The Highlander's Secret

by Jennifer Siddoway

  Jain grinned, backing away from him. “Then ye’d be happy to ken that I already spoke with him about it. The preacher is expecting us on the morrow.”

  Alan shook his head. “I might have ken.”

  She paused in the doorway before she left and smiled. “I’ll be ready fer ye, Alan. That’s one thing ye can be sure of.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Jain sat quietly on Nora’s bench while her aunt wove flowers into her hair around the edges of her veil. The red waves of her hair had been plaited into an exquisite crown on the back of her head with a handful of pins to hold them in place. Aunt and cousin had spent the morning bathing her from head to foot until she was clean and polished. Jain had never felt so loved and cared for as she did on the morning of her wedding.

  Moira had surprised her with a stunning blue surcote to wear over her linen gown. The fabric was soft as lamb’s wool and made of the finest material Jain had ever seen. A portion of lacing in the back caused the material to accentuate her bust and hug her curves in a most attractive fashion. A sash of plaid fabric was hung across her chest over one shoulder.

  “Ye look beautiful,” Aileen sighed while joining her. “Alan is a lucky man.”

  Jain smiled at her and said, “I love him so much, Aileen. We’re a perfect match in every way. It’s the happiest day of my life.”

  Her cousin laughed gently, with her eyes cast down toward the floor. “Ye must be nervous,” she prodded lightly.

  Nora chuckled and finished securing the flowers before turning to face her daughter. “Dinnae be putting ideas in her head, Aileen. Ye’ve got ye’re own engagement and things to worry about, let Jain have hers.”

  Aileen blushed and Jain reached out to give her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m not sure if I ever congratulated ye on that. Rodrick is a fine man and I ken ye’ll be happy together too.”

  “Yer da was kind enough to approve. It wouldn’t even be happening without him.”

  Jain scoffed. “Ye dinnae ken that’s true. Rodrick loves ye and ye love him. It was bound to happen eventually. All ye need to do now is enjoy it.”

  At that point, Moira came back inside and beamed at Jain with pride. Her face was red and puffy from happy tears and the bustle of commotion in the day’s festivities. “Oh, my sweet lass! I cannae believe that’s ye. Where have the years gone?”

  Jain laughed and stood up while picking up her skirts and said, “Thank ye, Mam.”

  Her mother embraced her with a hug and then stepped back to hold the door open for all of them to come. “We mustn’t keep the lads waiting. Alan and yer da are already at the kirk.”

  Jain glanced at the others and bowed before following them out into the road. The delicate shoes she wore barely protected her feet as they walked over to the church. Across the square was the village kirk, where all her friends and family were gathered to celebrate. Her chest felt tighter with every step she took, reminding herself to breathe.

  The doors opened when she approached and everyone turned. Moira and Nora went in before her and stood with the rest of the crowd, waiting for Jain to come inside. Her eyes were wide and excited when they fixed on her soon to be husband standing at the front of the chapel. His smile told her everything she needed to know about the decision they were making. It was an expression of love and devotion that Jain could hardly even fathom.

  Alan was in a clean white shirt and he wore the same plaid tartan across his chest and a pair of hose. His golden blond hair was long, but clean, hanging down on either side of his face. Jain met his eyes and smiled, walking down the aisle towards him.

  When she reached the altar, Eamon took her hand in his and placed it inside Alan’s as a timeless symbol of giving his blessing to their union. Jain felt her heartrate quicken, looking up at Alan with all the love in the world and gazed into his kind brown eyes. With their hands clasped together, the priest laid a white ream of sash on top of them and wrapped around it twice to signify their marriage. Jain didn’t even hear what the priest was saying with her heartbeat drumming in her ears until she was asked to say, “I do.”

  Jain swallowed hard and responded with, “I do.” Her voice cracked with raw emotion as she said it, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love she had for the man that stood before her.

  Alan said the same when it became his turn to pledge himself, and the priest removed the sash to present them to one another. The next thing she knew, Alan presented her with a silver ring and slipped it onto her finger. She looked down at it in awe as Alan was presented with a knife from the priest and he cut the fabric of her sash. The plaid that hung across Jain’s chest over her gown was removed ceremonially and handed to Moira in the crowd.

  Alan then undid a portion of his own plaid and cut the fabric from his garment to place on Jain himself. The material was hung across her chest like the previous one, but this time having it been presented by her husband meant that he took her under his protection. To everyone’s surprise, Alan presented her with the dragonhead brooch that had come with her from the ashes of her village to secure it in place.

  Tears of joy pricked at the corners of her eyes as the priest pronounced them man and wife. Alan pressed his lips against hers and Jain sighed, leaning into his embrace.

  The onlookers clapped and burst into applause. Alan and Jain walked down the aisle together. When they stepped outside, a warm September sun glistened in the sky. A celebratory feast was set up in the village green, decorated with autumn colors of orange and yellow flowers not unlike the harvest festival they’d had before. A reason to celebrate was precisely what the people of Elign needed after Keenan’s death, to lift their spirits and give hope for a bright future ahead.

  The village green was a bustle of commotion as men and women came to offer their congratulations to the new couple. Musicians played their instruments on the grass while others set up a bonfire. Their revelry lasted most of the afternoon, with people dancing at the bonfire and everyone having splendid time.

  The sun grew low on in the distance and Jain grew weary of all the well-wishers, wishing to be alone with her new husband. He turned to her in the midst of the crowd and took her by the hand. She glanced up at him and smiled.

  “Are ye very well, my dear?”

  “I’m ready to have some privacy,” Jain whispered.

  Alan nodded, and they eased their way towards the path down to the farm. With Eamon and Moira living in the keep, her father gifted the land to them as a wedding present. As chieftain it was his prerogative to allocate their resources and grant land to those who needed it. It was a perfect solution for all of them, the farm never went unused and the newlywed couple had a home that they could live in. They ran down the hill together hand in hand until arriving at the stone cottage.

  Alan took her in his arms when they reached the threshold to kiss her lips and savor the moment while they held each other tight.

  ~ * ~

  Alan fumbled with the door behind him desperately grasping for the handle, but all he could think about was Jain. It was so easy to lose himself in her and forget about everything else. Her kisses were the sweetest and most addictive thing he’d ever experienced. When they touched, it took all his willpower to keep from ravishing her completely and devouring those lips as if they were as vital to him as breathing. Alan couldn’t get enough of her – she was everything.

  With her body flush against the door behind them, his hand eventually gave way and caught hold of the metal handle to let them both inside. He stumbled in after her and closed the door behind them, leaving her warmth just long enough to ensure their privacy. She looked so beautiful in her blue surcote and the flowers woven in her hair, Alan could scarcely believe that Jain was his. His wife. It wasn’t a dream that he’d wake up from in the morning, they were together as man and wife.

  Slowly, he walked over to where she stood and cradled her face within his hands. She gazed up at him with those impossibly green eyes of hers and pleaded with him silently. Her lips parted as h
e brushed one of his thumbs against her cheek and helped her remove the veil.

  The plump, sweet, fullness of her lips called to him in longing and begged for him to taste them. Alan was all too eager to enjoy that luxury and set the veil down on the table and returned to Jain at last.

  When their lips touched, it ignited every nerve within his body. It wasn’t a desire; it was a need to be connected to her body. Their breathing was ragged as Jain removed his sash and pulled the linen shirt over Alan’s head. Her eyes widened at the sight of his bare chest and the muscles that he kept hidden beneath the fabric. Rather than letting such a reaction go to his head, Alan was merely pleased that she was satisfied. Jain’s eyes darkened and she slid her hand across his stomach, looking up at him with a smile.

  “I’m ready,” she whispered softly.

  He didn’t need any further encouragement before kissing her once again. Their hands were everywhere, shedding each other’s clothing and tossing them to the floor. Alan’s hands reached behind her and deftly undid the lacing of Jain’s surcote until she eventually shed that too and stood before him in nothing but her kirtle. Alan’s jaw fell open as he stared at her in awe, taking in every curve and semblance of beauty that his vision would allow. She was the most perfect thing he’d ever seen.

  Jain kissed him and placed her hand on the back of his hand, leading him over to the bed. The waves of her red hair fell down around his face, smelling of strawberries and honeysuckle.

  Alan placed his hand against her cheek and deepened their connection, while laying her back against the mattress. She responded to his touch by arching her back in welcome and pulling the weight of him down on top of her. Carefully, she spread her knees apart.

  “Jain,” he moaned between haggard kisses. “My wife.”

  “Always and forever,” she gasped.

  Alan growled, silencing her with another kiss and positioned himself between her legs. “Always and forever,” he repeated. “That’s how long I will love ye, Jain. Until my dying breath.”

  He looked down at her beneath him, meeting the calm of her emerald green eyes. Her lips curved up unto a smile as one of his hands caressed her cheek. They gazed into each other’s eyes as he leaned into her and consummated the vows they had made. Jain gasped at the contact and threw her head back against the pillow. Her back arched in a fit of passion and he waited for her to get used to him before moving once again.

  Her breathing calmed and Alan moved again, rocking them in a syncopated rhythm. He took pleasure in the gentle musings that escaped her lips and knew he must have been doing something right.

  It was like nothing he’d ever felt before, the waves of pleasure came washing over him and built like a kind of tension. Alan dipped his head to kiss her neck and face while Jain bucked her hips to meet him properly. She raked her nails across his back hard enough to leave a mark and kissed him deeply on the mouth.

  He slipped one of his hands underneath Jain’s thigh and lifted it higher on his waist to shift the pressure. Alan wasn’t sure how long they were lost in the throes of passion, but it didn’t feel like long enough. She was too sweet, too kissable for him to stop.

  Eventually, they became exhausted and collapsed in a tangled pile of flesh and sweat.

  Neither of them spoke at first until Alan decided to break the silence. He turned to her and asked, “Are ye alright?”

  Jain chuckled to herself and rolled over on her side to look at him. “I’m not as breakable as all that. Ye might be surprised at what I can take.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Jain woke up in bed next to her husband and smiled, nuzzling her head into the crook of his arm. The red waves of her hair spilled out across the blanket and tickled the side of her face. Her body was deliciously sore after their first days of marriage and they were more in love then Jain could have ever hoped. It was like waking up only to realize that her dreams had indeed come true.

  Alan groaned, rolling over and opened his eyes to kiss her on the forehead. “Good morrow, love.”

  She lifted her chin to kiss him softly on the lips before climbing out of bed. The whiskers of his beard tickled the skin around her lip, but Jain didn’t mind in the least. “Good morrow, Alan. Shall I get started on the morning meal?”

  “Mmmm,” he hummed sleepily while trailing his fingers lightly up and down her arm. “I’d much rather have ye lay with me in bed a while.”

  Jain laughed, reaching over to rouse him from his sleep, and said, “Aye, but Bruce will be expecting ye at the shop and we both have work to do. The world dinnae stop just because ye and I are happy and in love.”

  He sat up on the bed next to her and blinked, letting the blankets fall down around his stomach. “Curse ye and yer infallible logic.”

  She smiled at him and leaned in suggestively, “There’s always tonight, my love. Trust me, I’ll be more than willing to make it worth the wait.”

  Alan sighed and threw off the rest of the blankets before climbing out of bed. Jain pulled on a grey tunic and wrapped her leg with a bit of fabric over the pair of hose. The extra layers kept her legs warm beneath her kirtle while Alan stoked the fire. He glanced up at her and grinned when she came into the living space. “I’ll be sad to leave ye every morning,” Alan murmured. “But knowing ye’re here waiting fer me will make the day pass that much more quickly.”

  Jain smiled. “I feel the same.”

  He watched as she undid her braid from the night before and started cooking them some breakfast. When it was ready they both enjoyed a brief meal before Alan had to go. She walked him to the lawn outside and held his hand before they kissed with a dreamy smile. “I’ll be back in the eve,” he promised.

  “And I’ll be waiting.”

  Alan waved goodbye and left her embrace to start walking up the hill. Jain wondered how life turned out this way, especially after thinking for so long that she could never be happy with domesticity. Her thirst for travel hadn’t disappeared completely, but it had been pushed to the back of her mind while enjoying the life that fate had seen fit to grant her.

  For the first time, it felt like everything she needed – everything she ever wanted – was right here. She’d never felt so content.

  While the day grew on, Jain prepared a noon day meal for Alan and Bruce and started up the hill outside. The pads of her shoes crunched on fallen leaves that were strewn across the lawn. Autumn had come at last and all of nature celebrated its arrival with a colorful display of orange, brown and yellow. With a determined sigh, she headed up the path towards Elign with a basket on her hip filled to the brim with a tasty snack. She’d barely reached the village gate when a rider came galloping up behind her, making his way towards the keep. Its hooves beat against the ground like thunder as the horse and rider sped off into the village. Her eyes grew wide when she saw him disappear around the bend, and fear trickled down her spine, raising goosebumps on her arms.

  It could only mean one thing – the Vikings had returned.

  Jain broke into a run, following the horse all the way to the steps of the great stone fortress. Her lungs were burning, and she was out of breath when she got there. Her father was standing near the gate outside, speaking with the man who came riding with such urgency. His face said everything, with a furrowed brow and eyes dark in concentration.

  “Ye’re sure?” Eamon asked him.

  The man nodded, still sitting aloft his horse. “Aye, my laird. The Viking ships are unmistakable. They made camp on the northern coast, but it’s only a matter of time before they attack.”

  “They’re back,” Jain breathed out in desperation, torn between panic and brave resolve. “What does that mean?”

  Eamon sighed, turning to address his daughter. “It means we still have a couple of days to rally more forces until they get here.”

  “What about…?”

  He glanced up at the rider and dismissed him with a wave. The messenger nodded and led his horse back around the keep to where the stables were loca
ted. Once he was gone, Eamon looked at Jain and said, “Alan and I will make sure that nae one finds ye. There are more than enough warriors to defend our village, and Clans MacDonnell and Grant send more reinforcements daily.”

  “But I’m the one they’re looking for!” she insisted quietly. “None of the men should have to die on my account.”

  He put his hand on Jain’s shoulder and looked deep into her eyes, saying, “The Vikings came back because it is their way. Whether it is yer kinsmen or not, I dinnae ken. However, I’ve heard many of them believe the glory of dying in battle is their only way to reach Valhalla. We must prepare fer battle, it’s the only way.”

  She stared back at Eamon’s wise, steel grey eyes that had given her a sense of peace so many years before. Something about them held a fierce protectiveness over her, and she knew that he was right. “But—”

  “Go see to yer husband.” Eamon told her. “Tell him what has happened and then send him here. I have much to discuss with him.”

  She huffed in exasperation at Eamon’s command, turned on her heel and ran all the way to the smithy. On the way there she had to navigate through a growing crowd of people who were all curious about what happened. They came flooding out of their houses and shops and into the path where she was running. Her heart was pounding wildly as she approached, calling out to him, “Alan!”

  Her husband stepped out of the shop and met her in the road outside. His blond hair was pulled back into a topknot and his hands were dark and covered in ash. Alan’s eyes grew wide when he saw her panicked expression. “Jain, what’s wrong?”

  “The Vikings have returned,” she told him in a rush. “One of the scouts came back with news of theirs boats on the northern coast. Da asked me to fetch ye and bring ye to the keep.”

  Alan exhaled through his nose and placed his hands upon her shoulders, saying, “I’m sorry that it has come to that, Jain. But we always knew that was a possibility.”