“Slowly, she rose to her feet and hobbled to the horse’s side. Running her hand down the horse’s neck, she peered into its gray eyes. It was almost as if the creature pleaded with her to ride it.
“‘Surely, you belong to a wealthy man in the village. Perhaps you could take me home so that I would not have to walk such a distance back?’ she asked as she wondered how she would ever make it back to the village with such a sprained ankle.
“The steed shook its mighty head and lowered itself to her. Carefully, the girl slipped onto the horse’s back. The instant she was steady, the horse took off and dove into the loch.”
Hugh jumped back and clasped his little hands over his mouth. Jude couldn’t help but chuckle at the shock on his son’s face. Hugh inched closer as he shook his head.
“What happened next?” Hugh asked. Cleo’s smile stretched across her face as she locked her eyes on him.
“Well,” Cleo said lowering her voice. “The horse went deeper and deeper into the loch, and the young girl could not break away. As her eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, the girl witnessed the stallion transform before her very eyes. The white mane that resembled the clouds turned into vines of kelp that slapped her cheeks. The smooth hide she had ran her hands over was now scaly and brittle. In the depths of the loch, the girl saw two glowing red eyes and tentacles that flowed off the creature’s chin.”
“Nay!” Hugh gasped as he jolted into Jude’s arms. Cleo giggled as Hugh nuzzled his face into Jude’s chest.
“Perhaps we will continue at a later date,” Jude said trying to pry his son off him.
“Nay,” Hugh said trying to straighten himself. “Please, faither, let her continue.”
“Aye,” Ronan encouraged. “Let the girl finish the story.”
Jude glanced at the men. Every one of them had been pulled into Cleo’s story. He exhaled as a pang of jealousy rolled through him. Jude had thought Cleo’s charms were only for him, but clearly by the eager expressions on his men’s faces, she had captivated them as well.
“Go on then,” Jude said. “Finish the story.”
Cleo cleared her throat and leaned forward. She waved her hands about the fire as she continued the story.
“The girl, unafraid, looked upon the creature, not with disdain or disgust, but of admiration and desire. She found the beauty within the beast. But as time went on, and she remained in the creature’s care, she grew unhappy. It wasn’t the food, or isolation that caused her heart to freeze, but the water that pricked her skin. She turned to the creature and begged him for warmth. Yet no matter how much the creature tried to give it to her, it never lasted.
“Helpless, the creature decided to go to the surface and seek help elsewhere. Transforming into his stallion self, he rode hard and long to find the solution to his beloved’s problem. Finally, he came to a town where he spotted a man who worked with the stone of the earth. Knowing the creature’s influence over men, he caught the stone mason’s attention. The man looked on the creature as something he desired to own and mounted the stallion.”
“Oh,” Hugh gasped and quickly composed himself the instant he saw Jude’s stern glare. “Sorry,” Hugh whispered sheepishly. “Go on.”
“The creature took the stone mason and raced back to the loch. No matter how hard the stone mason tried to break free he could not. The mason pleaded with the beast to release him and swore he would do anything the creature desired if the creature would spare him. The beast transformed and turned on the mason.
“‘You beg for your life?’ the creature asked as the mason’s lungs begged for air. ‘I shall spare your life, on one condition,’ the creature said. ‘I require a fireplace and a chimney,’ the beast said holding the man close to his mangled face.
“‘It is impossible. Water puts out fire. How will it burn?’ the man asked feeling his life slipping from him. Instantly he thought of his wife and children.
“‘I did not ask for fire, but a fireplace and a chimney,’ the beast hissed. ‘Can you not make such a thing?’
“‘On land, yes, but down here? It is impossible.’
“‘Then make it for me on land and fetch me when it is done. And I swear I will spare your life. Should you deny me this one thing, I will hunt you down and slaughter you and the family you cling to.’
Stunned the man agreed and the deal was struck. The creature returned the man to his home and he immediately started on the project. Day and night the man toiled to create the most elaborate fireplace and chimney ever constructed. When he had finished, the man called forth the beast from the loch. Charging up from the bitter depths, the beast broke the surface of the loch. He scowled at the mason.
“‘Is this that which you have promised to build me?’ the creature asked. The man nodded.
“‘It is the finest work I have ever done,’ the man exclaimed. A cold chill swept over the land and the loch, and before the man knew it, his creation was gone. Swallowing hard, the man stood at the edge of the water and watched as the top of the chimney poked through the water in the center of the lake. Before he could step away, the creature had returned.
“‘For your work,’ the beast said, ‘I will spare your life. You have eased my troubles and for that, I grant you and your family clemency. Fish here whenever you like, and I swear I will not harm you or your blood line.’”
Cleo leaned back and smiled at Hugh. Her eyes softened under the glowing fire. “To this day, you will find a spot on the loch that dos not freeze over. It is there, and if you look hard enough, you’ll spy the stones the mason built for the chimney to keep the Kelpie’s wife warm in the dark.”
Ronan howled and clapped as did the others. Jude felt the tension lift around him as Hugh dropped his shoulders and wiped his hand across his brow.
“That was a good story,” Hugh said. “Monsters of the deep, a maiden, it had it all.”
“I’m pleased you liked it,” Cleo said as she glanced to Jude.
“All right,” Jude said tapping his hand on Hugh’s leg. “To bed with ye. We’ll be home tomorrow and I’m sure Cleo needs her rest too.”
“Faither,” Hugh began to complain as Jude tucked him down near the fire. “How can I sleep after that tale?”
“Try,” Jude said pressing his lips to Hugh’s forehead. Cleo smiled and Jude could feel she was watching them as he rose to his feet and moved to her. He extended his hand. Cleo looked at it a bit confused before she placed her hand into his.
“As promised,” Jude said.
“I’m sorry?”
“I told ye I’d show ye the stars,” Jude answered as he led her away from the flickering fire light.
Cleo shivered as the wind whipped across the land. Jude quickly pulled the cloak off his shoulders and draped it around hers. She looked up to him and tucked her hair behind her ear.
It took all his strength to shift his attention to the sky as he felt her gaze still on him. “There, do ye see that one? The box in the sky? At the end, you’ll find the Northern star, the guide, as some call it.”
Jude’s heart pounded as he felt Cleo move closer to him. Her tiny body brushed against his sending every nerve of his body quaking. A lump formed in his throat as he pulled in a deep breath to take in her scent. There was a floral aroma to her. A softness about the way she stood beside him, gazing up into the curtain of night.
“And that one?” she asked pointing out in front of them to the brilliant blue bulb of light flickering against the blackness.
Jude reached his hand up and brushed against hers as he lowered his head. Her cheek rubbed against his for a moment causing them both to jump back as they realized they were gravitating toward each other.
“That is Cassiopeia,” he whispered in her ear. A smile drifted over his lips as he caught her shivering as his hot breath tickled her neck. She turned her head slightly as her lips were but a breath away from his.
With his heart beating frantically in his chest, he stared at her a moment. While the darkness tried t
o mask her face, he could see it clearly in the dark. She was as bright as the moon and just as soft. Her lips parted as he stared at the wonder in her eyes.
Slowly, he lowered his head, moving closer to her lips. He expected her to shift and turn away, but she held his gaze as he hesitated to crush his lips to hers. Her eyelids fluttered as she sucked in a gulp of air.
Would I offend her if I…?
Jude waited for her to exhale as he watched her body quiver from the cold. Drifting his hand up, he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek. The moment her eyes closed, he leaned in and crushed his lips to hers.
A small moan escaped her lips as their mouths molded and shifted to one another’s. His heart ached as her caress set him ablaze with a passion that he had thought had been extinguished. There was no fire in all the world that would burn hotter than the kiss they shared.
Just as Cleo wrapped her arms around his neck, he heard the ground crunching behind them. He snapped away from her. The shock in her eyes stung him.
What am I doin’? I cannae be doin’ this. What would Miriam say if she were lookin’ down on us from heaven?
Guilt crushed the joy from him as he turned his back to Cleo. Ronan stopped a few feet from them and tilted his head as Jude glanced to him.
“Just wonderin’ if Cleo was up for another story?” Ronan asked. “The men are nae quite ready to turn in.”
Jude shifted his head back to Cleo. She raked the back of her hand over her lips, but there was no hiding the blush on her cheeks.
“Perhaps another night,” she answered. “I’m a bit tired from the journey.”
Ronan nodded as Cleo stepped around Jude and headed back to the fire. Roman crossed his arms as he glared at Jude.
“What are ye doin’?” Ronan asked with an arched brow.
“Nothin’,” Jude said shrugging. Although in the depths of his being he wished for more time with Cleo, he knew there were things that kept them apart.
“Dinnae look like that to me,” Ronan said. “I certainly hope ye’re nae gettin’ attached to the lass. Ye told us the girl would be goin’ back to her faither.”
Jude leaned in closer and glanced over Ronan’s shoulder. In the distance, too far for her to hear, sat Cleo next to Hugh. Pulling in a deep breath, Jude looked to Ronan.
“Her faither told me to keep her,” Jude confessed. Ronan’s eyes widened as he stepped back in disbelief.
“Nay,” Ronan said shaking his head. “Are ye sure?”
“Aye, heard it from the man’s own lips,” Jude said.
“Well, then, it looks to me, ye have a situation on yer hands,” Ronan said patting Jude on the shoulder roughly.
“So, what do I do?” Jude asked, hoping his friend had some clue or direction to take.
Ronan shrugged. “Suppose that is somethin’ for ye to figure out. But the girl should ken, daenae ye think?”
“Aye, but nae yet. And daenae speak of this to her either. We’ve come too far to have her run off again.”
“Again?” Ronan gasped as he glanced over to Cleo.
“Never mind that, just keep a keen eye out and keep yer mouth shut,” Jude warned as he stared Ronan in the eye.
“On me life,” Ronan said slamming his fist to his heart.
7
A cold chill brushed over Cleopatra’s body pulling out of her wild and restless sleep. Lifting her head up, she turned toward the dying fire, hoping to hold onto some of its warmth. As she tried to drift back to sleep, Jude’s voice lured her awake.
Sitting up, she noticed Ronan, Adam, Jude, and the others gathered at the mountain pass. By their stern glares and furrowed brows, Cleopatra couldn’t help seeing that something was afoot.
Jude glanced in her direction and nodded as a quick grin flashed across his face. He patted Ronan on the shoulder and stepped away from the group. Cleopatra watched as Jude walked toward her. Quickly, she dropped her gaze and tucked the loose strands behind her ear.
“Mornin’,” Jude said crouching down beside her. She glanced up at him as she envisioned his lips on hers once more.
“Good morning,” Cleopatra said with a hint of a smile on her lips. She tried her hardest to hide the blush in her cheeks.
“The men are goin’ huntin’,” Jude said as he reached up to her head. Cleopatra’s heart fluttered as she felt his fingers shifting through her hair. With wide eyes, she noticed the twig he plucked from her hair.
“Are you going with them?” Cleopatra asked. She knew she had no right to wonder if he was leaving, yet she found herself curious about him.
“Nay,” he said. “Someone needs to stick around here to keep ye from runnin’ off.”
“I will not run, if that is what you are worried about. Go, I see Hugh is goin’ too,” she said as her eyes shifted to the young boy focused on Ronan.
“It is more than that,” Jude confessed. Cleopatra noticed the worry drifting over his face. It was as if a cloud had blocked the light from his eyes. She reached out and grabbed his forearm. His head turned to face her as he took a stick and poked at the dying embers.
“Ye’re cold,” he said. “Let me fetch some more wood.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Cleopatra said hoping that he would stay by her side.
“I will nae be gone long,” Jude promised as he rose. Cleopatra watched as he walked away from her and she couldn’t help but notice how isolated and alone she felt with him gone.
It didn’t take long for him to return with his arms full of dried wood. The thunder of the wood falling from his arms startled her.
“Sorry,” Jude said with a smirk on his face. “I dinnae mean to frighten ye.”
“You didn’t,” Cleopatra lied as she crossed her legs and watched Jude build up the fire. Scanning the area, she looked for the others. They had disappeared into the patch of trees some distance away. Dropping her shoulders, she exhaled.
“What is on yer mind?” Jude asked as the fire spit and spatted back to life.
“Nothing,” she answered as she picked at the pebbles by her feet. Jude walked over and plopped down beside her. He nudged his knee into hers and tilted his head to catch her eye.
“I can see somethin’ is wrong,” he said. “Tell me.”
“I miss my home,” she said. “I cannot help but wonder what my father is doing. Or if he even knows I’ve gone missing.”
“I wouldnae worry about such things,” Jude said. “If he doesnae realize ye’re nae there, then perhaps ye’re best off with someone who pays attention to where ye go.”
Cleopatra glanced over her shoulder to face Jude. There was truth in his words, but she wasn’t ready to hear it. Her heart broke, thinking about her life and where she was going.
“Will we reach the castle tonight?” Cleopatra asked turning her attention to the large stone structure on the horizon. Jude nodded.
“Aye, we can be there in a few hours,” he said.
“Then why send your men out to hunt?”
“Tis tradition to come back with a bounty on returnin’ home. It is for the feast to signify we have won, that the quest that was set before us has been completed.”
Cleopatra’s eyes widened as she listened to Jude speak. “In my house, a victory was never celebrated in such a manner. My father detested such events. Called them wasteful and negligent.”
“Did ye nae have any happiness there?” Jude asked. Cleopatra could feel the sorrow seeping from his voice and it only added to her own. She shook her head and pursed her lips.
“The little cottage you found me in, that was where my happiness resided.”
“Ye were alone there,” Jude said as his eyebrows twitched with curiosity.
“Yes, but it was peaceful. The birds and creatures were my friends. I cared for the animals around the manor.”
Jude dropped his head as he drew squiggles in the dirt with a stick. Noticing the dreariness in his face, Cleopatra reached out and rubbed his back.
“Now it is you who looks melan
cholic. What is troubling your mind?”
Jude sucked in a deep breath and appeared to force a smile on his lips. “You remind me of someone I lost a long time ago. She had a kindness to her, one that I sense in you. It pains me to hear how poorly ye have been treated by those ye call family.”
“There is nothing you can do about the family you are born into,” Cleopatra said.
“Nay, but ye can escape from that life,” he said with enthusiasm. Her eyes widened as he stared at her.
“And where would I go? With you? Are you asking me to stay with you? And what would your wife say about you bringing a ward back with you?”
Highlander’s Wicked Temptation: A Steamy Scottish Historical Romance Novel Page 6
