“The sun may nae shine for a hundred days more, this is Scotland, and I have known it to rain an entire season,” Elaine said, shaking her head.
“Aye, as have I, but we must hope that will nae be the case now. Come on, let me help ye,” he said, beckoning her toward the horse.
He cast a final glance around their hiding place, wondering if leaving was the right thing to do. But they could not just stay there and wait to be discovered; they had to ride on and find the MacDonald castle. It pained Finlay bitterly to place his trust in those he did not know and whose help could not be assured. But what other choice did he have? He was one man, alone with only Elaine as his loyal companion. There was nothing else to do but ride on and hope that all would be well.
Chapter Seventeen
Elaine was growing tired. Though she had slept well in the barn at the croft, their encounter with the men upon the moorland had unsettled her, and, as they rode on, she imagined figures emerging from the mist and ambushes awaiting them at every turn.
She clung tightly to Finlay, glancing nervously around her as they rode on for what seemed like hours. They had no idea where they were going or what they would find when, eventually, the mist cleared. She could not help but think that they were lost, though, as Finlay had said, it was hard to be lost when you had no idea where you were going.
“We should find a place to rest soon,” Finlay said, as they came to a track running north and south, the heathers giving way to a rocky outcrop that plateaued downwards into swirling clouds.
“What path is this? And dae we go north or south?” she asked.
“If we knew which was north and which was south, then perhaps I could answer that. For all I know, we have come around in a circle,” Finlay said, shaking his head.
“Oh, what use is it, Finlay? We have nay hope,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
“There is always hope, daenae despair,” Finlay replied, but Elaine did find herself despairing, and she was ready to give up.
She was soaked through, shivering and cold. The idea of adventure had seemed appealing in the sunshine and with others at her side. But now they were alone, and there was no one to come to their aid. If they were to survive, then it would be through their own merits and that alone.
“We must find somewhere to shelter for the night. Let us take the path this way,” Elaine said, pointing to what she thought was a northerly direction.
“And why that way?” Finlay asked.
“Because to stay here will get us nowhere, we must choose one or the other,” she replied, and he nodded, reining the horse in the direction she pointed.
But as they rode off, a chilling sound echoed from behind them, and Elaine turned to see the outline of men on horseback charging out of the mist.
“Tis’ the riders from before, come now, boy,” Finlay cried, urging the horse on along the path.
“They have seen us,” Elaine cried, glancing back.
The riders were still some distance behind them, but there was no doubting that they had been seen, and now came the pursuit.
“Cut them off, to the left and to the right,” came a cry through the mist.
“Quickly, Finlay, they are gainin’ on us now,” Elaine cried out, and Finlay urged the horse on faster, galloping through the mist into the unknown.
It seemed that their pursers had been lying in wait for them, and they had the advantage of knowing the countryside thereabouts. As fast as Finlay and Elaine rode, it seemed that the men were never far behind, and every time Elaine glanced back, it seemed that they gained a little ground.
“We cannae hope to outrun them,” Finlay cried, as they came to the brow of a hill and began charging down into a valley below where trees grew tall all around.
“But we might lose them in the forest. We have to try,” Elaine said, clinging onto Finlay for fear of being thrown from the horse’s back.
They charged into the trees, the horse almost stumbling over roots and briars growing all around. It was dark and gloomy, the mist hanging in the air, and soon they were deep into woodland, not stopping as the sounds of their pursuers grew fainter.
“I think we may have lost them, or at least confused them as to where we have gone,” Finlay said, still urging the horse deeper into the trees.
“We cannae ride all night though; the horse is tiring,” Elaine said, feeling the sweat soaking the beast beneath her.
“We shall go this way,” Finlay said, urging the horse into a thicket, which led into a deep ravine where a stream gushed over tall rocks.
After riding for a while longer, he reined in the horse, and Elaine looked around her with trepidation, picturing an army of men appearing from behind the rocks to ambush them. But all was quiet, except for the gushing of the water and the heavy breathing of the horse, which seemed glad of the rest and began to pant heavily as it stood amidst the clearing.
“Look, there is an opening in the rocks over there, can ye see?” Finlay said, slipping down from the horse’s back.
“Daenae leave me, Finlay,” Elaine whispered, but he was gone, appearing a few moments later and smiling.
“Quickly, come on, we shall be safe here. There is a cave behind the waterfall here, quite hidden away,” he said, beckoning her to follow him.
He led her to where the water cascaded over a fall, the trees growing low and hanging almost vertically over the water. A fern-lined path led up the edge of the waterfall, and a mass of reeds and rushes hung down like an enormous curtain from the rocks above.
“We shall be wet through,” she said, but Finlay pulled back the rushes, pushing through into an open space behind.
It was like a large room, perfectly dry, with a sandy floor and a rocky ledge running on two sides. The waterfall cascaded in front, creating the perfect hiding place, and Elaine breathed a sigh of relief as she turned to Finlay and shook her head.
“There now, we are safe,” he said, putting his arms around her.
“What about the horse? The beast will nae get in here,” she said.
“He can graze out in thicket. Even if he is seen, then they will nae know we are here, tis’ the perfect place to hide,” Finlay said, and he went out to bring in the saddlebags.
Elaine sat down on the ledge and put her head in her hands. A feeling of utter exhaustion came over her, she could go no further without rest, and she prayed that they would not be discovered, for she knew there was nowhere else to run to now. Who were their pursuers, and what would they have done with them if they had caught them? She was pondering this when Finlay returned, and she brushed the tears from her eyes, trying her best to appear contented.
“Is the horse settled?” she asked, and Finlay nodded.
“Aye, there is a thicket of gorse a little further downstream, and I have left him there. Unless our pursuers thrash their way into it, then he will nae easily be seen. There was nay sign of any of them, I think we escaped,” he said, sitting down opposite her and laying down the saddlebags.
“Ye think?” she asked, and he smiled.
“We did, Elaine, daenae worry. Ye are safe here. We can get some sleep and tomorrow find our way out of this forest,” he said.
“We have only enough food for tonight and tomorrow; we shall have to find our way out,” she said, as Finlay drew out the half-eaten loaf of bread and some of the cheese from the saddlebag.
“We will, daenae worry, let me worry for us,” he said, and Elaine nodded.
She knew that she could cast her worries onto Finlay and that he would be there to take care of her. He had done so much to protect her, and if it had not been for him, then surely, she would not have escaped their pursuers.
“Dae ye think they are MacDonalds?” she asked, and Finlay nodded.
“This is their territory, and now that tis’ known we are ridin’ through it, I have nay doubt that they will pursue us if they can. But the weather has taken a turn for the worse, and they will nae wish to spend the night in the woods, nae if they can
help it. We shall nae be disturbed by them. Look, we have a dry and safe place to rest. I will keep watch; we can even light a fire here at the entrance. The smoke will nae be seen. I will go and collect them firewood, there are holly bushes further up the stream, and there will be dry sticks in their boughs,” he said.
Elaine was reluctant to be left alone, but the thought of a fire was cheering, and she busied herself in laying out the blankets and preparing what little food they had left. Everything was damp, and she removed her tunic, shivering as she did so.
She sat down on the ledge, wearing only her undergarments and hoping that the fire would give enough heat to dry their clothes before the morning. When Finlay returned, he blushed at the sight of her sitting upon the ledge, and she smiled at him, shaking her head and laughing.
“Should I dress?” she asked, wondering if perhaps she had been too forward in appearing before him in such a manner, and Finlay shook his head and laughed.
“I had nae expected to see ye in such a state of undress,” he replied, busying himself with the fire, “though I will nae complain.”
“Well, I was nae going to sit in damp clothes all night. I would have caught a terrible chill. Ye should take yers off too; we can dry them over the fire when ye get it going for us,” Elaine said, smiling at him.
He looked at her with embarrassment, as though unsure of what to do, turning instead to the fire, which he soon had burning merrily at the entrance to the cave.
“There now, ye could hang yer clothes over the flames, though the wood is damp and smoky,” he said.
“I only want them dry, though I shall be cold waitin’ for them,” she said, hanging up the clothes on a long piece of wood which she balanced between two rocks.
“Ye are right about being damp; I am startin’ to shiver,” Finlay said, beginning to undress in front of her.
She watched as he stripped off to his undergarments, blushing a little at the sight. He hung the clothes over the fire and then came to sit next to her, a shiver running through her at the sight of his muscular body, the thought of him taking her in his arms now filling her mind, desire taking hold
“What is wrong? Have ye never seen a man in such a state before?” he asked, smiling at her.
“If my father could see us now,” she said, turning to him and laughing.
“He would say I was behavin’ without honor, I am sure of it,” Finlay replied.
“Oh, I daenae think so. Ye have rescued me from all manner of dangers, kept me safe, and found me a place to rest for the night. Why, ye have even married me, Mr. McGinty,” she said, and they both laughed.
“We made a most respectable couple, ye and I,” he said, and Elaine nodded.
“Respectable enough to be believed,” she said as he reached out and took her by the hand.
For a moment, they sat in silence, and Elaine was unsure what might happen next. She had never been in love, nor known the touch of a man. A sudden shiver ran through her again, and she turned to him, a smile playing across her lips, a sense of desire running through her, and a longing for his touch.
“Despite everythin’ we have been through, I wouldnae change it,” he said, and Elaine nodded.
“Ye daenae know how I felt when I thought ye were dead,” she said, tears welling up in her eyes at the memory of that awful moment.
“But I am nay ghost now,” he replied, and she laughed.
“A ghost wouldnae take my hand like this, for tis’ warm and I can see that ye are very real,” she replied.
“And a ghost wouldnae dae this either,” he said.
She blushed as their eyes met, and he leaned forward, their lips coming together in a kiss. She let out a sigh as he took her in his arms, his passions aroused as he began to kiss her neck and fondle at her breasts.
“Finlay,” she gasped, quite caught up in this strange new sensation.
“Dae ye want this?” he whispered, looking up at her, and she nodded, though nervous as to what was to come.
Elaine had never experienced the touch of a man in this way, though she had thought often of what this first moment would be like. Now, continued to kiss her, his lips encircling her breasts, his hands running along her legs, the touch sending a shiver of delight running through her.
“I daenae know what to dae,” she said, and he looked up and smiled.
“I will show ye,” he said, and he edged forward, rising over her, pulling her undergarments away as he exposed himself and gently drew her close into his embrace.
Her whole body tingled with expectation, the sensation of his touch enough to make her reel with ecstasy. She had never imagined such feelings as were now aroused within her, and the shock of their intensity took her entirely by surprise. He was kissing her passionately now, their bodies becoming intertwined, as he pushed forward, a striking sensation which caused her to cry out and gasp.
“Finlay,” she cried, breathless and ecstatic.
“I am nae hurtin’ ye, am I?” he said, pulling back, but she shook her head, begging him to continue.
“Nay, but gentle, please, gently,” she gasped as he moved close toward her again, and she felt that same sensation filling her whole body and causing her to cry out again.
“Ye are so beautiful, Elaine. I have longed for this moment,” he said, pulling her ever closer toward him, his breathing now erratic as he seemed to enter a climax.
Now, Elaine felt a sensation building within her, like nothing she had ever experienced before. A heat was flooding through her, and she could hardly breathe, so intense were the feelings he was arousing within her. She gasped, clutching at him, and let out a cry, her whole body shaking with delight.
“Finlay, oh Finlay, please, more,” she cried, her words lost in the delirious ecstasy which now rushed through her.
Finlay too, let out a cry, his body arching and stiffening as he pushed forward, her whole-body tingling at the feeling of him inside her as the climax came. Panting and breathless, they embraced, Finlay, holding her gently as the feelings inside her subsided, and they lay back together on the ledge, breathless and lost for words.
The fire was crackling and spitting at the entrance to the cave, a sweet smell of pinewood filling the air, and the waterfall gushing down in its cascade from above. No longer was Elaine shivering with the cold, but her whole body was glowing with the ecstasy of what had been. She had never thought that this first moment would feel as it had done, and she longed to experience that touch and sensation once again. Finlay smiled at her, their lips meeting once more in a kiss, his hands gently caressing her breasts as he let out a deep sigh of satisfaction and smiled at her.
“How glad I am we found this place,” he said, and Elaine nodded.
“Perhaps we should stay here forever, Mr. McGinty,” she said, and he laughed.
“And perhaps ye should be more than Mrs. McGinty to me,” he said, and Elaine blushed.
“Are ye askin’ me to marry ye, Finlay MacCallum?” she asked, and he cocked his head onto one side and smiled.
“I am sayin’ that fate has brought us together, and for that, I will be forever grateful. Why not then allow fate to take its course?” he replied.
“There is still much to see to before we can think of such things,” Elaine replied, and Finlay nodded.
“Aye, that is true, but think on it because ye would make me very happy if ye would,” he said.
Finlay kissed her once more before rising from the ledge and going to the fire. Their clothes had dried now, and he handed Elaine her tunic and dressed too. She watched as he pulled on his clothes, a scar on his torso, making her wonder what tales he had to tell of past endeavors.
“What scar is that?” she asked, pointing to his side.
“Oh, that was given to me when I was very young. I was fightin’ with a lad at the castle, we were sparring, and he insulted me, so I went for him, but he was too quick, and I paid for it with this scar. Tis’ only a flesh wound, though perhaps it looks more impressive than it shou
ld,” he replied.
“I had thought perhaps ye had fought in some great battle,” she replied, and Finlay laughed.
“In truth, I have fought in few battles, and those I have fought in have been well planned. It was my father who was the warrior, always tellin’ me that I would follow in his footsteps but never showin’ me how to dae so. I know little about warfare, of that I can assure ye,” he replied, button the clasp on his cloak and settling down on the ledge across from her.
“Ye have been thrust into it now,” she said, and Finlay nodded.
“There is little choice now. Our clan is plunged into a state of war, and we have little choice but to rise to that which confronts us. But never would I have thought that the enemy would come from within. My uncle has much to answer for,” he said.
Highlander’s Forbidden Desire: Scottish Medieval Highlander Romance Page 19
