Mysty McPartland (4 page)

While surprised
by her action, his chest tightened with some unknown emotion. He was about to move when he felt a searing pain in his thigh. Quickly, he raised his sword and struck down the man who injured him. Suddenly, the fight was over and what remained of the clan McGovern swiftly fled for safety, with their leader who was being helped to leave.

Glancing
around, he grunted relieved to find all his men still sitting their mounts and only a few of them suffered minor injuries. He gazed down at his wound and sighed. He was losing a fair amount of blood, but he would see to it as soon as he fetched his betrothed.

He swung o
ff his horse and went to collect her. He found her kneeling in the dirt, her face covered with her small hands as she sobbed out her torment. Squatting down beside her, he gritted his teeth from the pain in his thigh and placed his arms around her. “Hush, lass, everything is fine. Ye must stop ye weeping, for we must be on our way.” He was at a complete loss, he had never dealt with an emotional woman before and he didn’t know quite what to do with her.

Long minutes past before she raised her teary face and stared up at the Black Warlock, the man who would soon be her husband. “Take me home. Please, please take me home to my father. I cannot bear to live with such violence.” She did not care about the tears coursing down her face, or how her voice shook. All she wanted was to return to the safety and protection of her home.

A feeling of remorse sweeping over him, he raised his hand and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Aye, love, I ken how frightened ye were. But ye were very brave and ye saved me life. And because of that my wee lassie I cannae ever let ye go.” He watched her shoulders slump in defeat and his stomach twisted in guilt.

Nonetheless, no matter how remorseful he was feeling he would never let her go now, not after saving his life. He stood up and brought her with him, so now she stood in the circle of his arms, he leaned down and kissed her brow. “Come little one we must go.”

She did not move just slowly shook her head. “I cannot go back there. So much blood…so much violence.” Her voice was a whisper of horror and she shuddered at the thought of all the bloody bodies scattered on the ground.

Even though he could understand her abhorrence he let out a sigh of impatience, he dropped his arms from around her. “Stay here and I will be back shortly.” He strode off and fetched his horse, a few moments later he returned to where she stood. “All right, let me help ye up.” Reaching out for her, he was startled by her shriek. “What is it? What has ye so frightened now?”

Still shaken but slightly calmer and moving closer to the Black Warlock, she cried out in alarm when she noticed the blood on his thigh. “You are injured. You must let me see to it at once.”

Pleased with her offer of help he grinned. “’Tis but a scratch, lass, nay need to worry yeself so.”

Concern etching her brow she bent down and with swift movements checked the wound on his leg. Quickly, she ripped a strip from her petticoat and wrapped it around his thigh. “It is all I can do at the moment. It will stop the bleeding until I can stitch it.” She glanced up at the Black Warlock and her cheeks grew warm when she noticed the wide grin on his face.

Startled but delighted, he grinned down at her upturned face and chuckled when he saw her blush. “Ye have a sweet soft touch, lass, and I like verra much the feel of ye hands on me.” Without waiting for a reply, he reached out, lifted her up and onto his horse and swinging himself up, quickly mounted behind her. Pulling her head up against his chest and hiding her face so she would not see the carnage of bloody bodies on the ground they rode away from the battlefield.

After a few hours had passed, she turned to the man that held her close against him. “How much longer before we reach your home?” She whispered.

He frowned down at her. “Can ye nay say me name after all that has happened?”

Surprised at his question, gazed at him curiously and while she stared up at him saw the hopeful expectation in his eyes. Without thought, she reached up and gently touched his cheek. “I do not know why, but if it will please you I will say your name, Rieph.”

A river of lust washed through him when she cupped the side of his face, it was the first time she had shown him any affection. He liked it very much and when she huskily said his name, he felt his groin tighten. “Aye, it pleases me to hear ye say it.” He moved his face slightly placing a kiss on her palm and heard her soft gasp. “We will be home in a short time, my sweet, and once ye have a hot bath, a good meal and a wee rest then we will be wed. Will that please ye wee Trista?” Watching for her reaction, he was not disappointed and wanted to grin, but dared not.

              Chapter Four

Filled with panic dropping her hand, Trista frowned as she continued to ponder his words, wed so soon. Did she want to be married to such a man? A man who could kill so easily and yet a man who could be tender and gentle. She sighed not knowing what she wanted anymore. Mayhap after she rested, she would find her answer.

Nervously s
itting erect in front of him, she tried to bring some semblance to her hair and clothing knowing that they would soon arrive at their destination. She did not want to look so disheveled when his clan saw her for the first time.

Rieph grinned as he watched in amusement while she fussed over her appearance. “Dinnae worry so lass. Ye are a bonnie sight and my clan will think I am a very lucky man when they but glimpse ye lovely face.” Even though he knew that this wasn’t true, he wanted to give her some relief from her uncertainties.

A blush warmed her cheeks and dropping her hand from her hair a frown puckered her brow. “I do not want them to like me for just my pretty face. I wish for them to like me for who I am.”

At her words, he could not help keep the surprise from his expression, she was more than just pretty and for wanting to be liked for the person she was, seemed unusual. He sighed softly, knowing that his clan was already set against her before they even met her because she was Sassenach. He hoped she would not be to hurt, but somehow he knew that she would be.

As they came closer to the village, people were coming out of their homes to call out there greetings to the laird and his men’s safe return. But when they saw the English lass sitting in front of their laird upon his great horse they fell silent and only stared at her with hostility.

Even though she knew that Rieph’s people would probably not like her at first, she was unprepared for all the malevolent glares thrown at her. Though she could feel the color leach from her face, she wasn’t about to let them disconcert her. She lifted her head in defiance and stared straight ahead.

Jaw set with disapproval over the antagonism shown towards his bride by his clan and even though he expected it. He could not help miss that she did not show any fear and held herself proudly. He leaned down slightly and whispered in her ear. “Ye please me immensely lass. ‘Tis proud I am of ye.”

Warmed by the praise and t
urning slightly in his arms, she gave him a weak smile. “They may dislike me now, but one day soon they will see the error of their ways.”

Amused by her boast, he threw back his head and laughed at her bold statement. “Aye my Lady that I can already see and I’m sure they will soon regret their actions.”

The people who were watching their laird frowned when they heard his laughter, for it was unusual for their leader to be amused.

Unable to stop herself from smiling at the sound of his rich laughter and a swirl of heat twisted in the pit of her stomach as the rich deep sound washed over her.

When they entered the bailey, he pulled his horse to a stop, as did the rest of his party. Everyone dismounted as men, women and children of the clan quickly surrounded them. For a few moments, he forgot about his betrothed as he happily spoke to his clan. Glad and relieved that he was home again.

Patiently and a little
fearful, she still sat on Rieph’s large black horse and waited for him to finish greeting his clan and help her down.

When
the silence began to fall, he noticed the scowls on the people’s faces. He turned and grinned sheepishly up at Trista, “Forgive me, lass.” And reaching out grasping her around the waist helped her down. Once her feet touched the ground, he wrapped one large hand around her shoulders keeping her close to his side. “Let us go inside and I will show ye, ye new home.”

The people stepped aside
to let them pass and as he led her up the stone steps to his keep, he smiled down at her. “I hope ye will be happy here. And any changes ye want to do to make it feel more like home to ye, I willnae mind.”

****

Warmed by his words and consideration when he opened the huge doors and they stepped inside, she gasped. The room was so large and so plain. Even though it might be filled with many tables and benches, it was unadorned of anything that would make it a home, or even a welcome haven. She was about to say something when a woman’s shrill cry of pleasure split the air, she could only watch as a tall red haired woman came rushing down the staircase.

When
the lady came closer, her eyes narrowed in displeasure when she noticed how very beautiful the woman was and wondered who she might be. Stunned when the woman threw herself into Rieph’s arms and kissed him passionately, it didn’t take her long to guess what she was if not who. Furiously she took a step away so that his arm no longer held her. She stood stiff with outrage and humiliated she turned her back on the embracing couple.

A hissing curse rolled of his tongue when he heard the high-pitched cry and knew instantly that it was Devena McCrawley, his mistress. Damn it to hell, she wasn’t supposed to be here. When she came flying across the great hall and threw herself against him, he grew even more enraged when she started to kiss him hungrily. He felt Trista slip away and his arm fell to his side. A moment later, with both his hands, he pushed Devena away from him and glared with eyes burning with anger at her pouting face.

“
’Tis glad I am that ye have returned home today, my love, for if ye hadnae I wouldnae be here tomorrow.” Devena said softly as she reached up and was about to stroke his cheek but he caught her hand before she could do so.

“
What has bought ye here, woman? Ye knew that I would be away, I told ye a month ago.” He did not bother to hide his displeasure at finding his mistress in his home.

Devena fought down her own anger at her lover’s hostile disapproval at finding her here. She took a step back and for the first time noticed the tiny woman who stood with her back to both her and Rieph she frowned. All the Highland knew her lover had gone to fetch his Sassenach bride.

She’d been furious w
hen she heard the rumor and came to his home to wait his arrival. She was determined to find a way to stop him marrying another woman. She forced herself to smile coquettishly. “Who is this child ye have returned with, Rieph my love?”

Though fury vibrated through him, he took a step towards his betrothed and gently he turned her around, he gazed down into her face and was not surprised to see the anger there. Taking her hand in his and, even though he felt her stiffen at his touch, he would not release her.

Eyes darkening with
rage he glared at his mistress. “’Tis nay child, but my bonnie bride that I have bought home with me. This is lady Trista Russell who soon will be Trista McKay. Now Mistress Devena ye will excuse us for we have just returned from a long and hard ride and are very much weary.”

He
did not wait for a reply, but led her across the great hall and up the staircase. He knew that not only did Devena furiously watch him, but also the many servants who came into the hall. He opened the door to his chamber and led his future wife inside, he did not want an audience to witness the argument that he knew would explode between them.

Once he closed the door behind them
, he let go of her hand and leaned back against the wooden panel with his arms folded across his chest. He kept his expression neutral as he watched her turn to face him.

Trista had not wanted
him to touch her however, he refused to let go of her hand and when he spoke to the other woman, she didn’t not bother to acknowledge either of them. She fumed silently when he dragged her across the hall, not only in front of his lover, but also the servants as well.

She
’d never been so furious or so humiliated in all her life. “How dare you. How dare you have your strumpet here in your home when I arrive? You have degraded me beyond decency. If you think I will marry you now you are sadly lacking in sense. I want you to leave. I cannot stomach to be in the same room with you.” No sooner were the words out of her mouth when she was grasped by the arms and lifted off her feet.

It took all of his control not to lose his temper and when she finished speaking, jaw clenched tight and eyes narrowed he swept her up so that their noses nearly touched. “Ye willnae ever yell or speak to me in such a tone again woman. I am laird here and ‘tis time ye learnt ye place. Now there willnae be any more talk of us nay marrying. We will be wed and nothing is going to stop it. Do ye understand?”

Finished with the subject, s
traightening up he put her down and dropped his hands. He ran his fingers through his long blonde hair. “Now I will send up ye things and have a bath prepared for ye. Just sit and rest until they arrive. Mary will bring ye something to eat.”