A Perfect Match

by Bethany Hauck

  “What are you doing?” Peigi asked.

  “Trying to calm down,” Craig said to her, “I’m too angry to spank you now. Stay where you are, Peigi until I get back.” He stood up and walked out of the room, needing to get away from her. He needed to get the picture of her being gored by the boar out of his head before he dealt with her.

  He went outside and checked the boar to make sure it was dead. He decided it would be a waste to let the meat go bad, so he quickly gutted the animal before finding a rope and hanging it from a nearby tree. Once that was done, he checked Mungo to make sure the boar hadn’t wounded him in any way. Once he was sure everything outside was taken care of, he turned back towards the hut, knowing it was time to take care of Peigi.

  Peigi had stayed in the position he’d put her in, and her arms were beginning to ache. He’d been gone for at least half an hour and she was beginning to wonder if he was coming back. She was still going over what happened in the clearing. She knew she was lucky to be alive, and if Craig wouldn’t have been there, she wouldn’t be. The boar would have killed her, and probably Mungo too. She wondered what Craig was doing because she owed him an apology, and she needed to thank him. She was beginning to think she might need to go look for him when he walked back into the room. She glanced over her shoulder to see his face.

  “Turn around,” Craig said softly, and Peigi listened immediately. The quick look she’d gotten of his face showed that he’d calmed down a bit, she was glad to see that.

  Craig couldn’t look at her face, or instead of spanking her, he knew he’d pull her into his arms, kiss her, and take her back to bed. The entire time he was preparing the boar he kept thinking about what could have happened. It terrified him, and for the first time, he knew he loved Peigi Farland more than anything else in the world. He was determined to teach her to never put herself in danger like she just had ever again.

  He sat down on the bed and picked up the hairbrush that laid on the table next to it and set it next to his leg. It would come in handy soon.

  “Come here,” he finally said to her, “and put yourself over my knees.

  “Craig,” Peigi said as she turned around, “can’t we talk first?”

  “Nay,” he said, not looking at her. “I can’t talk to you yet.”

  Peigi walked closer, trying to make him look at her. She knew something was very wrong with him. She was naked, and normally he couldn’t take his eyes off her when she was unclothed. She walked up to him and went to sit on the bed next to him. She wasn’t prepared for it when Craig grabbed her arm and pulled her down over his lap. He didn’t say anything as he began bringing his hand down on her arse and thighs. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “Ouch, ouch, ouch!” she began to squeal. “That hurts!”

  “Aye,” was all Craig said as he continued. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “Ow, Craig, please!” Peigi said as his hand connected with her skin. “Stop, Craig!”

  “Nay,” he said this time as he continued. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “Craig, stop and talk to me! Ouch!” Peigi continued.

  “Talk?” Craig asked. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. “You want to talk?” Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

  “Aye,” Peigi answered, hoping he’d stop now that he acknowledged her.

  “I’ll talk,” he said. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. “You’ll listen.”

  “Let me up so I can see you,” Peigi said to him.

  “Nay,” Craig told her, giving her one final round with his hand. Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack. Then he picked up the hairbrush he’d tucked next to him on the bed. “Do you have any idea what kind of damage a boar that size could do to you with his tusks?” Splat, splat.

  “Nay! Stop!” Peigi screamed as the brush came down on her backside for the first time.

  “It would have killed you!” Craig almost yelled. Splat, splat. “You didn’t even take a weapon with you!” Splat, splat.

  “I was worried about Mungo,” Peigi cried. Tears were sliding down her cheeks.

  “More worried about him than about yourself?” he asked. Splat, splat. He didn’t let her answer. “What if it would have been one of the men that attacked me on the way home?” Splat, splat. “What would you have done then?” Splat, splat.

  Peigi was furious at first when Craig began spanking her. She wanted it to stop and tried to get him to let her go. She thought his hand had hurt until he’d switched to using her hairbrush. The pain it caused was almost more than she could take. As he talked and brought the brush down on her arse and thighs she realized something, Craig wasn’t just angry, she’d scared him. A lot. More than he wanted to admit. She could tell by the way he said his words.

  “I’m sorry!” she finally yelled out. “I’m so sorry!”

  That was all Craig needed to hear. He pulled her up and sat her on his lap. He held her close as she cried into his chest, and he buried his face in her hair. If he had his way, he’d never let her go.

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Peigi,” Craig told her quietly as he stroked her hair and back. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to stop that beast in time. I keep picturing it catching you, and then I want to hold you and spank your arse at the same time.”

  “I was so scared,” Peigi admitted as she calmed down. She shuddered as she thought about the way the boar charged at her. “Thank you for saving me.”

  “You saved me first,” Craig told her, and when she looked up at him she saw the unshed tears in his eyes.

  Craig couldn’t stand it any longer. He cupped the back of her head and then brought his lips down gently on hers. He kissed her for a long time before laying her down on the bed. He stripped off his clothes and then joined her.

  He kissed her again, but this time their love-making was different. Craig tried to show her how he felt as he pushed into her gently. He took his time and brought her to completion twice before letting himself go, but this time when he came, he thrust deep inside of her before releasing his seed.

  “I love you, Peigi Farland, and you’re mine,” he said quietly.

  “Craig,” she started to say.

  “Nay,” he cut her off. “Let’s not argue. We have a few days left together before I have to go. We can talk more tomorrow.”

  “Aye,” Peigi said, and snuggled into his side before falling into a deep, contented, sleep.

  Chapter 7. He’s Alive

  “He seems more alert today,” Flora McCabe told the women in the room where Ethan lay healing. With Lynsey’s help, she was changing the bandages and checking his wounds.

  “He’ll be alright though, won’t he?” Lynsey asked. “There seems to be no infection anymore.”

  “He’s lucky to be alive,” Flora told her, “but aye, I think he’ll be fine once he wakes.”

  It’d been eight days since members of King James’ Guard brought the injured man to the Keep. They explained how Ethan woke briefly as the King’s healer tended his wounds and insisted on being taken to Gleann. The men who’d found him tried to ask questions, but the only information Ethan had been able to give was that they’d been attacked, and Craig was out there somewhere severely wounded.

  “Do you think he might wake soon?” Jacqueline Fraser asked hopefully.

  “I can’t say for sure, but he may,” Flora answered, grabbing Jacqueline’s hand. “Rory says Craig is alive, and I have hope as long as he believes it. Ham has told me stories about feeling things that happened to Ross. He says it’s a twin thing.”

  “Aye, it is” Jacqueline agreed. She knew what Ham and Rory were talking about, she’d felt the same thing with James. “Rory is certain Craig isn’t dead, and it does help ease my worry, but not entirely. It’s been almost a fortnight, Flora. We don’t even know how badly he’s hurt.”

  “And I’ll be the
first one on a horse and riding toward him as soon as we know where he’s at,” Flora tried to assure her. “It’s possible someone else found him and is tending his wounds.”

  “That’s what I’m hoping for,” Jacqueline said. “Da’s running out of places to look in the south. He’s had riders out all the way to Branxholme. He’s sent missives to every Keep between here and the Lowlands. Connor’s Da, Logan Stewart, and even Iain McCarthy have sent riders north, just in case. No one has seen him.”

  “Is it possible the English found him?” Lynsey asked.

  “Finley sent a missive with the riders that went to Branxholme for Cameron Scott. Cameron sent riders to all the English Estates near the border, and he sent back word yesterday that they haven’t seen him either,” Jacqueline explained.

  “Don’t worry, Jacqueline,” Davina spoke up from the chair she sat in next to Ethan’s bed. “Hamish will not give up the search until he has answers and Craig’s been found.”

  “I know, Davina,” Jacqueline said, smiling sadly.

  Davina and her Da’s wedding was only a little over a sennight away, and if Craig wasn’t found it would need to be canceled. Jacqueline hoped that didn’t happen, her Da had been happier than she ever remembered seeing him since he returned from Jedburgh. It’d only lasted until Craig had gone missing, and since then she only saw worry and fear on her Da’s face.

  “There’s a rider coming through the gates wearing the King’s colors,” Davina told them as she stood to stretch her legs and looked out the window.

  “Do you think he brings any news?” Flora asked.

  “I don’t know,” Jacqueline answered, “but I intend to find out once he leaves.”

  “Don’t go barging into his study,” Davina warned her, “not until you know the messenger is gone.”

  “I think Jacqueline has learned her lesson on barging into a room without being invited,” Flora said and then laughed when Jacqueline stuck her tongue out at her.

  “I certainly have,” Jacqueline said, but she did grin, “especially Da’s bedchamber.”

  “Let’s not bring that up,” Davina said, her face turning as red as Jacqueline’s.

  “I don’t even know who’s here and who’s out searching anymore,” Lynsey told them. “Rory said he’d be gone for a few days. He does believe Craig’s alive, but not knowing where he’s at is making him crazy.”

  “All the men are gone now except James and Da,” Flora said. “Ham told me this morning he’d be gone for a few days this time too, but Eadan and Father McMurphy are due back this morning.”

  “Aye,” Jacqueline said. “Connor was going with Owen to search the southeast. They even plan to stop at the McKinnon Keep. They’ll be back tomorrow.” A loud groan came from the bed and Ethan began to thrash about.

  “Ethan?” Davina ran and leaned over the bed as the older man opened his eyes and looked around the room. She could see the confusion on his face and began speaking softly to him. “It’s alright Ethan. You’re safe. You’ve been injured, but you’re at the McCabe Keep being taken care of.”

  Ethan opened and closed his mouth, trying to speak. His throat was so dry no sound would come out.

  “Here,” Flora said, handing Davina a cup of water, “give him a small sip.”

  Lynsey and Flora helped lift his head and shoulders. Ethan drank, coughed, and then drank again. When Davina pulled the cup away he became frustrated and took it out of her hand; drinking it down. He tried to sit up more but gave up the act quickly because of the pain it caused.

  “What happened?” he asked. “How did I get here?”

  “That’s what we were hoping you’d tell us,” Jacqueline said.

  “Give him a minute,” Flora said, sitting down on the bed. “Do you remember Lynsey and Davina?”

  “Of course I remember them,” Ethan said, disgusted she was asking such a silly question. “I’m injured, not daft.”

  “Alright,” Flora said and couldn’t help letting a small laugh escape. “Do you remember the McCabes coming to Jedburgh?”

  “Aye,” Ethan said, thinking back. “Lynsey married young Rory. They left the day after.”

  “Aye,” Jacqueline prompted, “and my brother Craig stayed behind.”

  “You must be Jacqueline, the hellion spitfire, and goddess of the Highlands,” Ethan said weakly and Jacqueline blushed.

  “You forgot the master of archery,” Lynsey said, giggling with relief. Ethan was like a grandda to her and she’d been so afraid he’d die.

  “Craig!” Ethan suddenly shouted out. “Craig was hurt! We need to get help to him!” He tried to throw off the bed coverings and get up.

  “Don’t you dare get out of this bed,” Flora told him. “You’ll undo all my hard work. Calm down and tell us about Craig.”

  “We were attacked about a day ride from here,” Ethan told them.

  “Nay,” Jacqueline explained, “you were found days south of here.”

  “How long ago?” Ethan asked.

  “You’ve been asleep since you got here, and that was eight days ago,” Flora answered this time, “but it took a few days for the King’s men to get you here after they found you.”

  “My horse must have turned towards home once I lost my senses,” Ethan said, thinking out loud. “That means the attack must have been almost a fortnight ago.”

  “Aye,” Jacqueline said, “that’s what my Da and brothers think too.”

  “Where are your brothers?” Ethan asked.

  “Out searching,” Jacqueline answered, “they’ve been searching for Craig since you got here and we were told he was wounded.”

  “Aye, he wasn’t able to stand to get on his horse, and I didn’t have the strength to help him. He told me to go get help,” Ethan remembered.

  “Did he tell you where to go?” Jacqueline asked.

  “Aye,” Ethan answered, “he said to travel west, to the McKinnon Keep.”

  “The McKinnon Keep is nowhere near where you’d be coming from,” Flora said. “Why would you be so far east?”

  “We stopped in Edinburgh for a night,” Ethan told them.

  “Wasn’t that out of your way?” Lynsey asked.

  “Aye,” Ethan told them, “but Craig convinced me to stop. He knew of an inn I might like.”

  “I’m sure he did,” Flora muttered. “I better not hear the name Wynda come from your lips.”

  “I don’t kiss and tell,” Ethan said, causing Flora to scowl.

  Jacqueline jumped up and started pacing, getting excited. She was beginning to get an idea of where Craig might be.

  “Did Craig plan on coming right to Gleann?” she asked Ethan.

  “Aye,” Ethan answered, “but he said we’d have to stop one more night, but he knew of a place on the way.”

  “I know where he is!” Jacqueline said, running towards the door. “He must be at our Grandda’s hunting lodge. Why didn’t any of us think to look there?”

  “I’ll let Hamish know right away,” Davina said, getting up.

  “Nay,” Jacqueline said, stopping in the doorway and turning back towards the room’s occupants. A plan was forming. “Almost all the men are gone, and Craig needs a healer. Davina, could you go to the stables and tell them to saddle fresh horses, and then find Kirstie and Nellie and see if they mind continuing to take care of the children?”

  “Aye,” Davina said, “right away.”

  “Flora, go put some trews on, you and I will be going to the lodge with the men. We don’t know if anyone has tended Craig’s wounds, or what his health will be like when we arrive,” Jacqueline explained.

  “Aye,” Flora replied, “and I’ll pack some healing supplies.”

  “Lynsey, stay here and care for Ethan,” Jacqueline said, “and please let everyone else know where we’ve gone.”

  “I can do that,” Lynsey agreed.

  “I’ll change and then go talk to Da,” Jacqueline continued, rushing out of the room to get things ready.

  “Craig wa
s right,” Ethan said to Lynsey, laying his head back down and chuckling. “She is a hellion spitfire, but I believe she’ll find him.”

  “Aye,” Lynsey said and grinned at him. “I’m so glad you’re going to be alright, Ethan.” She grabbed his hand and he squeezed hers before he fell back to sleep.

  It didn’t take long for Jacqueline to change clothes, grab her bow, and run down to her Da’s study. She was glad she stopped and knocked at the door instead of just barging in. James opened the door and let her into the room as Hamish stood speaking with the King’s messenger. Seeing the bow on her back and the way she was dressed he shook his head, letting her know to keep quiet.

  “Tell King James I look forward to his arrival,” Hamish said to the man who nodded and then left the room. James shut the door behind him.

  “Now what has you so excited and dressed like that?” Hamish asked his daughter.

  “I think I know where Craig is,” Jacqueline blurted out. “Ethan said they stopped in Edinburgh. They weren’t attacked in the south, they were attacked east of here.”

  “Grandda’s lodge,” James said, running to the map he’d been using. After giving it a quick look he told them, “no one has searched in that direction. Connor and Owen were finally going southeast today, but I didn’t tell them to check the lodge. We should send someone out to do that.”

  “Who’s here that can make the ride?” Hamish asked his son.

  “Flora and I are going,” Jacqueline said, and before either of them could protest she added, “Craig may need a healer, and depending on how badly he’s hurt, Flora may need another set of hands to help her.”

  “Aye,” Hamish agreed, “you both may be needed, and I’ll be going too.”

  “The only other men back and waiting for another area to search are Gordon and Father McMurphy’s groups,” James explained.

  “Where’s Eadan?” Jacqueline asked.

  “He and Ross ended up taking some men and riding to the McDougall and Ferguson Keeps. I’m running out of places to look,” James explained. “Father McMurphy should be here in a few minutes, he just went back to the kirk to change clothes.”