Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) (11 page)

Tavish refilled the deerskin jug with water and placed
it by Ella before finding his own pallet.

Leaving only his breeches on, Gavin lifted the plaids
and eased in beside Ella. He gathered her in his arms, positioning her to lie
on her side in the crook of his shoulder, with her head and hand resting on his
chest. As he covered her small delicate hand with his large masculine one, he
inhaled her lavender scent, and then sighed with contentment.

Her shivering lessened dramatically and he could not
help smiling at how perfectly her body fit to his. She felt so feminine, so
right in his arms, but he knew keeping her was not an option.

His smile faded as his body began to harden. It would
be a long night of fighting his desire for the little hellion.

Sunbeams pierced through the early morning mist and a
cool breeze blanketed the air when Ella woke the next day. Feeling sore, but
not feverish, she sat up to survey her surroundings.

Someone had recently stoked the fire, and with the
exception of Gavin, the men were still asleep on their pallets. Glancing
around, she saw no sign of him, so took the opportunity to dress.

Wrapped in the Macleod plaid, she picked up her
saddlebag and boots, then hurried down the path that lead to the burn.

Why had her captors been so kind to her last eve, she
asked herself. It made no sense. They only cared about getting Gabriel back, a
fact she could not fault. She envied Gabriel and the love his family had for
him.

Ella slowed her pace, still a bit hesitant to return
to the site where hours ago two boars’ attacked her. She then recalled how
Gavin had rescued her from a watery grave, and how safe she felt in his arms.
Reaching the burn, Gavin’s soft burr  interrupted her thoughts.

“Are my men awake, yet?”

He was leaning on a tree with his arms across his
chest and his gaze on the water. He hadn’t even bothered to look at her when he
spoke.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Experience,” he stated as he turned to face her.

Wrapped in his plaid, half dragging on the earth-laden
floor in her wake, she looked far too enticing, Gavin thought. Her hair spilled
in long golden waves near to her waist. Almond-shaped, moss colored eyes
sparkled with life and her flawless skin bloomed with healthy color.

His appreciative smile disappeared when he noticed her
dainty bare feet peeking out from the plaid and a slight shiver run down her
body. “Come. I will help ye with yer boots afore tending to yer back.”

He led her by the hand to sit on a fallen tree and
next to the an assortment of items that had been previously laid out for him to
see to this task.

After he laced up her leather boots and move stand
behind her, she was eager to voice her gratitude.

“I wanted to thank you and your men for. . .,” her
words faded when Gavin lifted the plaid from her shoulders and she felt cool
air on her bare skin.

Covering herself as best she could with her arms, she
spun around to face him, and asked, “What are -”

“Tending to yer back, hold still,” he stated as he
turned her back around.

She remained speechless while he removed the linen
from her body. Once she was bare from waist up, she quickly pulled the plaid to
her chest, covering her exposed breasts. All she could do while patiently
waiting for him to finish the mortifying task was grit her teeth and close her
eyes.

Gavin saw her blush, even from where he stood behind
her, but he was not inclined to hasten the chore. As he cleaned and applied
salve to her tender back, he seethed inwardly viewing the ten long lash marks
marring her skin from hip to shoulder.

All too soon, fury turned to desire as he began to
wrap her delicate body in clean linen. When his knuckles brushed the underside
of her small, soft breasts, he remembered what they had felt like crushed to
his chest last eve. He would have groaned with desire, if she hadn’t stirred at
that moment.

“Um, I can see to wrapping the front.”

With her unwanted but insistent help, Gavin finished
bandaging her upper body. He had to remind himself for the hundredth time that
she was the means to get Gabriel back, nothing more.

Allowing himself to care for this English hellion was
not an option, no matter the brutality she had suffered in the past or would in
the future. He lusted for her, aye, but once home his leman would satisfy that
need.

For two years Alice, the fiery redhead, warmed his
bed. She understood that as laird, he would marry for a favorable alliance and
sizeable dowry. Since Alice had neither, she merely took care of his carnal
needs. And when he returned home . . .

He was startled from his thoughts when Ella turned and
asked, “Are we finished?”

Staring at her innocent face intently, he focused on
that lush mouth of hers. He cupped her sun-kissed cheeks, and then proclaimed,
“Nae.”

Thoughts of Alice were lost as his mouth slowly
covered Ella’s, and he savored the feel of her soft, full lips. He heard her
quick intake of breath as his tongue tasted her sweet nectar, but was not
inclined to refrain from this pleasure. It was tantamount to the giddiness
derived from strong libation when he felt her succumb to the kiss, mimicking
his movements. His desire, stoked like a fire, burned fiercely, leaving him
unable to halt his actions. He swept her weightlessly into his arms, and like a
starving beast, he ravished her mouth. The sound of her pain-filled whimper
jolted him back to reality, realizing that his aggressive passion had hurt her.

“I’m sorry, lass,” he said in a breathless voice, then
cupped her face once again. “I dinna mean to be so rough, to hurt ye.”

Hearing the emotion in his tone, her gaze locked with
his, and she gave him a reassuring smile. It was odd that she was not scared of
this man, but actually trusted him. The heady sensation of his kiss still
lingered on her lips and warmth spread through her body. It was her first kiss,
and if not for the pain in her back, she would have liked to continue.

“Nae, I’m fine.”

Relief enveloped him, and he was thankful that he saw
no fear in her eyes.

“I just don’t have much . . . have any experience with
. . . uh . . .”

“Kissing,” Gavin said, smiling down at her
blush-covered face.

“Aye.” She paused, and then added, “I did not expect .
. . your . . .”

He was vastly amused with her sincere declaration, and
immensely pleased she had known no other man’s kiss but his own.

“What did ye nae expect?”

“To feel . . . um . . . to feel your tongue with mine.”

Her honesty intrigued him.

“Yer betrothed never kissed ye?” He immediately
regretted his words when he saw her reaction.

The thought of kissing Roger Moreland was like being
doused with a bucket of ice water. She stepped away from him, and then began to
dress as she explained, “Nae, never. I kept my distance the few times he came
to Greystone.”

The sadness in her voice made Gavin feel like the
lowest wretch, but it was a fleeting emotion, and was soon replaced by
purposeful indifference. He would not allow himself to care for this girl or
her fate. To do so would ruin all he had worked for the past nine years. It
would be selfish and unforgivable, and his clan deserved better than that.

“Return to camp when you are finished,” he snapped. “I
wish to be off English soil and in Scotland by noon.” Turning on his heels, he
took his leave without glancing back or seeing the pain his words caused her.

Confused to why he suddenly became terse, Ella
finished dressing, and then rushed through her morning ablutions. She assumed
his curt behavior was due to her broken promise that she would not cause
problems. He and his men had to save her from being attacked by vicious boars
and drowning in the raging burn. And then after, they had diligently tended her
back to prevent infection. Nae, she could not blame him for his clipped manner.

She returned to camp moments later, and saw that the
warriors were dressed and finishing their morning meal. Standing immobile in
the presence of the men who saved her life last eve, she became instantly
nervous.

“Good morrow, lass,” Nicholas said, noticing her
discomfort. “How are ye fairing?”

Hearing the friendly greeting and seeing no animosity
on any of the Macleod’s faces, she signed in relief.

“I am fairing very well. I want to. . . ah . . .” She
paused for a moment, biting her bottom lip, and then made her declaration.

“I want to thank all of you for saving my life. I
promise not to burden you further on our journey.” With that said, she
practically ran from camp to where the horses were tethered.

The sea of dumbfounded faces made Gavin chuckle. He
knew exactly what his men were thinking.

Edric broke the silence, stating with disbelief, “We
have treated her so poorly, yet she still is able to thank us. Thank us for
what . . . for keeping her alive so we can use her to get Gabriel back, only to
then send her back to a life of hell and complete misery.”

Paen stepped forward to acknowledge Edric’s comment.
“Aye, and ‘tis exactly what we will do. Her fate is unfortunate, but it dinna
concern us. We must use her, for she is the only means we have to see Gabriel
returned.”

Even though his brother was right, Gavin would have
loved to slam his fist into Paen’s face. Reluctantly, he said, “Aye, he speaks
the truth of the matter. Her future is nae in our hands. The Abbott will
deliver a message to Greystone informing him that his ward has been kidnapped
and will remain safe until an agreement can be arranged.”

“Agreement,” Edric said with confusion. “I dinna
understand. Why would ye nae just demand the release of Gabriel for Lady Ella?”

Tavis explained, “Because if Lady Ella’s story is
true, and Gabriel is being returned without Greystone’s knowledge, then Gavin
has the power. He worded his message carefully, never providing too much information.”

Gavin nodded at his younger brother with pride. Tavish
was growing into a fine man, who was as perceptive as he was intelligent.

Encouraged by his eldest brother’s approving nod,
Tavish asked, “Gavin, what will ye do with her if Gabriel is home when we
return to Doran Castle?”

Keep her in my bed for a fortnight, and then send her
back to England.
“She is betrothed to
a English baron, and since our king seeks peace with England, I will be
commanded to return her to Greystone.” And unfortunately, with her maidenhead
still intact, he thought dismally before adding, “I have worked too hard to
rectify the damage caused by my father to lose all now by harboring the future
wife of an English baron.”

Although his men understood, no one liked the idea of
her returning to marry a man who would abuse and mayhap kill her. With
disgruntled looks, they collected their belongings and headed towards the
horses.

With the bag of carrots from her saddlebag, Ella
treated all the horses as she patiently waited for the Macleods.

“And how is my handsome friend doing today,” she
crooned to Apollo. “At least I always have you, my best friend. You know how
much I love you, aye?”

When a twig snapped, she turned to see all six Macleod
warriors staring at her. And they were highly amused. Twisting back around, she
bowed her head, mortified at being caught speaking to her horse in such a
loving manner.

Coming to her sense, Ella lifted her head a heartbeat
later. There was no shame in loving her horse, she told herself. What did she
care if they thought her daft. She had very little in this world beyond her
precious Apollo. And she would continue to treasure him, regardless of anyone’s
opinion.

With that last thought, she put one foot in the
stirrup and was about to mount when two hands caught her at the waist.

When the Macleod’s heard her speak so affectionately
to her horse, it had been near to impossible for them not to smile. But,
Gavin’s smile faded when in her typical mulish way, she tried to mount without
assistance.

Could she nae have waited and asked for help afore she
mounted her huge beast? Did she nae realize her delicate state? God’s blood,
she could have died last eve and here she was, scant hours later, attempting to
act as if she is hale and hearty.

With his hands on her tiny waist, Gavin slowly turned
her to face him and his displeasure. Her leaf colored eyes had flecks of gold
in them, he was surprised to notice.

Dismissing that irritating thought, he admonished, “Ye
will wait for either me or one of my men to help ye mount.”

Scowling, she retorted, “I am perfectly capable of
mounting-”

“Nae, ye stubborn wench,” he rebuked. “Ye will do as I
say and ask for assistance.” Not waiting for her response, he gently put her on
Apollo’s back, and then walked to his own horse.

And he was not deaf to her muttering protest, and was
certain she called him a pig-headed ox. Unlike most women, Ella obviously had
no fear of him, which is why he was now grinning from ear to ear.