at the two little girls hiding behind their mother’s skirts. “And Rabbie over there, and in the crib is Fergus,” he said proudly.
“You have a lovely family,” Elizabeth said with a warm smile.
“Aye,” the farmer said. “We do,” he smiled at Emily lovingly.
This was what Elizabeth wanted.
These people had but little, but they were rich in love.
This was the life that Elizabeth hoped to build with Lachlan.
Lachlan took her hand and guided her towards the fire. He brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them lightly. Elizabeth sat next to Emily and they chatted amicably. Before long, Rabbie was settled in Elizabeth’s lap toying with her auburn curls. Elizabeth smiled as she watched his chubby fingers thread through her hair. He smiled up at her shyly and then stuck his finger up his nose.
Elizabeth laughed. She looked down at the child cradled in her arms.
He was a MacFarland.
And he was completely innocent. Elizabeth was suddenly saddened by the hateful manner in which John Campbell had raised her. For what reason had she been taught to hate this boy besides the clan name that he had been born with?
Elizabeth had a startling realization. She was truly enjoying herself.
The MacFarlands were quite different than she had expected them to be. They were a far cry from barbarians. They were friendly, loving, happy people, nothing like the tales that she had been fed as a child. She began to wonder why exactly the Campbells hated them so much.
..oo Chapter Twelve oo..
The last first-footing was MacFarland Castle.
Lachlan and Elizabeth dismounted the stallion and walked hand in hand towards the great wooden door that was the entrance to the keep. The sound of celebration and merriment could be heard within the castle. Lively music was playing and clansmen whooped and laughed from within.
“Thank you for accompanying me,” Lachlan said as they stood just beyond the door. “Twas the best first-footing I’ve ever had,” he said with a warm smile.
“Twas the best that I’ve ever had too,” Elizabeth said with a soft chuckle.
Lachlan captured her lips in a tender kiss on the steps that led to the keep. Heavy snowflakes fell around them, blanketing the ground a glittering white with fresh fallen snow.
Lachlan broke away from Elizabeth.
“I should tell you that this was exactly what I wanted,” he said as he smiled warmly down at his wife. “I had planned to ask ye to marry me, not quite as soon as today, but I had planned to ask ye when the time was right.”
Elizabeth’s heart melted.
“I would have said yes,” she blushed as she looked up at her husband.
“I had hoped that you would,” Lachlan said with a lop-sided smile. “Shall we go inside before we catch cold?”
“After you kiss me again,” Elizabeth said boldly.
“A demanding wee thing, my wife is,” Lachlan chuckled as he gladly indulged Elizabeth. He claimed her lips hungrily as he pulled her towards him, wrapping her up in the strength of his arms. She yielded to him at once, opening her mouth to welcome his kiss.
“Ye drive me to madness, Beth,” Lachlan whispered against her lips as he forced himself away from his wife.
Elizabeth blushed. She could not seem to get enough of her husband’s kisses and she longed greedily for the sweet, knee weakening embraces that he so graciously gave her.
“Shall we?” Lachlan asked as he reached for the handle of the massive wooden door. He began to turn the handle and then forgot that he had one final duty to perform this Hogmanay eve. Remembering his duty, released the handle and pounded on the door with his fist.
The crowd cheered from within the keep. Lachlan smiled down excitedly at Elizabeth.
The door swung open to the roar of the crowd.
Lachlan made a grand production of stepping over the threshold of his home. He took great pride in the honor of first-footing MacFarland keep and hoped to bring luck to his clan in the coming year. After walking over the threshold to the cheers of his clansmen, Lachlan turned and swept Elizabeth into his arms.
His action elicited a surprised giggle from his blushing bride that warmed his heart.
“Come, Beth,” Lachlan said warmly against her ear. “My clansmen will be eager to meet the lass caused me to reconsider my notions about marriage.”
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Elizabeth laughed softly, delighting in the scratch of Lachlan’s whiskers against her cheek. “If only they knew that you had not choice,” she teased.
“Ye are right, lass,” Lachlan said, his tone turning serious. “I had nay choice but to marry ye, for ye stole my heart from the moment that I first laid eyes upon ye.”
Lachlan swept Elizabeth into the Hogmanay merriment of the great hall. A roaring fire burnt in the hearth to stave off the chill of the winter night. Candles burned low due to the late hour, tucked in between fir boughs that decorated the giant mantle. The MacFarland clan was celebrating the coming of the new year and the return of the Laird’s only son.
Lachlan was clapped on the back by each passing clansmen. Each wanted to offer their congratulations on his recent handfasting. Lachlan smiled proudly at Elizabeth, he was happy to show off his new bride to his clan.
“Do they have no care that I am a Campbell?” Elizabeth whispered as Lachlan led her towards the small crowd that had gathered to dance near the fire.
“Nay, love,” Lachlan whispered, his eyes lit with happiness. “And besides, they will have heard by now that ye are not really a Campbell. Ye’ve always been a MacFarland, ye just didna know it,” he teased. “And since we’ve wed, you will have my name from now on,” he added possessively as he wrapped Elizabeth securely in his arms and began to move in time with the music.
“I had not expected them to accept me so easily,” Elizabeth said.
“And why would they not? You are my chosen one,” he said huskily as he reached up and trailed a finger lovingly down the curve of Elizabeth’s cheek. “And because they love me, that love will extend to you. And as soon as they get to know you better, they will love you for yourself. They will love you for the caring, intelligent woman that you are.”
Elizabeth blushed at Lachlan’s praise. She was pleased that his people had accepted her so readily and she knew already that she would be happy with her life here.
Liam approached the happy couple. He could see from the look in Elizabeth’s eyes that she was happy, deliriously so. Lachlan held Elizabeth as if she was all that mattered to him in the world. Liam knew that Lachlan would be a good husband.