The Highlander Without a Bride (9 page)

Provided that brief opportunity,
Kaye elevated her chin proudly and rushed past the lord as she moved hastily out of the stables and away from his crushing words and his ever tormenting body.  She continued on up to her room as she closed and locked the door from inside and soundly behind her.  She laid herself heavily back upon the wooden slats of the door as she breathed deeply as her heart pounded with fear and the uncertainty for her family and her own safety resounding within.

Kaye moved her hand
timidly to the inside of the small pocket that resided within the folds of her gown as she gently touched the tiny medallion that lay securely hidden within.  Her thumb gently stroked the coin's rough edge as she pictured the handsome and trusting face of her powerful warrior.  As she continued to roll the coin within her fingers her heart fully warmed at the thought of its donor as the panic continued to rise.  She wondered most brazenly…
"Do I dare send this?"

CHAPTER
ELEVEN

That
very same night as Kaye reluctantly went down to the hall for the evening meal, as she descended the steps she breathed a sigh of relief for Lord Alden had not yet graced the great hall with his presence.  She gladly walked forth and across the room as she spied with pleasure a guest within the chamber. 

Seated at the high table
at the opposite end of her position, was a kindly looking older gentleman who was dressed in the cloth of the church.  His gray hair and dark drab robes were much overshadowed by the pleasant smile that alighted upon his face.  He sported a kindly and most welcoming smile and one that provided a slight sense of relief for Kaye.

With a refreshed perspective
, she approached the high table with nothing but gladness for the sight of this newcomer.  She stopped just short of the man and turned to greet him most warmly with a sincere smile upon her face.

"It is a pleasure to have a man of the cloth
gracing our table.  I am Lady Kaye and I am so glad you have joined us."

The
benevolent old gentleman smiled up at her and responded with a kindly tone.  "Yes, milady, and it is such a pleasure to be here.  I am Father Flannigan."

Kaye looked at him with questioning eyes for he spoke
his English with a slight accent that she could not quite place.  A nice brogue, just not the proper English she was used to but an accent that was slightly familiar.

"So very nice to meet you,
Father Flannigan.  I hope that you will be joining us for a while."

He looked at her with a
genuine smile and responded, "I shall be in the vicinity for about a week, milady, shepparding my flock and blessing babies and performing nuptials for those in the area.  Then I will have to be on my way once again.  I only get to this area once every several months for I am mostly needed and tend to my flock up north."

Up
north
…which of course would mean Scotland for there were no more northern parts of England than where they currently were located.  And that is where his gentle brogue must be from, for he must be Scottish, himself.  She looked at the kindly gentleman as her mind began to churn as she devised and concocted a plan for the sake of her family. 

As she stood before the priest,
an elation flooded her heart as she unthinkingly placed her hand within her secret pocket as her fingers tenderly handled the medallion that laid surreptitiously within.  For she now had a means to send word to Tor of the news the young Lord Alden had shared, news of the Hann's plotting and news of grave importance to her family.  Even if he were unable to protect her from the discerning young lord, she would call upon him if nothing else so she could relay to him and plead with him to warn her father and her uncle of her husband's plans to steal their estates. 

O
nce that end had been achieved, perhaps her father would agree to remove her from this place she now reluctantly called home.  Kaye was growing ever more concerned for her safety each passing day for her plight as the wife of the Hann Lord.  At this point, she did not care if they would then send her off to the abbey to live out the remainder of her days with the nuns.  For that life of solitude was far more preferable to the fear she lived in every day.  She now continually lived in constant state of apprehension and in fear of her husband's return, in dread of his son's advances and now her vital alarm for her family's plight.

A small smile played upon her lips as
she continued to gaze at Father Flannigan for she understood that he could be her way out and her savior.  The weight of the world suddenly felt lifted from her shoulders.

*****

Devising her plan and actually making it come to fruition were completely different objectives and proving to be a most difficult undertaking.  Kaye began to grow concerned with panic for her time was running out and she had yet to have a moment alone with Father Flannigan to ask her favor of the priest.  Each time she wished to speak with the kindly man of the cloth, someone was always about and made her task unfeasible.  In the daytime he was out among the peoples of the estate and in the evenings he oftentimes after the meal sat before the fire where Lord Alden also retired.

It
happened to be on the fifth evening after Father Flannigan arrived and just two days before he was scheduled to venture northward.  Kaye watched as the hall began to empty after the final sup, most wandering off to their homes or to enjoy the evening air in the courtyard.  Her heart raced in anticipation for they were the only two now left in the large chamber.  Lord Alden had been attending business in the outer regions of the estate on this day and had not yet returned to the keep. 

Kaye
breathed deeply as she was left nearly alone with Father Flannigan, save for a few servants within the hall clearing the evening meal's wares away.  Still seated above at the head table, Kaye rose and walked towards the priest and then took the chair directly next to him.  With a smile upon her face she spoke.

"Dear
Father Flannigan, it is with a sad heart that I count the days knowing you are planning to leave us."

She looked deeply into his eyes wond
ering if she could speak freely and wondered if she could depend upon him to carry out her mission.  He responded back with a smile upon his face and a kindness within his eyes.

"Yes, milady, I will be leaving here in two day's time.  For my
business is nearly complete and my duty to move on quite apparent."

She looked at him deeply and continued.  "Father, when you go to the north, which
clans do you visit?"

He looked at her
thinking it a strange question wondering of her interest, but willing to answer her anyway.

"Well, milady, straight north of here are several Scottish clans including the
Campbells, the Grants, the Macpherson, Gordons and several others."

"And they
all allow you to pass and move freely within their borders?  For are not the clans of the north barbaric and warring quite frequently?"

Father Flannigan chuckled
as a slight smile came to his lips as he watched the fear play over her features.  For she appeared to be truly concerned for his welfare.

"My dear, most clans
truly do wish for peace, only a few are forever warring.  And besides, I am a man of the cloth.  Most have a fear of God and wish me to be there to perform my services and so they allow me to go about my business in peace."

Kaye loo
ked deeply into his eyes for she truly was concerned for this kindly man's safety and was just hoping she could trust in his words. 

"And what of the Bruce clan?  Do you ever happen upon them?"

She looked into his eyes as she held her breath and silently hoped for an affirmative answer.

"Why, yes, milady I do.
  They happen to be near the Grants."

She continued to stare
at him as she reached into her pocket and extracted the medallion that Tor had given to her.  She looked at it and placed it fondly within her palm as she had done so often since he had bestowed it upon her just a few weeks before.  She drew her hand forward and placed the small coin upon the table for his inspection.

"My
dear sister Bridget is the mistress of that keep and is married to Lord Alec Bruce.  I would like to return this coin to one of the Lord's men and his name is Tor.  He…he happened to accidentally leave it at my parent's home when they visited during my sister's nuptials."  She looked at him with a pleading in her eyes as she continued.  "Would you do this for me?"

He smiled kindly
at her and with nothing more then wishing to be a servant to her, he said, "Well, yes, milady.  I would be happy to.  But you do understand that it may take me several weeks to reach that destination."

"Yes Father, I do.  I just wish to
return it to its rightful owner and truly, 'tis no hurry."

He reached forth and took the small
medallion from the table as he laid it within the palm of his own hand.  He studied it closer as he felt of its slight weight of its worn edges.

"Then I shall see the deed done.
" 

The clergyman p
laced the small coin within his breast pocket quite hidden away and soon forgotten as Kaye began pleading with him to speak of his travels and of his life.  She implored him quite earnestly to share with her all that he knew of his Scottish homeland.

CHAPTER TWELVE

On
a cool evening nearly a month after she had first arrived at the Hann keep and during the night directly after she had entrusted Father Flannigan with the medallion for Tor, Kaye was alone in her room.  She stood by the window that overlooked the front courtyard as the night fully descended upon the land, the chilled breeze sweeping in through the opened window and reminding her of the impending change of seasons.  She stood looking out across the square as the last of the people below wandered back to their homes after enjoying the windless and cool evening.  As she stared out over the darkened yard, she heard the door close fully behind her and the bolt thrown in its stead.

With
an immediate fear in her heart she turned around to see the young Lord Alden standing just inside the entryway as he leaned idly back onto the door with a strange look upon his face.  As she gazed across the expanse of the room she noted with dread that he was neither smiling nor frowning with an odd combination and one that sent shivers throughout her body.  Kaye's pulse began to beat rapidly for up until this very moment, the young lord had never entered her private chambers.  This had always been the one true safe haven of her home. For several long moments he stood peering at her as such for he was not speaking and not moving, only boldly appraising and drinking in the full of her body with his eyes. 

A
fear continued to grow inside of Kaye, trepidation for his presence within her chamber and for the long silence that ensued.  As the stillness stretched onward she fought to find understanding or his reasoning behind his company within her room as the sound of the lock continually and ominously echoed within her mind.  She recognized most miserably that he had also bolted the door which was the only entrance or exit to her chamber.  Her breath began to come in short rasps as the panic began to consume her further as Kaye stood motionless and watching him carefully until he finally spoke.

"
I am curious as to why
you chose
to marry my father?  For I understand that you were not forced to do so.  It surely is not because you fancy yourself in love, is it?" 

The
Lord Alden paused as he looked deeper into her eyes from across the way as he continued.  "You must then be seeking the riches and the fine life that our family can afford now, are you not?"

He
pushed himself from his place leaning upon the door and began to move slowly across the room towards her, his presence ever menacing and his stare ever terrifying. 

 
"You simply cannot be in love with him for the man is old and surely not capable of loving or keeping a woman pleasured such as yourself.  The way you have looked at me makes me think that I am more to your liking, for I am more your age and more to whom you must truly desire."

By this time he had sauntered completely
across the room and stood directly in front of Kaye.  His eyes continued to intimately stare at her body as he took in the full of her form, her slight waist and her full breasts as his chest noticeably rose and fell with his own excitement.

The fear and panic continued to rise up within
Kaye as her heart thundered and the terror threatened to consume her for his words, for his presence and his nearness.  At the very last moment as he closed the gap that separated them, Kaye attempted to move hastily away from him and outside of his reach.  But he was too quick, she realized most wretchedly that she had been cornered. 

She turned quickly
and attempted to flee but she was too late.  He reached out and forcefully grabbed a full handful of her long hair at the base of her neck as he fiercely yanked it up behind her.  He held on tightly and pulled firmly on the lengthy tresses that were now securely wrapped within his fist.  He pulled his hand towards his own chest as he dragged her body closer until he had her trapped tightly within his arms.  He pulled harder on the back of her hair as the pain emanated from her head until her face was forced to tip upwards and within mere inches of his chin.  She was coerced to look upon his face, a malicious sneer now showing prevalently upon his lips. 

At that moment,
with his free hand he drew a small trinket from his pocket, holding it a mere inches in front of her face as hatred and anger emanating from his eyes.  He rolled it slightly in his fingers watching her intensely for any reaction.

"What is this?"
he spat out, more enraged than she had ever seen the man.

Kaye looked
on in horror at the tiny medallion that he held, the one belonging to Tor and the one she had given to Father Flannigan.  The very same coin that she had hoped the benevolent man would return to her Scottish Highlander so that he would know of her need of him.  Her heart beat wildly within her chest for she now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was in grave danger, for the young lord must now realize that she had attempted to gain outside help.  Lord Alden's dark eyes were burning into her, their fiery depths ablaze with his black and vicious anger.

The Lord Alden
dropped the coin to the floor as his free hand grasped her chin as he moved his mouth over hers in his attempt to gain control of her lips.  As he did so, he pushed her back forcefully against the cold stone wall, his body pressing tightly into hers as he forced his knee between her legs and effectively pinned her so she was unable to move.  He dragged his free hand down past her throat to her breast where he roughly groped at her as he continued his attempt at capturing her mouth.  With a full sickening she felt the length of his body upon hers and the firmness of his excitement pushed repulsively into her stomach as he leaned fully into her.

Kaye
tried to move her head so that he could not successfully gain her lips, but he was too strong for her and her movements were stilted for she was up against the unyielding stone wall.  He pressed his lips into hers as her head was forced further back, as he began biting fiercely at her mouth until he drew blood from her lips and her jaw finally slackened.  When he was provided entry into her mouth, he quickly invaded and forced his tongue deeply inside as he caused her to gag at his filthy ministrations.  As the bile threatened to rise in her throat, Kaye bit down hard upon his tongue, the taste of his blood now mixed with her own and laced heavily within her mouth.

He
growled in anger as he stepped back briefly from her assault and brought his hand up and struck her with his full force across her face as he cursed loudly.  Her ears began to ring from the impact and he held onto her as he struck her once again across the other cheek, the ring upon the third finger of his hand scraping deeply and tearing at her soft ivory skin.  Two more times he struck her fiercely as he relentlessly delivered his blows.  The pain was now entirely reverberating within her head and across her face for the fury he had unleashed and the deep gash he had left upon her. 

Without warning, he
stepped back slightly and fisted his hand, swinging it mightily as he caught her fully in the eye.  The force of this last blow sent her bouncing off of the hard stone surface and sprawling across the floor as the stars began to dance before her eyes, the unmerciful pain from his assault consuming her. 

In
horror and as the droplets of blood dripped from her wounds, she pulled herself across the rug attempting to escape the frenzied beast, endeavoring to move out of his grasp in her quest for freedom.  He caught her ankle as she tried desperately to crawl away from him as he held on to her tightly and stopped her progress forward.  She grabbed frantically for anything in her path and anything at all that would provide her leverage to help with her escape. 

Kaye's
hand caught upon the finely embroidered material that covered her bedside table and as she pulled desperately, she spilled the entire contents of it upon the floor. With the tears streaming down her face and as her head pounded from his blows, she began to panic for the precarious position she now found herself in.

He
forcefully gained her side and laid himself out heavily on top of her as he pinned her to the floor, hungrily groping at her body as he turned her over to lay her upon her back.  He attempted to move his face once again over hers, biting her further as he tried to capture her lips as she struggled below him. 

Her hand reached out and came in contact with th
e heavy iron candle holder that had once laid upon her bedside table.  She grabbed it firmly within her hand and with all the power that she had, she swung the object at his head as she attempted to halt his revolting assault upon her body.  With a sickening thud she made full contact, striking him hard across his temple.  In the shadowy darkness she could see his eyes as they rolled backwards into his head, his body going immediately limp on top of her as a small trickle of blood ran down his cheek.

Kaye
hastily struggled below him and pushed the Lord Alden away from her as she crawled from beneath his prone body.  Her breath came in gasps as she noted most dreadfully that the candle stick was still within her hand.  She stared at him for long moments through her tears at his still body, fearing she had killed the young lord.  Shaking, she pushed herself upwards to lean against the stone wall as her heart beat wildly and a panic entirely encompassed her as she contemplated her next move.  The only thought that surfaced within her mind was that she had to get away and leave now before he was discovered.

Kaye
pushed herself from the wall and as she passed by the foot of the bed, she spied the small medallion that lay deserted upon the floor.  She stopped and retrieved it and held it tightly within her hand as she pressed it towards her heart.  At that moment she knew what she must do and now feared that there was only one option left open to her.  With a resolution, she placed the coin in her pocked and moved to the bureau where she grabbed a cloak from within and threw it over her shoulders as she moved quickly and resolutely to the door.

S
he unbolted the latch pulling hard on the carved wooden door and opened it wide in her attempt to flee.  In her haste she nearly ran into her servant Agnes, who was now standing directly in front of her in the middle of the entryway.  Kaye closed her eyes as realization and dread dawned, for she had hoped to escape unnoticed and leave this place forever but now she realized she had been discovered.  With a full panic upon her heart she conceded that before she even had a chance to exit the room she would not be permitted to leave.  With a sadness upon her heart she understood that all Agnes had to do right now was to raise her voice in alarm and the household would descend upon her. 

In her sadness and in her grief Kaye
opened her eyes, her face badly beaten and the excruciating pain in her head telling as she gazed back upon Agnes.  To her complete amazement, the old woman never said a word and simply stared at her with a sad smile of her own as a single tear escaped down her aged cheek.  In one stilted movement, the servant stepped back fully from the center of the doorway, allowing Kaye to pass freely with a knowing and sad expression upon her face.

As
Kaye moved warily beyond the threshold and into the darkened and deserted hallway, she heard the old woman enter the room and quietly closed the door in her wake, leaving Kaye now completely and entirely alone.