A Perfect Match

by Bethany Hauck

  “No need, lass,” Craig weakly told her, “my family won’t mind, and they’ll be thankful for the care you’ve given me.”

  “Your family?” Peigi asked nervously, “will they be looking for you?”

  “Aye,” Craig said, then fell back asleep.

  Peigi put the cup on the floor next to his pallet as she thought about the little bit of information he’d given her. Craig McCabe. She’d heard her brother mention the McCabes a time or two the last few times he’d been home. They weren’t his favorite people, but he never explained why, and like their Da, never talked clan business in front of the women.

  She didn’t like the idea of being found at the hunting lodge if Craig’s family arrived. They’d want to know more about her, and she wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to know everything. What if they insisted on taking her back home to marry Laird McNary? She couldn’t worry about that now. There was no way she could leave Craig alone until his wounds healed some. That would take at least another sennight.

  **********

  Peigi felt stiff as she woke up in the chair next to the fire. She’d been sleeping next to Craig’s pallet in case he woke and needed herbs for the pain, which he did a least once the last two nights.

  “You should go find your bed, lass,” she heard Craig say and turned to look at him. “I’m feeling better this morning.”

  He looked better. Not so pale and sickly in color. He even grinned at her, but when he tried to raise his body he groaned, still in a lot of pain.

  “I’m rested enough,” Peigi told him. “You look a bit better too.”

  “Thank you for your help,” Craig told her, “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to care for my wounds even if I made it this far.”

  “I don’t think you would have been able to,” Peigi honestly answered, “you were hurt badly when you arrived. What happened?”

  “We were ambushed,” Craig answered, “but I don’t know why.”

  “Where?” Peigi asked, “Did anyone else survive?”

  “It’s was a good distance from here,” Craig assured her. “My friend, Ethan, survived. The last I saw of him he was going to get help. He never returned. I’m afraid he’s dead somewhere. He was badly injured.”

  “I could take your horse and go look for him if it would ease your mind,” Peigi offered.

  “Nay, lass,” Craig told her. “I don’t have any idea where he’d be. Besides, from what Ethan told me before he left, three of our attackers fled and might be out there somewhere. Hopefully, they don’t stumble upon us here.”

  “Mungo will let us know if anyone approaches the lodge,” she told him. The big wolfhound heard his name and walked over to her.

  “This is Mungo?” he asked, putting his hand out for the dog to smell.

  “Aye,” Peigi answered as Mungo walked over and smelled Craig’s hand before licking it.

  “I know you told me your name,” Craig said as he pet Mungo on the top of his head, “but I can’t remember it.”

  “Peigi Farland,” she told him.

  “How long have I been here?” Craig asked.

  “Four days,” Peigi answered.

  “What are you running from, Peigi?” Craig asked.

  “Who says I’m running?” Peigi answered, asking a question herself.

  “You’re all alone,” Craig answered. “No man would let his wife, sister, or daughter travel alone.”

  “Maybe there’s no one who cares what I do,” Peigi said.

  “Maybe, but I don’t believe that, Peigi,” Craig said. “Your gown may not be suitable for court, but it’s still well made. That must be your bow over against the wall, and it’s well made too. Someone has spent coin on you. I’m too tired to talk much longer. Tell me about yourself, Peigi Farland. I’m curious.”

  “You think you’ve figured me out,” Peigi said laughing, “but you’d be wrong, Craig McCabe.”

  “Tell me what I’m wrong about, lass,” Craig said again, laying back against the folded plaid behind him and closing his eyes. He really was tired again. He still hurt everywhere, but at least he could raise his arm and head a bit without wanting to pass out. He was getting tired of laying on his side, but he knew rolling over onto his arse wasn’t possible yet.

  “I need to tend to your wounds,” Peigi told him as she knelt down beside him. Craig nodded and she unwound the bandage on his head to check it. As she did she told him a little bit of her tale. “You’re right, I am running away, but not forever. My half-sister picked a husband for me; one I refuse to marry. I just need a place to hide until our brother returns. He’d never allow the marriage.”

  “Do I know the groom?” Craig asked.

  “Laird McNary,” Peigi answered. She finished with his head and pulled the fur down so she could check his arm and the cuts and bruises on his upper body. The binding around his ribs seemed to be helping, so she decided to leave it for another day. She washed him as she went along to save time.

  “Isn’t he old?” Craig asked.

  “Aye, very old,” Peigi answered. “My half-sister hates me, and wants me to be miserable like she is.”

  “What clan are you from?” Craig asked.

  “I’d rather not say,” Peigi answered. “My brother, Gory, will come for me though once he returns and finds me gone. I know he will.” Craig thought about the name; he couldn’t recall anyone in the area with that name.

  “When is he due to return?” Craig asked.

  He was trying to keep his mind off of what Peigi was doing as she washed his shoulders and stomach with a wet cloth. It felt good. He’d been alarmed when he first woke to find a stranger in the lodge with him. But his alarm quickly faded away when he saw how beautiful the lass was. Her constant care had proven she wasn’t a threat.

  “I’m not sure,” Peigi answered.

  “Where is he?” Craig asked.

  “I’m not sure about that either,” Peigi answered honestly. “But he’s never been gone this long before.”

  Peigi finished with his upper body and pulled the fur back over his chest before uncovering his legs. She started with the wound across his backside. She knew her cheeks were red, she’d seen him naked before, but never while he was this awake.

  “If my bag is still tied to my horse I’ve got another set of clothes with me,” Craig told her.

  “Aye,” Peigi told him, “I found them. We may be able to get the tunic on you, but not the trews yet. Your wounds aren’t healed enough.” Peigi checked the wound and cleaned around it There was no redness around the edges anymore and she finally felt he’d beat the infection. She washed the back of his legs quickly before having him turn over as much as he could so she could check his thigh wounds. That was when she noticed his cock; it wasn’t small anymore. In fact, it was large, very large. She looked up at Craig’s face, finding his cheeks redder than hers and his eyes tightly shut.

  “I’m sorry, lass,” Craig said. “Ignore it, if you can. Please.”

  He’d tried to keep it from happening, but Peigi’s hands on him had made his cock harden, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop it from happening. He had tried, repeatedly, and for the first time in his life, he was embarrassed by it. The lass was trying to help him, and he was lusting after her. What kind of a man was he?

  “How about a tisane to help you sleep again?” Peigi asked, coving him back up. She could redress his thigh wounds once he fell asleep. Seeing his cock had her thinking about what she’d seen Doxy doing with the baker’s son long ago. She wanted to do that with Craig. She didn’t know why, but the man fascinated her.

  “Aye,” Craig answered. Glad she’d suggested it. It would be best if they stopped talking for a while.

  Peigi made the drink and Craig drank it down. It took a little time, but soon he drifted off to sleep once again. Questions about Peigi popped into his mind. He hoped he remembered them when he woke again so he could ask her.

  Peigi was finally able to clean Criag’s wounds once he fell asleep. She
couldn’t stop herself from peeking at his cock, it was small once more. Once his wounds were clean and rebandaged she finished washing him. She watched his face as she washed that area, and thought she saw him trying to hide a grin. She was grinning too.

  She wondered what it would be like to lie with Craig. She always swore she’d never end up like her Mither, and would only lie with a man after marriage. But what if Doxy found her and she was forced to marry Laird McNary? Didn’t she deserve to know what it would be like to lie with a man her own age? One that, as she’d heard the maids say, could please her? She’d have to think about that, but she was sure Craig McCabe wouldn’t turn down the offer.

  Chapter 4. Time To Heal

  Over the next few days, Peigi and Craig established a routine. Peigi would get up in the morning and hunt, before returning to fix some of the oats she’d found stored in the lodge to break their fast. After that, she’d clean Craig’s wounds and wash him down. Each day Craig grew a bit stronger.

  “The bruising on your ribs looks better,” Peigi told him as she took the binding off. “How is your breathing without the binding on?”

  “Better today,” he answered, “I think you can leave it off for now.”

  “Aye,” she agreed, “but if your ribs begin to bother you again, tell me, and I’ll bind them once more.”

  Next, she removed the splint she’d made for his arm, and moved his wrist from side to side. Craig winced because it was still painful.

  “Your arm is still swollen, but not as bad as when you first arrived,” Peigi explained, “it may be broken, but I’m not sure. It feels like the bone is still aligned, but I’m not a healer.” She replaced the sticks and wrapped them in linen to keep the arm from moving.

  “I need to thank you for your care, Peigi,” Craig said, “I’m not sure I’d have survived if you weren’t here. You say you’re not a healer, but you’ve done well.”

  “I’m glad I was here and could help,” Peigi said, her cheeks turning pink.

  Craig grinned, he loved to make her blush, and it didn’t take much to make it happen. A few kind words or a compliment was all it took. He’d figured that out yesterday, the first day he was more alert and they talked for a long period of time.

  “I think I’m finally well enough to put on my tunic. Could you get it for me?” Craig asked.

  “Aye,” Peigi answered. She already had it next to her, ready for him.

  She handed it to him, and Craig did his best to put it on. He still had to lay on his side. The wounds on his thighs and his arse prevented him from sitting up. Peigi saw him struggle and finally reached over and helped him.

  “Tell me about the wound on your shoulder,” Peigi said. She liked talking to Craig and found him more than willing to answer her questions.

  “Lynsey, my new sister by marriage, gave me it,” Craig told her. “She shot me with an arrow.”

  “Why?” Peigi asked alarmed. “What did you do to her?”

  Craig chuckled before answering. “I didn’t do anything but go with my Da and brothers to her Keep in the Lowlands to collect her. It was an arranged marriage between her and my brother Rory. Lynsey didn’t want to marry, and this wound in my shoulder was the result.”

  “Why did she shoot you with the arrow and not your brother?” Peigi asked.

  “She didn’t mean to let the arrow fly,” Craig answered. “It was an accident.”

  “But they did end up marrying?” Peigi asked. “Even after she shot you with an arrow?”

  “Aye,” Craig answered, “They had no choice, it was ordered by King James. I heard Rory turned her arse red a time or two first.”

  “Your brother spanked her?” Peigi asked.

  “Aye,” Craig answered, “with King James blessing. Lynsey’s a good lass, but she needs some taming.”

  “I need to check your other wounds,” Peigi said, wanting to change the subject.

  She didn’t know why, but the idea of lying over Craig’s lap while he paddled her backside didn’t make her want to run away. It did the opposite, and she wanted to get closer to him. She knew that was not a good idea.

  “Aye,” Craig said, pulling the tunic down over his cock while Lynsey checked each of his thigh wounds.

  “These stitches are looking good,” Peigi told him as she cleaned around each wound. “They’ll be ready to come out in another sennight, maybe sooner.”

  “I’d like to get up and stand,” Craig told her as she rebound his thighs. “I’m tired of lying here and my muscles feel stiff.”

  “We could try to get you up and moved over to the bed,” Peigi suggested. “Your wounds should be healed enough for some movement.”

  “Nay, lass,” Craig said, “the bed is yours. I’m fine here on the pallet.”

  “I’d prefer it if you were in the bed,” Peigi said, “you’d be more comfortable, especially with the wound on your backside.”

  “But you’d be less comfortable,” Craig commented, “and I can’t allow that.”

  “Don’t you think I’d be more comfortable if I could treat your wounds without having to bend myself over to get to you on the floor?” Peigi asked him. “Now, how are we doing to get you on your feet?”

  “I don’t know, Peigi,” Craig said honestly, “but I need to try.”

  It took some effort, but with Peigi’s help, Craig was finally standing for the first time in a sennight. He had Peigi hand him one of the smaller plaids which he wrapped around his waist. At least he was covered in all the right places.

  Peigi helped him take one turn around the room. He put more of his weight on her than he’d have liked, but every step he took caused pain in each leg, not to mention his arse. Although he hated the thought, he knew it was time to lay back down. It would take some time to build his strength back up.

  Peigi led him towards the back of the hut and into the decent sized room where the bed was located. Craig wanted to protest, but he was in so much pain he couldn’t talk. Peigi pulled the plaid back before he lowered himself onto the mattress, trying to avoid putting weight on his wound. Peigi helped him lift his legs and then rolled a fur and put it behind his back to keep him from rolling onto his arse. It helped when he was on the pallet next to the fire.

  “This seems wrong,” Craig said, once the pain had faded a little.

  “It’ll be easier for you to get out of the bed than off the floor,” Peigi explained, untying the plaid around his waist and checking the wounds on his bottom half. “The walking didn’t seem to do any damage, I think it might be safe to start getting you up every few hours.”

  “I’d like that,” Craig admitted. He knew she was right, it had taken a lot of effort to get off the pallet on the floor.

  **********

  “Easy,” Peigi said as she helped lower Craig onto the bed. “You’re already doing better.”

  It was the fifth time they’d gotten him up to walk that day. It hurt, but each time he got out of bed he managed to walk a little further and stay on his feet a little longer.

  “I think my muscles are just stiff. Each time I get up they loosen a bit more,” Craig told her. “I think I might even be able to sit up in another day or two.”

  “Maybe,” Peigi said skeptically. “The wound across your backside was the worst. It’ll take the longest to heal.”

  “Aye,” Craig agreed. “It hurts the worst too.”

  “I’ll leave you to rest then,” Peigi said as she finished checking his wounds like she did each time and then covered him.

  “Nay,” Craig said quickly, “I’ve had enough rest, stay and talk with me.”

  Peigi looked around, wondering where she should sit. She didn’t mind staying, she enjoyed Craig’s company, and had started to become lonely before he arrived.

  “Let me get a stool from the other room,” Peigi said.

  “There’s plenty of room for you here,” Craig said, patting the bed next to him. “I promise to keep my hands to myself. Come, get comfortable.”

  P
eigi didn’t think twice, she trusted Craig. She laid down on the bed next to him and laid on her side, the two of them facing each other.

  “What do you want to talk about?” Peigi asked him.

  “You,” Craig answered, “I told you everything about myself yesterday.”

  Peigi couldn’t argue with that. He’d told her so many stories the day before. Some, like the stories of him and his twin brother climbing tower walls to put frogs in the tutor’s bed, or launching cow patties at the villagers with a catapult they’d made, had her laughing out loud. Others, like the rescue of his sister by marriage, Emelia, or meeting the King to save his sister by marriage, Nellie, had intrigued her. He was a good storyteller.

  He’d talked about all his siblings, all seven brothers, and his sister. Peigi couldn’t remember all their names, but she knew he was close to them. He’d told her again about the attack on the way home, and how he was anxious to get to Gleann since two of his brothers had probably returned by now. He was very concerned his family would be worried once they realized something happened to him. He hated to worry them, especially his brother Rory and his sister Jacqueline.

  “What do you want to know?” Peigi asked. Although she trusted him, she still didn’t think she should tell him everything about herself. Not until Gory found her.

  “Whatever you want to tell me,” Craig answered When Peigi was still quiet he prompted, ”you said you had a brother and sister. What about your Da and Mither?”

  Peigi took a deep breath and started talking, telling him just what she was comfortable with. He was so easy to talk to. “My brother, Gory and my sister, Doxy, are half-siblings.”

  “Your sister’s name is Doxy?” Craig asked, trying not to laugh.

  “Nay,” Peigi answered and giggled. “But that’s the only name I’ll use for her. My mither called her Doxy, and so did half of the village. I came across her and the baker’s son in a field when I was nine summers. Both of them were naked.”

  “How old was she?” Craig asked.

  “Doxy is ten summers older than me,” Peigi answered.