Mysty McPartland (10 page)

Stunned and unable to help choking on the food he was about to swallow, Payne stared in disbelief at his brother. “Are ye tellin me that ye have wed a Sassenach lass? Hell and damnation brother ‘tis unbelievable.”

After tossing his brother a grimace, he continued. “Aye ‘tis true and the lass is a wee bit of trouble and she didnnae wish to wed me. But some of the women are taken with her. I’m afraid, however, that the men are still nay liking the situation.”

Curiously listening to his brother, Payne knew that there must be more he wasn’t telling him about the situation. “Hell, Rieph, I can see that ye are nay too happy with it either. Is she ugly then?”

“
Nay, she is a right bonny wee lass, but she is defiant and insulting she willnae learn to obey me or respect me.” He glanced away from his brother’s grinning face.

“
Och, so that’s it. She isnae afraid to stand up to ye. Well I am looking forward to meeting the lass who is brave enough to defy ye anger.” Payne laughed at his brother’s flushed face.

Embarrassed and trying to hide it growling deeply, he stood up and glared at his brother. “When ye finish filling ye face and when can keep a civil tongue ye may join me.”

Unafraid and throwing back his head, Payne roared with laughter, he could not wait to meet this bonny, wee Sassenach wife of his brothers.

Mumbling to himself, Rieph stomped off and over to the huge fireplace across the hall and slumped down onto one of the large chairs. His gaze travelled around the room and noticed for the first time the small changes that have suddenly taken place in the great room.

He
frowned darkly, how in the damn hell could he have not noticed the wall hangings and other things. He snorted, he knew why; his damn wife had him crazed that’s why. He’d been right from the start. He knew that she was going to be nothing but trouble and this just proved it.

Hastily finishing his meal, Payne joined his brother. “The hall seems a bit friendlier, why is that?”

Once more, he glanced around the room and grimaced. “My wife seems to have made a few changes and like ye ‘tis the first time I have noticed them.”

Softly chuckling, Payne shook his head. “Damn me, I canna wait to meet this sweet Sassenach wife of ye’s.”

“
Shut up brother. Now tell me about ye trip.” He was feeling uncomfortable and changed the subject. It was very late when he finally said goodnight to his brother and once again he went upstairs to his lonely bedchamber. He wanted more than anything to join his wife in the tower room. With footsteps that dragged, he went to his own cold lonely chamber.

Sullenly e
ntering the room, he sat down by the fire and thought about the first time he saw her and as he remembered, he sat up straight and his eyes widened. Quickly, he gained his feet and went over to the trunk at the end of the bed.

S
wiftly rifling through its contents, he found what he searched for. For a few seconds, he knelt staring at the letter in his hand. He forgot all about the missive her father handed him before he raced after his wife. Standing up he went back to his chair, tore open the seal and slowly read the contents.

              Chapter Nine

The days pas
sed and Trista kept herself occupied with treating a few of the clan women and children. She was also busy making small changes in the large hall. Supple at first, she did not want to cause any trouble. She also made sure that she kept out of the Black Warlock’s way.

However, when they did happen to be in
the same place at the same time, she would not let him see how much his glaring angry stares affected her. To annoy him, she pretended that he didn’t exist. Which she knew infuriated him even more.

One
morning, she came down stairs and was about to sit down at the main table, she stopped. Her mouth dropped open and all she could do was stare with wide-eyed curiosity. She thought her husband was handsome; however, this man young man was even better looking.

S
he stood blinking a few times to clear her vision of such handsomeness.

It was easy to see that this very attractive man was
a younger version of the Black Warlock, a happier one, a smiling one. Yes, she thought if her husband only smiled and did not appeared so stern and hard all the time he would look like this.

Alert at seeing the small beautiful woman approaching, Payne sat stunned; slowly he rose to his feet and bowed. “They told me that ye were bonny but I think they cannae see too good for ye are verra beautiful, my sister. My brother is indeed a very lucky man to have ye for his wife.”

At the bold statement, she could not help laughing softly; she curtsied and smiled up at Rieph’s brother. “I thank you, Sir, but it is to my shame that I don’t know who you are. And I definitely know for a fact your brother isn’t at all happy to have me for his wife.”

Courteously helping her to her seat, Payne chuckled. “Ah well I suppose having ye about my brother wouldnae have me on his mind. As ye have probably have guessed I am Rieph’s younger and only brother, Payne. And you are my brother’s beautiful English wife Trista and I must tell you, my Lady, I think my brother is very pleased.”

It was so easy to like this man and laughing merrily, she shook her head. “I can see that you are quite the flirt, Sir, and must have the ladies chasing after you.” She decided to ignore his comment about the Black Warlock, but it didn’t stop her heart from fluttering.

Payne laughed loudly. “I think, sister, ye and I are going to get along just fine. Now eat up and ye can tell me how much ye like being married to my brother.” Once again, he laughed loudly when he saw her grimace and he could not help but like her already.

After
Rieph went up to bed last night, he sat talking to Gabe when learning everything that had happened since he’d been away, he felt compassion for his brother’s wife. It must have been devastating for the poor lass to be welcomed into her new home by her betrothed’s lover. And even worse to find out the other woman might be carrying his babe.

Unaware they were being watched,
Rieph stood inside the hall unnoticed by his wife or brother, when he heard Trista’s tinkling laughter his guts twisted in knots and his blood pounded through his veins. But he gripped his fists at his sides trying to fight down the jealously that started gnawing at his insides as he observed them.

He could not stand he
re a moment longer knowing they were enjoying each other’s company without going over and hitting his brother square on the jaw. He was tempted to grab up his wife, fling her over his shoulder and cart her up to his chamber. Instead, he spun on his heels and stalked out of the hall.

Going to the stables, he grimly saddled his horse and rode out the gates knowing that his men would be following quickly behind him. As he rode, he thought over the contents of Trista’s father’s letter and knew that his wife was soft hearted.

She
had never known hate or violence or all the ugly things in life. Things that were a very big part of his own existence, he didn’t have any idea how he could protect her from such situations he would, however, try his damn hardest to shield her.

It would certainly take a
miracle or three to safeguard his soft hearted wife from all the horrors and violence that was part of life in the Highlands. It was going to be near impossible to keep her safe from all the ugly things in life. Well, all he could do was his best and if he couldn’t, he would just have to face the fact and hoped she would survive.
Damn, why did everything have to become so blasted complicated?

****

After spending the morning meal with Rieph’s brother, Trista went outdoors smiling and feeling light hearted. She called Zana to her side, went over to the stables thinking that it was a beautiful day for a ride. However, when she requested her horse saddled, Big John told her that the laird had forbidden him to let his lady go riding without him.

Angrily, she stalked away, how dare he forbid her to ride. Well damn it, he cannot prevent her from going riding or anything else. She would wait and when Big John was busy somewhere else, she would either get her horse or another.

Patiently,
she watched and waited and when eventually Big John left the stables, she made her way over to the building and slipped inside. Grinning, she found her horse and without bothering with a saddle, she quickly put the bit in the mare’s mouth, grabbing a handful of main she swung up on the animal’s back and rode out of the stables.

Determined that no one would stop her, she gently nudged the side of her mare and raced out of the gate before anyone could stop her. Once she was free, she whistled loudly and turned to see Zana racing towards her. She laughed merrily when she heard her barking and then both her horse and dog raced away.

Unaware that chaos ruled after she left, men panicked and some raced for their horses, knowing that their laird would kill them if they did not go after his wife and bring her safely back home. However, when they rode out of the gates they did not see her anywhere. Then one of the guards called out and pointed to the East and the men raced their horses in the same direction, hoping their laird’s wife was not too far ahead of them.

****

Slowly riding back through the gates, Rieph grew instantly alert. He sensed at once that something was amiss when none of his men would look at him. When he noticed no women and children about, he grew concerned. He dismounted and stood in the middle of the bailey and yelled for Big John.

Finally
, when he saw the big man approach looking frightened, he knew somehow that whatever the problem might be, it would have something to do with his wife. “What has happened? What has the lass done now?” He said in a tight voice.

Big John did not want to be the one to have to tell his laird and as he glanced around at the others, he saw their worried faces knew that none of them wanted to be the one to inform him of the situation. His shoulders sagged and he ducked his head. “’Tis ye lady, me Laird, I dinnae ken how she did it, but when me back was turned she snuck into the stables and took her horse and rode out. The men followed, but it has been hours since…” Big John scuffed the toe of his boots, but jumped when he heard his laird roar loudly.

“
Which way did she go?” He bellowed, quickly the men all spoke up telling him which direction the lass had taken. Swiftly, he swung back up in the saddle, turned his horse around and raced out of the bailey, his men following behind. He tried desperately to hide his panic and worry as he rode towards the East.

A
fter a half hour of hard ridding, he slowed his stallion when he saw a group of riders coming towards him. He noticed his wife leading the small group, her hair loose and flying out behind her like a silken banner. Her dog at her side as she raced her mare, he admitted she looked stunning, but it did not dull the anger that continued bubble away inside of him.

Over
her first mad dash from Rieph’s home, Trista slowed her mare and as she rode, she took notice of her surrounding and she had to admit the Highlands were beautiful. All different varieties of green were pleasing to her eye. Hearing the sound of approaching horses glancing behind her, spied a small group of men riding towards her and grinned.

So they’ve come to take me home have they, well we’ll see about that
and once again, she raced away on her horse. She would give them a merry chase, she thought and laughed gaily.

Hours later heading back home when she spotted her husband and even from the distance that separated them she could tell by his rigid posture that he was furious with her. She wondered if she should stop and wait for him to join her or just keep riding. Smiling grimly, deciding the second option was far the better one and so leaning over her horse, she kicked the animal lightly and her faithful mare dashed forward.

Once through the gates,
she pulled her horse to a stop and nimbly jumped down and led her mare into the stables, ignoring the worried frowns she received from the clan.

Big John came forward to take her horse. “
Och, lass, ye will sure to have the laird in an uproar with ye antics.” He shook his head sadly when she just smiled up at him sweetly and left the stable.

She had just stepped out of the building when her husband swung out of the saddle. By the thunderous expression on his face, she knew she was in deep, deep trouble and desperately she tried not to show how worried and frightened she was starting to feel. She thought of running for her life and, biting her bottom lip, glanced away from his massive form striding towards her.

Frantic to find some escape her gaze searched for one. She let out a loud gasp when her husband swept her off her feet and tossed her over his shoulder. Outraged over his rough handling, she let out a furious cry, and any further protest she wanted to make was cut off when a stinging slap was delivered to her posterior. To stop herself from giving vent to her anger she clenched her jaw.