Rescued By the Scot

by Laura A. Barnes

  Raina sat in the chair and patted the bed for Skye to take a seat. When Skye rested upon the bed, she reached out tenderly for Skye’s hand. Her hand trembled under her own and Raina realized this woman held a deeper strength than anybody gave her credit for.

  “The doctor will examine your minor injuries. The one we are most concerned about is the injury Shears inflected upon you when he took you by force.”

  Skye stared at Raina in confusion, until her words sunk in. Skye realized from her state of undress and cries, they thought Shears raped her. She understood how they came to the conclusion. Even how Maxwell thought the same horror. For Shears had her pinned to the bed with his pants lowered and laid between her thighs. Before he could finish the act, Maxwell yanked him off her and pummeled him to death.

  “Shears did not rape me.”

  Raina squeezed Skye’s hand in understanding, “You are confused with the details of the events which took place yesterday and it is understandable, for what you have endured. Nobody is judging you, my dear, and only you will live with the stigma of the rape. Everybody on board has sworn to the secrecy of what we witnessed.”

  “No, you do not understand. Shears did not violate me,” she emphasized.

  Raina continued to pat her hand, which only antagonized Skye. While Shears struck her, he did not rape her. And her mind wasn’t confusing the details. She rose from the bed, putting distance between the other lady and turned back around.

  “Let me be clear on this. That slime did not rape me. Oh, believe me, he tried. He was almost successful too, but he failed. Maxwell yanked him from me before he completed the act. Now do you believe me when I say to you he didn’t rape me.”

  Raina sighed and leaned back in the chair as she listened to the passionate speech of denial. Skye had not been raped. She might have come close to being destroyed by Shears, but Maxwell rescued her in time.

  “He didn’t succeed?” Raina asked one more time.

  “No, he did not.”

  Raina jumped from her chair and brought the young lady into her arms, hugging her in relief at this news. The outcome became better from what they feared. It would take her time to heal, she noticed how skittish the young girl still behaved even with her. Time was the best healer. Raina would make sure Skye received all the time she needed. She could enlist Ivy to help. Between both women they would help Maxwell find happiness with this lady. Leave it to them, he would mess it up too much.

  “What a relief.”

  “Is it?”

  Raina confused by the question asked, “What do you mean?”

  Skye laughed with sarcasm, “I am skittish at every noise and the touch from another human being.”

  “You only need time to heal Skye.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then you will pick up the pieces of your life and live.”

  “You make it sound so easy.”

  “Oh, it won’t be easy. But you possess a strength that few people hold. I see it in your eyes, you will persevere past this pain and then you will live to be only stronger than what you are now.”

  “What of Maxwell?”

  “What of him?”

  “I cannot see him at this moment.”

  “He wants to visit with you.”

  “No, I don’t know if I can ever talk with him.”

  “He cares for you.”

  Skye shook her head, “I am not ready.”

  “He only wants a few words with you, then he has promised to leave you alone.”

  “I cannot.”

  “If I promise to stay with you, will you at least allow him to ask after your welfare?”

  Skye pondered her words. She was frightened to see Maxwell. To view the disgust in his eyes, eyes revealing the scene over and over of Shears beginning to bed her. She realized the image would be something he would never forget. She witnessed his rage, although his rage didn’t scare her. His disgust of looking at her and only picturing that scene was what she was afraid to view in his eyes.

  “Only if you stay in the room, will I allow him a few moments.”

  “I will leave you to dress, then I will arrange for Maxwell to visit with you.”

  “Thank you, Raina, for being so kind to me.”

  “We are your friends. When we dock in London, you can stay with Thorn and Ivy, while you recover.”

  “No, I will travel home. I won’t be an imposition.”

  “You are no imposition, also we need your help in locating your brother.”

  “Do you have any leads?”

  “A few, but we will leave that discussion for later.”

  “Please allow me an hour to prepare myself, then I will meet with Maxwell.”

  Raina agreed and left to tell Maxwell of Skye’s conditions on visiting her. Maxwell wouldn’t be happy with the arrangement, but it was for the best. They were two troubled souls on what they endured. Hopefully, they could move past this and share a life with one another. Obviously, the couple were meant to be together. She would enlist Ivy’s help to guide them along. A smile stretched across her face as she went in search of Maxwell. It would be entertaining to watch the man suffer for love.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Raina found Maxwell in Thorn’s cabin. They were discussing the search for Logan MacKinnon. Only a few leads existed to aid them to his whereabouts. Thorn’s connection spotted him with the missing heir. If they could locate him, then they could put this mission to rest.

  Maxwell jumped from his chair the instant Raina walked into the cabin. She didn't discuss with him Skye’s condition. Instead she went to rest on the arm of Charles’s chair. He watched the affection between the two as Mallory held her hand. They whispered quietly amongst themselves.

  “Well?” he demanded as he stood in front of them.

  His demand was regarded with two fools looking up and smiling at him with their own sense of humor. What was so damn funny? A lady a few yards away, laid hurt and in pain. There was also missing people they needed to find. This was a moment for seriousness, not humor.

  “She is doing well.”

  “Did she agree to my visit?”

  “On one condition.”

  “Anything, what is it?”

  “Only if I am present in the cabin when you speak with her.”

  “No.”

  “Yes, Maxwell. She exists in fear.”

  “Of me?” he asked in despair as he slumped back into his chair.

  “Of everything and everybody.”

  Maxwell sulked in silence as he soaked up her words. Shears damaged her more than any of them thought. Her fear of him, it devastated him the most. All he wanted to do was to hold her in his arms and help heal her. Now, not only was he unable to embrace her, he must have a witness in his interactions with her. How would he be able to explain to Skye his feelings for her, and to offer his support, with Raina present?

  “She needs time Maxwell. Speak with her to let her understand you are there for her and offer her your security. She is too fragile to listen of your feelings for her. She is trying to handle her own emotions.”

  Maxwell leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He thought of everything he wanted to tell her but understood it must wait. Wait. For how long he wondered. Would he ever be able to tell her, or was she too damaged for him? He would take her anyway he could have her, but would she take him?

  He jumped from the chair and strode to the door, and he waited for Raina to join him. He swept his hand indicating for them to be on their way. Still, she didn’t move and kept the same damn silly grin on her face.

  “What the hell has you so amused?” Zane growled.

  “You.”

  Zane raised his eyebrow for her to elaborate. When she didn’t, his gaze roamed to the two men in the room and noticed they wore the same ridiculous grins on their faces.

  “What?”

  “Oh, the mighty Earl Zane Maxwell has fallen,” Thorn quipped.

  “Yes, the debonair, charming rogue of the ton has fall
en for a mere Scottish lass,” Mallory joined in.

  “Oh, how the ladies of the ton will cry with misery when their conquest will no longer be joining them in their boudoirs,” Raina continued.

  “Well at least now, he will leave my wife alone,” said Thorn.

  “I have never touched your wife in that sense nor will I. Ivy is my very dearest friend,” Zane defended himself.

  “Please sit Zane, she needs a moment to prepare.”

  “Why does she need to prepare?”

  “I sense she is afraid of your reaction to her.”

  “I only want her to know how I feel.”

  “Yes, I understand. But today isn't the day for her to hear of your love. She only needs to understand your support and that you will give her the space she needs. She needs time to heal emotionally.”

  “My love can help her heal.”

  “Shears put her through his torture, she is broke Zane and only time will help her.”

  “I don’t care what Shears did to her. None of that matters. I know he violated her, but I still want her.”

  “Shears didn’t rape her Zane. On that she was lucky, but not so lucky from the other terrors he made her suffer.”

  “But I saw….”

  “You witnessed him beginning to rape her, you arrived in time to save her from that nightmare. However, he inflicted other scars. Just the act of him almost succeeding in raping her, has her frightened.”

  Thorn walked to his friend and put his hand on his shoulder, gripping his support.

  “Ivy will help her, we all will. Give the girl time to heal.”

  Zane nodded his head at Thorn’s words of support. While he understood what they said, his inner emotions struggled with what he wanted to do. He only wished to wrap the woman he loves in his arms and protect her from her demons.

  Raina rose from Charles and walked over to the open doorway. She patiently waited for him to get his feelings under control. They all waited for him. He realized what he must do. He had to give Skye the sense of security without him. It would tear him apart, but for her sake he would sacrifice his love of her. He only hoped in time she would return to him.

  He followed Raina along the hall to Skye’s cabin. Where once again he stood out in the empty hallway, waiting for permission to enter. Raina opened the door and beckoned for him to proceed. When he entered it was to find Skye standing in the middle of the floor, her hands twisting in front of her. Raina had provided her with a dress, which hung on her body. Raina was more voluptuous than Skye; Skye was tall and lithe. She only wore a day dress with a shawl wrapped around her as a protective barrier. A barrier against him.

  That wasn't the only barrier she held. He could see it in her stance and the look in her eyes. Eyes which held fear. Fear of him, he frightened her. He murdered a man within her sight. Even though it was a villain who abused her, it was still a death. She must understand he wasn't that man. It was seeing her destruction which pushed him to that point, but today wasn’t the time to explain. Now was the time to ease her mind and make her feel secure. He would do anything to remove her fear and replace it with her sassiness and feistiness which made Skye who she was.

  Zane walked to her swiftly, which was a mistake for she shifted to her side. He came up short and realized his error. He scared her, the very thing he was trying not to do. Seeing her standing before him scared, brought out his protective instincts. All he thought of was holding her in his arms. Arms she wanted no part of.

  “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he spoke calmly to her.

  She raised her chin in denial, “I am not frightened,” Skye denied. His Skye remained with spirit still inside her, deep inside her.

  Maxwell breathed a sigh of relief; Shears didn’t destroy her. He now understood Raina’s words and noticed for himself what Skye needed. Time. Time to heal. He could give her that. He had plenty of that, he would bide his time. If he found her brother, it could help to heal her scars. He considered a new plan he needed to carry out.

  “Are you well?” he asked her, clasping his hands behind his back. He held them there, so he wouldn’t reach out to hold her, also to calm her of his intentions towards her.

  Taking a non-threatening step towards her again, she again darted to her side. Her eyes glanced to both sides, to view where to make her escape. She had plenty of room to walk behind her, but she didn’t. Zane figured out why. If she kept retreating backwards, she would run into the wall where she would feel trapped. Zane glimpsed in her eyes to view she already considered herself trapped. He wanted to ease her fear, so he walked backwards near the door. He noted relief filled her eyes.

  “As well as can be expected, considering I was used as a punching bag.”

  Yes, his Skye was still in there. She still possessed her wicked sense of humor. This he could work with, he learned she used her humor as a shield, but then it was what made her Skye.

  “Well, you look lovely,” he smiled wistfully at her.

  “Yes, dark purple and blue are my colors.”

  He lowered himself in a chair, so as not to be so intimidating. While she spoke with her usual sarcasm, he regarded how her body shook and she jumped at any noise or movement of the ship. He wanted her at ease, so he sprawled himself out lazily.

  “We will dock soon. Raina tells me you will recover at Hillston House, Thorn’s townhome.”

  “Yes, so it was suggested. Only for a spell, until I receive word of Logan’s whereabouts.”

  “We have a couple of leads, I will help Thorn find your brother for you.”

  “Also, the missing heir. Correct?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  She wandered around the cabin, her body unable to stand still. She realized he was pretending to be nonchalant towards her, but she understood him and figured it to be a front. He gave himself away the moment he walked in the cabin and advanced on her. It frightened her, and she skidded away. Not from him though, she didn’t perceive his advancement as Maxwell. Just as somebody coming at her rapidly, everything else faded away. She couldn’t discern from him to somebody who wanted to hurt her. Maybe Raina was correct, and she still needed time to heal.

  She saw in his eyes he wanted to care for her. She couldn’t allow it; her body didn’t process past what her mind told her. There wasn’t anything Skye wanted more than for Zane to embrace her in his arms and whisper everything would be well. That he would stay with her throughout every step of her recovery, but he didn’t. He held his hands behind him or slumped in the chair as if her feelings meant nothing to him.

  Did she misunderstand what she saw? Maybe after seeing her, he only pictured Shears atop her, and it disgusted him. Well if this was the case, she would make this easy on him. She would relinquish her hold on him, but his next words threw her by surprise.

  “Skye, I want to offer my hand in marriage to you. After you have recovered, we can marry. I am offering you my protection.”

  His offer of marriage surprised her. From the sound of the marriage proposal, he only offered out of a source of obligation. She understood gossip would result from her capture on Shears's ship. This was not how she pictured Maxwell offering for her hand. What did she imagine, he would lay his undying love at her feet to whisper words of love and happily ever after? Now he only offered an escape from a scandal. What arrangement of marriage would that be? An Earl disgusted with his Countess who he never beds. I guess the kind which suits him. It would allow him to continue to live the life of bedding the ladies of the ton at his leisure. While she did what, waited around begging for his scraps of attention? Hoping for one day he forgot the image of what he witnessed on Shears’s ship.

  “I require no need of any offer of protection. Once my brother is found, I shall return to Scotland with him.”

  “Skye you were violated, there will be a scandal. My offer to you is a chance to live without shame.”

  She raised her chin again, “I suffer no shame.”

  Maxwell raked his hands t
hrough his hair in frustration. This was not going as he planned. Hell, none of this was. He was awkward, playing at the simpering idiot. He wanted to speak plainly with her but couldn’t because of his witness in the corner. A witness who shot glares his way at every opportunity. He even thought he heard her tsk at him. Hell, he knew he talked like a fool.

  “That is not what I meant. You misunderstood my intentions.”

  “Oh, I think you are being very clear on your intentions.”

  He rose from the chair coming her way again, “Skye let me explain.”

  She cried out when he advanced. Raina came to her side swiftly and held up a hand to stop him.

  “That is all for now Maxwell.”

  “Let me explain to her.”

  “You are only frightening her. Perhaps you can try later when she has had more time to deal with this.”

  Zane waited for Skye to object to Raina’s words. When none came, he whispered how sorry he was and turned to leave the cabin. When he reached the door, he stopped with his hand on the handle waiting for her words begging him to stay. When no words were spoken, he turned the knob.

  “Why did you not trust me with the full truth on your relation to the missing heir?”

  He released the handle and laid his forehead to the door in defeat. Shears must have told her his darkest secret while he held her captive. How else could she know his shame? He knew he could mention her lack of trust with him but realized the blame game would only result in more distance between them. Zane wanted to close the gap, not spread it further apart. As he turned back towards her, he did the only action he could and spoke the truth.

  “I was ashamed of how you would look upon me.”

  “Why did this information shame you?”

  “I am disgraced by my parent’s involvement and I didn’t want their actions to reflect how you thought of me.”

  “So instead you lied on your own involvement in searching for the heir and therefore didn’t give me your full trust.”