Reclaiming His Bride

by Bethany Hauck

  “Do you have little people in Scotland?” Katie asked, and when Thomas looked confused, Lorna answered for him.

  “Nay,” she said, smiling down at Katie, “the little folk your Papa told you about only live in Ireland, where Papa was from.”

  “Little folk?” Thomas asked, lifting an eyebrow and grinning.

  “Leprechauns,” Lorna answered. “Patrick told the children stories about them all the time.”

  “Will you take us to Scotland?” Katie asked as she yawned. It’d been a long day. “I would like to see my Grandda and Grandmither .” She sat snuggled between Thomas and Lorna, while William already slept in Lorna’s lap.

  “I need to speak with your Mama about that,” Thomas answered, letting go of the reins with one hand and brushing a loose piece of hair out of Katie’s face.

  “This is our home now, Thomas,” Lorna said quietly. “I can’t just leave it.”

  “Do you miss Scotland? Do you miss Elliot and Sorcha?” Thomas asked.

  “Of course I do,” Lorna answered. “I’ve always missed them, but you know why I left.”

  “Let’s get the children home, and then we’ll talk,” Thomas said. “I know you’re still angry with me, but I’ll explain everything that happened, and maybe you’ll be able to forgive me, even a little bit.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Lorna mumbled as Katie joined her brother and fell asleep against Thomas’ side.

  They rode the rest of the way back to the farm in silence. Both lost in their own thoughts. Lorna remembered the day she ran into Lorraine on the way to Doune, and how she’d run away without seeing Thomas. Would things have turned out differently if she’d stayed? Thomas was trying to figure out how to explain everything that happened in Glasgow. Hoping he could explain it in a way that might earn Lorna’s forgiveness.

  Jason came out of the barn as the wagon rolled to a stop next to it. He tried not to let his surprise show when he saw a man he’d never met holding the reins. He couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

  “Hello, Jason,” Lorna greeted him. “How is everything today?”

  “Everything’s fine,” Jason assured her, “looks like you’re going to have another good lambing season.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Lorna told him as Thomas helped her out of the carriage with William still in her arms. Seeing him glance at Thomas again, she said, “Jason O’Neal, I’d like you to meet Thomas Grant.” Thomas looked at her, waiting for her to continue. She swallowed and then added, “my husband.”

  “Oh,” Jason replied, not sure what to say at first. Then he repeated himself saying, “Oh! It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Grant.”

  “Jason and his brother Alan work here on the farm. I don’t know what I’d have done without them. They live in that house over there,” Lorna explained pointing.

  “Thomas is fine with me, Jason. I know this marriage is a surprise to everyone, even to Lorna and myself,” Thomas told him. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like a word with you and your brother tomorrow.”

  “Of course, Thomas,” Jason answered, worried he and Alan were going to be replaced.

  “Thomas,” Lorna went to interrupt, wondering what he might want to speak with the O’Neal brothers about.

  “We’ll speak inside, Lorna, once the children are settled,” Thomas told her, but not unkindly. She nodded as Thomas picked Katie up. He followed her into the house and then carried Katie into the room Lorna pointed too. He laid the little girl down on the bed and took off her shoes before covering her up. Lorna did the same with William in the room next door.

  Once they both finished, Thomas followed Lorna downstairs to the kitchen where she put some water on to heat. Neither of them spoke yet.

  “Would you like some tea?” Lorna asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

  “I’d like something stronger, if you have it,” Thomas commented. He was surprised when Lorna walked over to a cabinet and opened it, taking out a small glass and a bottle of whiskey.

  “Patrick kept this here,” Lorna said, then grinned and added, “for medicinal purposes, of course.”

  “Tell me about him,” Thomas said, pouring himself a glass. “Was he good to you? Did you love him?”

  “What does any of that matter?” Lorna answered his question with one of her own. “He’s gone now.”

  “I’d like to know, Lorna,” Thomas said. “You were married to him for almost three years.

  Lorna said nothing as she made her tea. Trying to get her thoughts together. Should she tell Thomas the truth? Once her tea was made, she sat down at the table with her cup and motioned for Thomas to take the chair across from her, which he did.

  “Patrick was a good man, and an excellent father,” she began. “I met him at the harbor in Glasgow, the day I found out about Lorraine Anderson.”

  “And you married him that day?” Thomas asked.

  “Aye,” Lorna said softly “He wanted to get to America. His wife had died, and he wanted a fresh start for Katie and himself. They wouldn’t let him on any of the ships because he had a babe, and no wife. He was nice, and after he told me his problem, I told him about mine.”

  “Was it his idea to marry?” Thomas asked.

  “Aye,” Lorna again answered. “But it seemed like the perfect solution at the time.”

  “Did you ever regret it?” Thomas asked.

  “Not at the time,” Lorna answered honestly, “but later, once we were on the ship and I had more time to think things through, I did.”

  “Was he a good husband?” Thomas asked.

  “He provided for us all, but there was never any love between us. We were friends though,” Lorna told him.

  “When did you realize you carried my babe?” Thomas asked.

  “On the ship,” Lorna answered.

  “And you passed my son off as his?” Thomas asked.

  “Nay!” Lorna objected, “I would never do such a thing. Patrick always knew William wasn’t his, but he claimed him and treated him like his own. Patrick was thrilled to have a son.”

  “Why didn’t you have any other children? Didn’t he want a son of his own?” Thomas asked.

  “Patrick couldn’t. He had the same sickness in Ireland that took his wife, it made it impossible for him to father more children,” Lorna explained, her cheeks turning red.

  “That isn’t anything to be ashamed of,” Thomas said, seeing her embarrassment. He reached across the table and took her hand, “Dylan and Ava were beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with one of them, but Ava finally conceived.”

  “You don’t understand,” Lorna said, “it wasn’t that Patrick couldn’t produce a son, he just...couldn’t do anything.”

  “You mean he couldn’t perform in the marriage bed?” Thomas asked.

  “Aye,” Lorna answered, her cheeks bright red, and she looked away. She tried to pull her hand out of Thomas’s, but he refused to let go.

  “Lorna Grant,” Thomas said, and Lorna jumped at the use of her new name, “are you telling me the only man you’ve ever been with, is me?”

  “Aye,” Lorna answered softly, still looking away and missing Thomas’s grin. “But even if he could, I don’t think it would have mattered. Patrick was still in love with Katherine, his wife that died.”

  “Patrick was a fool,” Thomas told her, reaching across the table and putting his other hand over hers.

  “Nay,” Lorna said, once more trying to pull her hand away. Thomas’s touch did things to her and made her crave more. “Patrick may not have been much of a husband, but he was a good man. He was very kind and good to the children. Now it’s your turn, why are you here, Thomas?”

  “I came to see you,” Thomas told her. “Your Da sent me. I have some news from home that he didn’t want to share in a letter.”

  “Did something happen to my mither?” Lorna asked, now worried.

  “Nay,” Thomas answered, “Sorcha is fine. It’s Calvin, Lorna; there was an accident.”


  “Is he alright?” Lorna asked. Even though the two hadn’t been close, he was still her brother. “What happened?”

  “Nay, he didn’t survive,” Thomas told her gently. “You know Calvin liked to ride fast. He must have been galloping across an open field. The horse stepped in a hole or slipped on the wet ground, and it’s leg broke. Calvin was thrown. When they found him, he was already gone. He’s buried behind the kirk at Castle Sween.”

  “When did it happen ?” Lorna asked. For the second time that day, she fought back her tears.

  “Almost three months ago,” Thomas answered.

  “How are Da and Mither?” Lorna asked.

  “Sad, but hopeful,” Thomas answered truthfully.

  “What are they hoping for?” Lorna asked.

  ‘They’re hopeful that you’ll come home,” Thomas told her. “William is now the heir to Castle Sween. Elliot asked me to come and try to convince you to return. Your parents were hoping you’d bring your entire family to live there.”

  Lorna took a deep breath, wondering what to do. She’d dreamed of going home so many times. America was alright, but it would never be home. Returning to Scotland never seemed like a possibility with Calvin alive, but now that he was gone, could she? Would Katie and William be happy there?

  She was still in a state of shock over finding herself wed to Thomas, and this time, she was determined to think things through and not make a quick decision. What about what happened before she left? Would Thomas sleep with other women as soon as he got the opportunity?

  “I think it’s time you tell me about Lorraine Anderson,” Lorna said, looking down at her cup of tea.

  “Do you remember that day in the field? Not the day we made William, but that day a year before?” Thomas asked her.

  “Aye,” Lorna answered, “but I don’t see what that has to do with your leman.”

  “It has everything to do with Lorraine,” Thomas told her. “We were kissing, and you let me touch you.”

  “I remember,” Lorna said, she didn’t think she could be any more embarrassed.

  “I stopped. Do you remember that?” Thomas asked.

  “Aye,” Lorna said, “you said we couldn’t go any further. I was glad one of us had the sense to put an end to things.”

  “I only told you that because I didn’t know what to do next!” Thomas admitted, now it was his turn to be embarrassed. “You have to know, Lorna, at that time, I’d never been with a woman. I touched you, and I realized that didn’t know what I was supposed to do, and I was afraid I might hurt you.”

  “You were twenty at the time, Thomas,” Lorna said, shocked by his words. “I assumed there must have been a few women while I was still a girl.”

  “Nay,” Thomas told her, “I was only four and ten when we became betrothed, still a lad. By the time I was old enough to be interested in bedding a woman, it felt wrong, because I already had feelings for you and didn’t want to hurt you.”

  “I don’t understand,” Lorna told him, “why did you change your mind after so much time and bed another woman?”

  “Because I talked to Dylan, and he said I needed to learn to please you before our wedding night. He said you'd be scared, and it was important for me to know what to do. He said what happened on our wedding night... He said lots of things, Lorna, and at the time they were convincing. I now wish I’d never listened to him, but I did, and that’s nobody’s fault but my own. I met Lorraine my first month in Glasgow. She’d been a leman to more than one man in the city.”

  “And you offered to make her yours?” Lorna asked.

  “Aye...Nay!” Thomas answered, “I was truthful. I told her I was betrothed and planned to wed when I left Glasgow. She propositioned me.”

  “And you accepted,” Lorna stated.

  “Aye,” Thomas said, “I did, but only so I could learn how to please you. I visited her at her home for five months. Once, but sometimes twice a week. I never stayed all night or slept in her bed, because you’re the only woman I ever wanted to sleep with in my arms.”

  . “Did you fall in love with her?”

  “Good God, nay!” Thomas answered, “I stopped seeing her more than six months before I came home. I felt guilty every time we were together, and Lorraine knew that. Truthfully, I used her, and she knew that too. I never lied to her.”

  “What about the bairn?” Lorna asked.

  “It wasn’t mine, and Lorraine knew that too. She confessed everything before she died. She knew who you were that day when you ran into her on the way to Doune. She thought once you left, I would marry her, and she could pass the babe off as mine.”

  “You did marry her,” Lorna said, “I know you did. Da wrote to me and told me so.”

  “I only married her because you left,” Thomas explained, “but I refused to share a bed with her.”

  “The entire time you were married?” Lorna asked.

  “The marriage only lasted a month,” Thomas answered, “but aye, she had her own bedchamber at Doune.”

  “And since then?” Lorna asked, not sure why it mattered.

  “There’s been no one,” Thomas admitted.

  Lorna had so many more questions, but Katie walked into the kitchen, still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She looked at the two adults, wondering what was going on. Her Papa and Mama never sat and talked at the table holding hands like this.

  “Did you have a good sleep, sweetheart?” Thomas asked. Katie nodded and slowly made her way to Lorna’s side.

  “I’m hungry, Mama,” she said.

  “I’m sure you are,” Lorna said, pulling her hand out of Thomas’s grip and getting up to find something for Katie to eat, “we all missed lunch today.”

  Once Katie was sitting at the table eating, Lorna began preparing supper. She started cutting up meat and vegetables, throwing it all in a pot.

  “You cook?” Thomas asked.

  “Aye,” Lorna said, “but not well. Be thankful you didn’t have to suffer through the meals I made when we first arrived.”

  “You have no servants in the house?” Thomas asked.

  “No, Thomas,” Lorna said, and laughed sadly, “here in America, I have to cook and do the cleaning for my family.”

  “What about the brothers?” Thomas asked.

  “They take care of the farm, nothing more,” Lorna explained. “The chores take up most of their time. What do you want to speak with them about tomorrow?”

  “I want to take you and the children back to Scotland if you’ll agree to go,” Thomas explained, walking up behind her and putting his hands on her waist.

  “I’d like to do that,” Lorna admitted. She wanted to add, ‘but I don’t trust you not to break my heart again,’ but she didn’t. “I’ve thought about going back a lot since Patrick died.”

  “You’ll need to sell the farm, and I think Alan and Jason should get the chance to buy it first,” Thomas suggested. “What do you think?”

  “I agree,” Lorna said, turning around in his arms. She spoke quietly as she asked, “but what about us? How do we treat this marriage?”

  “Like any other marriage,” Thomas answered, pulling her closer.

  “You want to share my bed?” Lorna asked. Her heart began to race, and she wasn’t sure if it was excitement or fear causing it. Thomas broke her heart once, and she was determined not to love him and give him the chance to do it again.

  “Aye,” Thomas said, “a husband usually shares a bed with his wife.”

  “But we haven’t even seen each other in years,” Lorna half-heartedly protested.

  “Are you afraid to share a bed with me?” Thomas asked. “I won’t hurt you, Lorna.”

  “I’m not afraid of you, Thomas,” Lorna said, although the words came out in a soft, strange, breathy voice.

  Lorna nodded and turned away from him again, wondering what the night held for them. Images of that afternoon in the field away from Castle Sween going through her mind. Thomas had done a few shocking things to her that
afternoon with his mouth and tongue.

  “Thomas, can I ask you something?” she said softly, almost too embarrassed to ask her question, but needing to know the truth.

  “Of course, Lorna. You can ask me anything,” Thomas answered, turning her back around so she faced him once more.

  They heard a giggle and turned their heads to look at Katie. She sat at the table, grinning at the two of them. She’d never seen her Mama act like this with her Papa.

  “Your face is red, Mama,” Katie commented.

  “Why don’t you go out and play in the yard now, Katie,” Lorna said, seeing the little girl was finished with her meal. Katie got down from her chair and ran out the door. Lorna hesitated, too embarrassed to ask.

  “Go ahead, Lorna,” Thomas prompted.

  “Those things you did with your mouth that day in the field,” she paused, collecting her thoughts, “did you learn them from her? From Lorraine?”

  “You mean when I put my lips here?” Thomas said, touching her throat.

  “Aye,” Lorna whispered, he was standing so close.

  “And here?” Thomas said, letting his knuckles barely touch her nipples.

  “Aye,” Lorna whispered again. Thomas brought his head down lower, his lips only inches from hers.

  “And here?” Thomas said, gently cupping her cunny.

  “Aye,” Lorna said once more, wanting him to kiss her.

  “That’s only a fraction of what she taught me,” Thomas said, kissing her gently, and after a slight squeeze, he released her cunny. “I’ve waited for three years to show you more.” He kissed her once more and asked, “will you let me show you tonight, Lorna?”

  “Aye,” Lorna whispered once more, and then jumped away from Thomas as Katie came running through the door. She had a frog in her hand that she couldn’t wait to show her new Da.

  Loren turned back towards the counter, once more working on the dinner she’d already started. She’d felt funny ever since the spanking in the church, and she didn’t want to admit it, but she was beginning to look forward to bedtime.

  Chapter 9. A Long-Awaited Wedding Night