The Highlander Without a Bride (5 page)

Lord
Hann blustered, "We have none!  We are a simple party traveling home from a neighboring keep!"

The
great man across the way chuckled deeply as his eyes crinkled at the corners and came to light upon Kaye.  An unexpected shudder consumed her body as he stared intensely into her as he slid his gaze lazily from her face and down the full of her.  For several long moments he watched her as his callous eyes surveyed her openly and his lips turned up in a slight sneer.

He drew his mount slightly back from the rest
and unhurriedly moved his horse around the foul group and directly next to the man that held her.  He reached over and unceremoniously placed his hands at her waist and pulled her body from her captor and on to his own horse as he settled her down roughly before him and upon his lap.  He wrapped his arm securely around her body as she sat in front of him as he held Kaye tightly to his hard chest.  He spoke ominously as he stared directly into Lord Hann's eyes over the top of Kaye's head.

"Nothing?  You have
no
valuables upon your person?"

When Kaye's husband of only a
few hours just stared mutely and wide eyed back at the pair upon the horse, the man behind her chuckled severely and threateningly once again.  The man's arm tightened further around her waist as he brought her in closer still to his massive chest as his stench assailed her nostrils and his heated body sickeningly overwhelmed her senses.

Kaye stared
intensely back at her lord, silently pleading and imploring him to give up whatever he had to appease these horrid men for her sake, if for nothing else. She could only hope that he carried at least a little bit of coin that could placate these dark men, for she desperately needed protection and needed to be wholly rid of this nightmare. To her horror, her new husband simply sat upon his horse silently and sat stilled and wide eyed as he said nothing. 

When there was no response from
Lord Hann, with a sickening dread she could feel her captor's hand begin to move slowly over her stomach.  Back and forth it moved as it gradually inched its way upwards.  She attempted to push desperately at his ascending hand and move away from his frightening touch and away from his sickening grasp, but he held her firmly and stilled her movements as he confined her arms by her side and pressed her further into his chest.

The tears began to well and
silently fall down her cheeks as she felt her captor's movements and watched in revulsion as her new husband stubbornly sat mutely by.  She continued to be groped in front of him by this grotesque man and her lord did nothing to stop the assault, just simply stared blankly and looked on as the dark man took control of her body. 

Her captor
continued to lazily rub her stomach as his hands began to move further upwards ever so slightly and ever so lazily tormenting her along the way.  With a slow and languid motion, he moved his hand higher to finally and wholly encompass one of her full breasts. 

The tears
now flowed freely down her cheeks and the bile threatened to rise in her throat as the dark man's assault continued unhurriedly on.  She closed her eyes fighting the repulsion of this man's touch as his large hand encompassed her breast and with his fingers he pinched her fiercely through the material of her bodice.  She breathed deeply a she prayed for her nightmare to cease as she attempted to control her raging panic that was continuing to consume her.

He
continued to squeeze her breast harshly through the material of her gown as he roughly handled her in front of all the onlookers.  On and on he kneaded her breast as Kaye slowly opened her eyes once again and realized in horror that it was not only her husband that was staring but every one of the dark men was gawking at her.  A sickness began to build within and she noticed how they each watched hungrily as their leader groped her openly as he abused her body horribly.  

K
aye struggled to appear emotionless and without reaction, for she was afraid that if she showed her fear and repulsion that this would anger her captor and potentially fuel him further and cause her additional harm.  So Kaye attempted to quell her disgust and push away the pain of his assault as the dark man continued to forever grasp and roughly knead her breast.  She realized with revulsion that his hot and sickly breath was quickening and now coming in clear rasps behind her. 

When she
thought the degradation could not get any worse, her captor suddenly removed his hand from her and grabbed at the material of the bodice of her gown.  With a quick motion, he ripped it fully down to her waist and effectively exposed her breasts and the front side of her fully for everyone in close proximity to see.  As the sickening sound of the tearing gown was heard in the now silent clearing, Kaye's terror grew for her body was now visibly trembling in fear.

Kaye's dark
captor kept his eyes solely upon the great lord as he waited for him to show any reaction.  The Lord Hann continued to watch unspeaking and unmoving as he stared straight ahead and wordlessly upon his own horse.

The dark man spa
t out harshly, "Nothing, milord?  You have nothing of worth?"

Kaye's tears continued to flow
heavily as they silently fell down her cheeks and now onto her exposed skin of her chest as no words came from her husband.  There was no movement to be had and he said nothing to stop the horrid man's assault.  The dark man moved his hands back to her now bared breasts as he roughly kneaded her flesh once again in front of all as he pinched cruelly at their peaks.  Nausea threatened further as his attack continued as she heard a malicious chuckle rising again in his throat as with his other hand he began moving it down her body and past her stomach with an attempt at reaching her secret place below.

Kaye's heart was thundering
and her pulse roaring as her fear escalated further at this next degrading turn of events.  The dark man's horrid ministrations became all consuming as she tried to fight unsuccessfully against his hardened body for her release.  She began to shake uncontrollably in her wretched state as she finally surrendered to the full blackness that entirely and blessedly enveloped her.

CHAPTER SIX

Alec
and the rest of the Bruce clan along with his wife Bridget, mounted their horses within the hour after the previous party left the Devon estates.  It was a sad and difficult farewell for Bridget who knew this would most likely be the last time she would see her family in a very long time, if she ever had the chance to see them again.  The small party left the humid and sunny courtyard moving their mounts beyond the lowered drawbridge and taking the weathered path in a northerly direction.  This happened to be the same initial route as the earlier group had taken.  They trotted and galloped and made good time as the midday sun reached high overhead. 

Bridget smiled
slightly as she was lost in thought and reflected back upon the last time she had taken this course in this direction, being a new bride herself.  She considered how her initial uncertainties had blossomed into a real joy that she had found within the loving arms of her husband.  While it had not been initially easy, they had found in each other a true and profound happiness and passions beyond what either of them had ever deemed possible.  With a slight smile and warmth spreading through her for the magnificent gift of a husband that was hers, she could only sincerely hope and wish that both Marie and Kaye could find this same love and contentedness, too.

When
the Bruce clan had been riding for less than an hour and just as they were beginning to enter the next wooded section of land, a riderless horse came sprinting down the trail and from within the trees.  As he thundered beyond the group, the beast was recognized immediately as one that had been ridden by the Lord Hann's men for it sported the family's coat of arms upon its bridal. 

Tor
seized the reins of the animal as it attempted to move by as he slowed the beast to a halt.  He road near and closely inspected the rear flank for droplets of blood were clearly visible.  Tor looked over at Alec with a grave concern within his eyes for there were no markings upon the animal and that could only mean one thing.  The blood upon the beast was most likely from its rider.  A dread began to grow within his heart for the small and unprepared group that had traveled before them. 

Alec
who was also very much concerned, quickly turned to Bridget and said quietly, "Return immediately to your father's keep.  We will come retrieve you when we know what is about."

Bridget looked at him with resolution
in her eyes and fear in her heart and simply said, "No, Alec, I will ride with you for it is my sister's family…"

She
stared pleadingly into his eyes, not wishing to argue with him for time was wasting and knowing she could not leave without discovering the truth of the matter. So she begged him further.

"Pleas
e Alec, let us go now for we do not have time to waste.  I promise I will stay behind and out of harm's way.  But I cannot leave without knowing what has happened to dear Kaye and the rest of her party."

With
those words spoken, Alec nodded knowing time was of the essence and each moment that went by lessened the party's chances, if they were indeed troubled as he had feared.  He turned his steed resolutely and the clan raced on, intent upon discovering the Hann family's fate.

T
he Bruce clan progressed quickly and as quietly as they could down the path as they moved deeper and deeper into the forest.  They were ever scanning and always on alert as they examined the surrounding area for any signs of conflict.  As the great oaks continued to thicken before them and the path began to narrow, they spied Kaye's horse in the distance ahead as it was tethered neatly to a tree with no one seemingly about.  The clan slowed and Alec motioned for Bridget to move her horse next to Kaye's and wait for his command. 

Bridget nodded, knowing
full well that she would comply with his request to ensure Alec and his men could concentrate on their task at hand.  Bridget watched in fright as the four warriors spread out silently across the slight rise and moved forward, quietly and decisively drawing their weapons for they were ever ready.

Tor breached the rise
first and a black anger like no other he had ever felt before began to consume the full of him at the sight laid out before his eyes.  The Lord Hann and his two men were within the circle of several horses with heavily armed men surrounding.  Kaye sat upon a horse and before one of the large men with his hands upon her, her dress gaping open, her breasts revealed with her assault quiet obvious.

As he stared at the scene before him, he attempted
to temper his rage as the man holding Kaye began to dismount.  As he moved from his horse he brought her motionless body with him as his hand still encompassed her breast.  The large man easily picked her limp form from his beast and with her, moved from the circle of horses.  He stepped into the brush that was a few paces behind to where he laid her body carelessly out upon the ground.  With a slight sneer, he removed his armor then leaned over and proceeded to lift her skirts with his dark and malicious intentions clear.

In one swift and silent movement, Tor unsheat
hed a small sword from his side and as the man stood over Kaye he threw the weapon swiftly forward.  With perfect revolution, the large dagger hit its mark squarely as it landed directly and fully in the center of the man's heart, successfully felling him from whence he stood. 

In that
instant as the noise of the blade striking flesh and bone coursed through the air and the final breath was forced from the large man, the rest of the dark party were aware of a presence and now on full alert and prepared and ready for battle.  The seasoned Scottish Highlanders descended upon the dark men as they heavily wielded their massive swords and felling the unsuspecting intruders from where they stood.  Distressed cries could be heard as one by one of the dark men were obliterated and became no more.  It took only a few minutes to decimate them, so enraged and so expertly trained were the Highlanders.  The six remaining assailants who had overtaken the small Hann party had never stood a chance. 

Throughout
the short battle, the Lord Hann and his men huddled quietly and frantically in the midst of the bedlam.  They did their best to stay clear of the warring men and not wishing nor being able to contribute to the battle. Fear and panic was written clearly upon their faces as the horror consumed them as they watched the bloodshed and rage ensue all around.

As the last man fell
and only after all fates had been confirmed, Tor dismounted and moved quickly in the direction of the motionless Kaye.  As he approached, his breath caught in his throat as he looked sadly upon the small dark haired beauty who lay silently upon the ground with the large assailant still partially covering her legs.

As the enraged feelings grew
within his chest, Tor reached down and rolled the bulky and grimy man from Kaye's tiny frame as a fear descended entirely upon his heart for her fate.  He adeptly moved the dead man from on top of her and away from her side as he removed the man from her sight.  He then hastily returned to her and restored her skirts to their rightful place around her legs to modestly cover her.  As best as he could, he reached over to pull her torn gown together over her breasts as he attempted to conceal her within.  His fury continued to pulsate throughout his body as he noted the harsh and purple marks that were intermingled with her light ivory skin, the beginnings of bruising to appear from the attack upon her body. 

His heart was
thundering within his great chest and breaking for the atrocity that befell this poor lass.  With the back of his large hand, he gently brushed her ivory cheek as he silently implored her to awaken.  He could only hope that she would be all right as the concern was ever etched upon his face.  When she did not stir, he tenderly lifted her head and placed it gently in the crook of his arm as he intently looked into her lovely face.  He once again moved his fingers caringly over her flawless skin willing her to awaken and prayed she would soon.  He noted with sadness that her lashes were spiked wet from her tears and her cheeks moist with her lips slightly parted as if in a deep slumber. 

With a black anger growing
further within for her husband's assured carelessness, Tor turned and peered over his shoulder at the Lord Hann who was still perched unmoving upon his horse with his eyes still wide in terror.  Tor was sickened for the spineless man who now called himself her protector, for defending his wife should have been his task above all else.  Tor knew without a doubt that had she been
his
wife, he would have fought to the death to protect her and never would have allowed such a travesty to befall her.  Tor spoke loudly and in an attempt to reprimand him for his neglect and bring him out of his stupor.

"Your
wife
, milord, do you wish not to come forward and comfort her?"

Lord
Hann simply stared down at the Highlander from his position atop his horse quite unmoving with a vacant look in his eyes and his mouth slightly opened.  No words were forthcoming as his face began to flush.  Finally, he responded blandly, "But…but…She has been
soiled
…I would not have her now!"

Tor
gawked at the man in disgust as his anger exploded as he spat, "And 'twas
you
that was supposed to protect her!  'Tis
your
fault you were not prepared and
yours
alone that she has suffered so violently!"

Tor felt a movement within his arms as
his black anger coursed through his body and looked down to find Kaye fully awake.  Her brow was furrowed and her eyes wholly pained as she lay within his arms and stared dejectedly at her new husband.  A full wretchedness completely consumed her for she had awakened and had heard the entire exchange.

Kaye
looked from her new husband and down to her torn gown as the reality of the recent events flooded her mind.  She was sickened and saddened as the full of it dawned upon her.  She was newly wed and now her husband did not want her and after this assault she was afraid that he would most likely never have her. Her shame and sadness at the loss of her life and at the loss of her dreams was so all consuming and came flooding back upon her.  For it was quite obvious that he could not, nor would not have her through no fault of her own.

The tears
of her shame streamed down her face as a nausea began to overtake her for the horror she had been through and for the dreadfulness that had just been put upon her.  Her stomach began to recoil as her body began to convulse as she rolled away from the man that held her.  She trembled greatly as she began to lose the contents of her stomach upon the ground, humiliating her further still.

Tor watched in sadness as the petite woman began to physically tremble and
her body shudder as she wretched the contents of her stomach as the violations settled upon her.  As she rolled from him, he tenderly pulled her long tresses back from her face as wave after wave of nausea coursed through her body.  On and on her body quivered as he held her tenderly, his heart breaking for her travesty.

As Kaye struggled against her ravished body
, Bridget came rushing over the hill with Alec close behind.  Ignoring the bloodied bodies lying haphazardly upon the ground, Bridget moved quickly to her dear sister and near to Tor who was tenderly speaking and attending to Kaye's needs.  For long moments the two nursed and provided her comfort until her body finally and decisively quieted.

Alec watched as Tor's anger
continued to consume him, a rage encompassing him like no other he had ever witnessed.  Alec moved closer to his friend and his cousin and watched closely as he held Kaye tightly within his arms.  He clearly understood his fury and had oftentimes witnessed his strength and wrath upon the battlefield, but Alec had never observed such anger for the plight of a woman.  Alec placed his hand upon Tor's shoulder as he silently implored him to temper his emotions and keep him from doing anything rash.

I
nstead it was Alec who spoke next, "If you would not have her now, milord, then be gone.  Remove your vile face from our presence."

Lord
Hann did not move.  He continued to stare down at the tiny woman, unblinking and gaping intently at his wife as she continued to tremble silently within the large and terrifying warrior's arms.  For long moments he sat looking fixedly at her, as he slowly came out of his hazed state.  Finally, he pulled his eyes from his wife and turned to gaze at his man who was still seated upon his beast.

"G
et milady’s horse," Lord Hann said insipidly.

Kaye
watched her husband intently as the words he had spoken slowly and most dejectedly registered within her.  He did not want her, but he wanted her horse? The confusion played across her face as she watched her husband closely.  With a sudden and sickened realization of his statement, his meaning dawned and became more clear. No…he did not want her, but he would take her with him anyway?

Kaye could do nothing but st
are in misery and dread at her lord as realization spread fully through her. His icy stare and cold eyes spoke volumes and chilled her straight through to the center of her being. He despised her and felt that she was now soiled, so any possible happy life or hope she had thought to have would most likely be no longer.  A hollowness consumed her and now broke her will as it completely shattered her dreams most decisively.