“Aye,” Thomas said, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her towards him. When she pulled back, Thomas gave a tug, and Lorna found herself lying over his shoulder with his arm over her thighs, holding her in place.
It was then that Thomas got a good look at William. The boy had his hair and eye coloring. When William looked at Thomas holding Lorna on his shoulder he grinned, and the dimple on his left cheek confirmed to Thomas what he already suspected.
“How old is the boy?” Thomas asked Lorna as he reached his hand towards William. “Come on, son, let me help you down.”
“He’s my son,” Lorna snapped again, trying to push herself off of Thomas’ shoulder. “Put me down and leave us alone, Thomas, go back to Scotland, to your wife and bairn.”
“I don’t have a wife or bairn in Scotland,” Thomas said as he helped William down and set him on the ground next to his sister. He put his hand on the boy's head and smiled down at him as he said, “my bride ran away, and it seems she took my son with her.”
Reverend Banks couldn’t believe what he was hearing or seeing. Looking from William to Thomas, there was no denying the resemblance between the two. He finally spoke up and said, “leave the children with me, I can’t watch them long, but it seems you do need to talk, in private. I only have a few minutes before my meeting with Mrs. Curruthers and Mrs. Jones. ”
“Nay!” Lorna yelled, beginning to cause a scene, “I don’t want to talk to him.”
“Be quiet,” Thomas said as he swatted her backside. “Thank you, Reverend.” He turned and headed towards the church.
Once inside, Thomas set Lorna down but held onto her arm so she couldn’t run away. She tried to shrug out of his hold, but it didn’t work.
“Let go of me,” Lorna shrieked. “I don’t want to talk to you, Thomas Grant.”
She needed to end this and get back to her carriage before the Reverend’s meeting. Mrs. Curruthers was the biggest gossip in town, and Mrs. Jones wasn’t much better.
“Nay, I won’t let you go,” Thomas told her. “You ran away without speaking to me three years ago; I’m not going to let it happen again.”
“You were sleeping with another woman,” Lorna yelled, “and she carried your babe.” Without thinking, Lorna reached out and slapped Thomas on the cheek.
“I deserved that,” Thomas said, rubbing his jaw, “but don’t do it again.”
“I should hit you ten times,” Lorna said, and she lashed out and slapped him on the other cheek.
Lorna was shocked by her behavior, but she tried not to show it. After all the time that had passed since finding out about Thomas and that horrible woman Lorraine, her sorrow and heartbreak may have lessened, but it had turned to anger, and it seemed to be taking control of her actions.
“That’s it,” Thomas said, “if you don’t want to stand and speak with me as you should’ve three years ago, then we’ll do it this way.” Thomas sat down on the nearest pew and pulled Lorna face down over his knees.
“Thomas,” Lorna protested, trying to push herself back up, “stop this; let me up.”
“Nay,” Thomas said, feeling much calmer with Lorna in this position, knowing she couldn’t get away from him and would have to listen to what he said. “I like you like this; you can’t get away.” He proceeded to pull her skirt up to her waist, and then he reached underneath her and untied her drawers, pulling them down to her knees.
“Thomas, stop,” Lorna said, trying to reach back and cover herself. “You can’t do this; we’re in church! You have no right to spank me anymore!”
“I don’t think the good lord will complain about a bit of well-deserved discipline in his house,” Thomas said, bringing his hand down. Smack, smack.
“Thomas, stop!” Lorna demanded. “You can’t do this to me.”
“Do you remember that last afternoon we spent together?” Thomas asked, but he didn’t give her time to answer before he continued. “I do. I remember every minute of it.” Smack, smack.
“I remember,” Lorna quickly answered, Thomas’s hand hurt, but it also made her remember other things about that afternoon.
“I told you then that putting yourself in danger would earn you a punishment,” Thomas said. Smack, smack.
“That was as your wife, and I am not your wife!” Lorna shouted.
“Nay,” Thomas said, “not just as my wife. Today you not only put yourself in danger, but also my son.” Smack, smack. This time it was Thomas that put the emphasis on ‘my’.
“He’s not your son!” Lorna said.
“Don’t lie, Lorna,” Thomas said. “I can understand why you were upset with me, but what I’ll never understand, is why you ran away without even giving me time to explain.” Smack, smack.
“What was there to explain?” Lorna responded. “Did you sleep with that woman?”
“Aye,” Thomas answered, “I won’t lie. But you could have let me explain why I did it.” Smack, smack. “The babe she carried wasn’t mine.” Smack, smack. “Even if the bairn would have been mine, I still planned on marrying you.” Smack, smack.
“And then what Thomas? Were we supposed to share you? Were you planning to spend one night in my bed, and then the next in hers?” Lorna asked, trying not to cry again.
“Nay,” Thomas objected, “Is that what you thought? I didn’t even know Lorraine was coming to Doune. I didn’t invite her.”
“I ran into that woman on the way to your Keep,” Lorna said, “and she told me the bairn was yours. She told me!”
“She lied,” Thomas said. “I did marry her, but only after reading your missive, and learning you married someone else. It didn’t seem fair to let the bairn be born a bastard.”
“So you’re married,” Lorna said, “let me up, Thomas. You’re a married man, with a bairn of your own at Doune.” She balled up her hand and hit his leg as hard as she could.
“I’m not married anymore,” Thomas told her. Smack, smack. “Lorraine took some herbs to bring the babe into the world early. They made her bleed, and she died. So did the babe she carried.” Smack, smack. “I only married her because you left.” Smack, smack.
“Please let me go, Thomas,” Lorna pleaded with him, not wanting to hear his excuses, and needing him to quit touching her.
His hand on her bare skin was making it impossible to stop her memories of that day in the field when they created William. How could she want him to touch her in all those personal places when she hated him. She told herself it was only because no man had touched her in such a long time that she could feel her cunny getting wet.
“Nay,” Thomas answered. “If I let you up, you’ll just run again.” Smack, smack. “I won’t let you run, this time we’re going to talk.”
“Is that why you’re here, in America?” Lorna asked.
“Your Da sent me,” Thomas told her.
He thought he saw some wetness on Lorna’s thighs when her legs parted for a fraction of a second. He rubbed her thigh, and let his fingers slide between her legs, just enough to confirm his suspicions with his fingertips. Lorna still wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“I can’t talk with you like this,” Lorna said, feeling her cunny getting wetter, and not wanting Thomas to notice. “Please, let me get up.”
Thomas sighed and answered, “if you promise to behave, I’ll let you up. But I swear to you, Lorna if you run, this time I’ll catch you, and I’ll take a belt to you.”
Thomas didn’t even realize he was rubbing her arse where the skin had turned red with his palm as he slid his fingers up and down the outside of her folds. Lorna began to breathe heavier, and spread her legs a bit more, wanting Thomas to touch her in a place only he’d ever touched before. She let out a soft moan as one of his fingers finally slid into her cunny, finding that little nub and making circles around it. She knew she needed to put a stop to this,
Lorna tried to tell Thomas to stop. She really did, but she couldn’t. It wasn’t until they heard the clearing of a throat that Thomas and Lor
na remembered where they were. Reverend Banks had entered the church, with Mrs. Curruthers and Mrs. Jones following right behind. They all came to a stop when they saw Thomas, with Lorna over his knee. From where they were standing, it was impossible not to see exactly where Thomas’ fingers had been, and that Lorna had been enjoying it.
“What is going on here?” Mrs. Curruthers asked, clutching her throat.
“This is scandalous,” Mrs. Jones added. “He’s touching her bare skin, in an inappropriate place. Do something, Reverend!”
“Young man,” Reverend Banks began, “what is the meaning of this? You’ve ruined Mrs. Walsh’s reputation.”
“No!” Lorna protested as Thomas lifted her back onto her feet and then stood up beside her, “no one needs to know. Thomas spanked me, nothing more.”
“Spanking a woman is for a father to do, or a husband,” Mrs. Curruthers said, “not a man you barely know. That man’s hand was doing more than spanking you; we all saw where his fingers were. Wait until I speak with Mr. Curruthers, he’ll have you run out of town.”
“Be quiet! I’m not a stranger; I know Lorna well. We grew up together back in Scotland,” Thomas said, not liking either of the women. “In fact, we were to be wed not too long ago, even though that information is no business of yours.”
“Well I never,” Mrs. Curruthers said. “You have no right to speak to me like that. It’s because of you Mrs. Walsh will be an outcast to the community. No one will want to be near a loose woman.”
“If anyone hears of what happened here, it’ll be because of you, not me,” Thomas said, pointing at the woman.
“Now let’s calm down,” Reverend Bands interrupted. “Are you married, Mr…. ?”
“Grant,” Thomas answered. “My name is Thomas Grant. Nay, I’m not married.”
“And you and Mrs. Walsh were once engaged to be married?” Reverend Banks asked.
“Aye,” Thomas answered, “we were betrothed, for years, since we were both children.”
“But we aren’t any more!” Lorna said, not liking where the conversation seemed to be going.
“To save Mrs. Walsh’s standing in the community, I can marry the two of you now,” Reverend Banks suggested. “It would solve everything, and there won’t be any damage done to Mrs. Walsh’s reputation. Do you have any objection to the marriage, Mr. Grant?”
“Now hold on!” Lorna once again protested, “I haven’t agreed to marry anyone.”
“I have no objection,” Thomas answered, ignoring Lorna. His heart was pounding at the prospect of making her his wife. He never thought he’d have the opportunity again.
“I will not marry Thomas,” Lorna said, “it’ll just be a matter of time before he has another woman in his bed, just like the last time.”
“There will be no other women in my bed,” Thomas said to her, then he turned back to Reverend Banks. “We can have the ceremony now if you’d like.”
“Nay,” Lorna said. “I will not marry again. I will not, especially to you, Thomas Grant. You slept with another woman, and married her because she carried your bairn.” The two women were still listening and gasped.
“We were not married when I slept with Lorraine, and the only bairn I put in a woman’s belly, was yours!” Thomas argued. Once more, the two-woman gasped, and Lorna was so stunned by his words in front of others that she didn’t know how to respond.
“What child is he talking about?” Mrs. Jones asked. “Where is this child that was born out of wedlock?”
“Be quiet!” Lorna shouted at her. “My son was not born out of wedlock. Patrick married me, and William was his son.”
“Nay,” Thomas said, “he wasn’t. He’s mine. Your husband may have raised him, but it was my seed that created him. He is mine, and he’ll be even more mine after we wed.”
“You’re not listening, Thomas,” Lorna said, “I will not marry you.”
“You must,” Mrs. Curruthers said, “he’s seen you naked. The entire town will shun you if you don’t marry him.”
“No one needs to know what happened here,” Lorna tried to reason with the woman, even though she knew it wouldn’t do any good.
“There’s no way to keep it a secret,” Mrs. Jones said.
“I’ll have to ask Mr. Curruthers to ban you from the mercantile,” Mrs. Curruthers said, “we can’t have a woman like you roaming around the aisles.”
“A woman like me?” Lorna asked. “I was a good wife to Patrick, and I’m a damn good mither. Maybe you should worry about yourself instead of talking about everyone in this town behind their backs. I know it was the two of you that suggested there was something improper going on at my farm with Alan and Jason!”
Mrs. Jones looked away, confirming to Lorna that she was right. Mrs. Curruthers just glared at her. Lorna knew she’d made an enemy.
“A woman like you isn’t fit to raise children,” Mrs. Curruthers said, “I think it’s time to talk to the sheriff, he may be able to do something about it.”
“You want to take my children away?” Lorna asked.
“The little girl isn’t even yours,” Mrs. Jones said. “She’s going on four years old, and you and Patrick weren’t even married for three years.”
“Stop,” Thomas said, noticing the children standing in the doorway, listening to everything that was being said.
Katie looked like she was going to cry, and William was clutching her hand, scared of the yelling and finger-pointing going on between the adults. Thomas squatted down and held out his arms. Both Katie and William walked over to him, slowly. He picked each of them up in one of his arms. Katie once more buried her head in his shoulder.
“It’s alright, sweetheart,” Thomas said quietly to her. “Everything is going to be alright.”
“I want my Papa,” Katie said again. “Don’t let them take us away from Mama.”
“Want Papa,” William parroted like he always did. “Mama.”
“I can’t bring your Papa back,” Thomas said, not looking at Lorna, but focusing all his attention on the two children, “but if you want, I’d like to be your Da.”
“Mama has a Da,” Katie said, lifting her head and looking at Thomas, “but he lives far away. All the way across the ocean.”
“I know him, your Grandda,” Thomas said. “He wants to meet you both, very much. Would you like to meet him?” Katie nodded, so did William.
“Thomas!” Lorna said, trying to stop him from saying more, or making promises he wouldn’t be able to keep.
“I think we need to come back later for our meeting,” Mrs. Curruthers interrupted, speaking to Reverend Banks and Mrs. Jones. “I need to speak with Mr. Curruthers immediately.”
“Nay!” Lorna said, once more reverting back to the Scottish word she’d been raised on. “Please, can we not keep what happened here between us?”
“I think not!” Mrs. Curruthers said, “and then I’ll be speaking with the sheriff.”
“Mrs. Curruthers,” Reverend Banks said, trying to calm the situation down, “let’s not do anything hasty. Mrs. Walsh is a kind woman, and she’s always been more than generous to the town.”
“That was before we knew of her past. No wonder she left home and came to America, where no one knew her,” Mrs. Jones said. “She was letting that man touch her, and inside a church, God’s very own house.”
“Enough!” Thomas said softly but forcefully, not wanting to scare the children he still held in his arms. “There will be no reason to speak with anyone. Lorna and I will wed. Right now.”
“Thomas,” Lorna went to protest, but Thomas cut her off.
“Do you want to risk losing your children?” he asked her quietly so no one else could hear.
“Nay,” Lorna said, holding back tears.
Thomas looked at Lorna, waiting for her to make a decision. He knew she wanted to refuse, but there was no way she could. Finally, Lorna nodded, letting Thomas know she would go through with a wedding for Katie and William’s sake.
“Let
’s get this done,” Thomas said to Reverend Banks as he handed William to Lorna.
“You can’t marry holding children,” Mrs. Curruthers said, stepping forward and trying to take Katie from Thomas’s arms. The child wrapped hers around his neck even tighter, refusing to let go.
“Do not touch her!” Thomas said, turning his body, so he was between the woman and the little girl. “Do not ever touch her. From this moment on, she is my daughter, and you are not the type of woman I would ever let near my children!”
“There’s no reason to be rude,” Mrs. Jones said.
“There’s every reason,” Thomas said to her, and if he didn’t know better, he’d have sworn Lorna almost grinned. “I’ve just arrived in town today, and I can already tell you two are the type of women who enjoy talking about others. I may not be the most religious man, but I do know the good book says something about those without sin casting the first stone. Isn’t gossiping a sin, Reverend?”
Reverend Banks coughed into his hand to cover his own grin. Thomas was right; the two ladies did create a lot of problems in town with their gossip.
“Let’s get on with things, Reverend, I'd like to take my family away from these two women as soon as possible.” This time he knew Lorna grinned, although she quickly looked away.
Minutes later it was done, Lorna and Thomas were now man and wife. Without speaking, they loaded the children into the carriage and rode away. Once again, Lorna's life had changed, and once again, it was because of Thomas.
Chapter 8. Confessions
Lorna and Thomas barely spoke to each other as they rode back to the farm. They didn’t need to. Katie asked Thomas at least a hundred questions about himself and Scotland. Lorna was surprised by his patience as he answered each one.
“I have a Grandma too?” Katie asked.
“Aye,” Thomas answered, “but in Scotland, you would call her Grandmither .”
“Is she nice?” Katie asked, and Lorna couldn’t stop a small laugh from escaping.
“I’ve told you about my Mither and Da,” Lorna answered, “they are very nice. They sent you a doll last year, don’t you remember?” Katie nodded and smiled at her before turning back to Thomas.
Reclaiming His Bride Page 7
