Labor of Love

by Felicia Rogers

  Arbella roared on with laughter as Grant continued to tickle her. “He is — he is torturing me!”

  “Aye, I am lass. And ye deserve it, don’t ye?”

  “Aye, I do, I do,” said Arbella, squirming in his arms.

  “Humph,” replied Duncan. “Ye do realize if Sorcha spots ye from this distance she may believe ye are fondling my wife, instead of tickling her.”

  Grant stopped suddenly almost sending Arbella to the ground. He grabbed her by the shoulders and helped her stand. “Ah, she wouldn’t think such a thing.”

  “Aye, but she would. She was watching ye from that window, and when ye grabbed Arbella she backed away with a horrified look written on her pretty face.”

  “Why Duncan that is ridiculous. Sorcha knows I love her.”

  “Arbella, ye better tell him,” said Duncan.

  “Tell me what?” he asked, looking between the two.

  Arbella steadied her breathing, but hesitated. “Grant, Duncan is correct. Sorcha is worried about your feelings for her.”

  “But why?”

  “Grant you have avoided her for days. You haven’t even been by to see the babe, at least when Sorcha knew you were there.”

  Nights spent by her side as she screamed in terror, came to mind. Grant said, “I’m not avoiding her. We’ve been workin’ on the surprise.”

  “Well I know that, and you know that, but Sorcha doesn’t know that,” said Arbella.

  “Are ye tryin’ to say she doubts my intentions?”

  “Aye, I am. And if you don’t remind her soon, she might begin to think her own thoughts.”

  “Well we should be doing that today, right?” asked Grant.

  “Aye, I hope so,” said Arbella.

  “We are ready. At least the surprise part is ready. I just need to go change. Then Duncan can escort her down and our futures will be intertwined forever more.”

  “How poetic, Grant,” said Arbella, a wide grin spreading across her face.

  Duncan shook his head. And Grant knew it was coming. His friend had to get in the last word. “If Sorcha doesn’t run away before then.”

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Sorcha watched from the window as Grant showed his affection for Arbella. For the life of her she couldn’t understand why Arbella would try to convince her Grant cared for her, if she had designs on him herself. When Duncan entered the fray, she was surprised by his obvious lack of concern.

  Perhaps from this great distance, she was receiving the wrong impression of the situation. She was clearly watching something she hadn’t been invited to. It was evident Duncan and Arbella were as much family to Grant as Bryce was. Sorcha could understand Grant’s affection for the couple. They shared an obvious fondness for each other as well as a love for the Lord.

  Nay, Arbella couldn’t possibly feel that way toward Grant. She was fairly certain he didn’t feel that way toward Arbella either, regardless of his current absence from her own life.

  Tamara had taken Eva to the nursery. Ailbert Cameron volunteered to stay with her and help watch the children while the rest of the adults enjoyed the celebration. Sorcha had a feeling Ailbert’s real desire was not to watch the children, but rather to spend the afternoon watching Tamara. She smiled at the thought. One of these days Ailbert would be her family, and she was happy he expressed affections for Tamara. He could do a lot worse.

  Sorcha paced the room in her finery. She felt like a princess all dolled up with nowhere to go. No one had told her what to do. Was she expected to wait? Was she expected to walk to the festivities on her own?

  After a few more moments of consideration, Sorcha decided she had waited too long on life to come to her. It was high time she took the lead and went to life.

  She stood tall, and walked to her closed door. Instead of pulling it back roughly and prancing proudly from the room, she eased it back until a tiny crack appeared. She placed her eye up to the crack and peeked out. The hall was relatively clear. Pulling the door open a little farther, she stepped out. She stood tall in the empty hallway. It was gratifying to finally be out of her room, even if it was only one step behind her.

  Head held high, as if she deserved to be where she was, she took the first step. As she descended into the main hall, she noticed a flurry of commotion. Servants ran back and forth, their arms laden with one thing or another. Sorcha assumed with all the activity her presence would go unnoticed, but she couldn’t have been more wrong.

  A young girl carrying an armful of what appeared to be soiled laundry plowed directly into her. Stunned at first, she looked up at Sorcha, did a double take and yelled, “Oh no! It is much too early, much too early. We aren’t ready! We aren’t ready!”

  Sorcha backed farther away from the girl, causing the pile of clothing to drop unceremoniously to the floor. Sorcha tried to exit the main hall but a group of people surrounded her on all sides. It reminded her of ghost stories she had been told as a child. The dead would surround you and not allow you to leave.

  As they cornered her they spoke at once.

  “What are ye doin’ here?”

  “Where are ye goin’?”

  “Ye shouldn’t be down here yet.”

  “Didn’t anyone tell ye to stay in yer room?”

  “We need to take her back.”

  “Don’t let her leave.”

  Sorcha used her hands to cover her ears and pushed her way through the crowd to the front door. By some miracle, she was able to push outside. Once out the door the sunshine hit her full force, and she felt blind. She shielded her eyes, and took off running away from the mass of people. She ran around the keep to the other side. When she felt she was no longer being pursued, she stopped and caught her breath. The keep wall was in front of her. She spun on her heel and when she landed she saw the most beautiful structure.

  It was a wooden platform in the shape of a square, with posts standing at each corner. A flat wooden roof lay across the top. The posts and top were covered in a draping white sheer fabric. The white fabric had been overlaid with green vines that were weaved around the posts in intricate designs.

  Sorcha hadn’t remembered seeing the arbor when they arrived. But that didn’t mean much, since she didn’t remember half of the buildings within the keep walls.

  She heard a sound and turned in time to see a group of musicians. They were practicing a tune. Perhaps they were gearing up for the festivities? Whatever the case, they were headed directly for her. In formation they walked in time with one another. She ducked under the white sheer material and waited for the group to pass. As they went by Grant appeared.

  He looked around the yard as if trying to locate something. He shouted, “Sorcha, where are ye? I know ye are out here.”

  Sorcha wanted to go to him but was afraid she would be chastised for leaving her room. She gnawed at her lip with worry and wondered what she truly had to fear? If Grant had wanted to make her feel bad about something, he’d missed his opportunity many times.

  She took a deep breath and stepped out of her hiding place. “I am here.”

  Grant spun to face her. His trews were fresh and clean. The family pin was polished and gleamed in the light. His light brown hair had been washed, combed, and tied back in a new ribbon. He was outfitted for a celebration.

  Upon seeing her, his mouth dropped open. Breathlessly, he said, “Sorcha…” He started to run toward her, but before they could touch Duncan stepped between them.

  “Nay, Grant. Ye stay away from her.”

  “I will not.”

  Good for him, Sorcha thought.

  “Ye will do as I say. Get back to yer quarters until we come for ye.”

  “Duncan, ye canna make me leave her side. We have been apart for days and I willna leave her again.”

  Sorcha sidled forward and clasped her arm to his. “I agree.”

  Duncan crossed his arms and spread his legs wide. “I’m laird here, and ye will both do as I say.”

  “All right then we will go e
lsewhere.”

  Sorcha was proud of Grant. So this whole time Duncan had been keeping them apart, she should have known. Fortunately it appeared Grant was ready to rectify the situation.

  Duncan’s arms moved to his sides and hung loosely. “Verra well, ye do what ye wish and ye will break Arbella’s heart. She has worked on the arbor just as hard as ye have.”

  Sorcha felt Grant’s courage wavering.

  “I don’t want to do that,” he said, his head dipping forward.

  Sorcha’s anger built. Did he care more about Arbella’s feelings than hers? “Does anyone care what I think?” she asked, backing away from them both.

  Duncan spoke up first. “Aye, lass of course we do. It is just ye don’t understand what is happenin’ here.”

  “All right, that’s probably true. I don’t understand why I have been shut away in my room for days. I don’t understand why Grant hasn’t come to check on me. I don’t understand why all yer servants went mad when I came into the room. And ye want to know what I really don’t understand? Do ye? It is why Grant is standing there and just lettin’ all this happen!”

  “Ye are beautiful,” Grant whispered in a hoarse voice.

  Sorcha stared dumbfounded.

  “Oh Grant, stop yer drooling over the girl. Canna ye see she is upset with ye.”

  Grant stooped to his knees. “Ye are the light of my life, the air that I breathe, the…”

  Sorcha glanced around to see if anyone was watching. She leaned forward, and tried to pull him back to his feet. “Grant, ye are embarrassing me.”

  “Ye are a marvelous archer, a wonderful cook, an amazing mother, a generous kisser…”

  “Grant, ye need to get up,” she whispered between clenched teeth.

  “I could speak of my love for thee forever. I could admire yer beauty all my days.”

  “Grant, what has gotten into ye?”

  “I’m tryin’ to woo ye.”

  “I think it is too late for that,” snickered Duncan.

  “Duncan, would ye please be quiet. I need to woo my girl.”

  The bickering over wooing continued. The two of them didn’t hush until Arbella came from the keep and started fussing. “What are you three doing out here? Grant, get off that ground, and dust off your knees. All that work on new trews and you lay on the ground.”

  Arbella adjusted her focus. “Duncan, help the men. Daylight will be gone soon. Sorcha please come away from Grant and stand with me until it is time.”

  Sorcha’s Irish temper flared. “I’m not goin’ anywhere until someone tells me what is goin’ on!”

  “It was to be a surprise, but I will tell you. We have been working on a secret project — your wedding,” said Arbella.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Sorcha couldn’t have been more surprised by Arbella’s revelation. They planned a wedding for her? She waited at the back and watched as the final preparations were put in place. When Grant and Duncan were bickering, Duncan had said something about Grant making the arbor and how he was going to ruin the whole surprise.

  She glanced in front of her and studied the wooden structure. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen, and to think Grant made it for her. Perhaps Arbella helped with the fabric and that was what Duncan had meant when he said if they left it would hurt Arbella’s feelings.

  Grant paced impatiently inside in the arbor. Duncan stood outside and directed the rest of the activities. Grant kept coming over to where Duncan stood and asking a question. Then he would throw up his hands, and return to pacing.

  Sorcha concurred with Grant’s frustration. She wanted nothing more than to be close to him. As far as she was concerned, the wedding preparations were perfect. They needed nothing else except the bride, the groom and the minister. As the thoughts flowed through her head, she heard a cry flow through the window and her milk descended.

  She left without a word to anyone around her, and went to nurse Eva. When she arrived in her room, she dismissed Tamara. As she sat there on the chair and looked at her small child, she was held in awe by the mighty working of the Lord. Here she thought she would always be alone then He sent Samuel into her life. Samuel had made her feel special. She knew then there was still a possibility for her to have love.

  When Samuel perished and that door was closed to her, another opened and Grant entered her life.

  She stared at Eva and whispered, “Oh, Eva, just think. After today ye will have a father, a worthy father. One that will take care of ye and love ye.”

  Eva suckled greedily, making tiny smacking noises. Her balled fist patted Sorcha. Sorcha opened the tiny hand and inserted her finger, using the rest of her fingers to stroke the smooth skin of her daughter. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

  “What a sight my eyes behold.”

  Sorcha’s eyes flew open. Grant moved into the room. He sat down, taking her hand from the babe and holding it in his own. “Forgive me.”

  “What for?” she murmured.

  “For tryin’ to surprise ye.” He drew a ragged breath. “I have spent the last couple of days working on the platform for us to marry upon. I didna realize I was neglectin’ ye in the process.”

  “Ye haven’t…”

  “Nay, don’t interrupt. I know I haven’t been around. I wanted everything to be perfect. Ye deserve only the best, and I want to see ye and Eva receive it. I want ye to be happy.”

  “Are ye finished? For yer information, Eva and I couldn’t be happier. And the platform ye made for the wedding is unbelievable. It is the most wonderful thing anyone has ever done for me. But I have to tell ye, all this talk about yer love for me and my beauty is sweet, but I think I liked ye better when ye was just asking me if I was all right.” She displayed a smile to lighten the mood.

  “Sorcha, ye know I love ye and would do anything to protect ye, right?”

  “Aye, I do.”

  “There is something else that I need to say.” Grant paused. “I’m sorry I didn’t dispose of Festus. Honestly, I wanted to rip him limb from limb for all he did to ye, but something held me back.”

  “Is that what all of this is about — guilt?”

  “Aye, I guess some of it is. Not the marryin’, of course. I want to marry ye and take ye home to my family. But maybe I feel a little guilty for makin’ ye take care of yerself.”

  “Oh, Grant. I wasn’t taken care of myself with that shot. I was taken care of ye. For as much as ye love me, I love ye as well.” They sat in silence and Sorcha mulled over some of Grant’s earlier words. “Ye aren’t afraid if yer family meets me they will try and change yer mind about marryin’ me.”

  “Nay, I just thought it might be easier for ye to come to my home as my wife, rather than anything else.”

  “Always thinkin’ of me are ye?” she said, with a smile.

  “Aye, I am always thinkin’ of ye, and all my thoughts aren’t of the purest of nature.” He leered, his eyes twinkling. “Like the time I saw ye in the waterfall. Now there is an experience I wouldn’t mind repeating after we wed.”

  She slapped him across the arm. “Ye peeked!”

  “Now lass, I was only tryin’ to protect ye from harm.”

  “Humph.”

  Grant grinned and looked as if he had more to say, but the two of them where interrupted.

  “Grant Cameron, what are you doing up here?” asked Arbella, her hands on her hips as she stood in the open doorway.

  “Enjoying the company of my future bride,” said Grant, staring at Sorcha a smile still tugging at his lips.

  “Well get out and go stand next to the minister. All that work to surprise you with her appearance, and you had to go and spoil it.”

  “Oh, I was surprised, and trust me nothin’ about her has been spoiled.”

  Sorcha blushed as Grant bowed and exited the room. Tamara returned and took Eva. Sorcha stood and straightened her emerald gown. “How do I look?”

  “Positively stunning,” said Arbella with pri
de.

  ****

  Although Grant had seen his bride in her wedding attire, the sight of her walking down the aisle toward him was still breathtaking. He felt like laying his tongue out the side of his mouth and panting like a dog.

  In the time he had known Sorcha, he had seen many sides to her. A brave side, a shy side, a bold side, a fearless side, however, he was sure he had only begun to see the vast array of her talents. She was a woman any man would be honored to call wife. She wouldn’t be afraid to stand beside him in life, or in death. Because of Samuel, Grant had been given this opportunity to find someone he could love. Samuel had seen what many, including himself, would have overlooked — Sorcha’s inner pureness.

  When they stood together and joined hands, the words of marriage were pronounced. At the end, the minister proclaimed them husband and wife. Grant picked Sorcha up and turned her in a wide circle, landing her in front of him. He gazed into her eyes, lifting her chin with his finger, his head descended, her lips crushed beneath his own. The crowd yelled with excitement. Sorcha stood beside him, and they bowed as the minister announced them.

  “May I introduce Grant and Sorcha Cameron!”

  They led the way to the area allotted as a dance floor. He wrapped her into his arms. He was amazed at the difference in her body since Eva had been born. “Ye are smaller than I thought,” he voiced.

  “That isn’t a problem is it? Because if it is, then I am afraid it is too late for ye for we are married.”

  “Nay, no problem at all lass. Just can’t wait to see more of ye,” he said grinning.

  He twirled and twisted her, pulling her closer when the song slowed. Kissing her neck and nibbling behind her ear, he described in hushed tones all the things he hoped to do to her. She acted as if she was up for it, but worry nagged him. Her only experience of physical love had been at the hands of Festus as he impersonated an animal in heat. How could he put her at ease on their wedding night?

  The feasting and dancing seemed to drone on forever. Finally, Grant whisked her away and headed to their room. Tamara met them on the stairs with an irritable Eva.