Camden stood astonished and then became furious inside as he realized where these wagons had come from. Did she dare think that he and his clan needed pity from the English? He would not accept the charity even if it meant his clan would suffer.
The laird’s wife ran to the wagons when everyone started to pull and grab items from the wagon as if they had never seen food before. Olivia would not let their excitement and greed ruin everything she had sent for. This was not how she imagined this scene would be.
“Enough!” She yelled.
No one seemed to be listening and she looked to her husband for help. One glance at his angered face made Olivia shiver, for that was how he looked when he walked towards her on their wedding day. She decided that maybe Broderick would help her organize this mess. She looked to him and pleaded with her eyes. He understood immediately.
Broderick stood on top of the center wagon and bellowed a deafening scream of order. The silence that followed was eerily calm.
“How dare you people act like wild animals, fighting with one another over the goods that have been sent by God himself. All of you will stop this at once and whoever chooses to take another item from these wagons will suffer their punishment from me,” Broderick yelled.
Olivia was grateful for his loud commanding voice and she wondered why Camden had walked away from the wagons as if the sight sickened him. Had he not given this task to her? She climbed up next to Broderick and looked at all of the clan staring at her, waiting for her to give the orders.
“Everything in these wagons was sent here as a wedding gift to me and Laird Sinclair from my dear sister in-law in England. It is all for the well-being of our clan, as a whole and it will be used as such. My lairds’ warriors will oversee the goods and you will all obey and help them. Travis and Keith you will see to the food storage. Calum please take care of the cooking utensils and firewood. Stephan, you will see to the clothing, material and blankets. Liam will you make sure the extra horses are cared for and Broderick will you please take care of the weapons and armor.”
Within moments the entire area was organized and everyone was working together to unload the wagons. Liam was already having some men construct a large barn for the new horses and the clan had come together to share the provisions. This is what Olivia had hoped for and she knew that with these supplies they would be able to endure the winter weather.
Olivia was more than grateful that the wagons had come today for the sky was beginning to look very threatening and she was sure that by night, the snow would be falling. She was right too because the air became extremely frigid and it was not long after everything was stored away that the first flakes fell from the sky.
The women had made a hearty meal for everyone and they were all enjoying the fresh food and ale together as a clan. Everyone that is, except for Olivia and Camden. She had become worried about her husband after he had walked off earlier and had not returned. Before it got too dark, Olivia grabbed a long heavy cape and went to look for Camden.
It did not take her long to track his path and she found her husband kneeling against a massive boulder. He had his head bowed and his golden hair fell around his face covering any expression he may have had. Camden could not hear her there but he knew Olivia was standing close by. Nothing else but her could smell of roses this time of year. The laird wondered first, how she could have found him and second, why she wanted to find him.
“Camden, I do not wish to interrupt your prayer but I am worried about you and it is getting dark,” she said softly.
Worried about me, he thought, I am not some weak Englishman that could not be out in the cold dark night without catching fever. Why is she so worried about me?
“May I ask you a question?” She said, moving to be near him.
“Don’t you always?” He said dryly as he stood to face her.
“You did say that I could be in charge of getting food, did you not?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you so upset that I have done my duty?”
“I didn’t know that you had turned to the damn English for help. Do you not see how weak that makes me look?” He said harshly.
Her blood instantly started heating and she tried to calm herself. Olivia felt embarrassed whenever she had sudden outbursts in front of her husband.
“Camden what you just said does not offend me because I am a Scotswoman now but in the future when you speak of the damn English, remember that you are referring to my family and I will not forgive you after this moment,” she said with her teeth clenched.
He stared at her and thought of all the tiny pieces to her puzzle. Camden thought he probably would never figure this woman out but he was certainly enjoying the game of trying. So, he thought, she thinks of herself as a Scotswoman. Aye, that was pleasing to him. Camden grinned broadly at his wife and watched her face flush quickly.
“Camden, don’t smile at me like that. First, I am furious at you for thinking that I would actually ask for help. You obviously still do not know your wife very well. I hate to ask for help from anyone. Everything that was sent here, was a wedding gift from my sister in-law, Ella. I knew right away that you would not accept charity from the Duke of Lansington so I did not bother asking my brother. I did however, explain to Ella how the new clan was just like her wonderful family that she had grown up with and then I told her how much I would love to have all of my jewelry sent here for me to wear.”
“So my wife needs her jewelry? Is that what you are missing from England?” He wondered.
“No you fool! Are you not listening? Do I look like I am fond of jewelry? Ella’s family was very poor so I compared our clan to her family and she knows how much I hate to wear jewelry. Ella is very smart and I knew she would figure out what I really wanted. I got exactly what I needed without asking for a bit of help.”
Camden was thoroughly impressed with her plan and decided he could not stay mad too much longer. The sight of her as the night grew dark was sending erotic thoughts to his mind. He could see Olivia’s body shiver in the cold air and he wanted to make her burn with desire. Never before had a woman made him alter his emotions so quickly. Camden knew at that moment, his life was beginning to change and he had no way of stopping it. Nor did he want to stop it.
“Then I must commend you on successfully completing your duty. You certainly know how to get things that you want without asking for them. Would I be correct if I assumed that you would like another task?”
She smiled and nodded. “Absolutely!”
“I want you to please your laird until the morning sun appears,” he said with a deep voice.
“I guess I must obey these orders from my laird but what do you suppose my husband would say?” She teased.
Camden laughed as he took her by the hands and pulled his wife close to him. Olivia was intensely aware of his masculine scent and it started to drive her wild with need. He wrapped his strong arms around her and held her tightly in his warm embrace while Olivia inhaled deeply against his chest. The snow fell softly around them and Camden scooped her into his arms and carried her back to their cottage.
The laird pushed the door open and ducked to go through the doorframe with his wide shoulders. Camden put his wife down and shut the door behind them without taking his eyes off her. Olivia knew the desire she saw in his eyes and she thought of the bliss that she would feel soon. She thought of all the incredible things that he would do to her body and quickly decided that before he touched her, she needed to speak with him.
“Camden, wait please. I need to talk with you before you touch me because when you do, I get confused and I cannot concentrate.”
“I am going to do more than make you confused Olivia.”
“Hell,” she muttered.
He laughed. “What was that for?”
“It means we will have to talk later because I can’t resist you when you say my name. It drives me mad and now I cannot think of anything but you,” she admitted.
&nb
sp; “Come to me Olivia.”
The tall beautiful woman standing before him, obeyed his command and it did not take him long to strip her of all that she wore. Olivia shivered as he ran his fingers through her long dark hair letting his fingertips brush her bare back. Camden kissed the hollow between her neck and shoulder while she clung to her husband with desire and need.
The lovers made their way to the bed on the floor while removing Camden’s clothes and it did not seem fast enough for either of them. Their passionate kisses had grown feverish like a wildfire unable to be stopped. He pulled her on top of him and she quickly straddled his narrow waist not sure of what to do next. Camden lifted her up as if she weighed nothing, and let himself sink into her silky warmth.
“Camden,” she sighed.
The sight of her large breasts, beautiful face and swollen lips from his kisses was almost too much for him. She moved restlessly on top of him and together they moved to find the release they both desired. It was not long before Olivia felt the first rush of ecstasy flow like a wave through her body and she fell forward to bring their mouths together.
“Olivia,” he moaned against her lips, “my God, I need you now and always.”
With that, she surrendered everything to him and let herself fall into the powerful desire she craved. Camden found his own fulfillment watching Olivia shudder and then she collapsed on top of him. They both panted for air and neither tried to move for their bodies would not allow it.
Olivia pulled back and saw Camden’s face was flushed from their lovemaking. She could not help but smile knowing that she had caused that pleasure. The Highland laird looked into his wife’s eyes and he was thoroughly satisfied seeing they were still cloudy with passion. Camden rolled to his side taking her with him and together they slept in each other’s arms.
While Laird Sinclair lay peacefully sleeping, he dreamed of avenging the death of his father. Close by, in the wild terrain of the Highlands, a traitor lurked in the darkness and considered his next move. The plans this conspirator had created with his longtime friend Malcolm MacKay, had a flaw in them now and things would have to change.
He knew Malcolm wanted to rule the clans and he, the deceiver among them, would help him succeed by getting rid of Camden. Now, something had drastically changed and the traitor wanted a reward for his part of the arrangement, after all bringing Camden dead or alive to Malcolm was no easy feat. The spy in the woods wanted the stunning temptress that he had seen in the arms of Laird Sinclair for his prize.
From the moment he laid eyes on her beauty, the traitor had to have her. Malcolm would be furious, of course, but the idiot MacKay could never pull off this deed without the help of an insider that Camden trusted. Gaining Laird Sinclair’s confidence had taken some time but over the past two years, the laird had come to trust this man like a brother.
When the sinister man saw the snowflakes fall around the angel in the dark cloak, he wanted to take the English woman and hide her away from the rest of the world. He had seen beautiful women before but when the laird’s wife smiled tonight, it made the betrayer’s knees go weak. Never had he imagined anything could be that spectacular and now he was consumed with desire to have her.
The traitor needed to send word to Malcolm that the plans were going to be altered. He would still get rid of Camden but this perfect woman would become his. The evil man had already decided that if this woman did not come to him freely, he would take her by force.
The members of the clan were awake early the next morning and they worked together to remove the newly fallen snow from the village pathways. Liam had ordered the men to be on the fields early to begin their bow and arrow training. The warriors would make sure that by the time they were through with these men, they would be ready for a mighty battle.
The large amounts of food they were now eating would help everyone to gain the energy they needed to obey their laird’s orders. Camden and Olivia kept check on everyone throughout the clan as they inspected each area. She could not help smiling when she took Camden’s hand as they walked together in the cold morning air. Her husband made her happy and Olivia had not felt this way since the night before her brother shipped her off to the convent.
The laird and his wife walked to the training field and watched the men practicing with their targets. Camden stared at his wife and when she started laughing out loud, he wondered what in the devil was she thinking.
“Wife, would you care to enlighten me on what you find so humorous?”
“I understand these men are unskilled but I would expect your warriors to do a better job in the area of training my laird,” she said smugly.
“You dare question the skills of my men?”
“Oh, I do not doubt the skills of your men, my laird. I just question whether or not they are teaching these men correctly,” she answered plainly.
“And what would you suppose they do differently?”
“Well, may I ask you how many of the men you have shot with your bow and arrow have stood perfectly still while you took aim?”
“Get to the point wife.”
“I think it would be much wiser if you trained them to shoot with a moving target my laird.”
“And should I use real men for those targets? That would be most accurate,” he said with irritation.
“Of course not, now you are being silly. I have helped train soldiers before and we would put the targets onto a wagon and then had a horse pull it across the field, thus providing them with a moving target.”
“I assume that you shoot a bow as well as you fight with a sword.”
“Better I think, the bow is much lighter and I can shoot from a tree. It is much harder to sword fight in a tree,” she boasted.
Camden laughed. “I truly have a warrior for a wife.”
The laird had his men stop their training and he explained to them the idea his wife gave. They hurried to set up the new training method and Olivia was eager to show her husband exactly how accurate her shot was.
“Broderick are you available to assist me with something?” She yelled to the giant man.
“Yes m’lady. What do you need?” He replied.
“Could you bring me an orange from the food storage please?”
“Certainly m’lady,” Broderick said as he left to obey her request.
“Would you please ask him to stand still and place the orange on his head?” she said lightly.
“I thought you said it was better to practice shooting at a moving target wife,” Camden taunted as she grabbed a bow and a single arrow.
“Well, right now the target will not be moving, but I will be,” she smiled.
Camden wondered if he would ever get used to her smile and he hoped that if he did, it would lessen the effect it had on his body. The Highland laird was curious as to what his beautiful wife was going to do and then he watched as Olivia retrieved her horse from the small stable. The beast was not saddled and Camden instantly felt fear run through his body as he imagined what she was going to do next.
He was exactly right about what she planned on doing and as Olivia threw herself onto the bareback horse, Camden’s anger and panic was overwhelming. His body soon relaxed as he watched her stallion gallop through the snowy field with his wife guiding it expertly. Camden’s heart beat passionately with his sense of pride swelling for the woman that belonged to him. Olivia wore his plaid over her simple dress and her hair flew wildly behind her.
She rode a small distance across the field as Broderick returned and did as Olivia had instructed. Camden stood a few feet from him and Broderick began looking nervously as she raced her horse towards the waiting men.
“M’laird, is she insane?” Broderick worried.
“She isn’t insane but I suggest you stand still my friend,” Camden replied with a bit of humor in his voice.
“That is unproblematic for you Laird. You do not have the orange on your head.”
As the words left Broderick’s mouth, he felt a sprinkl
e of wetness across his face. He had not even seen her draw the bow before the arrow had gone through the side of the orange flesh. The massive man stared at his laird and Broderick tried to say something as he realized it was juice from the fruit all over his face.
“Incredible, truly incredible. Is there nothing my wife cannot do?” Camden praised.
Laird Sinclair watched her slow her horse and the arrogant smile on her face pleased him greatly. Olivia was the wife a Highland laird. As she got down from her beast and walked over to them, Camden could see the beautiful strong children they would have together. He thanked God silently for bringing her into his life. Camden knew that receiving Olivia was only out of tragedy, had his father not been killed and his clan slaughtered, he never would have known her.
From the distant left, the laird heard shouting and he watched as Travis, his youngest guard appeared from the thick of the forest.
“Laird, your sister’s husband Ian is almost here. He has eight men riding with him,” Travis said breathlessly.
“Is my sister with him?” Camden asked.
“No, she is not with him my laird.”
Camden figured his brother in-law would want to be a part of the revenge and he did not doubt Ian’s reasons for coming here. The laird was slightly irritated that his sister was not with him though. Camden wondered where Maggie was and if she was being kept safe.
“Travis, have a tent prepared for Ian and his men. See that Agnes gives them food and drink for they will be tired after the long journey,” Camden ordered.
Olivia had reached her husband after returning her stallion to the stable just before their guests had come through the trees. The laird explained to his wife who they were as the men approached him and Olivia wondered where Camden’s sister was.
The nine men got down from their horses and Tristan the young boy who was now the laird’s groom, helped to see to their stallions. When Olivia saw these men, she could see that they were roughly the same size as the men in the newly formed clan. It was apparent that her husband and his guard were not the average sized Highland men. Camden shook hands with Ian and then with the rest of the group that rode with him.
Highland Vengeance Page 9
