Binding Vows(55)
161
Catherine Bybee
Chapter 14
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.
****
Duncan and Tara were smug in their 162
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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.
****
Duncan lingered outside longer than necessary. 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.