Binding Vows (19 page)

“The gate was open while I tended the plants.

That mangy mutt walked right in like he owned the place and made a mess. Haggart should keep better care of his dog.” Tara sensed calm when Celeste talked of the dog and anger when she spoke of its owner.

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Tara listened while Celeste went on and on of other times Haggart had neglected his animal and she was
forced
to care for it. “Who leaves their animals to themselves overnight with no one to feed them?”

Tara turned her thoughts into words, words she hoped Duncan would hear.
I think Celeste has the
hots for your friend Haggart.

Duncan’s reply was instant.
What is
the hots
?

Passion! I think she likes him. I’m sensing a
love-hate vibe.

Duncan peered over his cup at Haggart.

“I’ll tell ye she’s impossible. She pets Max every chance she gets. The second he acts like a dog, she cry’s foul.”

“Ye believe she invited this on herself? Max digging up her vegetables?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. Why the other day she had me hauling water for her, saying Max drank the supply she left on her step. Why put water on your step when a thirsty dog sat feet away? Answer me that?”

“Maybe the widow needed some help carrying the heavy load?” Duncan suggested.

“Her name is Celeste. A widow she is, but for over eight years now.” Haggart’s voice softened. “I don’t think she appreciates the title.”

Duncan sent his thoughts across the street.
Aye,
love, I think you’re right. Haggart has
the hots
for
his neighbor.

Poor Max is in the middle.
Tara told him.

What shall we do?

They need a little nudge. Try and see if Haggart
will come to her defense if you suggest she is accusing
him falsely. I’ll do the same. If they take the bait, I’ll
suggest she try befriending Haggart by fixing him a
meal or something.

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“Well my friend,” Duncan said. “Perhaps ’tis time we move Celeste from her home. If she’s accusing you falsely of foul play, she should be punished.”

Haggart’s eyes grew wide, his jovial smile vanished. “Ahh well, wait just a minute. True the woman exaggerates a fair bit, but there is no denying Max spent time in her garden. To punish her wouldn’t be right. I think ye should leave this matter to me. I’d hate to see the poor, old widow suffer because of me.”

Tara grinned over her cup. “If you really think Haggart deserves it, I’ll see that Duncan moves him, and his terrible dog.”

“What? Nay, ’tis not... I mean to say.” Celeste took a breath. “I think my Lady, Haggart and I can come to some agreement on the animal. I shouldn’t have left my gate open. Some fault lies with me.”

Both parties met in the street when Tara and Duncan left. Neither spoke an unkind word to each other. Instead, they talked of the couple who trotted down the dirt road on their way back to the Keep.

“They make a lovely couple, don’t you agree?”

Celeste asked.

“A couple?” Haggard tilted his head, considered his Lord’s actions. “Are ye sure?”

“Aye, I’m as sure of that as I am they will meet with rain before they get back to the Keep.” She snuck a glance at her handsome neighbor.

“It does have the feel for rain.” Haggart looked over to her cottage. “That roof looks in need of repair, Celeste. Maybe I could help with what needs fixin’ before the rainy season begins again.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Celeste reached down to scratch Max behind his ears, a small smile pealed at the corners of her mouth. “If ye haven’t any supper on the fire, I’ve made enough for two tonight. Ye 160

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could come by if ye had a mind to.”

“I never was much of a cook I’m afraid.”

“Fine than. Bring Max. We wouldn’t want him finding another garden to frolic in.”

“Nay, we wouldn’t be wanting that.”

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Ian MacCoinnich stood on the highest point of his home and scanned the skies. Clouds had blown in from the sea during the day, hinting at the rain, which would come sometime in the night.

Tonight would be entirely too late for his needs.

He closed his eyes, opened his arms and lifted his palms to the sprinkling of sun he wanted to disappear. Then he called his gift.

The wind slowly started to shift. With more effort, Ian brought darker clouds and the rumble of thunder. The moisture sent a spray of feather soft mist into the air. The bones of the old and broken would feel the shift in pressure as it dropped.

Soon the mist turned to small droplets of water.

When the sky was completely clouded over, and his hair dripped with rain, Ian let his hands drop. A satisfying smile broke across his face.

Below, Lora watched her husband with arms folded across her chest. She tried prying into his mind only to find herself shut out. When the air cooled and the wind started to blow, understanding dawned.

Duncan would be headed back by now with Tara in tow. If a storm kept them from making the entire journey, Duncan would seek shelter at one of the many cabins between the Keep and the village.

Lora laughed. Her husband was such a smart man.

****

Binding Vows

accomplishment as they rode out of town.

“I’ll bet they’re together within a week.”

“It won’t take that long. You should have seen Haggart when I suggested the widow was not telling the truth and needed to be punished.”

“Celeste was ticked when I told her the vicious dog should be put down. Then when I told her you planned on moving Haggart to a different part of the village if things didn’t settle, her story changed.”

Tara reached over, patted him on his shoulder. “We make a great team.”

“That we do, lass. That we do.”

Lightning split the sky, causing them both to look up and jump. “Looks like we’re going to get wet.” Tara pulled her cloak tighter and lifted the hood over her hair.

The next boom of thunder threatened a decent sized storm. Meg skipped a step when the sound filled the sky. Duncan’s hand darted out, calming the animal instantly.

They rode in silence for a few minutes before the rain started to fall and Duncan shouted over the sounds of thunder, “I think we should find shelter.”

Already soaked to the skin in a few short minutes, Tara yelled her agreement.

They changed course while torrents of rain pelted down. Duncan kept the horses at a brisk trot, not wanting them to bolt when the lightning danced in the sky.

The cottage was small and dark. But most important, it was dry. Duncan quickly helped Tara inside, then rushed to care for the horses.

Tara shook out her cloak and hung it on a hook beside the door. The sack of food Mrs. Claunch had given them for Ian and Lora would have to do until the rain let up. After wiping off the only table, Tara set their provisions down and searched the cupboard for cups.

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A small bed, covered with blankets, dominated the space. Tara fluffed off the collected dust, scattering any spiders from their would-be home.

Even inside, Tara could see her breath. She noticed the fireplace and pined for a match. There was wood outside stacked up on the porch so she knew once Duncan returned, they wouldn’t be cold.

It was nice having a personal fire starter, she thought. Until he returned from dealing with the horses, she curled up under one of the blankets to keep from shivering.

****

It didn’t take him long to pen up the animals and feed them grain, but he dawdled.

Inside the small cabin was a woman he desired more than life itself. He accounted his rampant emotions to the vows they took, but somewhere deeper, he knew it was more. There would be no interruptions from anyone or anything once he passed through the door of the cottage.

As sure as the sun would shine the next day, he knew he would have her. Their passion had simmered long enough.

She was his wife, even if she didn’t know it yet.

Duncan wondered if he should tell her, before…

then decided against it. The knowledge would shock and anger her. He wanted her passionate, not irate.

With a temper as lethal as the color of her hair, he wouldn’t chance confronting her with the facts until she was his, completely.

Confident in his plan, he squared his shoulders and entered the cabin.

She sat balled up on the bed, shaking like a leaf in the wind.

“Why didn’t you start a fire?”

“Withhh whaat?” she chattered.

He went to the fireplace with palms spread, 164

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called one flame, then another. He placed a log inside the hearth and kept his hands elevated until it caught.

The atmosphere in the room changed with the glowing light of the fire. “I should have started one before I left to do my chores.”

“It’s o-okay.” Tara held her hands in an effort to stop her body from shaking. But with her hair and clothes drenched, her effort was useless. She shrugged off the blanket and stood near the fire. “D-do you think you can show me how you d-do that?”

He removed his own wet outer garments and hung them with hers. “Of course, maybe once you’ve warmed up.” His hands rubbed the chill from her arms.

“You need to get out of this.” He helped unlace her gown, trying not to notice her silky skin. Her chemise wasn’t very wet and covered most of her.

Duncan pulled a chair close to the fire and encouraged her to sit. He took his boots off and laid them with her clothing to dry.

While Tara combed her fingers through her wet hair, Duncan wondered what she thought, and probed into her mind just a little.

The song she sang in her head made him smile.

She avoided his eyes as he put his belongings in place for the night. Under lowered lids, her eyes shifted to the narrow bed. Her fists clenched.

“Why so nervous, love?”

“Nervous?” Warmer now, Tara played idly with her hair. “Who says I’m nervous?”

“If not nervous, than what?” He sat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m just...thinking, wondering really.” She huffed out a breath, pulled in another and spit out the next words, “Yeah, I’m nervous!”

Her hands shook more, even though the chill had left the room.

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“Why?”

“You. Me. Us.”

“Why?”

“Because, we can’t be alone together without jumping on each other, that’s why.”

He hid his smirk. “This is a problem?”

“Damn straight it is. Maybe not for you, you won’t have to be the one raising the potential consequences of it. I will.” Her words came out in one steady stream.

She was thinking beyond the now, and it scared her. And it cheapened him.

“You think so little of my honor? You believe I would leave you to ‘raise the consequences’ by yourself?”

“No. Yes. I don’t know.” She stood and put some space between them.

Her conclusion had angered him. He got up and paced while she talked.

“Listen, Duncan, I can’t deny our strong physical attraction anymore than you can. But it isn’t like we’ve made any promises to each other.

Anything could happen when we...” Her eyes shot to the bed. Let the obvious go un-said.

He reached her in one step. Holding her face in his hands, he forced their eyes to meet. “Look at me,”

he demanded. “Into me. What do you see?”

Tara tried pulling away from him. Doubt crept over her, showing its ugly face in her mind. “I can’t.”

“Look!”

Smoldering eyes leveled to hers. Her body started to relax, her vision blurred and mixed with his. Duncan forced his thoughts into her mind.

Finally, she saw herself through his eyes, passion churning in his blood, through his veins.

His vision overtook her. She saw herself standing in front of a mirror, holding a swollen stomach and smiling. Behind her Duncan smiled 166

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with a possessive hand around her waist.

The vision left her lightheaded. Tara swayed in his arms. “Wow.”

He knelt down beside her. “I would never leave you to raise a child on your own, Tara. You have my word.”

Believing he meant what he said, Tara gave a timid smile. “I didn’t mean to question your honor.”

“The men in your life have held little honor to you or your sister. I understand why you would question. I am not them.”

“I know. You’re right! I just...” She swallowed hard. “I don’t think straight when I’m with you.”

“We have that in common. I have not thought clearly since before I went to your time.”

Really?

Duncan read her thoughts and smiled.

He pulled her hand to his cheek and snuggled into her warmth. “Do you know the pleasure I can give you, Tara?” His lips skirted over the inside of her wrist. “I have dreamed of how I would make you ache for me. How I would make you mine.”

Oh God,
Tara thought as her knees went weak.

She could scarcely breathe, let alone move. His dark knowing eyes shimmered with desire. Lazy seductive lips moved over her pulse. Unable to do anything but whimper and watch, Tara let every ounce of fear leave her body. Duncan stepped closer, filling the empty space surrounding her. Hot breath fanned her cheek. He waited for her response.

This is what she wanted, what she desired.

Tara fanned her hands over his chest. He drew in one unsteady breath after another, but still he waited. Unable to hold back for even one more desperate moment, Tara pulled his head down to meet her lips. The air sizzled, his lips burned, promising to leave their mark.

Each caress of his tongue over hers felt like a 167

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homecoming, felt like completion. She knew he wanted her, but her need was just as combustible, just as hungry.

She had waited twenty-five years for this man to enter her life. She was desperate, more desperate than even he was, to feel the smooth texture of his tongue sliding over hers.