10. Chapter Nine

Lorena turned over and automatically reached for Craig. Only empty space. Then she remembered they were camping, and he slept outside so she and Edith could have the tent.

One more point in his favor that she didn't want.

She lay flat on her back and stared at the tent ceiling. Another long day of riding was ahead of her. Once she arrived at Dun Ugadale, she would never leave again. That got her to think about something she'd not considered before.

Robin MacKay, the laird of MacKay Clan of Dun Ugadale had been betrothed to marry her, and stepped back letting his brother take his place so he could marry Helena Ross. Lorena had been a tad insulted but since she had no interest in the man, anyway, it hadn't lasted long.

One unwanted husband was as good as any other unwanted husband.

Now she would be required to live with Helena MacKay. Would the laird's wife resent her? Would she feel sorry for her? She didn't want either one. Not since her mam died had Lorena lived with another woman.

There had certainly been maids and servants in both Clyth Castle and Avery's home, but they were not women she would have become friends with. What would it be like living with another woman? What did they do during the day? To keep herself busy, she'd oftentimes worked in the kitchen so she was able to cook more than most laird's daughters could.

‘Twould be a different life, for certe.

She then realized while she'd been busy with her thoughts, she'd been listening to the men as they prepared for the day. She looked over at Edith who was still sound asleep. She called to the maid, and she slowly opened her eyes. "Good morn, mistress."

"I hear the men up and about. We should probably dress. I'm sure my husband will be here soon to make sure we are ready to go."

As if her words had summoned him, his deep voice sounded from outside the tent. "Lass, ‘tis time to get up. We'll be leaving as soon as we have something to eat."

"Aye."

They used the leftover water from the night before to wash their face and clean their teeth. Edith rolled up the bedding and they left the tent. Men were scurrying about, preparing for the day's ride.

Lorena wandered over to the man who was cooking the oatcakes. She wrinkled her nose at the smell. They were obviously burned. She knelt next to him. "Do ye like cooking, Thomas?"

The guardsman shook his head. "Nay. Now were I cooking a plump pheasant or rabbit o'er the fire, I'd do all right, but these oatcakes always turn out bad enough that the men complain."

"Do ye want me to take o'er?"

Thomas smiled at her as if she had promised him a kettle of gold. "Aye. ‘Twould be wonderful. I could help get us packed up."

Shortly, she had a stack of golden oatcakes on a plate. She wished she had butter and honey to go with it and chastised herself for not involving herself in the packing of the food for the trip.

"It appears someone kens how to cook and ne'er said so." Craig wrapped his arms around her from behind. She glanced over her shoulder, finding it hard to rebuff him. His hair was wet, obviously having taken a bath in the creek. She reached down and took an oatcake from the plate and placed it near his mouth.

The look in his eyes was enough to bring flutters to her stomach like the ones she'd had when they had been making love. He took a bite of the oatcake and licked her finger. Her tiny flutters became a full windstorm. "Did ye sleep well?" He asked, pulling her closer.

Lorena nodded and licked her lips, causing Craig to moan.

"Are ye finished toying with each other, so the rest of us can eat and head out?" Giles watched them with mirth in his eyes.

They separated quickly, and Lorena headed back to the tent. She took a deep breath and tried to get herself under control. ‘Twould not be good to let something like that happen again. The connection she'd felt with her husband was unwanted.

It didn't take long for the men to devour the oatcakes and leftover cold meat from the day before. Before she knew it, the tent had been taken down and the horses were all packed. Craig walked up to her, the warmth in his eyes from before still there. "Do ye wish to ride with me today?"

She sniffed and raised her chin. "Nay. I feel quite well." She swept past him to her horse. Before she could move, Giles grabbed her around her waist and lifted her to the horse. "Craig is a good person, ye ken?"

Lorena gave him a quick nod. The last thing she needed was outsiders watching them and commenting to her about her ‘wonderful' husband.

With a signal from Craig, they all moved forward.

The ride was not as unpleasant as the day before, but still tedious. She found it difficult to sit still for long, always a problem for her. She'd received more than one smack in the face for what David had claimed was her inattention to what he was telling her to do.

‘Twas growing close to the time when she hoped Craig was about to stop, because if not, she would be forced to ask him. She shouldn't have drunk so much of that wonderful creek water. She turned to see where Craig was when an arrow came flying past her.

She let out with a startled scream and lowered her body over her horse. More arrows flew from behind them. She could hear horses approaching.

Craig turned and returned to her side. "Follow me," he said and rode off from the rest of the group. The archers with the MacKay men took out their bows and began firing back. She could hear Edith scream and hoped she hadn't been hit. Craig slowed down and slapped her horse on his rump and the animal took off.

He rode them to a low sone wall and urged his horse to jump. Lorena followed him. "Where are we going?"

"Away," he shouted over his shoulder. He continued on, but they apparently had been followed by one of the attacking group since another arrow flew past her.

Craig pulled his horse up and jumped from the animal, his sword in his hand. The man following them attempted to draw his bow, but Craig pulled him from his horse and sliced the man's throat.

Lorena sucked in a deep breath, her heart pounding, breathing rapidly. She put her head down on the horse's neck, trying to ward off the black dots in her eyes.

Craig walked over to her. "Lorena?"

She shook her head and slid from the horse, right into Craig's arms before she passed out.

When she awoke, she was lying on the ground. She looked up at Craig who was sitting next to her, legs drawn up, his wrists resting on his knees. "Do ye feel well, lass?"

She rose slowly, not wishing the faintness to return. "Aye." She took a deep breath and looked around them. "Do ye ken where we are?"

"Aye. We're on MacKay land and I know this spot. We're still another full day's ride before we reach Dun Ugadale."

"What about the others?"

He looked over at her. "They are strong warriors; I am sure they are fine."

"Edith?"

"They would protect her. There is more than a dozen of them."

She licked her lips, needing a drink. Also, to find a bush to relieve herself. "Why did we leave?"

He studied her. "To protect ye. I kenned my men could handle the group who chased us, but I wanted ye out of the way. It was possible for Edith to stay hidden, but it wouldn't have taken much for one of those brigands to snatch ye off yer horse."

She stood. "I need to find a bush."

Craig climbed to his feet and looked around and pointed "O'er there." He began to walk, and she followed him.

So, her husband thought enough of her safety that he left the group to keep her from being taken from her horse. She fought down the warm feeling that thought brought to her middle but pushed it away. He probably didn't want her taken because it would cause him problems, keeping him from his very important duties with having to find her.

No sooner had she left the bushes than a sight drizzle began to fall. Craig looked up at the sky. "Those clouds doona look so good. I'm afraid we're in for a serious rainstorm."

"Will we ride through?"

"No' a good idea. This time of the year rain is quite cold. We'll see how much time we can put in before the heavier rain starts."

It didn't take more than a half hour before it became apparent, they needed to stop. Craig had kept them under trees as much as possible to avoid getting too wet. He'd been watching for a place to stay where they could wait out the storm. He knew from his various trips around the MacKay lands that there was an abandoned cottage in the area.

Wiping the water from his face, he pointed to his left side. "There's a cottage we can stay in until the storm passes."

They swung their horses in the direction of the small bothy. There was no shed for the horses, but the trees grew plentiful and there were enough leaves to keep the horses from getting too wet.

"Wait here for a minute," he said, drawing his sword. He pushed the door open and looked around the space. ‘Twas dry and the only occupants had been some small animals who'd left droppings behind.

He returned to Lorena and helped her down. "Go inside and see if ye can sweep up the animal leavings while I take care of the horses."

He led the animals to the driest spot near the bothy and grabbed some grass to rub them down. Satisfied that he did as much as he could for the horses, he splashed through the rain and entered the bothy.

Lorena was busy cleaning the floor with a rusty shovel. She looked up at him as he entered. "The only thing to be said for this place is it's dry."

Craig went to the area behind the small kitchen and found wood he could use to make a fire. Once he'd cleaned the hearth out and started a fire, he looked behind him at Lorena who stood there shivering. "Lass, get yer clothes off and put them near the fire so they dry."

"I doona have anything else to put on."

"How wet is yer shift?"

She stripped off her skirt, blouse, vest, and petticoat then patted the shift. "Dry enough."

Craig stood and removed his clothes. All his clothes. By that time the fire was burning brightly. He laid his clothes out and reached for Lorena. "Here, come closer to the fire."

She hesitated and then took his hand.

"There is no'hing to be shy about. I'm yer husband and we have already seen all of each other."

They sat side by side in front of the fire. He placed his hand on Lorena's nape and began to rub and squeeze the warm soft flesh there. She moaned softly. "Does that feel good?"

"Aye." She shifted and the top of her shift slid down off one shoulder.

Unable to resist, he placed his lips there and she shivered. "Still cold?"

"Nay. The fire is keeping me quite warm."

"Good." He moved his lips to the front of her neck and placed small, soft kisses there. She raised her chin to grant him better access.

He continued to kiss her until he reached her lips. Cupping her face in his hands, he took her mouth possessively, touching her lips, urging her to open for him. He slid his tongue in and swept over the sensitive spots he'd found when they'd first made love.

Lorena was very responsive, and he found it hard to believe her deceased husband had practically raped her during their marriage. With a little bit of encouragement and work, Lorena was exactly what any man wanted in his bed, eager to learn and quick to react.

He continued the assault on her mouth and gently eased her down. Luckily, ‘twas a wooden floor, not dirt.

He gathered her into his arms and nibbled on the soft part of her neck under her ear. In only one session of lovemaking, he'd already discovered some of her sensitive spots. He intended to spend time over the years finding all of them.

She placed her hands around his neck and drew him to her mouth.

"Lorena, mo chride, the shift has to go. ‘Tis getting in my way."

She sat up, and smiling at him, pulled at the garment, starting at her knees and slowly moving it up her body until she disposed of the shift by tossing it over her shoulders.

"Come here, wife," he said with a growl, tugging her to him. The feel of her soft body next to his hard one was heaven on earth. She reached between them and took his shaft in hand. "Aye, lass, wrap yer hand around it."

She did what he said, which was wonderful, since she found an argument for just about everything he said. "'Tis strange. Hard and soft." When he winced as she squeezed, she said, "Does that hurt?"

"Nay. It feels wonderful, but I ye keep that up I'll be ready before ye are and I doona want to hurt ye."

She stopped what she was doing and looked at him, tears in her eyes shimmering in the reflection of the flames. "Thank you."

Tired of conversation, he returned to her mouth and took her firm breast in his hand, squeezing, rubbing his thumb over her nipple. When she pulled at him, tugging him over her body, he pushed her legs apart and fingered her very wet core. "Ah, Lorena, ye are so hot, so wet, and ready for me."

He'd been wanting her all day, so he knew he would not last long. He slid inside her, the tightness almost pushing him over the edge. He stared into her eyes and a feeling he'd never had before washed over him. This was his wife. She belonged to him and would be part of his life for as long as they lived.

Marriage and Lorena were not something he'd wanted, but his noble effort grew less cumbersome each day.

His kiss was hungry, needy. Her response was just as strong. He leaned on his elbows and whispered in her ear. "I wanted ye so much last night, ‘twas hard to be a gentleman and let yer maid sleep in the tent with ye."

Her smile was all he needed to pick up the rhythm. Lorena joined him, raising her knees and wrapping her legs around his hips, allowing him to go deeper inside her.

Her panting and the scent of their bodies together was close to pushing him to finish, so he reached between them and rubbed the stiff piece of flesh begging for his touch.

"Aye, that feels wonderful." After a few seconds of him fondling her, she stiffened and cried out. The waves of her release were all he needed to pour his seed into her.

After a few minutes of catching their breath, he twirled a lock of her damp hair. "'Tis still raining. We might spend the night here."

She nodded and looked down at their mingled bodies. "We will get a tad cold without a blanket."

He whispered in her ear as he held her close. "I can think of ways to keep us warm until our clothes dry."

She grinned. "Aye, ‘tis sure I am that ye can."