“Huzzah!”
Everyone cheered as Valan took her by the hand and they started down the path. The crowd parted, making way for them to pass, and clapping. Ailsa hugged them when they reached the end of the gathering and said, “Dinnae worry about me, loves. I’ll be at the tavern tonight, so ye can have the cottage tae yerselves.”
Valan smiled at her appreciatively and embraced her with both arms. When Ailsa released him, she waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd of people. Bridget and Valan went up the hill toward the cottage, racing there as fast as they could.
Her heart pounded in her chest by the time they made it to the door. Valan retrieved his key from a pouch on his belt and let them both inside. Bridget trembled, her body alight with anticipation as the door fell shut behind them.
Valan approached her cautiously, placing his hand against her cheek. “I ne’er thought I could feel fer a lass the way I feel about ye. I dinnae think it possible. Yet, God has blessed me with yer love—and I could nae ask fer a more perfect woman. There’s nae a lass on earth I would take fer my bride.”
She blushed. “I thought my destiny was tae be Lady MacDonnell, married tae that terrible man. Thankfully, God sent ye tae rescue me from that as well. I’ll love ye forever.”
He kissed her, pressing his lips against hers, and then moving slowly down her neck. Bridget’s body felt as though it were on fire, anywhere he touched her came alive. She closed her eyes to enjoy the moment, and Valan paused with his hands against her waist.
“I want ye,” he told her hoarsely. “So much I can hardly bear it.”
Bridget lifted his chin and kissed him deeply on the mouth. “And I want tae ken what it feels like tae have my husband inside me.”
Her words must have emboldened him, and Valan let out a feral growl while lifting up her skirts. She could feel his hands moving up her thigh as he pushed the fabric aside and she gasped with pleasure.
Valan kissed her in a fit of passion and lowered both of them to the ground. He positioned himself between her knees and Bridget’s breathing became ragged as they came together. His lips found her neck and collarbone, worshiping the skin with sweet kisses. Bridget’s heart raced as she felt his hands sliding up her bodice, caressing every inch that he could find. His hands slid down her waist and she could feel the heat of his arousal growing.
His lips were soft as they trailed a line of kisses down her neck until arriving at her bosom. Bridget arched her back against the floor and gasped. “Ahh!”
As he untied the front of his britches, Bridget’s eyes never left his. Valan stared back at her, his gaze piercing through her very soul. She panted breathlessly between strokes, kissing him long and hard and deep.
Bridget lost all track of time as they consummated their vows and lost themselves in one another’s embrace. His hands and lips were everywhere, she could scarcely tell where his body ended and hers began. They savored every moment, bringing each other’s body to the peak of ecstasy until finally they collapsed from exhaustion. Valan panted, breathless from his release as she wrapped her arms around him. Bridget collapsed on the floor beside him and slept.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Castlebay Village, The Barra
T he next morning, Bridget woke up on the floor of the cottage, next to the man she loved. She was deliriously happy knowing that Valan was now her husband, and they could be together always. She propped herself up on her side and looked over at him sleeping. Memories of the day before came flooding back into her consciousness, how she and Valan pledged themselves to one another and got married in the village kirk. Her body was still sore from the passionate lovemaking and realizing that made her cheeks feel hot.
Valan’s dark hair was longer than when she first met him, and it fell carelessly to the side as he slept. She woke him with a kiss and said, “Good morning, husband.”
He smiled sleepily and stretched out his arm. After a yawn, he replied, “Mmmm…Good morning, wife.”
She grinned, tugging gently at the fabric of his tunic. “We should break our fast, I’m starving.”
“Aye,” he agreed. “I’ll go check the coop and see if there’s any eggs.”
Bridget’s new husband kissed her gently on the lips and then rose to his feet to pull on a pair of leggings.
On his way out the door, Valan grinned, “Dinnae go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”
Her smile widened. Life was perfect.
While he was gone, she went about lighting the embers in the hearth and got a new fire going. It grew colder every day with the autumn chill, but before long she had a fire burning and water boiling in the pot.
Valan returned with a basket of eggs and entered the cottage noisily by setting them on the counter. “We’re in luck.”
Bridget glanced over at him and smiled. “Excellent. I’ll get those started.”
He chuckled, tucking a wavy strand of hair behind her ear. “I still cannae believe ye’re mine.”
She bit into her smile, asking, “When dae ye think Ailsa will return? I dinnae want her tae feel unwelcome in her own home.”
“I dinnae ken. Trust me though, ye have nothing tae worry about. She’s overjoyed.”
His eyebrows crinkled with concern as though a thought occurred to him. “Are ye in much pain? I dinnae think tae ask ye in the moment. After what ye’ve been through, ye deserve tae be treated gentle.”
She grinned. “Ye could ne’er hurt me. Especially, when I love ye the way I dae. Ye should be with me—touching me—as much as possible.”
Valan wagged an eyebrow suggestively. “I think that can be arranged.”
Bridget laughed at him and gave a playful shove. “After we break our fast! There will be plenty of time fer that later. That’s one of the many joys that come with being married.”
Valan sighed contentedly. “Very well. I suppose ye’re right.”
They talked about how everything had changed between them, and how it would affect their living arrangement. While they enjoyed one another’s company, Bridget cooked them each some breakfast with egg and sausage.
“After we’re done eating, I hoped ye’d come with me tae see Graeme and Elspeth at the tavern,” Valan told her. “We can collect my mother while we’re there.”
Bridget smiled, looking up at him over her plate of food and said, “Of course. It would be good tae get out of the cottage, and I’m nae sure Graeme and Elspeth even ken what happened. They’re probably busy with wee Liam.”
Valan scoffed. “Between my mam and Bess, I’m sure they’ve gotten word.”
They finished eating quickly, and then headed off down the road to The Salty Wench. Bridget felt proud and confidant walking through the village beside her husband. No longer did she feel like an outsider, she felt like she belonged. They had accepted her as one of them. When they made it to the tavern, Graeme was already outside fixing the shutters. He turned around at the sound of their footstep and looked down at them from the ladder.
“Well, if it isn’t the newlyweds! Valan, ye sly dog. I knew ye wouldn’t leave her at Castle Strome. ’Twas so obvious tae everyone ye were in love with her.”
Valan laughed, calling up to him and saying, “Aye, ye caught me. Bridget won my heart completely. I’m here tae see my mam, is she inside?”
“Aye, she’s with Bess in the kitchen.”
Bridget waved to Graeme as they went inside and walked through the dining area. She could hear Ailsa’s voice back in the kitchens, just like Graeme had told them. Valan led her through the rows of tables and they entered the tavern kitchen.
Bess and Ailsa both threw up their hands and cheered when they approached. “Oh, congratulations, my loves!” Bess told them with a smile. “I’m so delighted fer ye.”
Ailsa chuckled. “I am just beside myself. I cannae tell ye how much this means tae me.” She glanced over at Bridget and said, “The day Valan brought ye tae our home, I suspected there was something special about ye. I watched the two of ye and wondered
if this might happen. I hoped.”
Bridget hugged her, saying, “It seemed inevitable. I fell in love with him before we even left. I just ne’er thought that it was possible. I ne’er thought I could be this happy.”
Ailsa nodded. “The Lord works in mysterious ways. We’ll have tae make a bed large enough fer the two of ye, and completely rethink our living arrangement.”
“I’m looking forward tae it.”
Five months later…
B ridget walked down the steps in the tavern carefully. After visiting with Elspeth, she could hardly wait to speak with Valan—he’d be overjoyed. The floorboards creaked beneath her feet as she stepped down onto the lower level and then wandered back into the kitchens.
“Hello, Bess! Are Valan and Hamish sill outside?”
The woman looked up from her cooking and nodded. “Aye, the lad certainly has a gift.”
Suddenly, her eyes widened, as if a thought had just occurred to her.
“Have ye been with Elspeth? What did she say?”
Bridget smiled. “It’s confirmed.”
Bess’s expression lightened instantly, and she came to embrace her, saying, “Oh, congratulations, lass! I’m so happy fer ye.”
Bridget nodded, placing a delicate hand over her belly and glanced out the door into the field.
‘Thank ye.”
The tavern owner laughed and quickly shooed her from the room, saying, “What are ye waiting fer? Go and speak with him!”
She chuckled, picking up her skirts and walking out into the brilliant sunshine. Valan and the others must have seen her approach and he called out, “HOLD!”
Sitting on the grass around him were eight young men, watching Valan spar with a young pupil. Hamish, Elspeth’s younger brother, was one of them. He had a wooden practice sword in his hand and a leather glove to protect him. Graeme sat on the wooden bench with one year old Liam sitting on his lap.
“Hello, my love,” Valan greeted her with a kiss as he excused himself from the lesson. “How are ye doing? Ye’ve been tired lately.”
Bridget grinned. “Aye, there’s a reason fer that. Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“Of course.” Valan called back over his shoulder and said, “Graeme, I’m taking Bridget home. Could ye take over the lesson fer a while?”
Graeme exhaled loudly when he stood and replied, “Aye. Let me take the wee one back tae Elspeth. I’ll be right back.”
As he disappeared into the tavern, Valan sheathed his weapon and put his arm around Bridget’s shoulder. They walked around the building and when they made it to the street, Bridget cleared her throat.
“Love, there’s something I need tae tell ye. I dinnae want tae bring it up unless I was sure, but Elspeth just confirmed my suspicion.”
“Oh?”
She bit her lip and smiled, looking up at him. “I’m with child.”
Her husband froze on the path beside her. “Are ye positive?”
“Aye,” she laughed. “We can expect the wee one in the winter—a little lad or lassie.”
Valan’s face lit up into a smile, and he embraced her happily. “Praise Jesus. Oh Bridget, I love ye so much. Ye’ve just made me the happiest man alive.”
Bridget giggled when he released her. “I ken, after all this time, our prayers have finally been answered.”
Valan kissed her on the lips and smiled. “This is wonderful. Does Ailsa ken?”
“Nae, just Elspeth and Bess.”
“Well, we should go and tell her.”
“I agree.”
They followed the road through the village all the way to where the cottage was located on the western hill. Bridget and Valan were both smiling and running up the path until they got there. Her heart raced as Valan opened the door and they both went inside.
EPILOGUE
Castlebay Village, The Barra
B ridget flinched as she felt the baby move within her and placed a hand over her belly. “Ack, this child is trying tae tell me something,” she muttered.
Valan walked up beside her and kissed her on the cheek before going to the window. “It could be. Elspeth said ye’re due tae deliver any day now.”
She scoffed. “I hope so. I’m ready tae be done with it. I can barely walk.”
Just then the horns of Kisimul bellowed out across the bay. “Who is it?” Bridget asked her husband curiously.
Valan shrugged. “I dinnae ken. I’ve never seen these ships before.”
“What dae ye mean?”
“There nae one of ours,” he explained. “It must be a visitor.”
Her curiosity piqued as she inched forward in her seat. “Come, help me up,” she told him. “I want tae see it fer myself.”
He chuckled, walking back to assist her. Bridget groaned as she pulled herself up and walked over to the window. As she looked out across the bay, her gaze landed on the familiar sails of Clan MacKay and she felt her heart skip a beat.
Suddenly, it felt like the room was spinning and she was breathing heavily.
“We have tae go!” she cried. “We have tae make it tae the docks.”
His eyes widened in confusion. “What are ye talking about?”
“They’re MacKays,” Bridget told him. “I think it’s my brother, Fionn.”
“What? That’s impossible. How would he ken tae find ye here?”
“I’m nae sure,” she responded. “All I know are those ships belong tae Clan MacKay. I have tae go see them.”
Valan sighed and offered her his arm to help her wander down the hill. It was a difficult journey in her condition and her heart was racing the entire time. She breathed heavily, picking up the front of her skirts and moving as fast as her feet would allow. Eventually, they made it to the docks and the galley style ship brought up right alongside the row of birlinns.
A crowd of people had gathered to meet the curious strangers, and Bridget elbowed her way through the crowd. “Excuse me,” she apologized. “I have tae get through.”
Valan walked along beside her, though not quite as urgently. She scanned the men coming off the MacKay ship, searching for anyone she recognized. Her eyes flitted from face to face until finally they rested on the one person she thought she’d never see again.
“Da?”
Bridget’s entire world slowed to a crawl as their eyes met from across the harbor, and for a moment she feared that she may swoon. Her hands trembled with raw emotion as a sob rose up within her chest. The crowd surrounding them began to part, and she came towards him with misty eyes. Her breathing was somewhat haggard, and she could feel her chest grow tight.
Laird MacKay stepped out onto the wooden pier, looking back at her as if he’d seen a ghost. “Bridget?”
She nodded eagerly. “Aye, Da. It’s me.”
He blinked a few times, still processing the information before rushing forward to embrace her. “How is this possible?” he murmured. “Oh, my sweet dearie. I thought I’d lost ye. We caught word that ye were dead….”
Bridget barked a laughed and told him, “Nae, da. As ye can see, I’m quite well. I’ve been living here with my husband.”
The laird shook his head in disbelief, saying, “Husband?” Slowly, his eyes drifted down to her swollen belly and a smile broke out across his face. “A-aye…I can see that. But what are you doing here? The Barra of all places.”
While they were talking, Valan stood back and watched, allowing them a moment of privacy. Bridget glanced up at her husband and smiled. “Valan is the one who rescued me. We fell in love, I’ve been with him ever since.”
Laird MacKay’s eyes flickered over to Valan and he paled. “W-wha—I dinnae understand. What about Rodrick, and yer betrothal?”
Bridget sobbed a laugh and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Da! There is much tae tell.”
Laid MacKay held out his hand and offered it to Valan. “’Tis a pleasure tae meet ye, lad. Seeing Bridget happy and well brings me more pleasure than ye could possibly ken.”
Valan
accepted his outstretched hand and grinned. “The feeling is mutual, Sir. I love Bridget more than anything.”
Bridget tapped her foot impatiently and they turned to look at her. “Well, I’m glad that ye’ve finally met eachother. Still, that dinnae explain what ye’re doing here, Da. What business could possibly bring ye tae the Barra?”
Laird MacKay scratched his head. “Actually, I’m here tae see Captain Alexander MacNeil. He and his crew escorted us back tae Castle Varrich after those heathens marooned us on a rowboat. I offered tae pay him fer his services and am here tae pay the remaining half.”
Just then, Captain Alexander came walking up towards them. He grinned at them and said, “Hello, Laird MacKay. It’s a pleasure tae see ye’ve finally made it.”
The laird shook his hand and smiled. “Alexander! My good friend. This day just gets better and better.”
Bridget shook her head and laughed, her eyes still misting over with unshed tears. “Alexander rescued ye? I should have kent. I should have kent that ye were the noble lord he found.”
Alexander chuckled. “My apologies, Lady. If I’d kent he was yer father I would have told ye sooner.”
She stroked the side of her belly and laughed, saying, “It dinnae matter now.”
Her father nodded. “Aye, all that matters is ye’re safe and well.” Placing one arm around her shoulders, and the other across Valan’s, he said, “Now, tell me about what happened with Rodrick. I simply must hear the tale.”
Alexander walked along beside them with a grin as they headed off to the Salty Wench. Bridget laughed again, looking back over her shoulder to Valan. “Oh, Da. It’s a long story.”
“Aye,” Valan agreed. “But we have time.”
About Jennifer Siddoway
Jennifer is an author from Tallahassee, Florida and a member of the Florida Writers Association.
After receiving a degree in theatre and working as a scenic artist for twelve years, she changed careers to do what she really loves—writing. Jennifer believes that part of her job as an artist and storyteller is to create a narrative that explores a fresh perspective and leaves the audience thinking.
Rescued by Valan (The Pirates of Barra: Highland Raiders) Page 18
