by Unknown
“Ye might as well make yourself useful,” an aged voice said from behind her.
Kaelyn jumped, startling the baby. “E-Ethol?”
Ethol studied her carefully. “Aye. That’s my name. And ye must be Alexander’s wife…Kaelyn.”
Kaelyn blushed. Had he told Ethol about her? “I-I’m not really….”
“I didna think so,” she snapped. “Alexander is nay the marrying type, weel, at least not after Deirdre broke the lad’s heart.” Kaelyn glanced at Ethol as the old woman picked up a crying baby boy from the next cradle over. “Ye can feed Aslynn while I tend to this one,” Ethol said nodding to the red haired baby.
Kaelyn blinked realizing what Ethol intended. “Oh, no. I-I don’t ‘do’ babies. I can’t-“
“Just pick her up and feed her,” Ethol said sternly as she carried the other baby over to a rocking chair in the corner.
Kaelyn looked down at Aslynn, who now quivered her tiny chin. Kaelyn turned back to Ethol. “I’m sure there’s someone else….” Ethol ignored her, continuing to rock and coddle the fragile baby in her arms. Kaelyn let out a long sigh turning back around to Aslynn. Bending down awkwardly, she reached out, scooping Aslynn up.
“The goat’s milk is over there,” Ethol said nodding toward a worn leather bag lying on a book shelf.
Kaelyn shifted the tiny child onto her shoulder and walked over to the leather bag. A crude looking nipple fastened to one end of the bag. Grabbing the bag and trying not to drop Aslynn, Kaelyn walked over to Ethol taking a seat in the rocking chair next to her. Kaelyn noted how Ethol held the baby in her arms and she mimicked the action with Aslynn.
Ethol leaned over. “Now, put the teat in wee Aslynn’s mouth.”
Little Aslynn eagerly took the nipple, hungrily sucking down the milk. A smile of satisfaction curved across Kaelyn’s mouth. She now played a role, no matter how minute, in this child’s life.
“So, what are ye?” Ethol asked, breaking Kaelyn’s thoughts up. Kaelyn looked questioningly over to Ethol. Ethol pursed her lips. “If ye aren’t Alexander’s wife, then what are ye?”
“A business partner?”
Ethol’s eyebrows raised clear up to the top of her forehead. She looked Kaelyn over. “Aye, a business partner indeed!”
Kaelyn flushed as it dawned on her what Ethol guessed she did with Alexander. “Oh, no, no, no.” Kaelyn quickly said. “We’re friends, only friends. We don’t…ah, that’s to say we haven’t….”
Ethol’s grin turned devious. “And why haven’t ye bedded him? What’s wrong with Alexander?” she asked defensively.
“Nothing,” Kaelyn said not knowing what to say. It seemed Ethol flipped her words around every time she tried to explain something. “Besides, I think he still has feelings for another,” Kaelyn said quietly, surprised the thought hurt.
“Och,” Ethol said. “If you’re talking about Deirdre, then you’re wrong.”
“But-.” Ethol glared at her.
“Deirdre’s a bonnie lass, but that one will take any willing…and not so willing…man to her bed. And Alexander kens that.” Kaelyn glanced at her doubtfully. She couldn’t think of one man who’d pass up an offer from Deirdre. “Will ye be going on the hunt on the morrow then?” Ethol asked as she leaned over to fidget with Aslynn.
“What hunt?” Kaelyn asked as she watched Ethol take the sleeping baby boy back to the cradle.
“Laird Ewan has a boar hunt every year following the Beltane festivities,” she began, coming over, taking a sleeping Aslynn from Kaelyn’s arms. “Everyone’s encouraged to attend.”
“Do the women go?”
“Some,” Ethol said with a grin. “I believe Deirdre goes every year since she’s come to live here. Alexander will be sure to go.”
Kaelyn straightened her shoulders. If Deirdre could hunt, why couldn’t she? “I’ll think about it.” Kaelyn yawned. “Nice meeting you, Ethol. I think I’ll retire for the night.”
“Och, of course, lass. Ye’ll need a good night sleep if you’re to hunt on the morn.” Kaelyn’s lips thinned as she left the room. “Friends, indeed,” Ethol said grinning into the empty room.
* * * * *
CHAPTER TWELVE
Alexander crept into the dark room. The fire had gone out, so he stirred it, creating some light and warmth. He glanced over to the bed. Kaelyn’s sleeping form snuggled under the covers.
His shoulders dropped. He had never intended leaving Kaelyn alone for the evening, but Deirdre wouldn’t leave him be. He had eventually followed her up to her room, but only after Deirdre said she had something he would want.
Alexander glanced down at the serpent headed dagger in his hand. Deirdre had been right. The valuable blade was something he wanted and held dear. He stuck it into a slot alongside his leather boot for safe keeping.
He grabbed his pillow from the chair by the fire and punched into it, shaping the fluffy softness. He dropped it down on the rug in front of the fire and laid down, putting his hands behind his head. Thankfully, Kaelyn was asleep. She didn’t need to know where he had been, Alexander thought feeling ashamed. Deirdre practically threw herself onto him when they had entered her chambers. She had run her hands over his chest and boldly kissed him, but nothing stirred in him. Not even a flinch. The lass did absolutely nothing to him. Had she ever?
Alexander cursed and rolled over onto his side starring into the fire. He closed his eyes only wanting to sleep and not think about any woman. But when his eyes drifted shut, an angel in yellow satin came to him.
* * * * *
“You’re nay going!” Alexander roared.
“Am so!” Kaelyn yelled back. Both had woken up in foul moods and now Alexander demanded she stay in her room while he went on the boar hunt. Why didn’t he want her to go? Was it so Deirdre and he could spend some time alone? Kaelyn gritted her teeth and made up her mind. “I’m going and you can’t stop me.”
Alexander ran a hand through his hair. “You’re my-.” Alexander held his tongue when he was about to say wife. “’Tis dangerous even if Ewan encourages the lassies to go. Boars are unpredictable animals.”
“I deal with bears and wolves, not to mention countless other wild animals on every tour I go on. A boar is no greater threat.”
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Need I remind ye of your last tour?”
Kaelyn narrowed her eyes. She grabbed her plaid and stormed past him stopping at the door. “I’ll be waiting downstairs why you collect yourself ‘husband’!” The door slammed shut behind her.
Bloody Hell, the lass drove him insane! He was furious at her, yet at the same time all he could think about were the soft curves under her clothing. He knew he had no say in what she did, but still, she wasn’t from these times. She didn’t know how reckless some of the hunts turned out to be.
* * * * *
Kaelyn waited in the great hall with a handful of others all getting ready for the hunt. The sun had just risen and it was almost time to depart. Ewan walked into the great hall in a dashing royal blue and gold outfit. Six men, all geared up for the hunt in leather, followed behind him.
Ewan walked over to Kaelyn upon noticing her. “Kaelyn, good to see you’ll be joining us. And ye too, Alexander.”
Surprised, Kaelyn glanced behind her finding Alexander striding up, stepping close to her side.
“Wouldna miss it,” Alexander said. Ewan excused himself as more hunters entered the hall. Alexander leaned in close to Kaelyn’s ear. “Stay close to me throughout the hunt…‘wife’.”
“Anything you say, ‘husband’,” she sneered sweetly.
“I hope I’m not the cause of this little spat,” Deirdre said, coming to stand in front of them in an orange velvet riding gown.
“Deirdre,” Alexander growled in a tone meant to warn.
Deirdre’s mouth curved up and she spoke to Kaelyn, but looked at Alexander. “The kisses last night meant nothing, I’m sure,” she purred.
Alexander gritted his teeth as Kaelyn stiffened ne
xt to him. “I’m sure they didn’t,” Kaelyn said sweetly, remembering how Ethol had described Deirdre.
Deirdre’s expression turned mean. “But then again, in the throes of passion, one never really kens. Good luck today,” Deirdre said giving a haughty smirk Alexander’s way.
Alexander turned to Kaelyn feeling like he had to explain. “Kaelyn, last night-“
“No,” Kaelyn said stopping him. “We aren’t married. If you feel you needed to sleep with her…o-or who ever, it’s not any of my business.”
“’Tis not what ye think-“
A huge horn blared through the hall. Ewan stood on the head table above the crowd gathered in the hall. “My friends,” he said after everyone silenced, “as ye ken, today we become predators as in the day of old.“ The crowd cheered. Ewan waited again until it was quiet. “There is one rule. He who gets the boar first, wins and will be crowned winner tonight. Everyone will bow down to the winner and we will continue our festivities with a dinner of boar’s meat fit for a king!” More cheers erupted. “Now, let’s be off!” Ewan yelled as the loud horn echoed through the hall. Everyone began collecting their weapons for the kill and shuffled out of the door.
Alexander stopped Kaelyn. “Take this,” he said holding out a sapphire-eyed serpent dagger. “Ye need some sort of protection if you’re going to go.”
Kaelyn quietly gripped the dagger, running her hands over the smooth, gold, serpent’s head handle. “It’s beautiful,” she said mesmerized.
“Here,” he said taking the knife out of her hands and tucking it in her girdle. After adjusting the belt, making sure it fit snug, Alexander looked seriously at Kaelyn. “Be careful, lass.”
Kaelyn nodded, speechless to say anything. What was wrong with her that she grew breathless when he looked at her like that…like he cared for her.
* * * * *
The majority of the hunting party rode horses, but some still traveled by foot. Ewan had two hounds he had let lead the hunt. Kaelyn sat upon a tan mare following Alexander, who rode a large white stallion. They kept to the back of the pack, neither caring if they slayed the beast.
A scuffle broke out ahead as two men fought over a small leather sack. Alexander glanced back at Kaelyn. “Stay here. I’m going to see what’s happened.”
Alexander rode ahead leaving Kaelyn alone. Kaelyn watched as Alexander talked to the two fighting men. A few more bystanders gathered around.
Kaelyn glanced up at the aqua blue sky, a perfect day to be outside. She inhaled and closed her eyes focusing on her horse’s breathing. Home. She wanted to go home. Half of her hoped she’d open her eyes finding herself back in the Rockies, not on some remote Scottish island.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d come.” Kaelyn slowly opened her eyes and found Deirdre next to her on a large dark brown mare. As much as she despised the woman, she had to give her credit for the way she handled her horse.
Kaelyn looked at Alexander and then back to Deirdre. He had slept with her, was all she could think of.
Deirdre must have read Kaelyn’s face. “If ‘tis any consolation, Alexander did mention ye last night,” she said smirking. Kaelyn glanced over at her continuing to be silent. “He said at least I didna only lay there like his dear Kaelyn.”
Kaelyn clenched her teeth. “First off, I know you’re lying, and secondly, Alexander wouldn’t make the same mistake twice!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she sneered.
“He wouldn’t let a heartless bitch take advantage of him again!”
Deirdre gasped. “Ye witch!” she cried. Without warning, Deirdre reached out with her riding crop whacking Kaelyn’s horse on the hind quarters.
Kaelyn’s horse whinnied, rising up on its hind legs. Abruptly, the horse darted off to the left, thrashing wildly into the woods. Kaelyn knew she was an agile horse rider, but this horse wasn’t used to her and it wouldn’t listen to anything she tried to do, to calm it down.
The mare rampaged through the brush until Kaelyn put her hands up to protect her face from a low-lying branch. She lost any hold she had on the mare and fell hard to the ground. Kaelyn lay winded on the dirt covered earth. Slowly, she sat up. With her head spinning, she tried to glance around. Her horse was long gone and she had no idea which way led back to the castle.
A shuffling noise sounded off to the side. Kaelyn glanced over, growing immediately still. A large boar with five inch tusks and a musky odor, pawed at the ground squealing. Its beady little eyes glared at her wildly. Kaelyn’s breathing sped up. If she stayed still, would the animal still charge?
The boar squealed up into the air and began to run toward her. Kaelyn sprung up from her spot scrambling to the nearest tree only a foot away. She grabbed hold of a limb just as the boar reached her, lifting its head and tusks up. A searing pain soared up the inside of her thigh.
She screamed out in agony, dropping to the ground. She rolled over and saw the boar pawing at the ground once more. The beast was making a second pass. Kaelyn remembered the dagger Alexander had given her. Pulling the blade out, she held on tightly and reluctantly waited for her chance to use it.
From her position on the ground, Kaelyn held the dagger in both her hands and squeezed her eyes shut. The boar reached her, and reared up, dooming itself as it sunk its chest straight down onto the blade. A horrible squealing sounded and Kaelyn opened her eyes. The boar danced around her wildly, jumping and kicking. Within seconds, the boar slowed as its footing grew unsteady. Blood rushed down from the blade, which still stuck in the beast’s chest. The boar made one last snort and stumbled over to Kaelyn. She tried to move, but the swine fell lifelessly down on top of her with its head lulled to the side and its body covering half of Kaelyn’s.
Kaelyn tried to push the boar off her, but it was useless. The thing must have weighed a good three hundred pounds and then some. She was about to run her hand over her face, when she noticed it was covered in blood. Her blood, she thought, feeling more and more lightheaded by the second. As her eyes closed, barking sounded in the distance. She could’ve sworn her name was being called.
* * * * *
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kaelyn sat on the edge of her bed with her chemise up past her thighs. Ethol stood by the dresser mixing a salve and soaking a cloth in a basin of steaming hot water. The entire time, Ethol fussed about what a lass should and shouldn’t do. Kaelyn half listened as she stared out the window at the dark evening sky. The red and orange streaks reminded her of a watercolor.
Alexander had seemed so pissed when she came to a little while ago. He had found her in the woods, he had told her. His face then grew a furious shade of red and he stormed out of the room leaving Kaelyn in Ethol’s capable hands. Upon storming from the room, he had gritted out that if he stayed, he’d finish what the boar had started.
“Now, lass,” Ethol said coming over and kneeling between Kaelyn’s thighs, “I’d hold on to something if I were ye. This will hurt a great deal.”
“I’ve had stitches before. I can take it.” Ethol’s face pinched up, as if she bit into a lemon, and she rolled her eyes.
“Suit yourself. Remember, I warned ye.” Ethol wrung out the cloth in the hot water. Kaelyn’s forehead creased upon noting how red Ethol’s hands had turned. Without warning, Ethol pressed the cloth against Kaelyn’s leg covering the wound the boar had made.
“What the fuck!” Kaelyn yelled jumping halfway off the bed. “What the hell is in that water?” Her entire leg burned as if fire ran through her veins.
“I warned ye,” Ethol said with a pleased look. “There’s a bit o’ comfrey root mixed with the water to help heal the wound faster. ‘Tis the only thing added.” Kaelyn sucked in her breath as Ethol wrung out the bloodied cloth. With in seconds, she reapplied the steaming cloth back on her wound. Ethol glanced up at Kaelyn’s pained expression. “This is what ye get when ye dinna listen. Ye dinna act like a lass should, ye dinna speak like a lass should, and ye dinna even ken how much he cares about ye!” Etho
l shook her head in frustration, rising with the basin of water.
“Are you talking about Alexander?”
“Aye, the one and the same ye foolish lass!”
“He doesn’t care about me,” Kaelyn said bitterly. “You heard him. He wanted to kill me!”
Ethol spun around. “Och! Are ye daft?” She put her hands on her hips. “He’s scared half to death! He found ye in the woods covered in blood with a giant boar on top of ye. He thought ye dead! We didna ken what was your blood and what was that of the beast’s until I cleaned ye up!”
Alexander strode back in before Ethol could say another word. Ethol threw her hands up in the air, suddenly acting frustrated. “She’s yours now, Alexander! Rub the salve on her wound, place the leaves on top and wrap her leg. I’ll check the ornery lass in the morn.” Ethol pushed the salve into Alexander’s hands and strode past Kaelyn who sat openmouthed on the bed. “I have other sick bairns to check on,” she added hastily walking out of the room.
Alexander held the small, tarnished brass container of salve and stared after Ethol. Slowly, he turned back around, only to glare at Kaelyn. “None of this would’ve happened if ye listened to me,” he growled. “I told ye to stay put!”
Kaelyn bashfully pulled her chemise down over her bared thighs upon seeing Alexander glance down at her legs. She cleared her throat and lifted her chin up. She was about to say it was Deirdre’s doing, but thought better of it. She didn’t want to talk about last night and find out what really happened. “I think I’ve learned my lesson,” she said with nothing better to say.
“’Twas a costly lesson,” he gritted out. “You’re lucky the tusk didna pierce an artery and go verra deep at that.” Alexander gestured down to her covered legs. “I need to dress the wound. By the way, what did ye say to Ethol?” he asked frowning.
