Blessing The Highlander (9 page)

 
           “Settle yourself, little siren,” a rough voice whispered in her ear, “I just aim ta have a wee bit o’ enjoyment with ye.” He lugged her to a dark alcove as she struggled with all her might to escape. He clutched her breast and gave it a bruising squeeze as he propelled her against the stone wall, holding her there with his hard frame. She cried out behind his disgusting hand which sounded like a squeak. “Ye will enjoy this, lass,” he chuckled haughtily to himself as he began inching up her gown. “And, if nae, twill make nae difference ta me just so long as I do.”

 
          
Garrick!
Her mind screamed.

 
           Seonaid was in a panic! She was powerless as he pressed her hard against the rough stones. Frantic with the need to escape she sank her teeth into the disgusting hand encompassing her mouth. He roared in pain, blood coursing down his arm. With her mouth free, she prepared to scream as his weighty fist slammed into her jaw. Stars exploded behind her eyelids as she crumpled to the rushes. He leapt upon her, forcing his tongue into her mouth as he rent her bodice. He snarled at her as he hoisted aside his plaid baring his swollen tarse.

 
           He was crushing her with his bulk. She could not breathe. Then, of a sudden, her breath came back in a rush as the weight of him disappeared.

            Garrick’s eyes burst open in terror! Seonaid was in peril! He sensed her panic! He glanced toward the vacant side of the bed… seeing she was absent. He leapt up as he grasped that it had not been a dream. Seizing his claymore, he sprinted from the room in search of his wife.

 
           It took only moments to locate her. Her feelings drew him to her like a beacon! He overheard the man grappling with his wife release a painful yell, then saw him strike her. Garrick exploded in a mindless fury!

 
           He roared in rage as he flung his sword aside. Hoisting the beast off his wife… he hurled him into the stone wall! The man was stunned for a moment but rapidly recovered. He rolled from Garrick’s grasp and howled, “Hell mon, give me but a moment with the li’l hellcat then ye can ‘ave her after!”

 
           Garrick was livid with rage as he snarled, “I will gut ye for daring ta even behold me wife! But first I will slice out your vile tongue for polluting her mouth and lob off each extremity from your hands for fondling her. The fist that struck her will be crushed afore I hack off your hands! Ye will wish yourself dead long afore the deed is done!”

 
           The man’s eyes widened in terror as this madman advanced on him. “Y-yer w-wife?” he sputtered in apprehension as he backed away. “I was told she was a doxie tha’ pleasured the travelers.”

 
           Garrick stopped in his tracks. “Who told ye that?” Was someone here that knew of Seonaid?

 
           The man eyed him warily. He was terrified of the cold-blooded blue eyes staring at him. “Jus’ a mon. Fair of face he was...aboot yer age...yellow hair.”

 
           “Still gives ye nae leave ta touch her...or any other lass if she be nae willing!” His fist came up smashing into the man’s snout. Blood spurted as it broke from the force of the blow. He howled in pain as Garrick persistently pounded him with his fists until beefy hands hauled him back. He drew his fist back to strike out at the interruption as he spun around!

 
           “Hold, m’laird!” Angus cried out as he put up his hands to block the blow. “Ye have near killed the man! And your attire is gaining a gathering,” he grinned as he glanced down Garrick’s form.

 
           Garrick shook his head to clear out the black rage that had engulfed him. He stared at Angus for a moment, collecting his wits about him, then looked at himself. He had failed to recall that he was naked! Angus supplied him a plaid to cover himself, his face all but bursting to say something he knew he would regret.

 
           “Seonaid!” he cried out as he hurried to her side. Kneeling next to her, he examined her injuries. She jerked back vibrating with fear not identifying him at first. “Shhh, mo gradh, tis Garrick,” he crooned tenderly.

 
           As her vision cleared, she propelled herself into his arms... immense sobs wracking her tiny frame. “Did he injure ye, mo cridhe?” he whispered in her ear. She shook her head. He procured her chin gently in his hand raising her gaze to his. “I ask again… wife,” more sternly this time. “Did he harm ye?”

 
           Seonaid’s tearful eyes widened as she realized what he was asking. “Nay, husband. He but struck me and added to my bruises. He did nae have time for more.”

 
           With a brisk nod he believed what she said as true. He cleared his throat as he drew her against him and kissed the top of her head. He was still very angry. With her for going about unescorted, with her attacker for assaulting her and for what he had said, and utmost of all, with himself for not safeguarding her.

 
            He rose, cradling her in his arms and strode toward the semi-conscious bloody heap on the floor. He kicked the man’s leg to get his attention and growled, “Ye live, thanks ta me lady’s accounting of your misdeeds. Ye will now apologize ta her and thank her for your insignificant life.” The man did so quickly and profusely. Garrick’s eyes narrowed on the man warning him, “Most significant of all, remember this...if ye ever, so much as gaze upon me countess again… I will have ye drawn and quartered after the aforementioned retribution I cited is carried out. Do nae doubt this!”

 
           With that threat he spun around bearing Seonaid back to their room.

Chapter V

            Garrick was fuming. She required no gift to see that it was true. What she did not seem to fathom was why he was angry at her. His cobalt eyes glared at her as he growled to himself, ran his hand through his hair, and spun around walking ten paces. Then he repeated the same ritual again. He had been doing it ever since they returned to their room. He had spoken not one word to her. All he did was scowl.

 
           Seonaid decided it would be wiser to stay silent while he gathered his thoughts and calmed himself. She had tried to read his thoughts once but he had shot her such a furious look that she backed off.

 
           Finally, he turned to her saying sternly, “Stay here. I will be back presently.” She opened her mouth to inquire where he was going but the look he gave her stopped her cold. Then he was gone.

 
           Her stomach rumbled in protest as their food seemed to have been forgotten in the chaos below. She wrung her hands as her thoughts ran rampant.
He will nae want me now. I can see his regrets about wedding me. I am too much trouble.
There was a wrenching pain in her chest at the thought of losing Garrick.
He must be kenning that he has made a poor bargain indeed. If only I kenned of my clansmen...then I might have some value in his eyes. But I remember naught.
Tearfully she lay down on the bed and curled up in a ball…crying herself to sleep.

 
           Garrick was frustrated. He proceeded to the stables in search of Angus. Mayhap he had found the man that was spoken of by his wife’s attacker. He was fearful of losing Seonaid if her clansmen appeared. His scowl darkened. That he would not allow! He came upon William first and elected to send him on to Castle Brodie to apprise them that they would be delayed. He had noticed a storm rolling in and he did not want Seonaid to become ill. They would wait a day or two for it to pass. As William readied his horse to leave Garrick added, “Send out twenty men on the morrow for escort… and a few of me maither’s dresses for me lady. Inform the castle that they have a new mistress as well. I expect it orderly enough ta impress me wife.”

 
           “Aye, m’laird.” William mounted his prancing steed and ducking his head, proceeded for home. It would take him most of the day but it was a short ride for a seasoned highlander. Angus caught up with Garrick as William was riding off.

 
           “Did ye learn anything, Angus?”

 
           He looked at his laird speculatively, wondering how he would react to what he had discovered.

 
           “Nay, Garrick, nae one seems ta recall the mon that he spoke about.”

 
           What he had become aware of, though, was not good news. He was not certain if Garrick would be distressed by it and send his bride away.

 
           “Just how attached are ye ta your lady, m’laird?”

 
           Garrick visibly stiffened. “What kind of question is that, Angus? I wed her did I nae?”

 
           “Aye, but I ken plenty of nobles who do nae care as long as his wife is female.”

 
           “Well, I am nae one of them. There is a linking between us… like an invisible cord that seems ta tether us together. I awoke this morn convinced that Seonaid was in trouble even though I still believed her abed. I ken that it sounds peculiar but it is the truth all the same. Tell me, Angus, why ye ask such a strange question.”

 
           He looked at Garrick for a moment then said, “Come. Let us take a walk, m’laird.”

 
           Angus was silent as they strolled to the woods so their discourse would not be overheard. He needed to be certain of Garrick’s way of thinking about the death of his father before he revealed what he had heard.

 
           “Tell me true, Garrick. When your father died ye detested and accused the MacGregor did nae ye?”

 
           “Ta be truthful, aye, I wanted him dead. I lay awake every eve for a sennight conceiving diverse ways ta kill him. But, alas, nae death was satisfying ta me way of thinking.” He glanced at Angus and grinned. “I was young. After much reflection I grew up and recognized that Father caused his own death. There was nae necessity ta reive and he was thrown from his horse. Nae MacGregor blade touched him so how can I accuse him? But that does nae signify I would invite him ta sup with me...I just can nae shed blood over it.”

 
           Angus snorted. “That is well ta ken Garrick but ye may wish ta reconsider your opinion on supping with him.” He laughed and slapped Garrick on the back as he exposed what he had stumbled on. “It seems that ye be kin nowadays!”

 
           Garrick was stunned to silence. His mouth worked, opening and closing rapidly but no sound escaped him. His feelings whirled as he tried to grasp how his cousin had developed such a daft notion! “Ye have had too much uisge beatha, cousin!” he chortled in disbelief. “How could we conceivably...be...kin?” he said as he realized what Angus implied. He looked optimistically into Angus’ face and saw that he was in earnest.

 
           “What makes ye consider this?”

 
           Angus noted that he had judged rightly about Garrick’s good sense. He hoped the MacGregor was like-minded.

 
           “As I was asking round about the stranger a bit of gossip was told me. It seems that the MacGregor’s daughter went missing at about the same time that we stumbled on your lady. He has offered a reward for her return but most say twill certainly not be paid.”

 
           “Why nae? Is he a dishonorable man?”

 
           Angus laughed as he shook his bushy head. “‘Tis believed that nae one who kens the lass desires her return.”

 
           Garrick was outraged! How dare they slight his wife! “She is a bonny lass! How could they nae want her? I should strike them dead for their insult!” he seethed.

 
           “I do nae ken their logic but I thought ye should ken that there may be those who would steal her away. We must remain vigilant.”

 
           “Aye that we must.” Garrick sighed heavily as they approached the village.

 
           ”What is burdening ye, Garrick?”

 
           “I am going ta have ta bid Seamus ta the wedding feast...and keep down me meal. I will surely be tested on that day.” Angus commiserated with him.

            He sat in a chair across the room observing his beautiful young wife sleeping on the bed. He was charmed by her. He acknowledged that he should not have left her unaccompanied after the assault. She had needed him, he took note of as he saw evidence of dried tears. But he had needed to put some distance between them to get his thoughts back on a straight path. She befuddled him and he needed to get his logical mind functioning so that he could see to her protection.

 
           A MacGregor! He was having a hard time believing that she was a MacGregor. But Angus’ conclusions were sound. Garrick just must accept it and go on. It changed nothing. He still would have wed her. He had wanted her and he took her. Her parentage would not have stayed him...even if she were common born.