Marcus looked toward the woods where he’d left Abigale and the girls, then back at the impatient knight.
The Douglas war cry broke their stance as both men readied for battle. A cruel twisted smile reached across the knight’s lips as he turned and faced the Black Douglas and two hundred of his clansmen.
~~~~~
Abigale was trying desperately to be brave, but if the truth be told she was just as scared as the girls. Time seemed to stand still. In the distance she could hear the blood-curdling cries of villagers, and the tiniest forest sounds seemed louder than they really were. Abigale grew restless. They couldn’t stay hidden in here forever. What if something happened to Marcus? What if those raiders came searching for them? Nay, she couldn’t stay here. She needed to find out what was going on.
“Girls, I’m going to take a look outside. I need for ye to be brave and stay here until I return,” Abigale insisted. Both girls, with dirt-stained tears streaming from their faces, clung to one another, and the youngest shook her head no. Abigale wiped away the wee girl’s tears. “I promise I won’t be long, little lamb."
Before Abigale got up to leave, she looked down at her dirk. She couldn’t leave the girls unprotected, she thought. Pushing her skirts up, she unsheathed her dirk and handed it to the eldest girl. “Here take this and dinnae be afraid to use it." She quit the yew tree hideaway.
Abigale reached the tree line, peeking through a thicket of blackthorn overlooking the village, and cringed. The sound of swords clanking together echoed through the screams as blood was being shed. Even though clan Douglas was fighting for their lives, there had been too many lives lost. Her heart told her she needed to help the wounded and tend to their wounds, but common sense told her to stay hidden and get back to the girls.
As she looked toward the castle gauging how far away it was, she noticed about two hundred clansmen on horseback riding toward the village. Thank God help was on the way! But where was Marcus? Dear God, please let him be alive.
She was retreating into the forest to her secret hideaway, when suddenly a strong rough hand grabbed her braid and yanked her into a hard ridged chest. “Aren’t ye a pretty one?” A snarl came from the man as he snaked his arm around Abigale’s waist and covered her mouth with his free hand. The repulsive man smelled like a dung heap and ale lingered on his breath. A raider indeed, Abigale thought. She planted her feet and tried to wriggle free. Not wanting to frighten the girls, Abigale held back her screams as panic pricked up her spine. What was this man going to do to her, better yet what was she going to do? She should have never left the safety of the yew tree.
As if by some kind of survival instinctual reaction, Abigale hauled-off and kicked at the man’s shins and bit down hard on his hand until she tasted the tang of blood. If the man was going to have his way with her, she’d fight him until the end. "Ye bitch!” the raider yelled out in pain and released her. As he held his hand, shock spread across his scarred, unshaven face. The wench had the ballocks to fight him. An evil grin crept across his lips like he was ready and willing for the chase. “Ye better run little lamb before I catch ye,” he sneered with hatred.
Not wanting to lead the foul man straight to the girls, Abigale turned and ran in the opposite direction from the yew tree. She pumped her legs through the unforgiving material of her dress that only seemed to slow her down. She glanced over her shoulder to find that the rogue was hot on her heels. An inconvenient stump and a misstep sent Abigale tumbling to the ground. Not a good predicament to be in. Quickly she turned over and frantically scooted backwards away from the raider. This was it, she thought.
“Looks like the big bad wolf caught ye wench. Ye’ll pay for wounding me fighting hand.” The man grabbed Abigale’s legs and slid her towards him as he yanked up her dress.
Abigale strained to shove the man off her, but he was too strong. She pounded her fist into his chest and clawed at his face, but the raider fed off her distress. She kicked and twisted and through tear-filled eyes she saw a raised meaty hand coming towards her face to strike. Pulling up her arms to block the blow, she closed her eyes tight and braced herself. The man’s hand came down and smacked her face causing stars to burst behind her eyes. Then another blow followed.
Coming to her senses wasn’t easy as Abigale felt the wretched raider straddle her and untie his dirt-stained trews. “Ah, what a fine piece of arse we have here.” He pushed his hips forward shoving his hardness against her stomach.
This couldn’t be happening to her, this had to be a terrible nightmare. Her head throbbed and her body ached. Abigale for God’s sake, wake up! A sharp prick poked at her chest as if she had been stung. The brooch that the woman from the village had given her. She had pinned it to her gown before she found the girls.
Oh my lady, watch oot for the pointy end. ‘Tis sharp. The woman’s voice echoed through her head. Indeed, ‘tis sharp, Abigale mused. Quickly she reached for it and slipped it off her dress. With the pendant in the palm of her hand and the pointy end sticking straight up, she waited to make her move.
“Ye know wench, if ye just spread yer legs like a good little girl this would be over soon.” The sickening mocking laughter he belted out made the bile rise up in her throat. Come on ye eejit, make yer move.
The foulness of his breath assaulted her senses as the raider bent down to roughly grab her breasts. Abigale pulled her arm back giving her just enough room to carry out the momentum she needed. She released her swing and plunged the sharp end of the brooch into the man’s neck.
Wide-eyed, the man looked at her in shock. His hand covering the wound was dripping with blood. He made an attempt to yell at her but blood poured from his mouth. Time seemed to have stilled as she watched the raider holding his neck, trying to breathe.
In no time at all the man was yanked from Abigale’s body by a massive man she recognized. James?
James stood behind the raider and grabbed him by his neck, snatching him off Abigale. He twisted the man around so that his body blocked Abigale’s view of the raider and what he was about to do to him. With one fluid motion and a loud crack, James snapped the raider's neck, letting his lifeless body fall to the ground.
James’s eyes darkened and his face turned sinister as he looked down at Abigale. So, this was what the Black Douglas looked like. If she could disappear into the forest floor right now she would. This man was undoubtedly livid with her, but nonetheless she was happy to see him.
James extended a hand to Abigale and helped her up off the wet forest floor. “He hit ye?” James cradled her face in his hands and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
Abigale was silent. She couldn’t believe that she just stabbed a man. Seeing the man lying in a lifeless heap, she said, “Is he dead?”
“Dinnae look, Abigale. Look at me.”
As soon as she looked up into his amber eyes, she began to crumble. She wrapped her arms around him and melted into his tight embrace as if he was the security she needed to help her forget about the blasted man and what he was going to do to her.
“Did he—“
Knowing what James was hinting at, Abigale shook her head. ”Nay, I stabbed him with the brooch before he had the chance to.”
They stood there for a while, holding on to one another. Abigale felt James’s chest exhale in relief, yet he wasn’t completely satisfied with the situation. By the way he flexed and worked his jaw, she knew James was angry. Once he knew she was alright no words had been spoken between them. Abigale stepped out from his embrace and began to brush the dirt from her dress.
“Are ye alright, lass?” James’s tone was deep. He was concerned, yet she could sense the tenseness he held toward her.
Still angry at him over his last shenanigans, Abigale brushed him off. “Nay, I’m just a little rattled.” She avoided eye contact, for she really didn't have the strength to fight with him. She needed to get back to the girls. “The girls.” Abigale ran towards the yew tree praying that the girls were untouched.<
br />
James ran after her. “Wait… What girls are ye talking about?”
Chapter 15
Never mess with a dragon’s woman.
The ride back to Black Stone was eerily quiet. James rode ahead of his men holding in his rage. He worked his jaw until he felt his teeth grind together, never once sparing a glance at Abigale, because he didn’t trust himself not to come down hard on the lass. He was holding on by a fraying thread. Plus he didn't want to lose control in front of his men nor frighten the little girls who rode with Abigale.
If the lass would have just let him explain himself, she wouldn’t have found herself in the middle of a village raid and… James stopped mid-thought and shook his head. He couldn’t think about what that English filth was going to do to her. God’s wounds, he had ripped the man’s head clear off his shoulders with such viciousness. More like sliced it off. With claws extended, he cut the bastard just like a blade.
Then there was the issue of these wee girls coming to stay at Black Stone. There was no problem in taking care of your own, but with that came a risk. Who knew where or who their parents were?
As they approached the stables, James’s anger started to boil over as he saw Marcus help Abigale and the girls dismount from Fergus. James rushed to the great hall. He needed mead.
Shortly after James had entered the hall, Abigale and the girls followed behind him with Rory, Conall, Magnus and Marcus.
“What were ye thinking, lass!” The baritone of his voice rang out in rage and echoed throughout the great hall.
Abigale quickly gave Alice the little girl in her arms. “Ye’ll be safe with Alice,” she reassured the girls. Alice lifted the wee child up and on to her hip. "Come along my sweets.” Alice placed a comforting hand on the oldest girl’s shoulder and led her to the stairs leading to a bedchamber. Abigale was sure that Alice was going to pamper the girls with a warm bath and food.
Marcus, Rory, Conall and Magnus came into the great hall to join them and silently waited for their laird’s wrath. By the looks of it, it was going to be one hell of a battle of the strong-willed.
“Abigale!” The echo of her name being yelled made her shudder and sent a chill down her spine. James was furious with her.
Abigale closed her eyes and took a deep breath to settle her nerves before she faced the storm. As she turned around, she met an ice cold dark stare “My Laird,” she swallowed, “I went to the village for some fresh air. As ye may recall, I needed some time to think about my new-found knowledge of Bothwell Castle.”
James stood towering over her tiny frame, sternly looking down at her, his voice deep, low, and intimidating. “Ye wouldn’t have needed fresh air if ye would’ve let me explain." James’s jaw ticked in aggravation.
Abigale back-stepped until she felt the coldness of the stone wall on her back. James stalked toward her. “I didnae go alone… Marcus was with me,” Abigale meekly replied.
James turned his head toward Marcus and if looks could kill, Marcus would be a corpse. “And ye thought this was a good idea? Going to the village when there could very well be someone out there wanting me dead?” Just that thought alone raised his fury to the next level.
Before Marcus could answer, Abigale interrupted. “James, it’s no his fault, he tried to talk me out of it.”
James braced his large hands on either side of Abigale’s head, encaging her to the wall. Now she was defending Marcus. Like it wasn’t bad enough she left Black Stone with another man, now she defended him. James looked as if he wanted to rip Marcus's heart out and feed it to his dogs. His dragon agreed and begged to be released.
One thing James was learning fast was you don’t mess with a dragon’s woman.
“I want ye to heed my words carefully, Abigale.” James leaned his head down until their foreheads were slightly touching. His cold dark stare flickered with rage. “Ye will no leave Black Stone again. Is that clear?” James growled his demands deep and low.
She ducked down and freed herself from his entrapment. “I will no be a prisoner here. I shall come and go as I please.”
The silence was deafening in the great hall, not even a breath was taken. Everyone waited for James’s reaction. No one dared to defy a command from the laird.
Who did this lass think she was, denying his command? At first James didn’t know how to respond. If one of his men were defiant he showed no mercy… off with their heads. But he couldn’t very well do that to Abigale, though the thought of bending her over his knee and spanking her arse did.
“Ye do as I say.”
Hands on her hips. “And what if I don’t?” Abigale’s cheeks flushed red with anger.
James approached Abigale dominating and demanding. He grabbed her arms to make a point that he wasn’t taking no for an answer. “If I have to, I’ll lock ye in the bedchamber… tie ye to the bed… I’ll do whatever necessary to ensure yer safety. Do ye understand me?”
“James, leave the lass alone. If ye want to place blame then place it on me.” Marcus began to walk toward James until he was standing face to face with him. Both men were the same height, but Marcus was leaner. His bright blue stare challenged James.
James didn’t back down, he stood firm. “She is no business of yers, cousin. I suggest ye back down before someone gets hurt.”
“Are ye threatening me?”
James’s jaw ticked. The feelings running through him right now were foreign to him and he didn’t know how to control them. However, it didn’t help that his dragon was restless and itched for a fight. Jealousy wasn’t an emotion he was used to.
“Nay, no threat. I’m just curious why the sudden interest in my wife. Do ye want her for yourself?”
Marcus smirked. “I can no deny the fact that she deserves a better man than ye.”
Before Marcus knew what hit him, James shoved him with such power that Marcus stumbled back. Marcus threw his arms up as if he was beckoning James to take the first punch. He was not a coward and he didn’t fear his cousin, not by a long shot. “Go ahead… make yer move, Laird Douglas,” Marcus mocked.
James had had enough. Emotions of jealousy, anger, and confusion were running amok in his head. He didn’t quite understand why Marcus was challenging him like this. Was he really trying to make an impression on Abigale? Or did he have other ulterior motives? Regardless, he was being challenged and knew he needed to decide what he was going to do about it. Oh, he knew damn well what his dragon wanted to do. Shred the bastard. Nay, he would grab ahold of whatever was left of his self-control and be a man and walk away. In time he would fix things between him and Abigale, because there was no way in bloody hell he would let her go.
James looked Marcus up and down as if he was disgusted by his mere being. He stayed silent and turned to walk away.
“Or are ye a coward like yer da?” Marcus pushed on.
James charged him, spearing his stomach with his right shoulder until his body slammed against the stone wall. Marcus’s head bounced off the stone with a thud and he smirked at James with the devil in his eyes. He was mocking him again. Against James’s will, he cocked his right arm back and his massive hand pummeled down on Marcus’s face. He was going to make damn sure to knock that smirk off his face. James readied himself to repeat the assault on Marcus when he heard Abigale shriek, “Stop it!”
Abigale rushed over to James and held on to his arm before he could hit Marcus again. James pushed her off his arm and Abigale stumbled from the force. She tried again and stepped in front of James as Rory and Conall grabbed Marcus and escorted him outside. With all her might Abigale forcefully pushed her hands into James’s rock solid chest. "This is quite enough!”
James snapped his attention to Abigale and looked down at her. His chest heaved up and down as his breathing labored and his hands were bloodied. His irises swirled amber with reptilian slits as pupils. A sinister stare pinned Abigale. He had lost all control and let his dragon take over.
~~~~~
Hysteria billowed behind
Abigale’s eyes, turning them huge and full of fear. She couldn’t quite comprehend what she’d seen. In disbelief she stared back at James or who she thought was James. His eyes! No human ever had eyes that swirled like his. And the thin black slits that centered in his depths, nay not human at all. Animalistic, most definitely. Her hand shook over her mouth to stifle a scream that was lodged in her throat. She shook her head in disbelief.
“Abigale, let me explain.” James took a slow step toward her.
Abigale backed away from him, “Don’t come near me.” Her words were barely a shaken whisper.
Abigale needed to find a way to escape. What type of monster is the Black Douglas? she thought and what was he going to do with her? No more was her sense common. There was a beast standing right in front of her waiting for a good chase. Looking over her shoulder she saw the twin wooded doors leading to the outside bailey just a few feet away. Could she make it to those doors and escape before he caught her? She turned back around and met his amber glare and a shiver raced up her spine sending her straight into flight instinct. Fear took over as she dashed through the great hall and out the door.
Relieved to see that Fergus was still in the bailey waiting for the stable groom, with much haste she grabbed the leather reins and hoisted herself up onto him. Taking off in a full gallop toward the forest, she didn’t know where she was going. All she knew was that she needed to be far away from Black Stone and that monster.
Chapter 16
Until we meet again…
Hooves thundered through the forest disturbing a flock of black birds sending them up into the gray cloudy sky. Abigale’s heart raced faster and faster with each stride Fergus took. Scrapes streaked her skin as low-lying tree branches whipped at her face. She maneuvered her steed, zigzagging between heavily rooted trees when the hem of her dress caught on a branch and ripped a chunk off. She knew she was pushing Fergus faster than she should, but fear had grabbed a hold of the reins and drove her forward. The quicker she was far away from Black Stone, the better she would be.
Highland Charm: First Fantasies Page 72
