Loved By a Warrior (28 page)

Reeve shook his head. “A bargain is a bargain. You won the spoils fairly, and I will see that you receive them.”

“But—”

“No buts, it is done, or it just begins,” he said, and scooped her up and carried her to bed.

Tara was soon in the throes of passionate torment, and no amount of pleading with Reeve would change his mind. He kept reminding her that a bargain was a bargain. He would do no more than caress her.

“Not fair,” she begged.

“Your choice,” he reminded her with a grin.

Then Tara realized that two could play the game, and her hand slipped down to firmly grasp his hard manhood.

It was Reeve's turn to gasp and warn and have it do little good, and it wasn't long after that they both enjoyed the spoils of battle.

Chapter 30

T
he days passed all too rapidly for Tara and Reeve, and by week's end, and with no more snow falling, Reeve knew he'd be hearing from his family all too soon. Carnoth would have made extreme demands by now, and to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, something would have to be done.

He had enjoyed every moment he spent with Tara, especially making love until they were exhausted. He had also cherished their talks. They had shared stories of their early years and secrets they had told no one else. They had discussed their hopes and dreams and weren't surprised at how similar they were. It had taken time, but eventually she began to discuss the future with him as a couple. They talked about having children and argued over names until he had her believing that it was all possible.

It was during those discussions that an idea took root in his mind, and it had begun with something Tara had told him. He had wondered why he hadn't thought of it sooner, but then he supposed this time away with her was needed. Perhaps now she would have more confidence in their future and not balk at his plan, though he wondered if he should even mention it to her.

He wanted trust and honesty between them. He felt both were the makings of a good marriage; without them, respect would be lost, and once that was gone, love would soon follow.

They sat at the table, finishing the morning meal, and he decided to broach the subject and gauge her reaction before revealing his plan.

“It has been days since the snow has stopped,” he said, knowing that would speak for itself.

Tara nodded. “I expect we'll hear from your family soon.”

“Your father probably wonders if I have found you, and if so, what has gone on between us.”

Her chin went up, and her large eyes turned wide. “I care not for what my father thinks.”

Her response warned him to proceed with caution. “Whether you care or not, your father is a powerful man. He will not allow you to reside here with the Picts. And I do not believe you would be obstinate enough to place a generous people in harm's way.”

Her chin remained firm. “There are other places I can go.”

“Where?” He hated to back her into a corner, but he wanted her to see for herself the futility of remaining stubborn.

Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly. “I have to think on it.”

“There is little time for that.”

She reached her hand across the small table and took hold of his, hugging it tightly. “You are my best friend. I will never forget the day you told me that you were my friend. I believe that day is when you stole my heart, and I gave you my trust. You brought me to a safe haven once before. Have you any suggestions where I would be safe now.”

He could play this safe and not tell her his idea, or he could—he stood abruptly, his chair tumbling backward. He walked over to her and swept her out of the chair and into his arms.

“Here is where you are safe. Here in my arms. Here with me, always.” His mouth grabbed hold of hers, and they kissed like starving lovers, though just an hour ago they had lingered in bed making love.

Reeve wasn't surprised by the intensity of the kiss. It only proved that their love and need for each other was as powerful as her father's desire to find them.

He nibbled along her lower lip, reluctantly bringing their kiss to an end, and holding firm to her arms, he took a step away from her. “Together we can conquer anything.”

“What are you suggesting?” she asked.

He heard the apprehension in her voice, but also the courage.

A pounding at the door interrupted any response, and they both eyed each other skeptically.

Was that fate knocking?

He wrapped his arm around her waist, tucking her against him. “Whatever awaits us beyond that door, we face together.”

She nodded, her arm slipping around his waist.

“Enter,” he called out.

Odran walked in and wasted no time in delivering the news. “One of our men has returned with a message.” He looked to Reeve. “Your father requests that you both return home. He says it is imperative that you do so.”

“Trouble brews?” Reeve asked.

“King Kenneth has sent a cleric to have Tara wed to him by proxy. Following the vows, his soldiers will escort her home. Carnoth agrees with the king's plan, and there is little your father can do about it unless he wishes to go to war now with the king.”

“I will never reach the king's home,” Tara said. “He will see me dead first.”

“That will not happen,” he assured her.

“How can you stop the king?”

He rested his brow on hers. “We'll do it together.”

She shook her head, and Reeve, with a kiss, stopped any protests that would spill from her lips.

“We'll escort you home,” Odran said.

“Your help is appreciated,” Reeve said.

“Bliss warned us it would be necessary. We leave soon, so that we can reach shelter before nightfall.” With that, Odran was gone.

“What will we do?” Tara asked anxiously.

“You will marry me,” he said bluntly.

Her eyes rounded in fright and turned deep purple. “I cannot do that.”

“You have no choice,” he said adamantly.

“But I do. I must.”

“Do you love me?'

“Of course I do,” she said, as if angry that he needed to ask.

“Do you wish to wed me?”

“More than anything, but—”

“Is there a chance you carry my babe?” he asked.

She gasped and smiled, her hand going to her stomach. “Oh my, I had not thought of the possibility. But of course.” She nodded vigorously. “Yes, there is.”

“Would you not protect my child?”

“That's not fair,” she said, understanding dawning. “You ask me to trade the father for the child.”

“The father isn't going anywhere,” Reeve said firmly. “We will return home, and you will tell your father that you may carry my babe and therefore wish to wed me. If he protests, you can remind him that he had asked you that very question once before and that you have decided it is exactly what you want to do.”

“You will die,” she said, fighting tears.

Reeve laughed. “I will not die. Besides, it is your only chance.”

She walked away after giving him a shove. “What you are saying is that you are willing to give your life so that I, and possibly your child, may live.”

“You believe in that wretched curse more than you believe in me,” he said angrily. “I need you to believe in me, in us. When do you finally do that? When do you finally allow love the strength it needs to fight that damn curse.”

“What if love isn't strong enough?” she argued.

“Do you believe that?” he snapped. “Can you honestly stand there and tell me that what you feel for me isn't strong enough to slay whatever stands in our way?”

“You wish to protect me and keep me safe, don't you?” she recounted.

“Of course I do,” he said.

“Then don't you see that I wish to do the same for you. And sacrifice is what will slay anything that stands in my way of protecting you.”

“No!” he shouted with a roar. “You have sacrificed enough for others. You will sacrifice no more, and certainly not for me.”

“Yet you take the chance of sacrificing
your life
for me.”

He rushed around the table before she could avoid him and grabbed her around the waist. “You have lived with fear long enough. It is time to live with courage. Trust me. Trust our love. Do that for
us
.”

“I don't want to lose you, Reeve,” she said softly. “I think I would die from the pain if I lost you.”

He held her close. “We have no choice in this matter, Tara. There is no place for you to hide. No place for you to be safe, except in my arms. You need to be courageous and take the chance in choosing what you want, choosing to love.”

T
ara rode her own horse, the Picts leading the way. They had been traveling several hours, and though Reeve rode alongside her, they had spoken little since their departure. She had been deep in thought, musing over how only a few days ago, she had decided to make her own choices. And here she was faced with a choice.

According to Reeve, the choice was simple, trust in him, trust in love.

Did she have the strength to do it? Not only to trust but to truly love without fear or apprehension. Not only to defy her father's dictates and follow her heart, but to defy the curse as well. Reeve had been right about one thing; she had lived with fear far too long.

But again, did she have the courage to not only embrace love, but to accept love?

R
eeve took Tara's hand as they entered the keep. They had exchanged few words since last night, and he knew that she had been agonizing over her decision. He wanted to believe that her love for him would overcome her fear, but he couldn't say for sure. Fear was a powerful deterrent. And he had no doubt love had lost out to it at times. He only hoped this wasn't one of those times.

Voices hushed as soon as they walked in, and Tara's father stomped toward her.

Reeve was quick to step in front of her. “Recall what I told you I'd do if you raised your hand to her again?” He didn't let Carnoth answer, but he knew from the fuming look in his eyes that he recalled every word. “I meant it.”

“And I mean it when I tell you that my daughter will wed King Kenneth here and now.” Carnoth waved at a wiry, short man who hurried to his side. “The king has sent his cleric. He will wed them now, for all of the MacAlpin clan to see.”

Reeve looked to his family, his brothers' hands already on the hilt of their swords. He knew he couldn't allow this to turn into a battle. It would upset all plans made for the true king's return. But how did he stop it? How did he protect the woman he loved if she wouldn't help protect their love?

His answer came just in time, and he smiled with pride.

Tara stepped around him, her shoulders thrown back, her chin up, and her eyes glowing deep purple. “I will wed Reeve of the MacAlpin clan.”

“You wed the king,” Carnoth shouted at her.

She threw her chin up higher. “I will not. Once before you gave me a choice to wed Reeve. I foolishly refused. I correct my foolishness right now. I will wed Reeve.”

“That was before, this is now,” Carnoth argued. “You will wed the king.”

“I will not wed another man when I could possibly be carrying Reeve's child.”

That had Mara running over to her, and, like a battling ram, she pushed Carnoth out of the way and hooked her arm with Tara's. “She's right. If she carries a MacAlpin babe, she has the right to wed the father.”

Carnoth glared at both women. “Fine, wed the fool, right now. He will be dead shortly afterwards and then you will honor my agreement with the king.”

Chapter 31

M
ara had everyone in place in no time, whispering to Reeve and Tara that they would have a proper exchange of vows and celebration another time. For now this would do.

Reeve couldn't have agreed more. He wanted vows exchanged right now, before anything else interfered. Unfortunately, the next interference came from his family.

Willow flew off the steps and into the great hall yelling, “Trey is awake.”

“Let him wait,” Carnoth yelled angrily. “I want this done.”

Tara turned on her father. “If as you claim, Reeve will be dead shortly after our vows are exchanged, then I insist that he be given the chance to speak with his brother one last time.”

Reeve grinned. “Your daughter has a point, Carnoth.”

The man mumbled beneath his breath before waving them away. “Be quick about it.”

MacAlpin warriors roamed the great hall, their presence a warning to Carnoth and a relief to the parents and brothers as they hurried up the stairs.

Mara was the first one in the room, but then everyone moved out of her way, including her husband, who followed on her heels. Tears filled her eyes, seeing her son lying back against a mound of pillows instead of lying prone as if in death.

“Welcome back,” she said with glee and tearful eyes. “You are feeling all right?” She reached out and checked his brow for herself.

“I hurt, but that is good, for it means I am alive,” Trey said with a stronger voice than any of them had expected.

“You gave us quite a scare,” Mercy said, standing beside her husband, his arm around her.

“That you did,” Duncan said. “It is good to have you back.”

“Damn good,” Bryce added.

“Pleased that you're finally among the living,” Reeve teased.

Carmag simply placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder.

Mara started her fussing. “You'll need some food, and I'll get you a shirt and—”

Trey grabbed hold of his mother's hand and Mara stilled, her tears of relief ready to fall. “Your stitching saved my life.”

“I wish my hands had been skilled enough to have saved you. But it was Tara who stitched you up and gave you a chance to live.”

Reeve tugged Tara from behind Duncan, where she was attempting to hide, and he knew why. When Trey had woken briefly and his eyes had caught hers, he had pointed at her, and said, “death.” Since she had just faced her father, who had reminded her that she was a death bride, she hadn't needed another reminder. Not that he believed it would cause her to renege on her decision though he believed it would play on her fear.

“My about-to-be-wife,” Reeve said and, with a firm arm around her waist, approached his brother.

Trey's eyes widened, and he shook his head. “You can't wed her. She will bring death.”

Reeve was quick to defend her. “Tara is a good woman. What nonsense do you speak?”

“Before the soldiers attacked me—”

“The king's soldiers did this to you?” Bryce asked angrily, as if repeating it would confirm it.

“I thought I had been cautious, farmers at the crofts where I stopped warned me that soldiers were in the area and in the foulest of moods. They believed it had to do with a mission for the king that was not going well.”

“How many?” Reeve asked.

“Not nearly enough to be a threat to you, but enough of a serious threat to me. With little choice left to me, I defended myself the best I could. I landed solid blows to a couple, but one large fellow struck me a blow that took me down fast and hard, and that was the end. I heard one say, “Let the animals feast on him.” I thought I was doomed, the pain too great to move.”

He scrunched his brow. “I believe I lost consciousness for a while and then I thought someone approached, knelt beside me, and whispered for me to hold on, help was on the way.” He shook his head. “I must have imagined it. The next thing I knew I was here; other times I thought it a dream; and still other times I felt as if I was burning in the depths of hell.”

“You'll be revenged,” Bryce said.

“The day the true king takes the throne will be revenge enough,” Trey said.

“With that settled, tell me why you believe Tara brings death,” Reeve said wanting this done with here and now.

“In my travels, an old woman approached me in one of the villages. She told me to beware of a woman with hair the color of raven feathers and eyes the color of heather, that she would bring death to my family.”

“Why would you believe a stranger who babbled nonsense in search of coins?” Reeve asked.

“I didn't,” Trey said, closing his eyes briefly. “And she asked for no coins. She had also told me that I would suffer great wounds, and when I finally woke, a beautiful woman would be sitting beside me and that she would be my future wife.” Trey searched the room. “I thought I had seen a fair-haired woman here when I opened my eyes, but I don't see her now.”

“Bliss,” Mara said.

Trey looked to Mercy. “The Pict woman who helped heal you?”

“She helped heal you as well,” Mercy said.

“Where is she?” Trey asked.

“That doesn't matter now,” Reeve said, growing impatient. “At the moment, it is important that Tara and I wed, or she will face death herself.”

Trey looked at him confused.

“There's no time to explain it to you now,” Reeve said. “I'm about to wed.”

“Wait,” Tara said, slipping from Reeve's grasp. “This old woman who warned you about me, what did she look like?”

“What difference does it matter?” Trey asked.

“Many years ago a woman my father believed a witch cast a curse on me. There are only two ways for me to be rid of it. One is to find the person who placed the curse on me and have her remove it.”

“It could be her,” Reeve said, realizing what Tara was implying.

She turned to him. “She described me as if she knew me. It has to be her.”

A servant lass appeared at the open door. “Sorry to disturb, but King Carnoth grows restless.”

Reeve grabbed her hand. “We go wed.”

“We should find her first,” Tara said.

“There isn't time to search for her. We wed first and then we search for her,” Reeve insisted, wrapping his arm around her waist. “There is no other way. We wed, or your father has his way.”

Mara tucked the blanket around Trey. “You rest. We have a wedding to attend.”

They all marched out of the room before Reeve and Tara.

Trey called out to Reeve just as the couple reached the door. Reeve nodded to Tara to wait in the hall, then he turned and walked over to his brother.

“I know nothing about what is going on with you and Tara. I just want to know that you're sure about this,” Trey said.

“As sure as I am that the true king will claim the throne of Scotland.”

Trey stuck his hand out. “Then let me be the first to congratulate you.”

Reeve took his hand with a firm grip. “That means a lot to me.”

“We'll talk later. Go get married.”

Reeve was out the door and hurrying Tara down the stairs. Her father was pacing around the tables and looked ready to explode when he caught sight of them.

“Let's be done with this now,” Carnoth said.

Mara once again hurried everyone into place, and Reeve reached out and took hold of Tara's hand and smiled. She bravely forced a smile, though fear dulled her lavender-colored eyes.

There was no point trying to reassure her. She would see for herself soon enough that nothing would happen to him. The cleric started with a rush of words and finished with a hasty blessing, then stepped aside as if he feared something would happen if he remained too close to Reeve.

It seemed that everyone waited, staring at him with apprehension. He ignored them all and took Tara in his arms and kissed her. It took a moment for her to return the kiss, but she did. When it finished, she glared at him, her hand patting his cheeks.

“I'm still alive,” Reeve said, grinning.

“You'll be dead by morning,” Carnoth spat. “And then I'll be taking my daughter with me.”

“You acknowledge that Tara is my wife?” Reeve asked.

“I stood here and watched you exchange vows, you fool.”

“You may have watched, but you're the fool if you didn't realize that once she wed me, she became part of the MacAlpin clan. If anything should happen to me before morning, Tara remains with the clan; she no longer belongs to you. She is and shall remain a MacAlpin. So take your men and leave. You are no longer welcome here.”

Carnoth's face flushed bright red, and he sputtered when he spoke. “Tara is my daughter.”

Reeve stepped right up to within inches of his glowing red face. “Tara may be your daughter, but she is now
my wife
, part of
my clan
. You no longer have a say in her life.”

“I thought your clan fought for the true king to take the throne,” Carnoth said. “If you had but let her wed the fool king, he would be dead by now.”

“Are you telling me that you arranged for Tara to wed the king in hopes that he would die?” Reeve asked, his anger rising.

“The selfish bastard is bleeding me dry,” Carnoth yelled.

“Watch your mouth in my home,” Mara scolded harshly.

Carnoth was so livid, he looked as if he would snort smoke from his nostrils. “King Kenneth demands more and more of my money. I thought my daughter could be the solution to many problems.”

“He planned to kill her,” Reeve said, disgusted.

“The consequence of battle,” Carnoth said without an ounce of regret.

His callous remark infuriated Reeve, but what drove him over the edge was turning to see tears in his wife's eyes. She had suspected as much, but hearing her father announce that he knowingly and without regret had planned to send her to her death must have torn at her heart.

Reeve threw his arms out from his sides, fisted his hands, leaned his head back, and let loose with such a spine-chilling roar that everyone in the room took a step back. He reached out and grabbed Carnoth by the throat, dragging him across a table, sending tankards and food flying. He slammed him down atop another table, the wood groaning and Carnoth's head cracking a pitcher of ale. Reeve roared again and, with two hands, grabbed the man and sent him flying over the last table in the long row. He then hurried over to grab him off the floor and start the process all over again.

No one interfered, not even Carnoth's men, but that was because MacAlpin warriors prevented any of them from moving. Finally, Reeve slapped the man down on a table, his body bouncing from the force, and pressed his nose to Carnoth's.

“Bother my wife, come near her, make her cry, make her sad, speak to her as if you own her, and I will see you gutted and strung from the highest tree.” He tossed the man to the floor like a piece of garbage and walked over to Tara. As he stepped behind her, he wrapped his arm possessively across her chest and pulled her back against him, so there could be no mistake that she belonged to him.

Carmag stepped forward. “I suggest you leave. All has been settled.”

Carnoth stood, his hand going to his throat, Reeve having left a sizeable imprint on it, and choked as he spoke. “This is not over.”

“Yes, it is,” Carmag said. “As Reeve said, Tara is now a MacAlpin. Our warriors will escort you off our land.”

Carnoth glared at his daughter. “You have brought disgrace to our clan. And have caused nothing but problems for me, so it is glad I am to be rid of you. As far as I'm concerned, I have no daughter.” He turned his back on her, snapped his fingers, and his warriors followed him out of the hall, MacAlpin warriors right on their heels.

Reeve could feel the tremor that rumbled through Tara. While Carnoth was never a good father, he was still Tara's father, and to hear him admit, before all, that he purposely sent his daughter to her death had to have caused her immeasurable pain.

“It's over,” he whispered in her ear. “You belong to me now, and as you can see, I'm still here.” He wanted her to understand that she had a home and was safe, and that he wasn't going anywhere.

Her tremors continued, and she didn't respond. He knew something was amiss when he saw his mother's eyes turn wide when she glanced upon Tara.

Reeve coaxed Tara around in his arms as Mara approached. Her face was as white as freshly fallen snow. And tears trickled one by one down her cheeks.

Mara reached them before he could do anything and yanked her out of Reeve's hands, though she nodded for him to follow. Mercy hurried ahead of Mara, rushing to grab one of the wool cloaks that hung on a peg by the keep's double doors.

“It's the fire's warmth and a hot strong drink you need,” Mara said.

Reeve then realized that Tara's father had actually chilled her to the bone in shock. He took the cloak from Mercy and wrapped it around his wife then sat her at the table closest to the fire's heat and joined her on the bench, his arm going to her back to rub warmth into her.

Mara filled a tankard with hot cider and added more than a splash of acqua vitae. She then filled enough tankards with ale for them all and raised hers high.

“Blessings to Reeve and Tara.”

They each in turn offered their own congratulations and, with acknowledging nods, drifted off, leaving the couple alone.

He was relieved when she turned and finally spoke to him. “I thought my father might have planned it this way, but I didn't want to believe it, and even now hearing it—” She shook her head, and a few more tears fell. “How could he? I'm his daughter.” She shook her head again. “He never loved me. My father never loved me.”

Reeve tried to ease her into his arms, but she pushed him away and stood.

“I've been nothing but a burden to him, an annoyance he wanted out of his life, and he thought to be rid of me along with another annoyance, the king.”