Ginny was shocked and her eyes were as big as saucers. She didn't understand why he was so angry. “I was uncomfortable and trying to shift to a better position,” she stated matter-of-factly. For the first time since the battle, Ginny was truly afraid of the man before her. If he wanted, he could snap her neck and be done with it. Ginny knew she should placate him, but then again, she was never known to back down even if the odds were against her. Gearing up for a battle, she let her anger show.
“Why are you so angry? I tried to speak to you, but you deemed it too beneath you to respond. So I decided to take matters into my own hands.”
“Do ya think it twas appropriate to sit on a horse as ya did?” Ian was trying to control his anger. He knew he was scaring her, but he also knew that she needed to learn her place. How unseemly would it be to let his slip of a girl have any control over him. It would destroy his credibility and ruin him as Laird. Not to mention Ian would be damned before he let her take advantage.
“Do I care what you think is appropriate when my ass is numb from my knees to my neck?” Ginny asked, dripping sarcasm and using her hands to demonstrate where she's numb. What am I doing? I need to shut up! Why can't I just be demure and suck it up until I can figure out my options?
With the quickness of lightning, Ian reached out and grabbed Ginny by both arms and hauled her up to his face. His face was getting even more red and he was quickly losing control. Both of her feet were off the ground and she was dangling at his mercy.
“Ya'll do as I say, when I say it. There will be no compromise, there will be no alternative. Ya belong to me and my clan, and ya will act appropriately,” Ian hissed and threw her to the ground. Ginny landed with a thump, nearly knocking the wind out of her. “Take a few minutes to refresh ya'self and meet me by my horse. Any more inappropriate behavior will be met with severe punishment.” Ian stormed away quite proud of his restraint.
What the hell? Ginny thought as she watched him walk away out of sight. She didn't really think her behavior warranted such seething anger. Ginny had never dealt with such unreasonable rage before. Of course she's had her share of kooks and weirdos, who would rage against her and the hospital staff. At least that rage could be explained by their mental illness or a parent's worry. But this? This could only be crazy and dangerous and Ginny did not want to get back on that horse with him.
She also did not want to see what would happen to her if she disobeyed. She was in the middle of nowhere in a time and place she had little familiarity with and absolutely no resources to pull from. Ginny quickly tried to regain her composure. With shaking hands, she took care of her needs and walked back to the edge of the forest, almost half expecting Ian and his horse to be long gone. Keeping with her current streak of luck, there he stood, speaking to his second in command in harsh whispers.
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm her already frayed nerves, Ginny took a few steps beyond the safety of the trees. Ian turned and commanded, “Ya'll ride with Broderick.” Then, without another word, he hopped back on his horse and rode off. Broderick looked like he'd rather sleep in a bed of snakes than undertake this duty. Ginny sighed with resignation, for there would surely be worse battles looming, if her situation was anything like the books she'd read.
Broderick climbed back onto his horse and held out a hand to help her. Ginny found herself sitting with her legs opposite from before, so at least her right cheek could take some abuse for awhile. Broderick, not known for his communication skills, kept silent the rest of the day. Ginny took the hint and said nothing as well.
* * *
Stopping for the night, Ginny was exhausted from sitting on top of the horse and not eating a damn thing. Her head pounded from having no water all day, her joints and back hurt and her disposition was bleak. They stopped to camp by a creek in an open field filled with flowers. The fragrance, which would normally be a comfort to Ginny, was now making her eyes water and her nose itch. Above everything else, she now had to suffer with allergies.
Ginny walked over to the creek and scooped up some of the water to drink. Many of the men joined her, slurping up great amounts of water. They filled their waterskins and then turned to water the horses. Returning to Broderick's horse, Ginny stood awaiting orders. There probably wasn't much she knew how to do, but she could do something.
Ian was watching her from a distance. When Ginny turned and noticed him staring at her, she walked over to him. The long day had reduced her anger and fear. Also, he was currently looking agreeable. “What can I do to help?” she asked, thinking she sounded helpful, but immediately noticed his head drop. She turned without another word and sat down on the edge of the camp. What the hell does he want from me. I'm trying, aren't I?
After a few moments of feeling sorry for herself, Ginny wandered over to a copse of trees on the edge of the field. Scotland really was breathtaking. The hills and valleys were covered in green grass, which was stunning against the blue sky. Dotted throughout the landscape were groves of trees, adding to the green, and high, craggy mountains. Ginny had always wanted to visit and if she ever made it back, she definitely would.
After taking the time to once again “pee in the woods,” Ginny began to gather sticks for firewood. Ian obviously wouldn't explain how she could help, so she would just do what she could. Returning to the camp, Ginny dropped the firewood by the nearest warrior who seemed to look like he needed it, then turned and walked back to the woods.
After gathering another handful, she again returned, dropping her load by another man. She repeated the process until she could no longer find any sticks to gather. She didn't have a hatchet, so she was limited to what was on the ground or easily broken from the trees. Once completed, Ginny looked around for Aileana and Alec. Perhaps they would be kind enough to invite her to dinner.
There were only two tents set up. She found the pair in the first tent, talking softly. Not wanting to disturb them, Ginny turned to walk away when she heard Alec call out to her. Alec walked out of the tent. “Can ya stay with Aileana for a while? I need to speak to my brother.”
“Of course,” Ginny said, knowing it was what she'd hoped for, a chance to talk to someone who didn't yell at her. Alec turned and strode off and Ginny entered the tent.
“How are you feeling? Was the ride too much for you?” Ginny asked, going immediately into medical mode.
“Nay, it was heaven being in Alec's arms again. I dinna think I ever would have the chance again.” Aileana stared out the tent as if she could track her husband still.
“I'm glad it wasn't too taxing on you,” Ginny wished she could say the same.
“I saw ya riding with Broderick. I would have thought you would be with Ian.”
“Ian got mad at me, scared me half to death with his temper, then dumped me on Broderick. It was a great day,” Ginny said sarcastically, with a big smile on her face to emphasize exactly how she didn't feel.
Ginny started to stretch out her back, leaning back as far as she could without falling. Then she went to work on her sore shoulders. Next would have been her backside, but she didn't think Aileana wanted to witness that. It seemed that every part of her body ached. Ginny remembered feeling this way only after she started yet another workout routine.
“Can I rub yar back for ya?” Aileana asked.
“What... no, no. That's kind of you, but it's not necessary. I just really want to eat something and go to bed.”
For the first time that Ginny had seen, Aileana's face lit up. She got up and began to pull things from saddle bags her husband had used. She began to prepare some supper for her and Ginny immediately protested. “Let me help you.”
“Nay. Ya saved my life. I can make ya a meal.”
Ginny sat down on the pallet Alec had prepared for Aileana. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.” Suddenly, a waterskin was handed to her and Ginny took a long pull of the weak ale. Ginny watched Aileana as she made a fire, prepared some tasteless oat cakes and fried them. Aileana was a different pers
on when in her element and that was exactly where she was: cooking, preparing, taking care of someone else.
It looked to Ginny like it was doing her friend a world of good. Well, Ginny hoped they were friends, since she had no one else in this time period. Even her persona, Lady Chatham had no one. It made for a lonely existence.
Just as Aileana was finished removing the cakes from the pan, Ian and Alec walked to the tent. The look of fury on Ian's face was obvious. His eyes narrowed, his breathing quickened and the redness was back. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, Ian went into a rage. His voice was menacing, “What do ya think yar doing? Lying there waiting to be served by my clan.”
Aileana was the first to speak up. “I asked to make her some supper.”
“Ya willnae sit there like a queen. Ya should be serving Aileana for all we are doing for ya.” Ginny stared at his face. Not a word would form on her lips. Silent and mute, Ginny was incredulous and... scared. Terrified to be more accurate. This would be it , she thought. He will either kill me or leave me behind.
Alec, being the voice of reason, could see where this was going. “Ian, my wife asked to prepare the meal. Ya need no' be so upset. We owe Ginny for what she did to aid us in Aileana's rescue.”
“Nay!” he screamed with renewed vigor. There was no getting through to him. Staring Ginny in the eye and panting from his anger, Ian again spoke in his menacing tone, “Ya willnae be served. Any food ya eat, ya will prepare. Any place ya sleep, ya will build. Get to it, tis almost dark.” With that, he stormed away.
“I will see what that is all about. Til then, Ginny, ya better go and find ya'self some food.” Turning to his wife, he said, “I will be back soon to eat with ya.” And then, he was gone as well.
Still speechless, Ginny rose and left the tent. She could hear Aileana crying and turned to her. “Maybe you could show me how to make those oat cakes?”
A smile came back to Aileana. “Aye. 'Tis easy. Come and I will show ya.” Together, the two women prepared and cooked. As soon as it was done, Ginny had made her own tasteless dinner. Before she could sit down to eat it, Ian and Alec walked over. Once again, Ian was growling like a junkyard dog.
“Where did ya get those?”
“I made them myself. Aileana showed me how.”
Grabbing the meager offering out of her hands, he said, “Now make yar own.” With two bites, her dinner was gone. Ginny was already shaking with hunger and now she was also shaking with rage. She did what he asked and still, it wasn't good enough.
Before she could stop herself, she rose up, stepped right up to Ian and said in as equally menacing a voice, “What the hell is wrong with you? You wanted me to make it myself, so I did. Why would you do that?”
“I am the Laird. Ya owe me everything ya have. Cooking my dinner is expected,” was all he said in reply, once again turning on his heel, he strode off.
Ginny could feel the tears in her eyes. She could feel the draining of her energy as she slipped into helplessness. Defeated was not the word. She was shattered.
Alec grabbed her by the shoulders and walked her into his tent. He handed her his dinner and told her to eat it quickly before Ian came back. He winked at her and left the tent. Ginny did eat the oat cake, while she cried huge tears that streaked down her cheeks. When she was done, she left the tent, made her way to the creek and washed her face.
The sun had nearly set, casting huge shadows across the camp. The bright red sky looked beautiful with the mountains in the foreground. Ginny laid down next to the stream, her head feeling heavy. She was lying on her side, using her arm as a pillow, watching the last of the light fade away. After it was gone, she moved to her back and looked up at the stars. Stars that had been there for millions of years, and were still there in her time. She realized that she just wanted to go home.
Once it became dark, Ginny rose and made her way back to the tent. Before reaching it, she saw Ian sitting outside the tents speaking with Broderick and Alec. Remembering what he said about finding her own accommodations, she looked around at the fires scattered about. She had no bedding, no blanket. She had no tent and no coat. Every fire was surrounded by men, with no room for her.
Ginny couldn't bring herself to beg Ian for anything. She was already feeling the sting of uselessness and weakness. Instead, she wandered back to the woods where she'd collected the firewood. Finding a soft spot among the pine needles, she made a bed for herself. Hating the idea of bugs crawling on her, but too exhausted to care, Ginny closed her eyes and fell asleep. She didn't expect it to last too long, since she was already cold, but wanted to get a few hours before it became impossible.
Ian had watched her make her way to the trees, figuring she was just taking care of her needs. When she didn't return, he went looking for her. He didn't know what had come over him. The anger, even for him, was unreasonable. He saw her sitting there, waiting to be served, and something in him snapped. After speaking to Aileana, more like Aileana screaming at him, he realized his mistake. He was waiting for her so he could apologize and offer her his tent.
He found her curled up on a bed of pine needles, looking so small and defenseless. It made him feel worse. Ian kept her to protect her, but there was no one to protect her from him. He knew he had to do a better job because if he didn't show that he accepted her, his clan never would. Bending over as quietly as possible, Ian picked up the sleeping form. Again, she curled into him, seeking his warmth.
Walking back to the tent, he gingerly placed her on the bed he'd made for her. He placed the kilt blanket over her and laid next to her to keep her warm. Ginny turned in her sleep to face him. He bent slowly down, placing soft kisses on her face and lips. Feeling himself getting excited, he stopped and closed his eyes. It would be another long night.
Ginny was having the most wonderful dream. She was warm and content, lying in her big bed under tons of covers. She sighed in her sleep, happy for the moment.
* * *
The moment didn't last. The next morning, Ian shook Ginny awake and told her to prepare to leave. It was still dark, with no dawn light in the horizon. As she was leaving the tent, Ginny stopped. How did I get in the tent? Ian must have found her and carried her in. But why? The man was incredibly confusing. Taking a deep breath, Ginny walked to the stream, drank heavily and washed her face.
By the time she had finished in the woods, it looked like everyone was already leaving. Ginny had no idea who she would ride with today, so she went to Broderick and asked him. “Am I to ride with you today?” She sounded so meek, so broken. So unlike her in real life. It bothered her that after only a couple of days she could feel this way.
“Aye,” was all Broderick said before he climbed his horse and helped her up.
“Thank you,” was the last thing she said for the rest of the day. Broderick was again not into conversation and neither was Ginny at this point. She sat as still as stone, trying to warm herself when possible. After half a day, they came to another stream, where the men got off and watered themselves and their horses.
Stretching herself as much as possible and drinking as much water as she could stand, Ginny began walking around the other warriors. After not moving for so long, she felt sore, like being on a long flight. Just wandering around was helping both her joints and her spirits. Finally, she went around some bushes and took care of her other business. When she popped back out, Ian was waiting for her.
“May I speak to ya?” he asked, like she had a choice.
“Sure,” was all she said, afraid to say the wrong thing.
Ian looked at his boots and the sky and the bushes, everywhere but at her. He coughed and ran his fingers through his hair. Ginny waited, wondering what was going on.
“Last night was... I behaved... I feel... bad about how I treated ya,” finally, he got it out. He stared into her eyes, looking as if he'd hit her if she made a big deal out of it. For the first time that day, Ginny smiled.
“I forgive you,” her face serene. Maybe thin
gs wouldn't be so bad after all.
Ian hrumpfed and walked off. Ginny figured that was the best she could hope for. Shaking her head, she turned to seek out Aileana and see if she had anything to eat before she was forced to get back on a horse with Broderick.
* Chapter 9 *
After hours of silent riding, Broderick finally spoke. While pointing to a rock wall in the distance, he stated, “Our home.”
His economy of words did nothing to quelch the joy Ginny was feeling over the prospect of getting off that damn horse and away from Frankenstein. During the hours of silence, Ginny began to assign nicknames to those of the clan she knew. Broderick was Frankenstein, for his big, brooding ugliness and lack of communication skills.
Ian was “the emperor.” Do not speak unless spoken to, do not do unless told to and do not think unless you're a man. Charming to the end.
Alec was “the knight.” He seemed the only one with an ounce of gentility. He was probably more like his brother than she had yet to see, but at least he could be accommodating.
Ginny's excitement was short lived since she came to realize that the wall was still miles away from where they were going. Damn Frankenstein for getting my hopes up , she thought to herself since she had no one else to talk to.
Ginny began to look around and admire the scenery. The chill in the air told her that they were pretty high up in altitude. The craggy mountains were covered in huge boulders, that Ginny imagined climbing. During these summer months, the hills were covered with sprays of color from all forms of wildflowers. She began to try to identify the species that might assist her in healing.
The longer they rode, the cooler it got. Even during the middle of the day, it was starting to feel more like winter in the Northeast US than the summer in Scotland. Ginny had always complained about the cold. Her blood had thinned after so many years in Arizona. She was used to a January that even if it was cold, you could count on warming up in the sun. The sun barely penetrated this place and she began to shiver. Then the shiver turned into chills. Her feet and hands had long ago gone numb.
A Lesson in Passion Page 7
