Highlander's Lionheart (Beasts 0f The Highlands Book 1)

by Alisa Adams

  She nodded her head with excitement. He watched her expression as she eagerly took in the mount he had signaled to come over to him. “Keep in mind that these are young horses we are training lass, dae ye ken? They are as new to this as ye are.”

  “Oh, aye, yes!” she said with excitement as she accepted his help. He dismounted from his horse and strode over to her, looking down into her eyes and giving her a chance to back out. But her eyes were shining with anticipation and excitement. He grinned at her, shaking his head in wonder. He wrapped his hands around her tiny waist and all but threw her up into the saddle.

  The young horse immediately started dancing around at the feel of her skirts as they billowed out and around his sides. Godet immediately settled him with some crooning words and her hands on the reins while her sure legs encased in soft, tall boots settled quietly at his sides. She trotted him around in a few circles to get the horse’s attention and to make him listen to her instead of focusing on the startling new feel of having skirts blowing about him.

  His men stopped and all were watching her. She halted the horse and put the reins in her teeth and rapidly tied her hair back. Then she quickly grabbed the reins once again. Instantly, there were offers from the men that she could use their musket to shoot the target and their sword to cleave the post in two. She laughed gaily and shook her head at them. Then she looked over at Gordon who had remounted and sat atop his horse watching her.

  “May I try it another way?” she called to him.

  He smiled at her and called back, “Be my guest!” He waved his hand at a stand filled with many different types of weapons. He wondered which she would select.

  She put her heels into her horse and set him into a fast gallop straight toward the stand of weapons, leaning over she grabbed a bow and arrow as she galloped. Gordon felt his mouth drop open. She had grabbed the bow and arrows while in a full speed gallop. She hadn’t broken stride. She had leaned down and grabbed them, slinging the quiver of arrows over her shoulder and galloped off toward the target. As she flew past him, he noted the huge, happy grin on her face.

  As she galloped toward the target, Godet once again put the reins in her teeth and pulled an arrow out of her quiver then she nocked the bow and let the arrow fly. It hit the sack of dirt with such force it burst open and flew off the post. As she went to turn around the post, Godet grabbed her dirk out of her belt and threw it at the post where it stuck with a loud thwack, then she threw three more – right hand, left hand, right hand – each in rapid succession, each nailing the post.

  Gordon’s men let out a loud cheer and gathered around her as she came down to a prancing walk. She was beaming with happiness as she rode up to Gordon. “Goodness that was enjoyable!” she exclaimed happily. She didn’t seem to be aware of all the men trailing along after her.

  Gordon had managed to shut his mouth as she approached him. It took his men days, weeks, even months to master the exercise. He glared at his men who were smiling up at Godet. They instantly backed away from her.

  “This horse is a game tryer, he is!” she said as she patted the horse who was prancing about.

  “Aye, I see that. Well done, lassie, well done,” Gordon said with a grin. He could not take his eyes off of her. Her silver eyes were shining with happiness. Godet looked behind Gordon and smiled widely.

  Gordon looked around and saw Bluebell being led out to the field. “Here is yer Bluebell, are ye ready to try it on him now?”

  “Aye! Aye, I am! Oh, he will love doing this,” Godet declared as she jumped off the horse without waiting for him to help her down.

  Gordon grimaced and got off his horse quickly before she could mount up on Bluebell. She would have to wait for him. There was no way she could get on the huge horse without assistance. Several of his men rushed forward to assist her, but Gordon strode over and growled something at them. They quickly moved aside.

  “I can manage to mount me own horse,” Godet said.

  “Really? How will ye be doing that I wonder?” he said back to her with a raised eyebrow.

  She smiled cheekily up at him and winked. Then she turned around and made a quiet whistling sound to her horse. Gordon watched in amazement as the big horse dropped down to one knee, lowering himself just enough that she could step into the stirrup and put her leg over him. She daintily arranged her blue skirts around her legs as the horse stood up to his huge height. The men were all silent. They watched in awe as they looked up at the biggest horse they had ever seen.

  “What weapon will ye choose this time lass?” Gordon asked her with a crooked grin. “Bow and arrow again? Or perhaps a broadsword, musket, mallet, Lochaber axe, short sword, claymore, basket sword, or musket?”

  Once again, Godet smiled cheekily at him. “I dinnae think I’ll need one.” When she saw his questioning look, she added, “What dae ye dae when ye have no weapon or ye lose yer it?” Then she winked again and kicked the huge horse into a gallop.

  The thunder of the giant horse’s feet rang across the hard ground of the field. When she reached the post, she pulled Bluebell to a stop. Gordon smiled. He knew what was coming next.

  He heard her voice ring out loud and clear and strong in the field, even from where they were all watching. The big horse stood up on his hind feet and struck the bag atop the post, knocking it off and splitting it open. Then she charged him forward and wheeled him around. She backed him up rapidly to the post as she looked over her shoulder. She called out again and the horse kicked out with his back hooves, striking the post and smashing it into shards of wood that flew far and wide in all directions. Gordon laughed out loud.

  The men let out a cheer that resounded all through the nearby fields, jumping up and down in excitement at what they had witnessed. Godet turned Bluebell around and started back with him in an exuberant, dramatic, slow trot. She was beaming at Gordon.

  Gordon felt something unravel in his chest. His breathing slowed down. He felt his heart thudding through his veins as he watched this woman riding toward him. He saw nothing else. He heard nothing else.

  She came right up to him, smiling that beautiful smile, and she turned her horse around to stand side by side with his. “’Tis satisfying that is,” she commented quietly as she looked at the destroyed post.

  Gordon continued to stare at her. Godet watched his men begin to try to copy what she had done. She realized Gordon had remained silent and looked over at him. She instantly blushed. The heated look in his eyes set flurries loose in her belly.

  “Dinnae look at me like that!” she protested huskily.

  “Like what Godet?” he asked in a slow, deep voice.

  She paused, trying to put it into words. She shrugged her shoulders. “Like a wolf?”

  “Ready to gobble ye up?”

  “Yes, something akin to that,” she whispered.

  “If we were alone, I would dae just that,” he whispered hungrily back to her.

  She looked at him, her eyes wide and startled. Her lips had fallen open. He watched as her breathing increased. Her breasts were rising and falling rapidly against the tight laces of her sky-blue gown. Her silver eyes dilated as she looked at his mouth.

  “Ye cannae. Ye are to marry Brigda,” she told him huskily, her throat tight even saying the woman’s name.

  Gordon’s jaw clenched as he studied her. He could not even bring Brigda’s face to mind. All he saw was a cloud of black, curling hair and silver eyes that pulled at him. He could only see Godet’s red full lips that were begging to be kissed and a tiny waist that fit his hands perfectly. He could only see a woman on horseback that was brave and loyal. No, he could not see Brigda.

  “Godet, I—"

  He started to say more, but a shout caught their attention. Godet’s sisters came riding up on their horses.

  “We saw what ye did, may we try it?” called out Ceena.

  Godet laughed and looked at Gordon. He was still looking at her intently. “Laird MacDonell? My sisters would also like to try the exer
cise, would that be acceptable?”

  “Of course,” he answered gruffly, looking over to her sisters. When he turned back, Godet was riding away, back toward the stables.

  8

  Gordon found Godet in the stables untacking Bluebell. She would not look at him. He untacked his own horse and put him out in his pasture then walked over and took Bluebell from Godet and set him out into another one of the fields behind the stable. He stood watching them run and buck with happiness in the tall grass.

  Gordon felt her come up beside him. He smelled the floral scent of her, felt her heat, her warmth, but also her hesitancy. Gordon turned to her and she slowly looked up at him. Godet still had that look of nervousness in her eyes, but there was also desire. Whether she was afraid of the desire she felt for him, he did not know—nor did he care. He would show her there was naught to be afraid of.

  He took a step toward her.

  She backed up a step.

  He took another step toward her.

  She backed up one more step, feeling a wall at her back.

  He took another step.

  She stood there with the wall at her back looking up at him.

  Gordon looked down into those silvery eyes. He looked at her mouth which was slightly open and watched as the tip of her pink tongue peeked out to stroke a glistening path along her lips. He groaned, deeply, in the back of his throat.

  “Dae that again,” he commanded.

  “What?” she whispered in her husky voice. She was caught by his green eyes that held her captive, caught by his strong chin and those full lips. His hair was blowing lightly out in the breeze.

  “Lick yer lips,” he whispered hoarsely.

  She shyly did as he asked.

  “Now mine,” he said in a groan as he pressed himself up against her. His arms on the wall above her head on either side of her.

  She stared up at him, not sure what he wanted but knowing she would give it to him. She would give him anything. She trembled slightly as he lowered his mouth to hers.

  “Godet,” he whispered.

  “Gordon,” she said in a hushed voice.

  He touched his mouth to hers with a groan.

  Instantly, she reached up to clasp his long, wavy hair in her fingers. She had been itching to grab his hair and run her fingers through it. She whimpered as she opened her mouth under his and tentatively licked his lips. She trembled again at his groan, catching it in her breath. She whimpered again, pulling his head closer, trying to deepen the kiss without knowing how.

  Gordon deepened it for her. His kiss went from slow and gentle to deep and demanding in one heartbeat. He thrust his tongue into Godet’s mouth and wrapped his arms tightly around her, pulling her against him in one breath. He slanted his mouth against hers again and then again, changing the angle to taste every bit of her in every way possible, intermittently tangling his tongue with hers and then sucking her top lip then her bottom lip and then he dove into her mouth again with his tongue and a growl of possession.

  The kiss was rapidly getting out of control. He couldn’t get enough of her and he wanted more. He knew he had to be with her completely. Knowing this, he pulled away, breathing harshly.

  She looked up at him with dazed confusion.

  “Gordon...?” she asked in a voice that was hoarse with desire.

  He dropped a slow, lingering kiss to her lips. “I want ye lass,” he said in a low voice.

  “Ye want me?”

  “Aye.”

  “Ye mean ye want to bed me?”

  “Aye, I dae.”

  Godet frowned up at him. She pushed at his chest. “Move,” she said as she pushed again at his hard chest.

  He took a step back. The confusion was his now. I told her I wanted her. Why does she look so angry?

  “Ye big oaf! Ye think to marry one woman yet bed another? Ye scoundrel! Ye shame me, ye dae!” At those words, she stormed off. Out of the stables.

  Godet would not look at Gordon all during dinner.

  She answered his men’s questions about her riding that day though. She was happy to answer their questions, in fact. They seemed to be more accepting of women that could actually ride and perhaps fight, she hoped.

  The more she talked to them, the angrier Gordon became. He also had noted that she wore a silver brocade gown and that her hair was up in a mass of curls atop her head.

  She looked stunning.

  It infuriated him. It also infuriated Brigda. She was once again sniping, but her barbs were for Godet alone tonight. “I hear ye rode with the men, Colette,” she said with a haughty tone to her voice as her eyes roved over Godets hair and gown.

  Godet turned from the tall, good looking warrior that was seated beside her. She had been having a pleasant conversation with him about horses, but now, she turned to Brigda. She had not missed the tone of Brigda’s voice nor the look of fury on Gordon’s face as he stared down the warrior she had been talking too. Godet sighed wearily.

  “Yes. I was trying the exercise that Laird MacDonell was having the men try,” she answered her.

  “I see, but that is just it, isn’t it? It was an exercise for the men. Ye have no business out there on the field with men,” she said curtly in her shrill voice.

  “Oh dear,” Flori muttered weakly. She had been looking for Loughlin to come to the table, but he hadn’t shown up. She was surprised at how disappointed she was to not see the big warrior there.

  Aunt Hextilda cleared her throat. “Dae ye ride, Bridgette?” she asked the redhead.

  “No, Hexy,” Aunt Burunild said,” I believe her name is Brugida.”

  “Oh,” exclaimed Aunt Hextilda, “so sorry, Brugida, dae ye ride then?”

  “It is Brigda!” the redhead retorted indignantly.

  “Ye see, Hexy,” Aunt Burunild said, “I told ye, Brigid.”

  “Brigid? Like Frigid?” Aunt Hextilda said with a guileless look at Gordon who was frowning furiously. “No, Burnie,” Aunt Hextilda continued as she turned back to Burunild. “I think she said Braga.”

  “I. Said. Brigda!” Brigda raised her voice to carry down the table to Aunt Hextilda.

  “Either way, dae ye ride?” Aunt Hextilda asked her sweetly.

  “It is not either way, Aunt Hexy. They are two different names!” Brigda cried angrily back at her.

  “I am not yer aunt, Brigade. My name is Hextilda.” Aunt Hexy peered at her. “Why won’t ye answer me?”

  “Answer ye about what?”

  “Dae. Ye. Ride?” Aunt Hextilda said succinctly, saying each word as if she was speaking to someone who could not hear her.

  “NO!” Brigda screamed loudly.

  “Och and there we have it.” She made a tutting noise and shook her head slowly from side to side.

  “What are ye talking about, old woman?” Brigda questioned softly, her eyes narrowed in warning.

  Gordon smiled grimly. He knew what Aunt Hextilda was up to. She was a crafty old woman.

  “Laird MacDonell trains men for the Scottish army. Aye, warriors they be.” Aunt Hextilda shook her head and looked at Burunild for affirmation. Burunild quickly shook her head too. “If ye cannae appreciate the horse, ye’ll never dae well at his side nor in this castle,” she explained innocently to Brigda.

  “I can ride well enough, but I ride like a lady, not like a man,” Brigda insisted.

  “Well then, ye should go fer a ride with my nieces then,” the old woman insisted.

  Godet sat up straighter. “Aunt Hexy, I am sure she would not enjoy that.”

  “I think she would,” Gordon interjected. “We should all take a ride. Show ye and yer sisters the land around the castle.” He looked at Brigda then with a challenge in his eyes. “Ye would enjoy that wouldn’t ye?”

  “Well, I—" Brigda stammered.

  “Oh, yes, please do come!” said Ceena overly sweet in her best Sassenach impression as she clasped her hands together. Godet gave her the evil eye and mouthed the word ‘behave’.

  Tristan
looked at Ceena, who he hadn’t seen all day, and also mouthed ‘behave’ then laughed. “I think I should like to come as well,” Tristan said, speaking proper English.

  “Why ye Sassenach speaking man ye!” Ceena whispered to him.

  “At least I didn’t overdo it as much as ye did,” he whispered back to her. She was in a pale green brocade dress today and he was having trouble taking his eyes off of her. “No plaid tonight?”

  “Och, we Scots don’t want to be thought of as Jacobites.”

  “Ye little rebel.” Tristan laughed.

  Godet was trying to catch Gordon’s eye. When he finally looked at her, his eyes caught hers and held. She shook her head frantically at him. “I cannae go riding tomorrow,” Godet blurted out quickly, staring at Gordon.

  “Why not?” Gordon asked loudly.

  “Because… Because… I promised Aunt Hexy I would help her with something,” Godet said weakly, blushing furiously.

  Aunt Hextilda opened her mouth to say something, but Flori quickly spoke up. “Oh, I told her I would help her with that chore. Ye go on with Gordon and Brigda and the others, Godet. I insist.”

  “’Tis true, Flori will help me. Ye go, have a lovely time!” Aunt Hextilda said with a big, toothy smile. “Brigid can meet Bluebell.”

  9

  Godet groaned as she walked to the stables with Ceena and Ina. She had spotted Brigda approaching from the other direction. The sisters had eaten an early breakfast knowing that Brigda slept late and had hoped that they would not run into her over their oatcakes and brose. But she was coming their way and she was obviously going to accept the challenge to go riding with them.

  “Och, here comes the bowheed bampot tolla-thon,” Ina muttered.

  “Ina! Ye have been listening to Aunt Hexy too much! What did all that just mean?” Godet asked her.

  “I just called her what she is, ‘tis all,” Ina said, lifting her chin in the air.