The Silent Highlander by Donna Fletcher
Chapter 8
Elysia cuddled closer to the warmth as she woke. No chill ran through her like most mornings. She was toasty warm and she wanted nothing more than to stay that way. She slid her leg up under the blanket along the warmth to cuddle even closer and her knee was met with an unfamiliar hardness. She poked her knee against it wondering…
“Oh!” she said and shot up with the help of her hand braced against her husband’s chest. She was greeted with tightly locked lips and an intensity in his powerful green eyes that sent a tingle through her entire body and caused her to shiver. Words failed her and, with the heat of embarrassment staining her cheeks, she scrambled over him only to get her shift caught on his protruding manhood as she went.
“Sorry,” she said as she tried to free herself and only made matters worse. His shaft slipped beneath her shift and poked between her legs, sending a shock of tingles through her that provoked an unexpected moan from her.
His hands suddenly clamped at her waist and she was lifted off him in one large swoop as he rose partially up from the bed and placed her on the floor. Her glance fell on his exposed manhood.
She spoke without thinking. “There is absolutely no way you will fit inside me.”
Saber couldn’t help but chuckle as he swung his legs off the bed and stood, his plaid falling to cover him. He stroked her flushed cheek with his thumb and said softly, “We will fit.”
What was it about this man that made her believe him—trust him?
The words fell easily from her lips. “We will do well together.”
He rested his brow to hers and a soft whisper fell from his lips. “Aye.”
A knock drew them apart, Saber going to the door.
A young lass stood there. “My seanmhair needs the healer. She is ill.”
Elysia stepped around her husband. “What’s wrong with her, Ashlyn?”
“Her stomach is unwell. She didn’t want me to bother you, but I’m worried about her.”
“Go to your grandmother. I will be there shortly,” Elysia said.
She hurried to dress. “I am sorry I cannot see to your breakfast, but I must see to Ashlyn’s grandmother. She is the only one Ashlyn has and she worries over losing her.”
Saber shook his head and waved his hands as if urging her to go.
She grabbed a crock off the top of a small cupboard that housed many of Bliss’s herbs. “Take the syrup and I will fix the brew for your throat later along with my brew.” His firm nod told her he was pleased with both.
Once she was dressed and had filled her basket with what she might need, she went to grab her cloak. Saber reached it before she did and she smiled when he slipped it around her.
She rested her hand to his chest. “I am glad I have you, Saber, and that I can trust you. It means more to me than you know.” She kissed him quick and hurried out the door.
Saber fisted his hands at his sides and wanted to roar with rage. He was not being truthful with her, and she respected truth. What would happen when she learned the truth about him? How would she feel about him then?
* * *
Elysia walked backto the cottage, pleased that Ashlyn’s grandmother appeared to suffer nothing more than an upset stomach, her love of honey oat cakes being the culprit. Though, she worried she could be wrong and failed to treat Ashlyn’s grandmother correctly. She wished people understood that she didn’t possess Bliss’s healing skills and knowledge. She could only treat illnesses that she had seen Bliss treat. She had no idea what to do otherwise.
People called out to her, bidding her good morning, others cast generous smiles her way. At least her marriage had provided a reason for people to smile. She had caught too often the worry on many faces or the women who fought back tears, fearing they would lose their husbands to battle.
She found the cottage empty when she returned and with clouds gathering overhead, it wouldn’t be long before rain fell. She thought to go to the croft but it was her responsibility to remain here in case someone needed healing. She brewed herself the drink she would take daily until she and Saber decided it was time for a bairn and she also brewed the one for Saber’s throat and left his to keep warm.
She got busy repairing several garments that had been brought to her. Many were from warriors who had no one to tend their garments and some from women who were overwhelmed with chores or had no skill with a needle. It mattered not to Elysia, stitching brought her peace and she loved the time she spent doing it.
She had just finished the brew when a rapid knock sounded at the door and before she could reach it, it swung open, a slim man of fair height and pleasant features entered. She wasn’t familiar with him, though he was dressed in the clan colors. Elysia didn’t care to be alone with a man in the cottage, even more so now that she had a husband. He didn’t seem threatening, though he did appear anxious and she was relieved when he quickly explained.
“I am sorry to disturb, but Rory has been injured. He is in the woods and needs your help.”
She didn’t question the man, assuming he was a clan warrior since he knew Rory. She gathered what she thought she might need and hurried to follow him. It wasn’t until he led her fairly deep into the woods that she began to wonder over the wisdom of following him without question.
Instinct told her to turn around and return to the village and the sudden realization that the plaid he wore was slightly different than her clan’s colors made her decision easy. She slowed her pace and began to lag farther and farther behind him. Until a chance presented itself and she hurried to duck behind an immense holly bush, the prickly leaves poking at her.
“Elysia!” the man called out when he stopped and turned and saw she was nowhere to be seen. He called out her name a few more times, then stopped and let loose with a laugh. “You are wiser than I was told. I was told you would follow me without question, being kindly and more trusting than most. I should have known better. Women are never who you think they are. Come out and let us see this settled.”
Elysia remained silent, not moving, frightened the slightest sound would alert him to her hiding spot. She wondered what he spoke of. Someone had sent him to abduct her? Why would anyone do that? She was no one of importance. One thing this taught her was that Bliss had been right. Elysia trusted blindly and that was not wise.
“I am going to find you. You won’t escape me,” he called out.
She had to squint her eyes and stretch her head to get a glimpse of him through the holly branches and she watched as his eyes scanned the area. There was no way she could avoid being spotted if she tried to run. She had to stay put and not move and hope he would not find her.
“You don’t know what you’ve done, woman,” he warned.
What she’d done? What was he referring to?
“Be wise and show yourself. I won’t hurt you,” he cajoled.
Somehow she didn’t believe him.
“Bloody hell, woman, show yourself,” he roared, his yell ringing throughout the woods and causing birds to take flight.
Elysia took advantage of the moment and crept away under the cover of the squawking birds. She kept her steps light but quick, needing to put sufficient distance between her and the man before the woods turned silent again.
When the silence hit once more she stopped and listened, but not for long. It was better she kept moving, then wait to see if the man caught up with her. The leaves scrunched beneath her feet as they pounded the earth, her chest heaved from the exertion, and her heart pounded with fright.
She had to get home. She had to.
She spotted the cottages through the trees. She was close, so close. She had to make it. She had to. She didn’t know what made her turn her head, fear that she would be snatched or fear that she would feel an arrow in her back.
He was there, but in the distance, too far to reach her to stop her from entering the village and he must have realized it, since he stopped. She thanked the heavens and didn’t delay. She ran as fast as she could and burst past the woods and into the village.
Elysia wanted to cry out with relief seeing her husband approach her cottage. Instead, she shouted his name as she kept running. “SABER!”
He turned and seeing the intense fear in her eyes felt like a punch to his gut. He ran to her.
She gasped in relief when he caught her in his arms and swung her up to cradle her against him. Her arms shot around his neck to hold on tight. “A man. A man in the woods,” she said unable to get anything else out.
Saber kept her snug in his arms, ready to tear anyone to pieces who even attempted to take Elysia from him.
“He told me Rory needed my help and I didn’t question him. I went with him,” she said, shaking her head. “I was so foolish.”
Too trusting, he thought, though didn’t say it, since once again he was reminded of his own deception. He tightened his arms around her, hoping to ease the tremble of fright that shook her. Though he was careful, often forgetting his own strength and not wanting to hurt her.
“What happened?” Rory demanded, running toward them, other warriors following close behind.
Elysia cast an anxious glance around and saw villagers looking on in question. Someone must have alerted the keep. She hadn’t told all of it to her husband, but he nodded, letting her know she should tell them, and she did.
“A man came to the door and told me that Rory had been hurt in the woods and he needed my help. I followed him and realized after traveling rather deep into the woods that I shouldn’t have gone with him. He wasn’t familiar to me, but then I don’t know all the warriors. I also realized his plaid colors were different, a barely noticeable yellow running through the blue and black cloth. I managed to lag behind enough to duck behind some holly. When he discovered me gone, he yelled that I wouldn’t escape him. He also said that he was told I was kind and trusting and that I would easily believe him.” She felt her husband tense around her.
“Why would someone want to abduct you?” Rory asked as if it made no sense.
“I asked myself the same question,” Elysia said.
“Chieftain Emory will want to know about this.” Rory nodded to one of the warriors and he took off for the keep. “We’ll go search. Stay close to your husband and we’ll let you know if we find anything.” Rory looked to the half a dozen or more warriors surrounding them. “Spread out and search.” They hurried off and he turned to look directly at Elysia. “Don’t trust anyone.” He ran off to join the search.
Saber set her on her feet and nodded, agreeing with Rory.
“I won’t make that mistake again,” Elysia said and walked toward the cottage. “What confuses me is why anyone would want to abduct me. It doesn’t make sense.”
Saber followed her but not before taking a quick glance at the woods. He had a good idea of why his wife almost got abducted and if he was right, he’d see someone suffer for it.
* * *
Elysia had beenhesitant about going to Saber’s cottage for the night. They would be isolated there with no one close by if something should happen. Whereas, her cottage provided the safety of others. Not that she didn’t think Saber couldn’t protect her, but what if more than one culprit lingered about? However, Saber had been adamant about spending the night at the croft and once she had entered the cottage, she understood why. He had added to the size of the bed. With the room small, he couldn’t make the bed large, but the extra width he added was enough to make it somewhat comfortable. She’d been pleased to see it, though anxious as well, since it would not be long now that they would consummate their marriage.
She turned from staring at the bed and bumped into her husband. She tilted her head back to look up at him. His intense green eyes could easily intimidate but she was beginning to understand what she saw there in them; caring, concern, delight, passion. Though this time, there was something else there she wasn’t quite sure of, something deeper and perhaps darker, that sent an uncomfortable chill through her. And Rory’s warning sounded in her head.
Don’t trust anyone.
Her husband brushed at her stray strands of hair, something that had become a habit of his and one she favored. His fingers always managed to skim her cheek or over the edge of her ear and it would send a delightful tingle through her. It also reminded her of how tender he was with her, and for his size one would never expect that from him.
He patted his chest and pointed to the door, then tapped her nose playfully and pointed to the bed.
She understood that he was giving her time alone to prepare and get in bed.
He kissed her gently, lingering a bit, then left the cottage. He walked to the end of the lambs’ pen and wasn’t at all surprised by the voice that reached out in the night.
“It’s about time. I’m freezing my arse off out here.”
“Who?” Saber demanded.
“Your voice has improved. It’s stronger. That’s good,” the man said.
“Who, Finch?” Saber demanded again.
“I see your patience hasn’t improved any.”
Saber took a quick step toward him.
Finch jumped back. “All right. All right. You know who it was. He needs you.”
Saber shook his head and spoke with more ease than he had in a while. “So he takes my wife?”
“He knew you wouldn’t come any other way. He is pleased to hear that you have a wife and is eager to meet her.”
“Not yet,” Saber said.
“He does truly need you.”
“In time.”
“Sooner rather than later,” Finch warned as he stepped back. “Or he’ll send another.”
Saber didn’t care about his throat. He wanted what he had to say made clear. He spoke slow and with a bit of effort. “Tell him that I will kill the next one he sends who tries to take my wife.”
“I thought you might threaten that. I will let him know,” Finch said and disappeared into the darkness.
Saber took a steady breath, not wanting to return to his wife on the verge of anger. He knew his father would have been alerted to his marriage. He thought he had time. He didn’t want to deal with this yet. He wanted time with his wife, time for her to get to know him, time for her to judge him for herself.
His da was not an unreasonable man and Saber knew his clan suffered because of him. He rubbed his face, trying to wash away the invisible stain, a stain he never wanted, never knew how to deal with, always wished would go away. But it never did.
How did he enter the cottage and make love to his wife and commit her to a life that would bring anything but happiness? It wasn’t fair to her and yet he wanted so badly to join with her, make them one forever.
He lingered, hoping she would be asleep, then he wouldn’t disturb her. But as the darkness closed around him, the urge to escape to her gentle nature and kindness was too much to ignore. He entered the cottage to find her sitting up in bed, a nightdress covering her and the blanket tucked up to her waist.
There was no voice of reason in his head. There was only desire for his wife. He yanked off his boots at the door and stripped himself of his garments as he approached the bed, leaving them fall where they may.
He leaned over and tugged at her nightshift and one word fell from his lips. “Off.”
