Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (12 page)

The uneventful morning passed quickly as they traveled
out of England and into Scotland. The weather was seasonably warm for early
June, without a cloud tarnishing the blue sky.

With the exception of Paen, who stayed to himself, the
Macleod warriors showered Ella with overwhelming attentiveness. The change in
attitude was as unfamiliar, but  welcomed.

Since daybreak, both Osgood and Tavish saw that she
had plenty of food and water as well as a moment of privacy when needed.
Nicholas felt her forehead frequently and made her drink foul tasting concoctions
with the herbs from her saddlebag.

“I call it Nicholas’s Magic Brew.”

“Well, it still tastes horrible.”

“I guess ‘tis true that healers make the worst
patients,” Nicholas acknowledged.

“How did you know I was a healer?”

“Abbot Davis told us, but I would have known last eve.
Only a healer would have accepted my judgment to cauterize yer back.”

“How did you become a healer?”

“Nae a healer, lass, just a man who kens a wee bit
about the healing arts.”

For the next hour, the pair spoke about injuries and illnesses,
and then Osgood and Tavish joined them.

The redheaded giant proceeded to entertain them with
glorious tales of battle and war. Each story depicted Osgood as the hero with
skills that would rival Zeus, the Greek King of the Gods. Ella laughed so hard
that tears sprung in her eyes. At the end of each exaggerated yarn, Tavish
would then relay the true story.

But it was Osgood’s final story that had all the men
roaring with laughter. It was not about himself, nor was it about a battle
ending in victory.

“Let me tell ye the first time Tavish saw a naked
woman.”

Tavish groaned as Osgood continued.

“He must have been seven or eight summers when he came
to Gavin and me, after spying on Edric and a lovely lass from the village. He
asked us all sorts of questions, like-”

“I dinna think Lady Ella would care to hear the vulgar
questions of an ignorant child,” Tavish vehemently interjected.

“Nae, I do. I am most interested in hearing this
story,” Ella eagerly confessed.

The men listening laughed at her response, while
Tavish commented sarcastically.

“Of course ye do.”

Grinning like a fool, the giant continued, “Where was
I . . . Oh, that’s right, his questions. Well, after he explained what he saw,
he asked us what these felt like.” Osgood cupped the air in front of his chest,
imitating the gesture Tavish had used to refer to a woman’s breasts.

Ella’s blush was as deep as the one Tavish sported,
but unlike him, she was smiling with amusement.

“He asked us why a man would want to . . . um . . .
fondle and . . . ah . . . kiss them. Does it hurt the woman when a man does
these sorts of things? Why are women fashioned so differently than men?”

“Must ye continue,” Tavish whined.

“Aye, now hush; I’m getting to the best part.”

“Oh, joy,” the youngest warrior mocked. “Can hardly
wait.”

With a wicked smile, the giant continued, “After Gavin
and I told him why men and women were fashioned differently, Tavish then . . .”

Osgood broke off with uncontrolled mirth, and then
said, “He then lifted his plaid and asked us will his manhood look like Edric’s
someday, and if so how will he get his kilt over it. Said he will look quite
foolish with his plaid poking out like a tent, and that it would be verra
uncomfortable to ride or . . .”

Laughter filled the air for long moments before Gavin
held up his hand, and said, “Osgood, I think Lady Ella has heard enough about
Tavis for one day.”

“Thank ye, Gavin,” Tavish said with a sigh of relief.

Slapping his youngest brother on the back, Gavin
jested, “We can continue again on the morrow.”

Bellows of laughter filled the air once more as Tavish
spat, “I hate being the youngest.”

Ella knew the teasing and mockery that went along with
being the youngest sibling, as well as the love behind each comment. It was
obvious these men cared a great deal for Tavish. Witnessing this made her ache
for her own brothers.

Keir, Guy and Hamon had treated her like their
favorite little brother, and she cherished each moment shared with them. They
took immense joy teaching her how to swim, ride, and use a bow. It was only
when she was scared or hurt did they treat her like a precious little sister,
always allowing her to crawl into their laps. Sometimes they just let her cry
herself to sleep. Other times they listen to her nonstop chatter before
tickling her until she giggled with delight. They made her feel special and
loved. She was now only a painful, distant memory to them. Hated and forgotten.

When the blue sky turned pink and the sun faded into
the horizon, Gavin decided to set up camp amidst lush evergreens, a short
distance from a small loch.

“’Tis time to tend to yer back,” Gavin stated as he
pulled Ella from her mount. “Come, while my men will be busy with the horses
and evening meal.”

She followed without reply or complaint.

When they reached a private area, he lifted her to sit
on a large boulder, and then knelt behind her with the supplies needed. With
his help, she tugged off her tunic and short chemise, then unraveled the
bandage.

After covering her breasts with her tunic, she heard
his low chuckle.

“You find humor in this deed?”

Smothering his mirth, he applied the salve and clean
linen, then replied, “Just that ye are quick to cover your feminine charms,
even though I have seen ye as naked as the day ye were born.”

Hearing her sharp intake of breath, he waited for the
sassy retort that was sure to come. He was not disappointed.

“You overgrown wretch. If you had not saved my life
and been so kind, I would box your ears.” For propriety sake, she tried to stay
angry, but the idea of boxing his ears made her giggle.

The sound of her laughter was as welcoming as her
radiant smile. Most ladies would be furious about such lewd conversations, but
he suspected she was not like the ladies he’d met at court, the ones who either
feared him or coveted being the wife of a wealthy laird. And among them,
despite their ignorant and superficial tendencies, he would choose his bride.
However, he would not allow that imminent event to dampen the pleasure he was
experiencing now with Ella.

With mock anger, he asked, “Did ye just threaten me,
wench?”

“Aye, I did . . . Did you just call me wench?” To
emphasis her words, Ella put her hands on her hips and lifted her eyebrows. It
was the traditional feminine stance of defiance that was innate in all women.

Gavin was captivated. Blooming like an exotic flower,
she showed her true colors slowly and continuously with each passing day. It
was her lack of fear that was most endearing.

“Aye, lass, I did,” he retorted, unable to get enough
of her wit and warm smiles. “I also seem to remember ye calling me Lord
Ignorant, a pig-headed ox, and just now an overgrown wretch.”

Blushing scarlet, she quickly threw on her chemise and
tunic. A moment later, she realized that the sleeves of her tunic were inside
out. As she feverishly tried to fix the garment, she said, “Oh, I’m . . . ah .
. . I’m . . .”

Gavin chuckled at the sight of her tangled in the
headless tunic, struggling to get her arms through the sleeves. Taking pity on
her, he helped her adjust her clothing, and then said, “I may be overgrown,
mayhap even a pig-headed ox, but at least I ken how to dress myself, English.”

He tweaked her nose , then said, “I thought yer
insults quite humorous. Most women, and even men would nae dare to insult me,
fearing my wrath as they do.”

When she heard the hint of pain in his voice, she was
thoughtful for a moment, and then acknowledged, “Your reputation is quite
fierce, and you are . . .ah . . . quite a large man, but you do not strike me
as one given to unjust acts of cruelty or violence. Are these daft people you
speak of making their assumptions purely on reputation alone?”

She would never know how deeply her words affected
him, but they did.

“Most do, especially women.”

“Cowards.”

He cupped her cheek, and said, “Aye, compared to ye
they are.”

Her tone was serious when she asked, “Why have you and
your men been so nice to me? Is it because you pity me? Because if it is, you
can keep your pity. I- ”

Not allowing her to finish, his tone was equally
serious when he stated, “Nae, we dinna pity ye. ‘Tis just that we have seen and
felt our share of cruelty.”

He moved to lean against a boulder a short distance
away, and then continued, “My father, the former laird, was famous for his
brutality. My entire family, including my mother and sister, endured his quick
temper for many years. When Edric was just a lad, he witnessed the brutal death
of his parents and two brothers. During a raid, English soldiers beat and raped
Osgood’s wife. It left her barren. Paen and Nicholas . . .” He stopped when he
saw tears welling in her eyes.

“Nae tears, little one. I say this so ye understand
why our attitude towards ye has changed.”

His gaze drifted over the loch, where the sun was
fading into the horizon and the sky was vibrant with orange, pink and red hues.
His voice held no emotion when he spoke again.

“Since my father’s death nine years ago, I have been
laird of Clan Macleod. I took it upon myself to right the wrongs my father
committed against other clans. I have learned from a great man, one who was
more of a father to me than my own, how to protect and lead my people with
their interest at heart. Cruelty begets cruelty, and my people deserve better.

Glancing back at her, he added, “We dinna make war on
women and children, which both English and Scots have done in the past. Ye may
be English, but ye are also a lass who has been sorely mistreated. While ye are
with us, ye will be cared for and protected from those seeking to harm ye.”

Unable to halt the emotional surge his words caused,
Ella walked over and wrapped her arms around the waist of one of the most
feared warriors in all of Scotland. And never had she felt safer.

Her honesty and affectionate nature could thaw a man
frozen in ice, Gavin thought as he carefully engulfed her in his arms. He stroked
her back in a soothing manner, and was unable to resist brushing his jaw
against the golden tresses atop her head. Despite how well she molded to the
contours of his hard body, he was distraught over the fierce protectiveness
that hit him like a lance to the chest.

‘Tis ludicrous to feel so possessive over a woman I
will not claim. Aye, I covet her body beneath mine, but that’s all.
Her beauty and spirit may inflame me, but her
future is in England. She dinna belong in Scotland, she dinna belong with the
Macleods, and she sure as hell dinna belong with me.

By the time Ella and Gavin returned, the receding
light cast shadows around the men sitting within the small clearing of the
forest where they chose to make camp. Flames from the fire glowed brightly, and
the smell of roasting meat filled the air.

Osgood assisted Lady Ella to sit on a plaid laid near
the fire, while Nicholas bade her to drink another foul concoction.

In mock bitterness, she said to Nicholas, “And here I
thought you may have forgotten.”

“Never,” he replied with a grin.

As Tavish handed out chunks of roasted rabbit, she
noticed that Osgood had a small jug in his hand and assumed it was ale.

Noticing her curiosity, Osgood offered her the jug,
and said, “It will take the foul taste of that elixir from yer mouth.”

Never one to be disrespectful, Ella took the small jug
and lifted it to her lips, unaware of the mischievous looks on the faces
surrounding her.

She inhaled the pungent aroma of whiskey just before
the fiery liquid burned down her throat and scorched her belly. Opening
watering eyes, she saw what they were waiting for, but she was determined not
to cough. It was a futile effort she realized a moment later.

Wanting to see the vixen’s reaction, Gavin allowed
Osgood to pass her the jug of potent Highland whiskey. He knew it would not
hurt her, but rather help her sleep deeply and keep her warm in the chilly
night air.

Ella’s coughing fit and stream of angry insults had
the men roaring with laughter.

“Och, it seems our wee angel has some verra sharp
claws,” Osgood chuckled as he handed her the water skin.

After gulping down the water, she spat, “That was nae
funny.” She tried to sound angry, but the effect was lost when she was unable
to conceal that radiant smile of hers.

“'Tis good to see ye ken how to take a jest,” Osgood
admitted with a grin.

What a rarity she is, Gavin thought, as he watched
Ella banter with his black guard. The spirited young woman clearly captivated
his men, a fact he found irritating beyond measure.