His Bonnie Bride by Hannah Howell (the beginning after the end read novel .TXT) 📕

the stallion you are. Come to my tent now and let me show you true pleasure."

"I wouldst rather spill my seed into a man." Tavis could not hide his very real pain when her hand became a fist that left him doubled over and gasping.

"Fool." Mary surged to her feet, enraged by his rejection, verbal and physical, for her expert hand had brought no reaction. "You have 'til the hour before dawn to change your mind. If you still say nay, I will gladly sharpen the knife Sir Hugh will use to make you a gelding, and I will see that the cut is not quick and clean, but slow, tiny piece by tiny piece until naught remains. Think on that, border reiver."

For a while Tavis could only think of sheer agony in his loins. He rolled about doubled over for a moment, until he came to rest against a tree, his forehead pressed against the rough bark. Something caused him to open his eyes, and he briefly glimpsed amber ones. When the guard bent to offer him a drink of ale Tavis feared he was going mad. The guard's next words eased that fear.

"Lass, ye should not be this near to Sir Hugh. Ye and the lad scamper away now."

Storm peered at Matthew, edging out of the bushes and keeping to the shelter of the tree. "How did ye know, Matthew?"

"Ye and the lad be the only things human with a cat's eyes that I know of."

"What fool let ye out of Caraidland, and what in the name of God have ye got on your faces?" Tavis hissed.

"Such gratitude. 'Tis ash to hide our fair skin. We have come to get you away from here."

"Ye will have to touch me with them clubs o' yours first, lass. I can't be left awake ere he leaves."

"I feared that." She began to cut the ropes binding Tavis's wrists, Matthew's bulk shielding her actions.

"I was sore grieved to hear o' the fates o' your kin and the Fosters."

Despite her efforts, a lone tear streaked a trail down Storm's begrimed cheek. "Thank ye, Matthew. There, Tavis."

Rubbing the numbness from his wrists as subtly as he was able, Tavis said, "This is madness, little one. 'Twill be but one moment ere they see that I have fled. Get yourself out o' here now, love."

"Ye give me no credit for brains do ye, Tavis? I have thought this out well." She caught the wrapped bundle of rushes Phelan edged toward her. " 'Tis shadowy here. This should serve to fool them for a while. I shall place this blackened rope 'round Matthew to hold him to the tree and he will appear to still be awatch." She suited action to words with Matthew's compliance, and Tavis's eyes showed his growing admiration. "That 'tis Matthew I must deal with makes my plotting work more smoothly," she added modestly. "Forgive me, Matthew," she murmured, and dropped a kiss on his cheek before she hit him, silently sending him into blackness.

The switch of the bundle for Tavis was made quickly and neatly. But an instant later the trio were loping through the woods toward Caraidland. Thoughts of the fate awaiting him at Sir Hugh's hands gave Tavis strength despite the pain in his abused back and the soreness in his loins. He flicked a glance at the trussed-up guard as they passed him, and he shook his head. The little pair was a wonder.

A heavy covering on the floor of the wood allowed them to leave no discernible trail, and they were glad of that when sounds of pursuit reached their ears. If luck was with them, they could reach and be in the tunnel before they were spotted. Tavis did not ask them how they knew of the tunnel as they dove for its haven, shutting and bolting the hatch after them. All he could think of was that he was free, free and whole.

* * * * *

Colin fixed a stern eye upon the group gathered at the table set in one of the few empty spots left in the great hall. He had had no idea of what was afoot until an uproar broke out in Sir Hugh's camp. Iain and Sholto had fled for the stables while all the guards on the south walls had readied themselves as if for an attack. Though he rejoiced with the rest over the clever, successful rescue of his heir and had been made aware of the horror Sir Hugh had planned for Tavis, Colin felt he ought to make some stand against such disobedience.

"I ken I said there wouldnae be any attempt made," he growled, glaring at them all.

"But, me' lord ye gave Phelan and me no such command."

He stared into two pairs of wide, guileless eyes and two surprisingly innocent, if begrimed, faces and burst out laughing. The rest soon joined in. To Storm's intense embarrassment, she found herself the center of attention. Even worse, Phelan began to blithely recite the full tale of how they had managed to silence the watch.

Sholto eased that some by relating an absurd plan to use the same ploy on the whole of Sir Hugh's army when they began the attack anew at dawn. She soon forgot most of her embarrassment in all the laughter at his nonsense.

Tavis awoke to the fact that time was swiftly passing by. All too soon he would be back upon the walls to fight Sir Hugh. Their numbers were so few, it was doubtful they could hold out all that long. He knew just how he wished to spend the remaining time before dawn. His back still burned, but that seemed to have no effect on the desire for Storm that suddenly surged through him. Grabbing her by the hand, he excused them from the table and hurried her off to their chambers.

Sholto sighed as he watched Storm's slim hips sway gently out of the hall, her long, thick hair keeping rhythm as she