The Country Wife (12 page)

Chapter Twelve

Three days had come and gone without a sign of Callum’s return. Remembering his fervent declarations of love, Lilli hung onto her memories and hoped that nothing had gone wrong and he would soon return to them. Each day she climbed to the shieling huts and the meadows beyond to see to his steed, feeding it bits of hay or oats from her hand. She smoothed her hand over its sleek nose and talked to it of its master until the horse tossed its head as if in exasperation and trotted away. Still, each time she arrived at the stone fence, he came to her, sniffing and searching her sleeves for his expected treat. For a moment, Lilli’s laughter spilled out, silvery and happy. For a moment, she forgot her pain and loneliness.

But at night, alone in the cottage when Rose slept and the fire had burned low, she felt that loneliness more keenly than ever she had. It would have been better if he’d never come here, she thought, then immediately brushed the idea aside. If he’d never come, she would never have understood the love between a man and woman. She would never have known what ties bound them and what passion existed in the making of a little one like Rose. She cherished Rose even more, understanding now the passion that forged Edward and Jane’s love.

Part of her chafed at the loss of independence as she’d known it before, then she came to realize that she hadn’t lost her independence. She’d given it willingly and in the giving had grown stronger. Was such a giving of the heart and body always to bring pain she cried in the darkness of her lonely nights? Only little Rose heard and stirred in her sleep so Lilli clamped a hand over her mouth and suffered in silence.

Each morning brought renewed hope, making the passing of each day more bearable. One morning, when she and Rose returned from the mountain pastures, she heard below the sound of horses and men. Her heart leaped with joy.

“He’s back, wee Rose,” she cried elatedly and raced down the mountain path but some shred of caution made her pause. Hidden behind a stone outcropping, she studied the men gathered in the cottage yard below, searching for her first glimpse of Callum. A sense of foreboding closed over her. She ducked down and quickly loosed her shawl to wrap Rose in it.

“‘Tis not Callum, Rose,” she whispered. “I fear ‘tis some other men than his.” Her trembling hands settled the baby in a hole in the rocks. “You must be quiet, little one. That’s my bonnie lass. Don’t make a sound until I see who’s there.”

Rose turned her head and closed her eyes, her delicate pink lips moving instinctively as if suckling. Lilli rose and moved down the path. At that moment, a man cried out below, the familiar sound of his voice filling her with dread.

“There she is, lads,” Owen Waite called out. “He must be up there, too.”

Lilli froze, staring down at the melee of men and horses. Strangers ran up the path toward her, Waite at the forefront. Lilli whirled and climbed the path. She had no time to grab Rose from her hiding place. Desperately, she sought to lead her pursuers away from the baby. She could only hope Rose would make no sound and reveal herself.

Lilli left the path, scrambling over sharp rocks and boulders, but most of her pursuers raced up the path from whence she’d come. She was not their quarry after all. They were looking for Callum, she realized and her heart squeezed painfully. At least he’d gotten away safely. Now she must see to herself and Rose. She would work her way back around and get the baby. She should never have left her there. In the distance, a black spiral of smoke rose in the still air. They were burning the croft. No, she cried deep within herself.

Blindly, she moved back along the path and halted as Waite sprang up in front of her. His eyes glittered with purpose. If he caught her, there would be no mercy for her this day. He’d have his way with her. She could hear him gaining, his rasping breath frightening in the cold mountain air. She redoubled her efforts but a stitch in her side took her breath and her legs trembled with fatigue as she climbed over yet another sharp outcropping. Suddenly, a hand closed around her ankle, yanking her backward. She fell against a flat rock, stunned for a moment. Waite was on her, pressing his soft body against hers, his weight pinning her down.

“No!” she screamed, but he laughed, capturing her hands and pinning them above her head. She arched and bucked beneath him, trying to free herself, but he seemed to enjoy the tussle.

“Where’s your fancy protector now?” he snarled and slapped her across the face.

The unexpected pain made her draw a sharp breath. She stopped fighting, stunned and disbelieving. Waite laughed.

“That’s better, lassie,” he cackled. “‘Twill be easier if you don’t fight me. I’ve no use for a woman who disobeys.”

Gripping her hair in his meaty fist, he pulled her head back and slapped her again, his face filled with an evil glee at each blow he delivered. A dull pain claimed her, darkness danced behind her eyes. Gathering her last bit of strength, she brought up one knee as hard as she could. She heard him grunt with pain, saw the dark lust in his eyes turn to agony. His hold on her loosened and he curled into a ball, his hands cradling his crotch. Lilli rolled away from him, her hands scrabbling over sharp rocks.

Waite cried out a silent protest, slobber spewing from his mouth. One hand reached for her again. His face had gone red and was filled with rage. His expression promised retribution of the worst sort. He made a grab for her. He was quicker than she’d expected, so that once again he trapped her, taking care to pin her legs so she couldn’t move.

“Let me go,” she cried, but his hands on her were rough and hurtful as she knew they were meant to be.

His bulk filled the space above her, shutting out the sky, shutting out all that was beautiful and good.

“Callum,” she cried silently and knew there was no one to save her.

Her hands scraped across the rocky shale and, taking up a piece, she flailed out with it, surprised when she struck Waite against the temple. Blood rushed down his face. He swiped it away with one hand and looked at her with murderous intent. Lilli struck again and he reeled backwards. She rose up on her knees and struck again. This time he fell face forward on the shale.

All was still. A lone eagle wheeled above, sounding its shrill cry. The wind whistled over the edge of the slope, but the sounds of struggle, of danger and even death were silenced. Lilli stared at the bloody rock and threw it away from herself. Brushing her hair from her eyes, she backed away from the sprawling mass that was once Owen Waite.

She’d killed him.

Footsteps scraped on the loose rock, and before she could run, rough hands closed around her. She struggled to free herself, but the arms were too strong. A second man appeared, who spotted Waite’s body and held himself at the ready as he peered around warily.

“He’s here all right,” the man said. “Look, he’s killed Waite.”

“I killed Waite,” Lilli said, ceasing her struggle and standing upright to face her captures.

“Your nothing but a woman,” the man holding her sneered. “He’s got to be around here somewhere.”

“You’re right, gentlemen,” a voice said. “He’s right here.”

“Callum!” Lilli’s cry was one of joy and caution, but his sword had already slid between the ribs of one soldier. The man gripping Lilli let go of her and leaped back, drawing his claymore. Callum parried his thrusts and easily disarmed him.

“Run,” he said to the man who was blubbering with fear. “Go back to Lister and tell him Callum MacAlister is here to reclaim his land. Go on, before I change my mind and let you have a taste of my steel.”

Holding his hand out as if to shield himself, the man bolted down the mountain.

“D’ye want me t’let him go or do you want me to bury m’claymore in him?” came a shout from down the mountain.

“Let one of them go. We want Lister to come out and meet us,” Callum ordered and took Lilli in his arms.

“I was so afraid,” she sobbed against his chest. Relief flooded her as she gave in to her fears. His strong body was like a bulwark against the terror.

“You’re safe now, lass,” he whispered against her hair and rained kisses on her tear dampened cheeks. Finally, he held her away from him and peered in to her eyes.

“Where’s Rose?” he demanded.

“I’ve hidden her away,” Lilli said.

“Get her. We must get away from here quickly. I’ll saddle my other steed for you. Hurry.”

“Aye,” she said and ran down the hillside to stony crevice that held the baby. All around her were Callum’s men dressed in plaids.

“Must we leave?” she asked when Callum brought the saddled horse down to her. “You’ve defeated Lister’s men. We’ll be safe here now.”

“They’ve burned the croft,” Callum said shortly. “There will be more men searching for us and until we meet up with our other forces, we can’t fight them.” He lifted her into the saddle and tightened his grip on her hand.

“Thank God we got here when we did,” he said, his eyes glinting with a combination of emotions that made her lean over to place her cheek against his hand.

Finally, he released her and swung into his saddle. At his signal, they rode out of the tiny valley that held the burning croft and down the rocky mountain path. Doire and Blarach with her calf were roped and led by the men at the end of their group. Snug in her sling against Lilli’s chest, Rose fell into fitful sleep. Lilli patted her back and murmured soothing words and soon the baby quieted. Lilli felt a surge of love for the baby and joy that they were reunited. They were with Callum. They were safe.

They rode the rest of the day, crossing steep ridges and traversing deep valleys until they came at last to a place in the high mountains where the winds blew colder, even though it was still summer. Tents had been set up to shelter them and campfires abounded with pots bubbling over hot coals, sending up fragrant scents that made her stomach rumble with hunger.

“I need to meet with the new recruits who’ve gathered for our cause,” Callum said, helping her from the saddle. “Will you be all right here with the other women?”

“Aye,” she answered and moved toward the nearest fire where a group of women and children gathered round.

“Greetings, m’lady,” they greeted her. “You and the wee one must be weary to the bone and hungry.”

They dipped up generous bowls of lamb stew and late summer vegetables. Lilli barely paused to thank them before greedily emptying her bowl. By the time she’d finished, Rose was stirring with her own needs.

“Let me help you with the wee bairn,” they offered when Lilli tried to feed the fussing baby with her makeshift bottle. “Your milk dinna come in,” they said, and Lilli flushed that they might find her wanting.

“That happened to my sister with her first one,” a woman said good-naturedly. “A terrible time we had until we made her a titty bag.” Her deft fingers were fashioning a bag out of hide with a bit of cloth at the tip. When she was finished, she filled the bag with warmed milk and held it to the baby’s mouth. Eagerly Rose latched on it and suckled as greedily as Lilli had been over her stew.

“Ah, she takes after her mother,” the woman replied and everyone around the campfire laughed. “I’m Evina, and this is Gunna, and sitting there is Larena and her sister Muira.”

She continued to name all the smiling faces, even the children, and Lilli laughed with the effort of remembering the right name for the right face. She hadn’t realized how isolated she’d felt. When she’d been Jane’s companion, she’d lived in Cawder Castle, which abounded with servants and visitors to the solitude of Tollis Hill, but now she was glad to be among women again with their banter and matter-of-fact common sense.

“Why have you all come here with your men?” she asked during a rare quiet moment and immediately the women began to talk again, explaining their need to support their husbands who were minor chiefs and fiercely loyal to their new laird.

“Robert Lister is an evil man,” one of them said bitterly and spat into the fire.

“He cheats and steals and rapes and kills as he wants,” said another.

“He took my sister on her wedding night as the English lords were wont to do when they ruled the land. He has no right to that privilege. ‘Tis why Wallace threw the English out of Scotland. Now one of our own tries to claim the rights. I’ve heard Laird MacAlister is a just man. He’d not do that.”

“Nay, he wouldn’t,” Lilli said with some heat.

“If he tried to, no doubt m’lady would make him think again,” Evina said and all the women laughed, apparently comfortable with their new lady.

Lilli was grateful she’d been so readily accepted. By the time Callum returned, Lilli was pleasantly tired, and Rose, after being passed about, had fallen asleep on any shoulder that would have her. Callum lifted the baby from Evina and kissed her sleeping face.

“Come, wife,” he said to Lilli and led the way to a tent that had been set-aside for them. Pallets had been laid for them piled high with woolen blankets. Callum settled Rose in a nest of them and turned to Lilli, drawing her into his arms.

“Thank God,” Lilli whispered as she tilted her head to accept his kiss.

“Thank God,” he said fervently. “When we arrived and I saw Lister’s men, I feared the worst.” He pulled her close, his arms tight around her. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t gotten there in time.”

They stood in a silent embrace thinking of how closely they had come to death this day. Then their loving caresses grew more urgent. Callum stripped away her clothes and looked at her with a hungry gaze. Enfolded in his arms with her bare nipples brushing against his chest, feeling the contrast of smooth skin and crisp short hair, Lilli felt her own desire build.

Callum lowered her to the pallet and leaned over her, taking in every inch of her while she did the same. He was such a physically beautiful man with long powerful limbs, sleek muscles and broad shoulders. Then her gaze lowered to his cock and she chuckled.

“What? Does my poor showing tickle my wife’s fancy?” he asked lightly.

“Aye, m’laird, for well I know its power and stamina. It pleases me very much.” She wrapped her fingers around him and felt him harden further. She caressed him, felt the heat and weight of him, the soft bulb with its pebbly, sensitive ring, the elongated shaft that leaped and bobbled with her every touch.