Enoch waited expectantly. Rosalie looked at the small petals. “Thank ye, Enoch.”
When she looked back, Enoch was studying her. She squirmed in her saddle. As she watched those brown eyes, she saw the apathy subside, and a sparkle flicker through. She knew that look. It was the look of a cat having trapped a mouse, given the freedom to toy with it a bit before executing the kill.
“We should stop an’ water the horses.”
Rosalie looked around. “Now? We’re so close.” It made her uncomfortable.
Enoch was up to something. She shivered at the power he already exercised over her life. It made her stomach clench to think of life as his wife. He would ignore her until he thought of a way for her to entertain him or vent whatever frustrations he felt. His lust for power and control over her no doubt overpowered any affection stowed in his heart.
“I can tell yer not yerself. Ye’ve been quiet as I’ve ne’er seen ye ‘fore.”
Rosalie bit back a curse. He’d noticed, and now he was going to use it against her. Her heart sank, and her stomach churned with fear.
“I know how ye like tae walk in the forest when yer upset,” Enoch spoke with feigned concern and reason, but Rosalie could hear the inauthenticity in his voice. The hair on her arms prickled as she remembered the night before.
“I think we should get home. Alexander will—” her words cut off in a gasp. Enoch moved his horse right in front of hers. Her horse whinnied and pulled her head up in protest as she slammed her heavy body to a halt.
Anna had already dismounted. Frustration boiled. She wondered how her friend could accept Enoch so readily, despite what they knew about him. Genuine anger surfaced, running through her skin.
Anna’s eyes darted away from Rosalie’s in shame. She thinks I’m just being difficult, Rosalie thought.
Enoch was a bully through and through. Rosalie flashed him one last look, hoping he could feel the loathing and disdain at being pushed into something once again. He smiled at her, seemingly pleased at such a reaction. She could hear the leather of his gloves groan as he clenched his fist around his reins, waiting for her to bend her will to him and dismount.
It wasn’t long until her mare let out an irritable huff. Rosalie caved, feeling Anna’s looks change from slight embarrassment for not siding with her friend to being full-on flabbergasted at Rosalie’s dramatic and impudent display. Anna didn’t know what Rosalie did. Anna didn’t realize just how bad Enoch could be, even to his own community.
Rosalie slipped from her horse and stroked its shoulders and nose to avoid engaging with Enoch. Her mare panted; she could do with some water and food. In her peripherals, Rosalie could see Enoch approach her from behind. Her muscles stiffened. Her cheek burned in the memory of his open palm. She could feel her breath stifle until it was a wonder she pulled in any air at all.
He reached over to grab the reins of her horse. His body slammed against hers, pressing her into the strong legs and torso of her horse. Rosalie’s eyes searched for Anna. Her back was turned as she pulled twigs from her mare’s mane. Even if she turned, it would only appear as if Enoch was helping Rosalie, her mount concealing the truth from Anna’s vision.
Rosalie squeezed her eyes shut. She could feel his member poking into the small of his back. Her stomach knotted and turned in fear as he brushed a curl from her neck into his hand. He made sure she knew how much stronger he was than her. She tried with all her strength to pull away, but he had her pinned. His hot breath made her skin crawl.
“I’ll break ye. One way or another, I’ll break ye in,” he whispered as she struggled beneath his hands.
Rosalie prayed Anna would turn. She considered crying out, but it was as if Enoch could sense this idea as it formed. He shoved her face into the dusty hide of her horse. “Don’t ye dare. We both know ye don’t want tae piss me off.”
Spit sprayed over her cheek as he issued the threat. One of his hands rode up between her thighs. Rosalie cried, but the horse and the pressure on her chest muted her. Rosalie tried to push him away, the vulnerability of the position pushing her to tears. She bit back the stinging sensation, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
As suddenly as he’d attacked her, he released her with a laugh, as if a joke. Rosalie’s face was on fire. She couldn’t look at him. Only then did Anna turn to see Rosalie flushed and flustered. Enoch laughed and bounced beside her.
“What is it?” she asked, wanting in on the joke.
Enoch smiled and wagged his head as he led his horse away from Rosalie’s, “Rosalie jus’ needs tae learn how tae take a joke, is all.”
Anna smiled, thinking she understood it all now, “Aye, she’s always been a serious one.”
Enoch relished the look on Anna’s face. The power he felt from dominating such a strong-willed woman made his cock swell, and all kinds of torrid thoughts come to mind. He would take her now, with her friend watching, if he could get away with it. Until they married, there were other games he could play, different ways to control the fiery spirit which intimidated so many.
“May I talk to my friend a moment, alone?” Rosalie asked, “We’ll take the horses to the stream.”
Enoch’s face darkened. She could see the danger in his eyes. “I hope ye’d not be talkin’ bad abou’ me, now.”
Rosalie forced a smile for Anna’s sake. “No, jus’ women’s talk.” She tried her best to hide the anxiety in her voice.
He seemed to weigh this for a moment, shifting his weight between feet. His eyes landed on Anna, and an authentic smile stretched across his face. Beautiful, loyal, stupid Anna. Enoch knew she was incapable of lying and loyal to the Roma rules and customs until death.
“Aye, jus’ get my bride back to me, Anna. Don’ make me wait too long.”
“Nothing’s official,” Rosalie growled as she snatched the reins of the horses from Enoch.
“Rosalie!” Anna gasped at her forceful behavior and yanked her arm from Rosalie, rubbing the bruising from her grip. “Yer bein’ rude, when he’s tryin’ tae think o’ ye,” she whispered.
Rosalie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She waited until they were far enough away to be out of earshot. “He’s not, though. He doesn’t care about me, Anna. Even if he did, he’s a…” Rosalie saw the anger in her friend’s eyes.
Anna cut her off. “Och bad man. I know, ye said.” She crossed her arms. “I don’ know where ye get off bein’ so entitled, Rosie. We all have our duties, an’ ye know that. Whatever Enoch’s done, he’s done it fer the community, an’ not tae it. Ye think the others his age haven’t been right there with ‘im when he’s acted out?”
Rosalie was shocked. “I’m jus’ supposed tae accept tha’?”
“If ye want tae be with us, Magda and I. She’s sacrificed so much fer ye. It’s not abou’ him. When yer married, ye keep his line goin’. an’ ye know better than mos’ that it’s us that’ll keep ye company. Would ye really leave me all alone? Who would take care of Magda? Huh? She’d die withou’ a husband or you aroun’. She raised ye, an’ now it’s yer turn to give back.” Her eyes watered at the thought of a life without a friend.
Rosalie’s heart sank. Anna continued, “Ye have a duty, jus’ like the rest o’ us, an’ he’s tryin’ tae please you. That’s more than the rest of us have.”
There it was: jealousy. Rosalie understood now. That hurt her more than ever. If she left, would Enoch come after Anna next? She couldn’t imagine Anna having the will to speak out against him, to protest his assaults. The sensitive girl would crumble beneath him worse than Rosalie ever could. She gnawed at her lip.
“Please stay with me, Anna. Do it fer me. Do it like so many women have done it before ye.”
Rosalie tapped her foot and didn’t know what to say. She couldn’t imagine a life without Anna and Magda. Worse was imagining what might happen to Anna without Rosalie there to protect her. She could take all of this and felt horrible about the anxiety she was causing her friend.
&n
bsp; What her friend said was the truth. It was rare a couple loved each other, but the thought of being stuck with Enoch made her skin crawl. The worst part was, if Enoch wasn’t torturing Rosalie, he would be torturing one of the women she loved in her stead.
“Jus’ try to be nice tae him, Rosalie, please—fer my sake.”
Rosalie clenched her jaw, everything about the situation hurt. She stroked her friend’s hair. “He’s not who ye think is,” she said in a soft, soothing tone.
“Ye cannae still be talkin’, can ye!” Enoch’s voice ran down to them. Anna pulled away.
Rosalie tried to grab at her. “Please don’ leave me alone with him,” she begged.
Anna gave her a look of concern. She shook her head as if Rosalie was being childish and turned to greet Enoch. Her smile lit up as the handsome deceiver descended to meet them.
The weight of her family’s expectations was like a wet blanket on her chest; heavy, confining, and uncomfortable. She longed to tell Anna everything, and why she seemed selfish—yet she wondered if Anna would dismiss as she dismissed everything else, chalking it up to the burdens of being a woman and reminding her to be grateful for food and protection. For now, until she could find a better way, she would keep silent and endure what games Enoch had in store for her. She could handle it—even if it meant a loveless life—to stay close to the women who shaped her existence.
It hurt too much to think of Declan. He was a stranger, and perhaps no better than Enoch. She touched the note through the cloth concealing it. He represented hopes and dreams that were not for her. Whatever was in his letter, she would have to make a choice between the women who’d stand next to her through the trials of life and another man. She squeezed her eyes shut. Oh God—a man that made her swoon and tremble, yet still a man.
“Helloooo!” Anna waved her plump hand in front of Rosalie. Her thoughts shattered, and she was drawn back to the stream’s edge. “Are ye deaf? D’ye want tae play or not?”
Rosalie blinked, “What? Yes?” she agreed without knowing what they were talking about, in hopes they didn’t notice her lost attention. As her mind ran away with her fears, she had filtered them out.
Anna clapped her hands in delight. “Good, I’ll go first!”
Rosalie’s mouth fell with horror as Enoch produced a satin sash from his saddlebag. She wanted to object, to retract her confused consent. Enoch wrapped Anna’s eyes tight with the blindfold and started to turn her for a game of hide and seek. His eyes locked on Rosalie. She felt her skin crawl. She wanted to object, but she feared what Enoch would do if she did.
The young maiden looked for somewhere to run, afraid of the hard look in Enoch’s eyes. Trees and thick underbrush lined the close-growing grasses lining the river bed. Rosalie lifted the hem of her skirt to run away from Enoch and hide until Anna grew tired of the game. Anna squealed in surprise as Enoch stopped turning her, and his guiding touch vanished as he rushed to hunt down Rosalie.
Rosalie looked over her shoulder. Her heart leaped into her throat, choking her with fright as Enoch closed the distance between them.
“Three, four, five…” Anna counted to a hundred, pawing at the open air and smiling.
As Rosalie saw Enoch bounding for her, her foot caught in the grasses. Her head turned just in time to see the ground before it met her face and the soft palms of her hands. She scrambled up onto all fours, but as she tried to stand, Enoch, yanked her foot from under her.
Chapter Seven
Rosalie let out a sharp cry in both pain and fright as Enoch’s hand tightened around her ankle and dragged her under him. Her fingernails scraped across the earth. Enoch was quick. He flipped her over and pressed his weight against her, silencing her with the palm of his hand. She could barely breathe, and fear overcame every inch of her body.
“Shh,” his smile made her sick. “She’ll hear where yer hidin’.”
Anna wobbled toward them, smiling broadly, unaware of anything more, “Thirty…I can hear you two. Ye best be behavin’,” she giggled and continued her count. Rosalie groaned as she heard Anna’s count slow. She doubtless thought she was helping them bond by giving them privacy within earshot.
Rosalie’s eyes rolled up to the skies, waiting to escape. Enoch’s hands pawed at her breasts. She froze. Would he find the note hidden there?
He leaned down, so his mouth was against her ear. “I think ye like it.” She struggled against him, and he laughed at her feeble attempts. “Careful; ye don’ want Anna tae catch ye with yer skirts up, d’ye?”
Rosalie’s eyes flew wide in horror as his free hand slid up the hem of her dress. She thrashed and pleaded with her eyes.
“Eighty-seven…eighty-eight…”
His hand heavy on her ankle, Enoch looked at her in a way that made her feel helpless. He moved his hand. She exhaled in relief. His palm lifted from her lips, but only to be replaced by his tongue, forcing itself into her mouth. He squeezed her breast one more time. She thanked the stars it was not the one with Declan’s note. In the next moment, he sprung up and ran into hiding just beyond the tree line, leaving Rosalie to play the game as if nothing happened.
Rosalie rose in shock on unsteady legs and looked around. Enoch had disappeared. Rosalie was still staring after him when Anna lifted her blindfold.
Anna’s smile fell away. “Yer not even tryin’, Rosie!” Anna’s hand fell to her side. “How did ye get so dirty?”
Anna scowled at the grass stains on Rosalie’s dress. Rosalie grimaced… she wanted to tell Anna the truth, but her eyes flicked to the tree line, and fear gripped her.
“I fell.” She felt the flush of shame color her pale neck and cheeks.
Anna clicked her tongue. “Ye might ne’er get those stains out. Yer so clumsy, Rosie.”
Anna could see the disappointment in her friend’s face. She felt terrible for the remark, utterly unaware of how little it affected Rosalie in the grand scheme of things. She wrapped her arm tenderly around her friend’s and whispered, “Tell me where he went.”
Rosalie pointed apathetically towards the area where Enoch had disappeared. Anna bounded there, carefree. Enoch popped from the brush, sending Anna back with a surprised squeal. Rosalie clutched her heart. It scared her as well to see him appear out of nowhere. Her heart beat with enough force to hurt her chest. She was terrified of him.
“You two cheated,” he smiled.
Enoch’s manipulative smile sickened her. She felt as if she was going to faint.
Anna turned to see the color drain from her friend’s face. “Are ye all right, dear? It looks as if ye hae seen the devil.”
How true those words were. “I jus’ dinnae feel well, is all.”
Anna pursed her lips, disappointed to end the fun she was having, yet aware of her friend’s sudden condition. “I s’pose we should be gettin’ back.”
Enoch approached her and raised his hand. Rosalie stiffened, afraid he would strike. He pressed it against her forehead. “No fever,” he said.
Anna let out a sigh of relief. “Yer so sweet, Enoch.”
He grinned with play and mischief. “Can ye tell her that? She acts like I’m goin’ tae hit her.”
Rosalie felt the nausea rise in her throat at the sound of his laugh.
“Don’t be silly. Ye know how she is, stubborn as a—” Anna’s voice curtailed into a cry as Rosalie threw up in the grass next to her. “Ye are sick,” she gasped.
Rosalie was grateful to see the disgust on Enoch’s face. He offered no protest as they remounted and rode in silence back to camp. Anna repeatedly checked over her shoulder. The truth was, she felt much better having hurled and freed herself from Enoch’s wiles. She feigned illness in hopes of having some alone time to read Declan’s note and sort through the pros and cons of her predicament. Rosalie wished she had someone to talk to about her troubles. Anna had made her position quite evident in the woods, and Magda wouldn’t believe it.
When they arrived in camp, Magda allowed Rosalie to retire to he
r tent. The old crone was relieved at the viable excuse for putting off talking to Rosalie about her birth mother. Rosalie felt as if she couldn’t breathe until she was safe within her tent. She shared it with Anna and was grateful for the excuse to retire early without her prying eyes.
The moment the tent flaps closed, Rosalie gripped a pillow to her chest and buried her face into it to muffle her screams. The tears released like a floodgate, unleashing all the frustration, anger, and fear. She prayed no one would hear her sobbing as they passed by her tent.
As her tears dried out and fatigue swept over her, Rosalie touched the paper folded close to her heat. She fumbled to light a small candle and then waited with bated breath for Magda or Anna to come and check in on what she was doing. They never did, but still, Rosalie could not relax. Her heart frantically beat as she peeled open the note as carefully and quietly as possible. Her breath caught, and her fingers stalled before opening it. No good could come from reading the letter except more disappointment. Yet she could not deny the thirst of curiosity and desire coursing through her.
Highlander’s Gypsy Lass (Highlander's 0f Clan Macgregor Book 1) Page 6
