A Lesson in Passion (30 page)

“Aaah, that is much better. Are ya
comfortable?” he asked her, so tenderly it almost made her
cry.

Silly
, she
thought, wondering if she is about to get her period. Hoping she
did so she could justify her weepiness and to confirm that she
won't be giving birth without an epidural. It occurred to her that
he was waiting for an answer to his question. “Aye, I'm comfy.”
Taking a deep breath and bracing herself for his reply, she finally
asked the burning question, “Why did you come back?”

Refusing to look him in the face, she buried
herself into his chest. The silence went on too long for good news,
she thought. Finally, she looked up to his face, into his beautiful
blue eyes. “I dinna think I could live without ya.” Well, that
explained nothing and Ginny wanted to know what happened after she
left.

“What happened?”

“I spoke to the Sinclair. He told
me about his father. He and Alec fought alone. Alec could have
killed him, but he dinna. There will always be bad blood, but no
one was killed today.”

Ginny's eyes widened with the shock. Her plan
had worked, as convoluted and hastily put together as it was. There
had to be a catch. There was no way that she was getting out of
this unscathed. “But your clan, they hate me now, don't
they?”

“Nay, only Broderick. He may leave
when ya return.” Ginny's eyes turned sympathetic at this news.
Broderick was very important to Ian, as a commander, confidant and
friend.

Turning her eyes down, she said softly, “I'm
sorry. I would never ask you to choose.”

Gently placing his hands under her chin, Ian
raised her face back up to his. “I know ya wouldnae ask that of me.
I will convince Broderick to stay. Ya may no' want to be around him
for a while.” He dazzled her with a brilliant smile. She smiled in
return, hoping it would all be right in the end. Just like the
novels.

"Do you think he'll ever forgive me for taking
his horse. Again," Ginny asked, with an innocent smile on her
face.

Ian laughed. “I dinna know about that."
Becoming serious he said, "I love ya, lass. I need ya with me.
After ya look over Alec, we will return home.”

“Why am I looking over
Alec?”

“He was injured during the
fight.”

Ginny looked incredulous. “Why are we lying
here... or better yet, why did we just... fool around if your
brother is hurt?”

Ian smiled again. He loved how indignant she
got over silly things. “He isnae hurt so badly. A couple of
scratches, maybe a broken rib. He will live.”

Pushing away from Ian, Ginny got herself
dressed. She skulked around, mumbling to herself about her stupid
husband, trying to find her shoes. By the time she'd made herself
presentable, Ian was standing there, fully dressed and waiting. She
walked past him to leave the room and he grabbed her and kissed her
so passionately, she thought that getting dressed was a huge waste
of time. At the last moment, he pulled away. “Och, Ginny. Ya make
me forget myself. Best get moving before I put ya on yar back and
have my way with ya.”

“That's what I've been trying to
do.” Ginny quickly walked up the hallway, knowing it was only a
matter of time before he grabbed her again. She almost made it, got
all the way to the door of the great room as a matter-of-fact,
before Ian had her in his arms again, nuzzling her neck and feeling
her up over her clothing.

“Do you want me to look at your
brother?”

“Nay, I want ya to look at
me.”

“No, you want me to do something
else to you.”

Ian let out a hearty laugh. “Ya may be right.
Ya better get in there, Ginny.” He leaned closer, mouth against her
ear and whispered, “I am already hard for ya. I may take ya against
this wall here.”

Never one for public displays of
affection, or even potential ones, Ginny ran into the great
hall.

• * Chapter 28 *
  

There were few windows in the great
hall, so there was little light in the room, save for the candles
here and there. In front of the hearth, Ginny saw a few monks
crowding around Alec, who was sitting in a chair. As she began to
walk over to him, Ginny remembered what he said about her being a
traitor. Her steps slowed and become unsure as she wondered if he
would even let her near him.

Ian grabbed her arm and dragged her the rest
of the way across the room. His lack of sensitivity certainly did
speed things up, but did nothing for her fragile self-esteem at
that moment. Literally dumping her in front of Alec, Ian announced,
“Take a look at him. We need to leave soon.” After this, Ian simply
left the room, along with every monk who had been attending Alec.
They were curiously alone.

“
Ian says you're hurt,”
Ginny stated in a monotone voice while staring at the wall above
the hearth. She had to be getting her period, because she could
feel the tears forming in her eyes.
Maybe
it would be better to get angry
, she
thought. Tears made you look weak, and Ginny hated to look
weak.

“Ginny...” Alec sounded forlorn. He
knew he hurt her earlier, with his unfounded accusations. Truth
was, Alec had never admired a woman like he did Ginny. Even his
wife, who he loved more than life, had never done the brave things
this woman had done. If he didn't know better, he would have bet
she was a man.

Hearing his voice, Ginny braved looking at
him. His head was in his hands and he was covered in bruises.
Without another word, she began to examine his wounds. Nothing
serious, a lot of bruises, but no cuts required stitching. Ian did
mention his ribs, so she asked, “Does your chest hurt?”

Alec, who had been silent and still during the
examination, finally looked her in the eye. “Please forgive me,
Ginny. What I said to ya... Yar the bravest lass I have ever known.
Thank ya for what ya did for our clan.”

The tears fell over and down her cheeks. Until
that moment, Ginny hadn't realized how important it was that he
believe in her, that he respect her. She smiled and sighed. Maybe
this would work out after all. “Your welcome,” was all she
said.

He stood up and hugged her, like a brother
would his sister. As the tears continued to fall, Ginny melted into
his arms, enjoying the protection and warmth. Alec gently rubbed
her head and back. For whatever reason, she now felt like she might
be able to live this life if she had to. She had the love of one
man and the respect of his family. What more did she need, besides
showers, coffee and Hershey Peanut Butter Cups?

An angry throat clearing came from across the
room. “I can see yar well enough to ride home, brother.”

Alec laughed as he released Ginny from his
bear hug. “Ya got a fine wife here, Laird. I wouldnae do anything
stupid to lose her. There are many who would have her,” he said,
still looking at Ginny and smiling.

“They can try, but they will die
trying.”

Ginny didn't think she was much into the macho
bravado that many men displayed. Somehow, hearing he would kill
anyone who touched her kind of turned her on. Of course, in Ian,
this wasn't bravado. He would truly hurt another man who came near
her. Still, very flattering.

Clearing her throat and wiping the tears from
her face, she turned to Ian. She smiled, lifted an eyebrow and
looked quite taken by her husband. Ian narrowed his eyes as if
understanding what she was telling him with only her eyes. “Alec,
go see if the men are prepared to leave. My wife and I will be out
in a few minutes.” With that, Ian picked her up and carried her
back to their little cell.

“
What do you mean a few
minutes,” Ginny asked him as he carried her off. All she could hear
was Alec laughing as she left the room.

• * Chapter 29 *
  

Three Months
Later

Ginny couldn't believe it could get much
colder. It was summer when she came, so she got a rude wake up call
when autumn hit. The temperatures dropped and the wind picked up.
The village was preparing for winter, for when there was little to
do outside. Ian had told her that they would often host the clan in
the great hall, to keep everyone from going crazy from cabin
fever.

She sat by the hearth, relishing in the heat.
It seemed that like a good Catholic girl, she got pregnant on her
wedding night. When her period never came, but the nausea and
vomiting did, she was quite certain of her fate. Ian was as giddy
as a schoolboy. He was constantly talking about their son and how
they would name him after his father. Thankfully his father was
named Ronald, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Aileana sat across from her, working on some
embroidery. She was quite certain she was having a girl. Since that
first awful night when she realized she was pregnant, Aileana had
come to find peace. It seemed that this child was the best thing to
happen to her, giving her a new lease on life. Aileana needed
someone to take care of, and with that care, she could be healed
herself. She asked Ginny to be there, for the birth. What could
Ginny say? She was beginning to love her new family.

As Ginny came to get used to the way of life
here, she depended on Maude much less. It was a good thing, too,
since one of the McKenna soldiers, a young man named Timothy, had
started courting her. Maude was an expert at casual indifference
and was leading the poor man on a merry chase. Ginny had begun to
think she was not interested at all when one evening, in a dark
corner outside the great hall, she caught them kissing. Both were
equally embarrassed, but neither seemed inclined to stop, so Ginny
went on her way, leaving the love birds to their moment.

Then, there was Broderick. He made his home,
in a newly built hut, outside the walls of the keep. His wife was
always so excited to tell everyone about how much she loved her
husband. Everyone, except Ginny. Although they decided to stay,
they made it very clear that Ginny was not to have anything to do
with them. As the Laird's wife, it was sometimes difficult to keep
her distance, but Ginny did. It made things easier for her
husband.

As Ginny enjoyed her warmth and quiet company
with Aileana, Ian strode into the great hall. Without asking, he
pulled Ginny from her seat and sat down on the newly vacated chair
and placed her on his lap. Aileana smiled, but said nothing, just
continued with her embroidery.

Ian leaned in to whisper in his wife's ear, “I
thought ya meant to rest more, love.”

“I'm just sitting here, Ian. What
more can I do?”

“Ya can go lie in my bed and
sleep.”

Dear God, he did worry about her. He was
almost unnervingly affectionate, but Ginny knew they were growing
closer. His world did not include using her as a partner in all
things, but she'd grown accustomed to taking care of his home.
Ginny would often wonder if she would grow tired of the second
class citizen feel. When things got bad, Ian would only have to
seduce her to make her put her fears aside. Damn, but the sex was
still incredible.

As much as she hated to admit it, she was
tired all the time. A little nap certainly would do her good and
make her husband feel as if he'd taken care of her. Ginny had told
him that she loved him, but she still had a level of uncertainty.
There were many things about him she loved, even thought she could
really mean it eventually, but right now, she just enjoyed their
time together.

“Very well, husband. I will take a
nap, but only because I know it would make you feel
better.”

“Aye, wife. It would make me feel
better,” his smile was genuine, his voice a caress. Ginny could
almost feel her loins tighten at the sound. Seeing the look on her
face, he added, “Ya better get going before I forget ya need a
nap.” His eyebrow raised, mocking her. Before she could get up, he
leaned in and gently kissed her lips.

Ginny got off his lap and stretched. She
reached the door out of the great hall, turned and looked back at
him. He was staring at her departure, watching her make her way.
Suddenly, Ginny felt dizzy and her vision blurred. Her head began
to swim, like after a long night of drinking. Ian must have noticed
the funny look on her face, because the last thing she heard was
him say, “Ginny, are ya unwell?”

And then, there was nothing.

A Lesson in

Forgiveness

Enjoy a sneak preview of Jennifer Connors'
next book in the “Ginny” series.

• * Chapter 1 *
  

Gentle rocking. Back and forth, back and
forth. The only sound was the rhythm of the rocking. No smells or
tastes or feelings. Only the rocking. It was soothing and relaxing.
Mostly, it was hypnotic. No pain, no worries, no anxieties.

Then, it ended, abruptly. The carriage hit a
pothole and Ginny was jarred so hard she hit her head against the
seat. Her eyes snapped open. She held the carriage seat as if it
was a life preserver. That was what it felt like. She was drowning
in a sea of mis-comprehension and the feel of the wood and cushion
were the only things that kept her afloat.