9. Chapter Eight

The ride from Clyth Castle started off pleasant, but it didn't take much time for Lorena to begin to shift on her horse. With the previous night's activities, she was sore in a place where she hadn't been sore in a long time. Of course, her soreness after a bout with Avery had been more from bruises and other hurtful actions than the true lovemaking she'd had with Craig.

But she still hurt from the unfamiliar activity.

Unfamiliar was very true. Her husband took time with her, kissed her, caressed her, mumbled words in her ears, then brought her to a point that she'd never been before. And for certe a place she wanted to visit again.

"Is all well, lass?" Craig rode up alongside her, concern written on his face.

"Aye." She wasn't about to act weak in front of him or subject herself to his kindness. She wanted to stay as far from him as she could. Except when she didn't want to stay far from him. Leaving her very confused.

He moved his horse close to her and lowered his voice. "If ye are sore from last night, ye can ride with me, I'll put ye on my lap sideways."

"I'm fine," she snapped and pulled back so he was forced to ride ahead of her.

She'd seen the quick flash of hurt in his eyes, but she ignored it. It was probably her imagination. He didn't care for her, nor she for him. They were both forced into this, and they needn't pretend anything but tolerance.

‘Twas only an hour or so later that she railed at herself, shifting in her saddle. She could be comfortably seated in Craig's warm lap instead of suffering the pain she'd brought upon herself by her stubbornness. Right about the time she was prepared to humiliate herself and ask to ride with Craig that he held up his hand. "We will stop for a short while." He glanced at her and she thought for a minute he was thinking about her discomfort, but pushed that idea away.

Before he could help her down, she leapt from the horse and immediately fell to the ground in a heap of embarrassment.

Instead of laughing at her which she'd expected, he reached his hand out. Glowering at him, she took his hand and still stumbled again once she was on her feet. He encircled her waist with his strong arm and moved her forward. "I think ‘tis a good idea to rest for a short time on that log and then walk a bit to ease yer muscles."

She nodded and preparing herself with a snappy remark, she stopped, realizing she wanted to keep him out of her heart, but she didn't want to appear a shrew in front of his men. "Thank ye."

He raised his brows in surprise, most likely expecting some sort of remark but she was too sore and tired to continue. After a little while, she felt the need to relieve herself and stood. Craig was in a conversation with his men, so she went off by herself.

The area where they'd stopped was a quiet peaceful spot somewhere near the Gunn border. The longest part of the ride would be once they crossed over to MacKay land. A good two-day ride would be needed to reach Dun Ugadale.

After taking care of her needs, she walked to a small creek not far from where she stood and washed her hands and face. The cool water felt good on her skin.

"Lorena!"

She jumped when Craig called from behind her, no more than a few feet away.

"Ye scared me, Craig. I almost fell into the water. Whatever is amiss?"

He strode up to her and glowered. "Ye were missing. Ye canno' wander off by yerself. ‘Tis dangerous."

She reared back. "Dangerous? These are my clan's land."

He took her by the arm and moved her forward. "And close to the MacKay border. There is always a great deal of fighting in this area."

"Then why did we stop here?"

"I thought I was doing ye a favor since ye are obviously in pain, but ye would ne'er admit it."

She yanked her arm away. "I need no favors from ye."

Craig stopped and placed his hands on his hips. "What is wrong, Lorena? What have I done that causes ye to give me yer sharp tongue?"

She poked her finger into his chest. "Ye dragged me away from my home."

"The home where ye were mistreated and beaten? The home where ye said when we left that ye would miss no one and no one would miss ye? Were the memories so wonderful that ye prefer to live there?"

"I prefer to live where I choose, not where men decide I should live." She walked off, but he grabbed her by the hand.

"Ye must have known from the time ye were a bairn that who ye married would no' be yer choosing. And ye would live where yer husband said."

"That doesna mean I have to like it."

"But there is no reason to take it out on me. I did my brother a favor, and ye a favor by stepping up into his place. I dinna want to marry, but I was willing to help out. ‘Tis my intention to leave ye be in Dun Ugadale and do the travelling I normally do for my laird." He leaned in close to her. "So doona trouble yerself that ye might be stuck with my company."

With those words, he stomped off and she let out the breath she held. Everything he'd said was true. She'd always known whether to marry or not was not her choice, and who she married either. And it wasn't Craig's fault that he was stuck with her. If he wasn't so very nice, she would not find it necessary to keep pushing him away.

She walked back to the log she'd been sitting on before as Edith passed out the food they'd brought from Clyth Castle. She cast furtive eyes on her and Craig. Most likely all the men in their group had heard their exchange as well. How many of them would have taken their fists to her had they been in Craig's place?

She accepted the bread, cold meat and cheese from Edith and having missed breakfast, ate every bite. Craig sat with his men, discussing who knew what and Edith sat alongside her. A well-trained maid, she would never ask her lady what the problem was with Craig, which was just as well because she was sure Edith would think her dim-witted to treat the man so.

But Edith wasn't the subject of numerous beatings over the years from men who thought they owned her and had the right to demand she do what they said, no matter how much she didn't agree. How she longed for a life of her own. A small cottage with a vegetable and flower gardens and maybe a few chicken and goat or two. She could fish and even hunt, so she would be just fine without a man.

Until some brute stumbled upon +her peaceful little life and decided to destroy her and everything in it. She brushed the crumbs off her kirtle and stood. Hating herself for having to do it, she stiffened her shoulders and raised her chin as she walked over to Craig. "May I have an escort to the creek so I can wash my hands?"

Her husband nodded and waved to one of the guardsmen. Apparently, he was too annoyed with her to perform the duty himself. That was fine. ‘Twas her plan, and it appeared it was working. But instead of feeling elated, why did she have a sense of losing something important?

***

The sun was almost settled for the night when Craig called a halt to the group. Lorena looked as though she was about to fall from her horse, but knowing her, if he even suggested she ride with him, she would offer a rebuff. He just didn't understand why she was so hostile toward him.

Their lovemaking last night was one of the best he'd ever had. He felt a connection to her he'd never had before to any woman he'd bedded. He fell asleep feeling as though they had made a truce, and things would be pleasant between them from now on.

A huge mistake.

He knew she had to be sore between her legs since it had been so long since she'd been with a man. Also, he doubted if she'd ridden a horse this long very much. She'd traveled in a wagon on the ride from Clyth Castle to Dun Ugadale when they'd visited to arrange the betrothal agreement.

From what he'd heard, her husband had lived on Gunn land, in a very large home with a village next to him and farmers who paid him monthly rentals. ‘Twas not a long ride from Clyth Castle to Avery's home.

Most likely he'd received the land from Gunn in preparation for his marriage to Lorena. As if that lovely woman wasn't enough to satisfy any man.

He instructed the men to build a fire and erect a tent for the two women. As much as wanted to sleep with Lorena again, ‘twas better to let the two women have the tent and he would sleep outside with the men.

"I will walk my wife and her maid to the trees so they can take care of their personal needs. Be sure to mix some oatcakes to go with the food that is left from earlier."

Tomorrow they would have to do some hunting if they were to eat. He was an excellent archer and so were two others of his men. They should have no problem getting food for the group.

He walked over to Lorena and Edith who sat side by side. ‘Twas a contest to see which lass looked worse. Even though the maid had ridden in the wagon, ‘twas no' a pleasant ride over the bumps and dips.

"If ye want to take care of yerself, I will walk ye to the trees," he waved in the direction behind them.

Both women stood and walked forward. He grabbed Lorena who stumbled slightly and wrapped his arm around her waist. Edith seemed to be in a tad better shape, so he let her be.

"I'm sure ye ne'er rode a horse this long before," he said as she stumbled along, grabbing onto him.

Obviously too worn out to argue, she merely said, "Nay."

He let them go once they reached the trees. He had a bad feeling that his wife would collapse before she could take care of her business. He called to them. "Doona worry about washing up. I will have a couple of the guards fetch water from the stream that ye can use."

When there was no answer, he said, "Lorena?"

"Aye. I hear ye."

When the women left the tree area, his sympathy arose for his wife. Being used to hard work, the maid looked better. Lorena limped, which he knew came from their lovemaking the night before and the long ride. Even though he knew she would object, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her back to the camp. ‘Twas proof of her sad condition that she rested her head on his chest and didn't object.

He sent two of the guardsmen to fetch enough water for the women and sat Lorena back on the log. She glanced at the men fixing oatcakes and looked up at Craig. "I doona wish to eat. Once I've cleaned myself, I'm going to bed."

He crouched down in front of her. "Ye have to eat to keep up yer strength."

She began to shake her head when two tears slipped down her cheeks. "I am so verra tired."

"I ken. I'll have the guardsmen bring a bucket of water to the tent. I will bring food for the two of you once ‘tis ready."

Edith's face brightened. "Thank ye so much Mister Craig."

Craig stood and pulled Lorena up. "Let's go, lass."

Just as they reached the tent the men had set up, one of the guardsmen entered with the jug of water.

"I will help Lady Lorena," Edith said as his wife collapsed on the bedding the men had set up.

Eyeing her, Craig said, "I will have food sent in. Please see that yer mistress eats."

Edith nodded and Craig took a second look at Lorena and left the tent. The poor lass looked terrible. He would sorely miss not having her soft body next to his while he slept, but ‘twas only fair to give the tent to the two women.

"It sounds like yer wife is still giving ye a hard time," Giles said as Craig sat alongside him.

"Aye. She had a bad experience with men most of her life. She doona trust them." He dangled his hands between his spread legs. "I hope with time she'll learn that she can trust me and everything I tell her to do is for her own good."

"It sounds to me like the lass doesna want to be told what to do at all."

Craig glanced in the direction of the tent. "Aye. I feel as though she's pushing me, just waiting for me to snap and send her flying."

Giles nodded. "Which will prove her point that no mon can be trusted."

One of the guardsmen walked over to them. "I have plate here for Edith and Lady Lorena. Did ye want to bring it to them?"

"Nay. Ye can do it. Just make sure ye call out so the maid can take the food from ye. I doona want ye entering my wife's tent."

The men listened as Craig gave the assignments for those who would stand guard and those who would relieve them. He and Giles would sleep in front of the tent to guard the women.

"I doona expect any trouble since we're on MacKay land, but there are always reivers and those who have been banned from their clans wandering around causing trouble that we need to worry about," Craig said as he wrapped himself in his plaid and took his place on the pile of leaves he was using for a bed. He listened for a while and neither woman spoke, so he assumed they were both asleep.

He rested on his side, missing Lorena. Was she missing him? Apparently not since he could hear the light snores coming from inside the tent.

He turned onto his back and placed his hands behind his head. The light breeze and forest smells lulled him to sleep.