by Pruitt, Anna
“I swear to God I will cut you open, sir.” Lydia took a step forward.
“That’s no way to treat your brother… by marriage.”
“What?”
“Soon to be.” William corrected himself.
“What on earth?”
“My name is William Ryan.” The man started with his hands raised. “I am in love with your sister, Mary.”
“She’s the only sister I have.” Lydia did not lower her weapon. She was not ready to relax just yet.
“Indeed.” William tried to lower his hands once again, but changed his mind when he saw the fear in her eyes.
“Did my mother send you?”
“Yes, though it is not the true reason I came.”
“Explain yourself.”
“Mary did not want you to know, Lydia. She is afraid, rightfully so, if you come back, you’ll be killed. She’s willing to marry the Baron to spare you.”
Lydia shoulders eased. It sounded exactly like her sister.
“When your mother told me where you were, I thought maybe I could convince you to come back.”
“To die?”
“No, I was more hoping your husband might come instead.” William was obviously disappointed. When he saw Lydia’s heartbreak over the matter, even though she nodded, he was quick to add, “He is Laird.”
“He is Laird.” Lydia agreed. With many obligations, she added in her mind.
“We’ll come up with another plan, a better plan.” William tried. Lydia shook her head.
“No.” Lydia sheathed her knife but was still not willing to reason with him. “You are not welcome here.”
“You are as stubborn as your sister.” William sat on a rock and warmed his hands by the fire. “Luckily so am I.”
For some reason, Lydia smiled. She shook her head. “Mary would have gotten word to me if she was engaged.” Lydia’s smile vanished once more. She suspiciously eyed the man sitting by her fire.
“She doesn’t know it yet.” William’s charming smile had Lydia laughing.
“That’s a thought men have in common, I suppose.” Lydia thought of her husband and frowned once more. He’s Laird, she said to herself once more. Many obligations. And he was no longer hers. Not really.
“Lydia,” William stayed where he was and watched Lydia in so much pain. In a way it was like watching the woman he loved in pain. It was like finding out he was going to lose the woman he loved all over again. It shook him to the very center of his being. That was a feeling he would never forget. He hated how he was being forced to remember it right now. Yet, “I have to believe that everything will—“
“I’m very tired, William.” Lydia cut him off, not willing to listen to his good will. “Feel free to stay but you had better be willing to leave at first light.” Lydia marched to her bedspread and ignored William for the rest of the evening.
It was at least a partial win, William mused. His heart went out to Lydia. He could tell she had no idea her husband loved her. Lydia did not know the agony Laird Garrison was going to go through when he realized his wife was gone.
****
Lydia wished she had nightmares like other people; the kind that scared you so bad your eyes flew open, while your hand lurched for your fast beating heart. She never really had nightmares before this fateful morning. Lydia dreamed for a lifetime, or so it seemed. She dreamed that her husband never came for her. Why would he? She was obviously running away for him. If Nathanial ever caught up to her again, he would most likely crush her. Or simply look right through her the way she was dreaming right now. It was the most horrific encounter of her life. But she could not force herself to open her eyes and end the dream.
There he was, standing in front of her. At first, it seemed as though he was there for her, but he was not. He was there for the wedding. Lydia looked down and saw herself wearing that godforsaken dress once again. It was too heavy for her, making it hard to breathe. Lydia was being given back to Baron Fane. Laird Nathanial Garrison stepped forward from the crowd, took her hand, and walked her to her new husband.
“Laird! Nathanial!” Lydia called out to him as he walked away from her for the last time. He did turn to her. Nothingness in his eyes. She was nothing to him. This dream was the bowels of hell and she could not force herself to wake back to the real world.
Hearing the sound of an arrow being pulled back, close to release, did have her opening her eyes quicker than lightning. Lydia already had her hand on her knife when she saw William kneeling next to her. He was motionless, holding his frame, waiting for the right moment to loose his arrow. Thank God it was not pointed at her, Lydia thought as she watched him. There was little doubt in her mind this man knew what he was doing, and would end the life of whatever he was stalking.
William loosed the arrow before Lydia could see what he was killing. She heard the death cry of some poor animal; the shriek was short and in the end, the animal gave up its life quickly.
He said nothing as he skinned the creature and cooked it for them. There was an odd air between them now. Lydia could not put her finger on it. Until…
“I kill when I need to, Lydia.” William finally made eye contact with her. It chilled her to the bone. “I do what needs to be done.”
Lydia simply nodded.
Moments later as Lydia stood, readying her horse for their travels, she could not help but soak in his words. What was he trying to tell her? Lydia watched William pack his belongings and mount his horse.
“Come along. We’re not more than a half days ride away.” He commanded. Lydia obeyed, but she had the sinking suspicion that she made a mistake by letting him follow along. What was his plan?
I do what needs to be done.
****
For the next several hours, Lydia held onto that thought, now positive she was walking into some sort of trap. She was not naive, never had been. The other thought that haunted her was that of her husband. Where was he? Had he returned from his duties with his brother? Had he discovered her treachery? Was he coming for her? Before Lydia knew, these thoughts had consumed her until they were arriving very near their destination.
William reined in his horse and dismounted. He hid behind a tree and took note of the activity below. Lydia followed suit. It was a home she knew well. She spent many winters in the warmth those walls brought. Now, as the snow started to fall on William and Lydia and the cold set into their bones, Lydia realized it looked more like a stronghold now. Guards walked to and from the structure, carrying all manner of weaponry. They were her father’s men, and Baron Fane’s men. Fane was planning something big.
“I’ll not fight with you, William.” Lydia did not turn to the man as she spoke. She did not see the disappointment, the pain wash over his face. “I’ll not stop you from what you’ve been hired to do.”
“I know.” William admitted.
Several minutes later, after Lydia had surrendered her weapons, the two walked towards the massive structure.
“Have you ever met my sister?” Lydia noticed one of the soldiers up ahead. He saw them and shouted to the others.
“Never.” William forced his voice to be cold now.
“You’re one of Fane’s men. I never saw you with my father.”
“No. I belong to no one.” William could not fathom why he was opening up to this woman. They stopped when they entered the gate. They waited for long moments, all eyes on them. “Forgive me.” William had never once asked forgiveness for doing his job before.
The doors to the great hall swung open and Mary ran out with tears streaming down her face. “You stupid girl!” Mary shouted. Mary swung her arms around Lydia and started weeping. Mary pulled herself together quickly. This is when she noticed William.
The hunter was greeted by a loud, hard and very cold fist to the face. “You coward!” Mary shook her hand vigorously.
William was able to compose himself before his employer reached him. Lydia’s mother exited the building and approached them.
“You are worth the price.” Mother smiled as she handed William his pay.
Lydia finally understood. Nathanial was protecting her… from her own mother.
“Mother, please.” Mary was now weeping again. “You cannot do this.”
“I can do whatever I please, child.” Mother glanced at her daughter. “She took your father from me. Ended his life by marrying that barbarian. I have to even the score.”
“I could take care of the job, milady.” William chimed in. “For… the right compensation.” Did he seem too eager? Now that he collected his fee, he would not mind letting the girl go free.
Lydia was the only person in the group not fighting to keep her alive, minus her mother. She was silent, she watched her mother, letting g the realization of her life flood her in this one moment. It had been her mother all along. Mother inspected her daughter for long moments. Then she turned to William.
“Leave before I change my mind, young man. I am feeling very generous today.” Mother turned and walked away. “Bring her inside.” Mother called out to one of the soldiers.
Lydia wondered if Nathanial knew how deep this went, and how long he knew. She silently prayed he was not coming after her. Lydia watched all the men get ready for some sort of battle. Her husband, she feared, would not survive.
Chapter Seventeen
“You should not be here, Lydia.” Mary wept in her sister’s arms. Together, the sisters sat in a dark room in the very back of the holding. It was the room Lydia used to frequent as a child. “I sent a message to you. I swear I tried.”
“I could not let you marry Baron Fane. I could not.” Lydia comforted her younger sister like she had so many times in their lives. It had never been like this before. “I had to try.”
“The wedding is tomorrow.” Mary sobered now. “I’ll not survive.”
“Hush now. We’ll think of something.”
Silence. Both girls knew Lydia was lying. The only hope they had was a husband that had little interest in his wife. God, she hoped he meant what he said when he declared his love for her.
“Garrison will come for you.” Mary predicted.
“We cannot count on it.”
“I am counting on it.” Mother entered the room and had both girls growing frigid in their seats. Mother approached the girls and sat on the bed next to them, lovingly stroking Lydia’s hair.
“My beautiful children.” Mother cooed. “I never thought children would be useful to me.” Mother touched Lydia’s cheek. “So many times I fought myself as a young mother. So many times I took you both to the water’s edge and prayed for the strength to end it. To take this lovely head and hold it under the water until you stopped moving. I suppose God moves in mysterious ways, after all.” Mother stopped stroking Lydia’s hair then. Instead she went on to run her daughter’s cheek. “Mary will bind a treaty with the most powerful man, and a dear friend.” Mother dropped her hand and took in the looks on her daughter’s faces. Lydia was not looking at her. Bitch. “And Lydia will end a lifelong quarrel for me.”
Lydia’s eyes finally moved to her mother’s.
“Men can be so… easily persuaded, can’t they?” Mother was once again petting her oldest daughter. “Did Garrison tell you about his mother?” Mother paused. Was she expecting an answer? “Of course he did. Men, you see, are weak when it comes to women. I am sure you have figured this out by now. That bastard Garrison’s mother was weak, for your father. No sooner had she given Laird Garrison a son was she throwing herself into my marriage. Six years your father had an affair with her. He was weak for the Scots. They held a power over him in his youth.”
Mother was standing now, speaking low, feeling the pain of her memories. “I could not have that.” Mother was now leaning in front of Lydia, taking her hands between her hands. “I told your father he could end that abomination growing inside Garrison’s belly, or I would never give him an heir of his own. I would keep finding ways to have accidents, and no baby would survive inside of me.”
Mary silently started to cry beside her sister. Lydia forced herself to stay strong.
“He obeyed, of course. No man can go without an heir. I trusted he would end the boy as well. But, men can be pathetic. Instead of an heir, we got you two. How disappointing life can be sometimes.” Mother reached out and grabbed Mary’s hand, pulling her along as she left the room.
“Lydia!” Mary screamed. Lydia stood and was greeted by a hard punch to the abdomen. Lydia fell to the ground. Mother kicked her in the stomach several times, screaming like an animal.
Lydia lie on the floor after the attack, catching her breath, forcing herself to breathe through the pain. “Say goodbye to Mary, dear.” Mother grabbed her younger daughter again. “She’s getting married in the morning. I’d love for you to join, but you have another engagement to attend.”
After her mother and sister left, Lydia let the pain, physical and emotional, overcome her. Lydia broke down, sobbing in the middle of the floor. “Oh God, Nathanial, do not come for me.” She prayed over and over again.
Chapter Eighteen
William was not a child. He’s been making his place in the world by hunting people since he was a young man. He was not young anymore, and there was no reason he should be feeling this guilty. There was only one other person that made him feel this way in his life. Samantha changed his entire life while she was in it. He had stopped hunting then, stopped taking jobs. He was ready and willing to live an honest life with her and their child to come, and then they both left the world without him.
William went back to his old ways when they died. He left her mother alone in a cottage he built for his family, and he never looked back. He was the same man he had been before he met Samantha. He was the blood money he had earned for a living and nothing more.
Lady James had let him know exactly why she wanted her daughter back to badly. She was going to lure the Highland Laird from his home and kill him on English soil. It was the last insult to some dispute between the two of them. It was a dispute that had nothing to do with him. Until he met Lydia. When he saw the girl hiding, desperate to know of her sister, William knew this was not like other hunts.
And now, as he made his way through the woods, he felt guiltier with every step.
Luckily for William, being distracted and lost in thought did not ruin his ability to track. There were other men in the woods with him. William did not know if he had been seen yet. He slid behind a tree and kept himself silent.
When he saw the Highland men walk from the trees, even he would admit his heart skipped a beat. There were at least thirty of them. Did they know how outnumbered they were? And, more importantly, were they outnumbered?
“I knew ye were good for nothing.” William sighed out loud at Duncan’s words. He turned to defend himself and met a heavy object over the temple. The world went black for him.
****
Nathanial had to get to his wife. It was the thought that had been on his mind for the last several days. When he arrived to his keep and found she had vanished, he knew exactly what had happened. Nathanial knew there was no time. It almost killed him when he realized he would not get to her before she made it to her destination.
Was he already too late? Or would her evil kin wait to end her life until he arrived? There was no doubt in the warrior’s mind that this was all meant for him. He could only pray to any God that would listen, pray that he would make it in time.
Fear and dread stuck in the back of his throat strong enough to choke him to death when he thought about Lydia in the hands of the cruelness that took his mother from the earth. Nathanial was not willing to think of a world without the woman he’d come to love.
“Laird,” Duncan’s voice called him back. They were no further than a few hours from his wife. The sun was setting, and with it, panic was rising in his heart. Garrison turned to his most trusted advisor. Duncan was standing with the Englishman kneeling at his feet. Garrison unsheathed his sword and advanced.
“Not quite yet, Laird.” Duncan spoke up right before Nathanial cut through the coward. “I am biting at my chance to kill this one.” Duncan defended, seeing the hate in his Laird’s eyes. “He can get us in.”
Nathanial placed the tip of his sword under William’s neck and forced him to make eye contact. “Can ye now?”
“That is not what I said.” William started. “Listen to me,” he hastened when Garrison lifted his sword again. “I think I can get you in. You probably will not leave alive.” William observed the man in front of him. “You willing to die?”
“Aye.” Nathanial sheathed his sword. “But there’ll be no dying today.”
****
Lydia’s eyes flew open in the middle of the night. She was in her childhood bedroom in her undergarments only. She was not afforded any sleeping gown, so she did the next best thing. Lord knows how she was able to fall asleep. Lydia’s body had been through hell the last several days, no way did she think there would be any relief this night.
Yet, there she was, passed out. Or at least, the girl had been until she heard the commotion outside. Was she making it all up in her head? Lydia thought that might be a possibility, until she heard Mary’s voice outside her door.
“Mother, please!” Mary begged. Lydia heard a hard smack. She heard Mary’s body hit the ground.
Lydia flew from the bed, ready to fight. The doors open and three large men entered with her mother.
“Lydia, tell your sister to behave herself… if she wants to make it to her wedding.”
Lydia was thinking of her next move when Baron Fane entered. He was enough to distract her from whatever was happening in the courtyard. The old man looked at her hungrily. He took a step towards her, ready to pounce.
“No wonder the bastard Garrison took liberties with her. Look at the way she insists on sleeping.” Fane, visibly aroused, had a hard time keeping his breathing calm as he watched her.
“Now, dear.” Mother placed a calming hand on his shoulder. “That can wait a few more minutes, can it not?”
