Author: Bethany Hauck
Date: 2017-07-02 04:00:00+00:00

An Honest Mistake

The McCabe’s Book 1

By: Bethany Hauck

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Wedding

Chapter 2:  Never say Never

Chapter 3:  Tarmon

Chapter 4:  Courting

Chapter 5:  Attitude Adjustment

Chapter 6:  Confined for a Day

Chapter 7:  A Memorable Night

Chapter 8:  Target Practice

Chapter 9:  Nightly Lesson

Chapter 10:  The Trial

Chapter 11:  A Baby

Chapter 12:  Missing

Chapter 13: Amends

Epilogue

C hapter 1: The Wedding

“I’m never getting married,” Jacqueline told her oldest brother Eadan as they checked over their bows and got ready to practice.

“One day you’ll find a man that you won’t be able to live without, and it’ll happen,” Eadan said, smiling at her.

“Never,” she said. Then after giving it some thought she asked him,  “is that how you feel about your Nessa?”

“Not at first,” he told her, “but now that I’ve gotten to know her, aye.”

“So you’re not upset with Da for arranging your marriage?” she asked him, taking aim at a target and letting her arrow fly, striking it almost dead center.

“Not anymore.  I was when he first told me what he’d done, but I’ve come to realize Da picked well for me.  The McDougals are good people and an alliance with their clan will only strengthen ours,” he said, notching an arrow himself and hitting the same target an inch closer to the center than his sisters.

“I’m glad Da promised our mother he’d never arrange a marriage for me,” Jacqueline sighed and told him.  “Plus, with all the brothers I have, Da will be able to make many good alliances with them, and not have to use my marriage.

Jacqueline McCabe was the youngest of nine children, and the only girl in the bunch.  Although her mother had died only two days after giving birth to her and her twin brother James, it was long enough to make her husband, Hamish McCabe, promise that their daughter would be allowed to make a love match.  Something almost unheard of in the highlands, where arranged marriages, usually for the purpose of a clan alliances, were normal.

Jacqueline’s father hadn’t had much to do with her growing up, but her brothers had always taken time to teach her many things.  Thanks to them, she could shoot an arrow with greater accuracy than most men.  She knew how to use a dirk to defend herself and had one attached to the outside of her right thigh at all times, and she could ride a horse astride better than all of them, well, all of them except for Alistair.

Jacqueline took aim at her next target and once again let her arrow go, it landed with a small thunk slightly right of dead center.  “Is that pompous arse friend of yours coming to the wedding?” she asked.

“Watch your language,” Eadan told her, although he chuckled at her comment, “before I turn you over my knee right here for all to see.  Aye, of course he’s coming, Connor is my best friend.”

“I don’t know why you like him so much.  I find him obnoxious and extremely rude,” she said.

“The two of you have never gotten along.  Connor just likes to pick on you because you let him get to you.  I’ll ask him to leave you alone when he gets here if that’ll make you feel better,” Eadan said.

“I would like it if you asked him to not even talk to me,” she told him.

“Be nice,” he said, as he let his arrow fly, once again hitting the target dead center.  Eadan was the only one of her brothers who could shoot better than her.

“I’ll try my best,” she answered smirking, “but I make no promises.”  Eadan laughed at her and shook his head.

The two practiced together for the next hour before Eadan called an end to it.  “We need to get back to the Gleann; Da is going to be wondering where we are.  You know he doesn’t approve of your archery skills, and I don’t want to have to once again defend the reasons why you should have them.”

“If Da had his way, I’d be stuck in my solar sewing and doing embroidery day after day.  I really am no good at either of those things, Eadan,” she said.

“I know,” he said laughing.  “I’ve seen your work.”

Jacqueline giggled along with him and said, “I can’t even argue and defend myself since it’s true.”

“You need help mounting?” he asked her when they reached the horses and he offered her his arm.

Jacqueline just looked at him and then smacked his arm away.  She grabbed the mane on her horse, as she jumped up and threw her leg over his back, mounting unaided,  “I haven’t needed your help mounting a horse since I was ten summers big brother.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to act like a lady once in awhile and take the help offered,” he told her becoming serious.

“I refuse to act helpless when I am not,” she said as Eadan mounted his own horse.

“So how is the new room?” he asked her, changing the subject.

She had recently gotten permission from their Da to move to one of the bedrooms on the same floor as her brothers. Although her brother James had been moved out two years prior, she had still been in the nursery up until a week ago.  Jacqueline had literally begged her Da to let her move to a much more fitting room finally.

“I love it,” she told him.  “I never thought I’d get out of the nursery.  You would think Da would have let me move when James did.  We are the same age,” she said.

“Da doesn’t want to see you as grown up yet,” he said.

“Da doesn’t want to see me at all,” she answered.  “I’ll race you home,” she said as she snapped the reigns of her horse and took off as fast as her stallion would go.

“Jacqueline, slow down!” she heard her brother yell.  She ignored him and kept going.

Jacqueline ran her mare full speed until she reached the gates of Gleann.  She knew she was in trouble as soon as she saw her brother Alistair, who was standing with the guards as she approached.  When he saw her approaching the gate, riding full speed, he stopped talking and shook his head as she slowed her horse to a walk.

“What have I told you about your safety and running your stallion like that?” he said to her disapprovingly.

“I was fine,” she said, trying to reassure him.  “You worry too much, Alastair.”

Alastair grabbed the reins from her and led the horse towards the stables and the stall where he was always kept.

“Stop and let me get down, Alastair,” she said to him.

“Stay right where you are,” he growled at her.  “What did I tell you I was going to do the next time I seen you riding like that?”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she said to him.

“What did I say, Jacqueline?” he calmly asked again.

“You said you would take a strap to me,” she answered softly, becoming concerned.  “I won’t do it again, Alastair, I promise.”

“That’s exactly what you said last time,” he told her. “Maybe if I would have followed through then, we wouldn’t be having this conversation again.”

Jacqueline looked around to see if there was any way to make her escape.  Although each of her eight brothers had at one time threatened to spank or take a strap to her, Alastair was the one most likely to follow through and had on many occasions.

“Don’t even think about it,” he told her when he saw what she was doing.  “I’ll chase you down and let you have it wherever I catch you, no matter who’s watching.”

Once they were inside the stables, Alastair handed the reins off to one of the stable boys who was working and held his arms up towards his sister, “come on.”

Jacqueline, knowing she had nowhere to go and no way out of the punishment, slowly slid down into his arms.  “I love you ya know,” she said to him smiling.

“And I love you, baby sister, which is why I refuse to watch you kill yourself on this beast,” he said as he led her into the privacy of the tool room attached to the stables.  As he went to shut the door, she heard Eadan ride in on his own horse.

“Where is she?” she heard him ask the young boy who had just taken her horse.

“I’ve got her,” Alastair called out the half-open door to his older brother.  “I made a promise of what was going to happen if I saw her riding that horse like that again, and I intend to follow through with it.”

“I bet it’s the same promise I made,” Eadan said, “and I intend to follow through on mine also.”  Jacqueline cringed as he spoke, knowing he was serious.

“Then, by all means, join us, brother,” Alastair said as he opened the door for Eadan to follow them inside.

Once inside the tool room, Eadan shut the door behind them.  “Do you have trews on under your skirts?” he asked his sister.

“I always wear trews if I’m going to be riding,” she answered.

“Good,” Alastair said as he walked over and cleared off an end of one of the work tables.  “Lift your skirts and lean over, baby sister,”

“Come on, Alastair,” she tried to reason with him.  “I won’t do it again.”

“She told me that last week,” Eadan said to Alastair, as he chose a piece of leather about three feet long and half an inch wide from those lying around the work area.

“Now, Jacqueline,” Alastair said.  “You already have twenty coming from me.  Since Eadan is going to use a strap, I’ll use this,” he said as he picked up a flat piece of wood about a foot long, four inches wide, and an inch thick.

“Alastair,” she began.

“Thirty,” he said.

“Eadan, help me,” she said.

“Forty,” Alastair said.

“She’s up to twenty from me,” Eadan said.  “If I were you, little sister, I’d get into position.  Right now, I’m allowing you to keep your trews on, but if you want to keep arguing we can do this on the bare.”

“I don’t love either of you anymore,” Jacqueline screeched at them as she stomped her foot and turned around.  She lifted her skirts and leaned over the work table as asked, not wanting any more extras added on.

“I’ll add five more every time you get out of position,” Alastair told her.

“Very well,” she said.  “Just get it over with.”

“That’s another five from me for attitude,” Eadan said.  Jacqueline stamped her foot again after he said it, but kept her mouth shut.

“Would you like to go first, big brother?” Alastair asked.

“How about I do half, then you do half, and then me again until we’re finished,” Eadan said.  He smiled at Alastair making sure Jacqueline couldn’t see it.

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Alastair agreed.

Eadan took his place to the side of Jacqueline and lifted the strap high before bringing his arm down and letting it snap firmly across her right thigh, swish, crack,
Jacqueline flinched as she felt the sting.  She knew better than to get out of position or say anything, at least she still had her trews on.  Eadan lifted his arm again before snapping his wrist and letting the strap again hit her right thigh, a half inch above where it had landed the last time swish, crack
.   He continued this for each stroke until thirteen strokes were laid one on top of the other from right above her knee to just below her sit spot.

“Your turn, little brother,” he said to Alastair.

“Gladly,” Alastair said.  He had noticed his brother had only strapped her thigh which meant he had saved her arse for him.  Alastair put one hand on the lower part of her back before raising the piece of wood up high and letting it fall soundly across both mounds, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack
.  Jacqueline flinched with each stroke, by number twenty her arse cheeks were on fire and she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to finish the punishment.  She wasn’t sure when it had happened, but she had quietly begun to cry.

“Your turn,” Alastair said to Eadan.

Eadan walked over and this time stood on the opposite side of his sister and again brought the strap down, swish, crack, swish, crack,  this time focusing on her left thigh.  Jacqueline felt the tears begin to roll down her cheek at a much quicker rate by the fifth stroke.  Her brothers were showing her no mercy.  By the time Eadan was finished, she was sobbing.

“Let’s finish this,” Alastair said as he once again placed his hand on her back.  This time he focused on her sit spots as he swung the board down on the crease between her arse and thighs.
Smack, smack, smack.
On the third stroke, she finally screamed.  “Everyone will know what is happening in here if you make noises like that, little sister.”

“They probably know already,” she cried.  “Please, Alastair, I’m sorry.”

“I’m finishing this, Jacqueline.  I’ve warned you to many times, and you just keep doing it,” he told her as he brought the board down, making her cry out once again.
Smack, smack, smack.
“Don’t you know how much we all love you? Don’t you know how devastated we’d all be if something happened to you?” with each question he brought the board down again, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
Jacqueline couldn’t hold back anymore and cried out each time. “That’s it,” he said as he landed the last stroke.  Jacqueline’s butt and thighs hurt so bad she didn’t know if she would be able to sit down for dinner that night, she hurt too much to move and just laid upon the table crying.

“Pull your skirts down,” Eadan said to her as he came up behind her.  Jacqueline did what he asked, and as she turned around, he pulled her in for a long hug.  “I know I couldn’t stand a world without you in it,” he whispered in her ear.  “You’re the only sister we’ve got, and we just don’t want to see you hurt, or worse.”

“My turn,” Alastair said as he pulled her away from Eadan and wrapped his arms around her.  “Please be more careful, Jacqueline, when I see you being so reckless, it terrifies me.”

“I will,” she said.  “I promise, and I don’t hate either one of you.”

After she had cried on her brother’s shoulders for some time, Jacqueline was finally able to pull herself back together.  She wiped her eyes on her sleeve and told them, “I’m ready now.”

Alastair nodded and opened the door to walk back out into the stables.  As the three of them exited, they were surprised to see they weren’t alone.

“So what did she do this time,” asked her twin brother James.

“None of your business, James,” she said to him.

“Looks like you need to take her back in for another round,” said another voice from one of the stalls.

“Oh no,” Jacqueline groaned, as the one person she really didn’t want to see came stepping out, Connor Fraser.

“Leave her alone, Connor,” Eadan said to his friend, “she’s taken her punishment well, and it’s over now.”

“I’m going to my room,” Jacqueline told them all.  “I’ve had enough of all of you.”  She stomped away from all of them, glad to be out of the stalls and to get away.  Although she hated the man and hadn’t seen him in over two years, she hadn’t forgotten how handsome Connor Fraser was.

The first time she’d met him she had only been eight years old.  Eadan had gone away to foster with one of the neighboring clans and had met Connor there.  He had also been fostering with the same family.  On one of Eadan’s visits home, he’d asked if Connor could come with him.

For the first time in her short life, Jacqueline couldn’t get Eadan the give her any attention.  All he had wanted to do on the visit was spend time with Connor and her brothers, and hang out in the tavern in the village.  Jacqueline hated to admit it, but she’d been jealous.  She had hated Connor ever since, even though he’d never really done anything to her.

When she got to her room, she quietly shut the door and laid down on her bed.  Maybe a nap would make her bottom feel better she thought as she closed her eyes.

“That was not your sister Jacqueline,” Connor said as he watched the beautiful woman walk away.

“The one and only,” Alastair said to him.  “She’s grown up since the last time you saw her.”

“That she has,” Connor said as he watched her walk away.

“She’s still my baby sister, Connor, not one of the tavern wenches, so don’t even think about it,” Eadan warned him.

“I would never disrespect you or your family that way,” Connor said seriously, “I’m just surprised at what a beautiful young lady she’s grown into.”  He also knew Jacqueline had never really liked him, although, he wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve it.  Of course, he had teased her when she’d been younger, but so had all of her brothers.  He decided to change the subject to a more pleasant topic.

“So you’re getting married tomorrow,” Connor said to Eadan.  “Do we get one last trip to the tavern before the nuptials?”

“Not for me,” Eadan said laughing at his friend.  “Nessa will be here soon with her parents.  I’m on my best behavior tonight.”

“Da banned us all from the tavern until after the wedding,” Alastair said.  “He banned us from the tavern wenches too.”

“Well that takes the fun out of it,” Connor said laughing.

That evening Jacqueline did her best to sit still and not squirm during the evening meal.  She was the perfect hostess in her father’s keep, knowing this would be the last time she would have to perform the task.  Nessa would be taking over those duties as the wife of the future laird.  She was happy when the evening finally ended, and she was able to go to bed.

Chapter 2:  Never say Never

“Jacqueline is never getting married,” said Eadan to his new wife at the wedding feast the next evening.  “At least that’s what she keeps telling me.”

“I hope you change your mind one day,” Nessa said turning towards her,  “you’re too lovely to stay unwed.”

“I have plenty of time to worry about that yet,” Jacqueline said, giving her brother a dirty look. She then smiled at Nessa and continued,  “I’m happy to just be here with my brothers, and now I have a new sister.”

Nessa smiled at her and said, “and I too am looking forward to getting to know my new sister.”

All of the McCabe’s had arrived for the wedding.  Hamish McCabe was thrilled to have all his sons assembled at one table for the first time in quite a long while.  Eadan who was the oldest was now seven and twenty.  The first set of twins Ham and Ross were five and twenty, and Alastair was four and twenty. The second set of twins Craig and Rory had just turned two and twenty, and Owen, was ten and nine summers. That left the last set of twins, James and Jacqueline, who were ten and eight summers.

Ham and Ross had been serving in the King’s army for the last three years but had been able to arrange time to come home, to see their brother get married.  Owen was in his last year of fostering with the Fraser clan, and Craig had taken an apprenticeship with a blacksmith in a village not far away.  Next year he would be coming back home to take over the blacksmithing in the McCabe village at Gleann.

“How about dancing with me, little sister,” Owen said offering her his hand.

“I’d love to,” she answered.  Although Jacqueline was not good at many of the female skills, when it came to dancing she was an excellent partner and could stay on the dance floor all evening.

The musicians began a reel, and Owen spun her around the floor as they joined in with other couples of the clan and followed the steps.  Jacqueline didn’t sit back down for hours as each of her brothers, and then different men from the clan offered to partner her.  She never turned any of them down and danced all night.

Towards midnight it became obvious that many of the men of the McCabe clan had had too much to drink, including her father, brothers, and Conner.  The noise in the hall had risen as their voices and laughter grew louder.  Jacqueline was walking back to her seat when someone stumbled into her, knocking her off balance and making her fall.  It happened so suddenly she didn’t have time to reach out and grab hold of anything, she saw stars as the side of her head connected with the table.

“Ouch,” she yelled.  She tried to get up, but her vision seemed to blur each time she tried.

“Are you alright?” James asked her, kneeling down beside her.  He hadn’t meant to push Owen so hard that he stumbled into her, making her fall.

“Give her some air,” Connor said, also kneeling down, and  helping her to sit up.

“I think I’m alright,” she said to them, rubbing the knot already forming on the side of her head.  She took the hand Ross held out to her, he pulled her up and helped her stand, once upright her vision again blurred, she felt wobbly and almost fell again.

“Get the healer,” she heard her father say to one of her brothers.  “Take her to her room, Ross, well send the healer up.”

“Aye, Da,” Ross answered him.  He then turned back to Jacqueline and asked, “can you walk or do you want me to carry you?”

“You can barely walk yourself,” she said laughing.  “I think I can make it.”

“That’s a nasty lump you have on your head,” he told her, touching it and making her wince.

“Don’t touch it you idjit,” she hissed at him, putting her hand over it.

“Well if you’re calling me names, you must be alright,” he said, smiling at her.

“I think I just need to lie down,” she told him.  “Don’t worry; I’ll be fine.”

Ross and James both helped her to her room and stayed until the healer came.  The healer assured them their sister would be just fine and that she was just going to give her a sleeping draught to help her rest that night.  They two brothers then left to go back to the party in the hall below.  Jacqueline drank what the healer had given her, hoping that it would take the pain in her head away.  It didn’t take long for it to take effect and she fell into a sound sleep.

Down below in the hall, Eadan and his new bride Nessa made their getaway to the room they would now share.  The rest of the brothers and clan broke out the Scottish whiskey and talked about what they believed was going on upstairs.  The cups of whiskey and ale flowed and soon not a sober man was left.

It was hours later when Conner stumbled up the stairs to the room he had been told to sleep in.  He opened the door and closed it firmly before slipping off his clothes and climbing under the sheets.  He was asleep within minutes.

“What are you doing in my bed,” he heard someone scream next to him.  “Get out of here,”

“Hang on a minute, wench,” he said, throwing his arm across his eyes to block out the light in the room.  He didn’t remember taking any of the women of the keep to bed with him the night before, but he must have.

“Wench?  Wench?  Who are you calling wench?” he heard the woman cry.  He felt the covers being pulled off of him.  “You’re naked?  Oh my God, you’re in my bed naked.  Get out.”

Just then the door to the bedroom burst open.  Ross, Owen and Jacqueline’s father all stood there with swords in hand.  “What’s the meaning of this?” her father asked.

“I woke up, and he was in my bed, Da,” Jacqueline said.

It wasn’t until that moment, that Connor realized where he was.  “It’s not what it looks like, I swear, Hamish,” he said, trying to defend himself but knowing that might be impossible.  He’d really messed up.

“You’re in me daughter’s bed buck naked, lad,” Hamish McCabe said.  “I think it’s exactly what it looks like.”

“Da, the healer gave me a draught to sleep last night,” Jacqueline said, holding the covers up to her chin.  “I didn’t even hear him come into my room.  I swear, nothing happened.”

“I must have stumbled into the wrong room last night. Jacqueline is telling the truth, nothing improper happened,” Connor also tried to explain.

“Looks like we’ll be having another wedding,” Hamish said, shaking his head at Connor.  “Ross, go see if the priest is still around.”

“I don’t want to marry him, Da,” Jacqueline cried.

“You’ve got a naked man in your bed, daughter, you’ll be marrying the man,” Hamish told her.

“It was an honest mistake, Hamish,” Connor told her father.  “I swear, nothing happened.”

“Doesn’t matter, Connor,” he said.  “There’ll be talk around the village, and her reputation will be ruined.  You need to marry her.”

“I have no problem agreeing to marry her,” he said.  “I think the issue is her agreeing to marry me.”

“What?” Jacqueline screamed at him.  “How can you agree with this crazy idea, I don’t want to get married to you.”

“It doesn’t matter what either of us wants right now,” Connor told her.  “We’ll be getting married anyway.”

“Nay, we won’t,” she said.

“Could you leave us for a moment?” Connor asked the men at the door.  “I need a minute of privacy with my soon to be bride.”

“Come, lads,” Hamish told her brothers, “Let’s go get everything organized with the priest and wake up the rest of your brothers.”

“Da, please,” Jacqueline pleaded.  Hamish ignored her as he closed the door behind them.

Connor got out of the bed and quickly threw on his trews before turning to talk to Jacqueline.  “There is nothing we can do, your Da is right, your reputation will be ruined because of me, so we need to marry.”

“But I don’t even like you,” she said.

“You don’t even know me,” Connor told her.  “I’m a nice guy, you’ll see.”

“Nay,” Jacqueline said shaking her head.  “This is all your fault; you got us into this mess, you get us out of it.”

“The only solution is to marry, Jacqueline,” he said and went to touch her arm.  Jacqueline was so angry at the situation that when he touched her, she didn’t even think but swung out at him, slapping him across the cheek.

“That was uncalled for,” he told her, “but if that’s the way you want to do this, fine,” He took her by the arm and walked over to the side of the bed, pulling her with him.  He quickly sat down and pulled her down to lay across his knees.  Although he left her nightdress down, he placed one hand in the center of her back and his other hand on her arse, holding her in place.

“Now you’re going to listen to me,” he said as he brought his hand down firmly on her right cheek.
Smack.
“We have no choice but to get married.” He again brought his hand down, this time striking her left cheek.
Smack.
Jacqueline flinched.  “You can agree to this marriage now, or we can do this until you do.” He brought his hand down twice more, once on each side.
Smack, smack.

“You can’t make me agree to marry you by spanking me,” she told him, “and get your hand off my arse, this isn’t proper.”

“Let’s see about that,” he said.  “Let me know when you’ve had enough and you’re ready to go see the priest, and it’s definitely proper for a husband to touch his wife’s backside.”  He started spanking without stopping this time.
Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
He would first do five quick swats on one side and then five on the other.
Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
Jacqueline wasn’t sure how many times he struck her before she began to cry.  She was determined not to give in.
Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.  Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

“Are you ready to go down and speak your vows yet?” he asked her, stopping for a moment.

“You can’t make me marry you by spanking me,” she said again, trying not to let him see her tears.

“Maybe my hand isn’t making enough of an impression,” he told her and reached over onto the table next to the bed, grabbing her hairbrush.  “Maybe this will hurry things along.”  He brought the hairbrush down upon her sit spot firmly.
Splat, splat, splat, splat, splat, splat.
It only took six swats from the brush before Jacqueline finally spoke.

“Stop,” she yelled.  “I’ll marry you, just stop, please.”

“That’s better,” he said as he sat her up on his lap and put his arms around her while she cried.  She didn’t remember when she did it, but she laid her head down against his chest as she tried to pull herself back together.

Once she had stopped crying, Connor said to her, “put on a pretty gown and meet me downstairs.  I was thinking about getting married soon anyway; this will turn out alright.”

Jacqueline nodded at him as he threw on the rest of his clothes and headed out the door in search of her father and brothers.  Once the door had closed, she sat down on the bed but then jumped right back up. How dare he spank her. How would she ever manage being married to a man she didn’t even like?

Jacqueline slowly got dressed with the help of her maid Betsy and then made her way down to the hall, where her father and brothers were waiting for her.

“Connor is waiting at the Kirk,” Ross said to her.

“Please, Da, don’t make me do this,” she tried one more time.

“It’s already arranged, Jacqueline,” he told her, barely looking at her.  “The wedding is happening now; then you are leaving with your new husband to go back to his home.  It’s all been taken care of.”

“Connor is a good man, Jacqueline,” Eadan quietly said to her, “I’ve known him for a long time.  He’ll be a good husband.”

“There’s no other way to fix this, little sister,” Alastair said to her.

“So no one is going to help me?  You all know I never wanted to marry,” she said looking at each one of them.  “You also know I’ve never liked Connor Fraser, how am I supposed to survive this marriage?”

“Let’s go, daughter,” her Da said and took her by the arm, leading her out to the kirk.  “I have a feeling this is all going to work out just fine.”  Within a half hour, it was done, and she was Connor Fraser’s wife.

“I’ll send the rest of your things in a few days,” her Da said to her as he helped her onto her horse.  “Betsy packed enough to get you through until then.”

Jacqueline had not talked to any of her family since arriving at the kirk and the wedding had begun.  She was angry with all of them and made sure that they knew it.  “This is all for the best, Jacqueline,” he Da said to her quietly, “you’ll see.”

Jacqueline didn’t say goodbye to any of them as she kicked her horse and took off at a gallop out the gates of  Gleann,  towards her new home, where she knew she’d never be happy again.

Chapter 3:  Tarmon

“You’re acting very childish,” Connor said to her as he rode up beside her.  He tried to stay away from her at the beginning of their ride, to give her time to think things through.  “You couldn’t even say goodbye to any of them?”

“Why?” she answered.  “They didn’t care about what they were making me do.”

“One day you’ll realize this was for the best.  Your brothers were hurt you had nothing to say to them, at least speak to Owen since he’s traveling with us,” he told her.

“I’m hurt they wouldn’t listen to me,” she said.  “Owen hasn’t tried to speak to me since we left, why should I seek him out?”

“You’re a married woman now, Jacqueline,” he said, “time to grow up.”  He then nudged his horse with his heels and galloped ahead of her.

Jacqueline sighed as he rode off, thinking about what he had said.  She decided she didn’t care what Connor or Owen or anyone else thought, her family should have helped her.

“How are you doing, little sister?” Owen asked as he rode up beside her a short time later.

“Does it matter?” she asked him, still angry.

“Of course it matters,” Owen replied.  “I know you’re upset with all of us, but what did you want us to do?”

“Listen to me?  Take my side?  Now I’m married to a man I don’t even like for the rest of my life,” she told him.

“Connor is a good man, Jacqueline,” Owen said.  “I’ve fostered with his family at the keep for the last three years.  He’s kind and fair to everyone.”

“It doesn’t matter now, does it, Owen?  Even if he was mean and beat me, I’d have no say in this marriage,” she complained.

“There was no other choice, servants were out in the hall and heard what was going on.  Even if you wouldn’t have married, your reputation would have been ruined,” Owen tried to explain.

“Well now Da’s gotten what he has always wanted,” she said, “he’s rid of me.”

“Da never wanted to get rid of you,” he protested.  “He just never knew what to do with a daughter, he let the nurses take care of that.”

“Da hardly ever even talks to me,” she said, getting emotional, “he never has.”

“Eadan, Ham and Ross told me before that it’s because you look too much like our mother,” Owen said.

“I wouldn’t know, Owen,” she replied, “no one at Gleann ever talks about our mother.”

“I don’t really remember her either, Jacqueline.  I was only two when she died.  Just don’t be angry,” he said to her,  “our brothers were all very hurt you didn’t say goodbye to them.”

“Right now, Owen, I don’t care if I ever see any of them ever again,” she said.  “I’m so angry at all of you.”

Owen looked over at her before sighing and riding away to join Connor.  He knew there was no talking to his sister when she was in this mood.

They traveled all day before finally reaching Connor’s home.  Jacqueline had never seen it before but had heard plenty about it.  Tarmon was the name of the keep, and it was twice the size of Gleann.

As they rode through the gates, many of the villagers stopped, waved and called out, “welcome home, Connor,”  Even though Owen had told her, it still surprised Jacqueline to see how well liked he was among the villagers.

When they arrived at the keep castle, Jacqueline was again surprised when they were met on the steps by an older man and a young woman about Jacqueline’s age.

“Welcome home, son,” the man said. “How was your trip? And who is this beautiful young lady?”

“It was good, Da,” he answered.  “This lady is my new wife, Jacqueline McCabe, who is now Jacqueline Fraser.”

“How did that come about?” his father asked.  “Not that I’m unhappy about it.  Are you Eadan’s sister?”

“Aye, Laird Fraser,” she said, giving a small curtsy.

“Bah,” he said.  “We’ll have none of this laird nonsense.  You can call me Da,” he told her smiling.  Jacqueline couldn’t help it, she liked this man instantly and smiled back.

“Aye, Da,” she said.  “Eadan is my oldest brother.”

“I always liked that brother of yours,” Laird Fraser told her, “come in and rest, I want to hear the story of how this wedding came about.  Oh, I’m sorry, let me introduce you to my daughter Fiona, Connor’s sister.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Fiona,” Jacqueline said.

“Welcome,” Fiona told her grabbing her hands.  “I hope we can get to know each other well.  I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“As have I,” Jacqueline replied.  She was once again surprised by how welcoming Connor’s family was being.

Laird Fraser turned towards Owen, he laughed and said, “I guess you’re family now, so you might as well come too.”

Laird Fraser led the group into the main hall and motioned towards a group of chairs.  “Sit, make yourself comfortable.” Jacqueline chose to sit in one of the padded chairs in front of the fire.

“Thank you, lai...I mean, Da,” she said and smiled at him.

“Bring us some wine,” Laird Fraser said to one of the servants who had been in the hall before taking a seat himself.  “Now tell me, how did this marriage happen so quickly and why was I not invited to the wedding?”

“Before I tell you, Da,” Connor began, “you need to know it was an honest mistake.”

“I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a story,” the Laird said and grinned.  “Let’s hear it, son.”

“You already know I went to Gleann to see Eadan get married.  Everything was going great, the wedding was beautiful, the food was good, and the ale and whiskey afterward flowed.  Towards midnight many of the men, including Jacqueline’s brothers and myself were well into our cups, Jacqueline ended up getting knocked down on accident by one of her brothers, she hit her head on the table.”

“That’s terrible,” Fiona said.

“The healer was called and Jacqueline was given a draught to help her sleep and take the pain away.  The rest of us stayed downstairs and celebrated,” he continued.

“You mean this young lady was hurt and none of her family thought that it was important enough to stay with her?” Laird Fraser asked, glaring at Owen.

“I thought the same thing, Da,” Connor said before Owen could defend himself or his brothers.  “I even asked her brother’s about it, but they said she would be fine.”  Jacqueline was surprised to hear he’d asked about her.

“We would never leave one of our family unattended after an injury,” Laird Fraser mumbled.

“My brother James and I walked her to her room and stayed until the healer came,” Owen said, finally able to defend himself.

“Did anyone check on her afterward?” Laird Fraser asked him.

“I’m not sure,” Owen admitted shamefully.  “I thought her maid would stay with her.  The healer told us she would be fine and we should go back to the celebration.”

“Someone should have checked on her.” Laird Fraser said.

“I know, Da, and I agree,” Connor said.  “Anyway, hours later I was ready to find my bed.  I don’t even remember going up the stairs or undressing and getting into bed.  The next thing I knew, Jacqueline was screaming for me to get out of her bed.”

“Why were you in her bed?” Laird Fraser asked.

“I stumbled into the wrong room,” Connor said.  “Obviously the draught that the healer had given her made Jacqueline sleep so soundly she didn’t even feel me get into the bed with her.”

“You compromised her,” the Laird stated, “that’s shameful, son.”

“Aye, Da,” he said.  “But I made it right by marrying her.”

“I’m disappointed in you, Connor,” his Da said.  “I raised you better than that. I’m glad you made it right though and married the girl.”  He then turned towards Jacqueline, “Although you and my son didn’t have the best start to your marriage, know that you are very welcome here, Jacqueline Fraser, and I’m pleased to have such a beautiful new daughter.”

Jacqueline felt tears fill her eyes, and was only able the croak out a quick, “thank you, Da.”  This man she had just met was being kinder to her than her own father had ever been.

“You look tired, young lady,” Laird Fraser said.  “Connor, show your new wife to your quarters and let her get some rest before our evening meal.  I’ll have the cooks organize a marriage feast and you can introduce her to the rest of the clan this evening.”

“ Aye, Da,” Connor answered as he took Jacqueline’s hand and pulled her to her feet.  He led her up the stairs and down a hallway before opening a door and walking into a solar.

“These are our quarters,” he told her.  “You can make changes and decorate the solar anyway you would like.  The bedroom is right through here,” he said as he walked over to another doorway and opened it.

“Where will I be sleeping?” she asked him.

“With me,” he answered.

“I want a room of my own,” she said.  “I don’t know you well enough to sleep in the same bed with you.”

“Look, I know this marriage happened suddenly, but we’ve known each other for years.  Won’t you at least try to make it work?  I won’t rush you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, but we are sleeping in the same bed at night,” he told her.

“And if I refuse?” she asked.

“Then just like before the wedding, I’ll turn you over my knee until you agree,” he told her firmly.  “I’m your husband, you are my wife.  I take those vows seriously.”

Jacqueline was thinking about what he’d said when the door to the solar opened unexpectedly. A buxom blond haired woman, in an almost indecent dress, flew through the door and flung herself into Connor’s arms.  “You’re home,” she exclaimed as she kissed him soundly on the lips.  “I missed you so.”

“Catherine, stop,” Connor told the woman firmly, as he quickly pushed her away.  “What are you doing up here?  You know I’ve never invited you to my rooms.”

“And who is this, Connor?” Jacqueline asked sarcastically, “a friend of yours?”

Connor blushed and pushed the woman further away from him telling her, “Catherine, this is my new wife, Jacqueline.”

“Your wife?” she asked.  The look on her face turned from one of surprise to anger.  She looked from Jacqueline and then back at him asking, “What about us, Connor?”

“There is no us, Catherine,” he said forcefully. “There never was.”  Then softening his tone, feeling rather like a louse he added, “you knew it was never a forever arrangement.”

Catherine turned towards Jacqueline and practically hissed at her, “you trapped him, didn’t you?  He was mine.”  Connor had to grab hold of her as she stepped towards his wife.

“Catherine,” Jacqueline said to her calmly, “I don’t know what kind of arrangement you had with my husband, but let me tell you now, if you ever make a threatening move towards me again, you won’t live long enough to regret it.  Do you understand?”

Connor let go of Catherine and said, “that’s enough, I think you need to leave now.”

Catherine glared at Connor then moved as if towards the door, before Connor had time to react she quickly turned and flew with her hands raised to strike his wife.  Connor barely registered what happened next.  As Catherine reached Jacqueline, he seen his wife reach into the pocket of her gown and pull out a dirk.  Catherine wasn’t ready for it as Jacqueline unexpectedly grabbed Catherine’s arm, pulling her off balance.  Next thing Connor knew, Catherine was lying on the floor with Jacqueline’s dirk held firmly at her throat.

“This is the last time I will warn you,” Jacqueline calmly told her.  “Never attack me again.  If  you do, I guarantee it’ll be the last time.”

Connor walked over and gently took the knife from his wife’s hand before reaching down and not so gently pulling Catherine to her feet.  “Get out of here, and never come back into the Keep castle again.  If you ever try anything to hurt my wife like this again, I’ll have my father banish you from the village also.  Do you understand?” Connor asked her through clenched teeth.

“Aye,” she hissed at him.  “You’ll both regret this.”  Catherine slammed the door as she left.

“What a lovely young lady,” Jacqueline said sarcastically.  “Are there more of them?”

“I didn’t know I was going to get married when I left to go to your brother’s wedding.  I won’t lie, Catherine has been my mistress for almost a year.  She does have reason to be cross with me although I would have ended it with her as soon as I’d seen her,” he told her honestly.  “There are no more. I swear.”

“Time will tell,” she said.

“You also have a right to be upset with me right now.  She should have never been able to get into the Keep castle, or this room,  I can swear to you she has never been up here or in my bed     before,” he said.  “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“I would hope so,” she answered.

“So back to our discussion before we were interrupted,” he said.  “We will sleep in the same bed, we will spend time together everyday, and we will make this marriage work.”

“I agree to try,” she said.  “You promise you won’t try anything in bed until I’m ready?”

“That’s not what I said, wife,” he replied and grinned at her.  “I said nothing would happen that you don’t want to happen.  I didn’t say I wasn’t going to try to seduce you.”

“You do remember that I don’t like you right?” she asked him, although she couldn’t help grinning back.

“I’m going to try to change your mind,” He said.

“How do you plan on doing that?”

“I’m going to court my wife,” he told her.

Chapter 4:  Courting

That evening Jacqueline didn’t know what to expect as she went down to the main hall for the evening meal.  At Gleann, she joined her family for meals each night but was expected to eat silently while the men talked.  Connor walked her down on his arm, sitting her in a chair at the head table before taking the empty seat between her and his father.  Fiona sat in the chair on their Da’s other side.

“Did you have a good rest, daughter?” asked Laird Fraser.

“I did, thank you,” Jacqueline told him.  Then added,  “except for an unwelcome visitor.”

Connor gave her a look and said quietly, “I’ve already explained that to you, it won’t happen again.”

“What happened?” Caiden Fraser asked his son.

“Catherine,” was all Connor said.

“Ah,” said his father as he turned back to his plate.  Soon Jacqueline saw his shoulders begin to shake, although he tried to stop it, he just couldn’t hold it in any longer and began to laugh.

“I don’t think it’s funny,” Jacqueline said.

“I’m sorry,” Caiden said to her.  “I can just imagine what happened.  I never did like that girl; she was like a hawk trying to hook him with her talons.  She was hoping for marriage with my son.”

“I’m not too fond of her either,” said Jacqueline sarcastically.

“But now it’s over, and she’s gone.  I already explained to you I hadn’t had time to tell her I was married, now she knows, I doubt she’ll cause any more problems,” Connor said.

“Good riddance,” mumbled Fiona.

“I agree,” said Jacqueline.

“Let’s eat,” Caiden called out trying to change the subject as he motioned for the servants to begin serving the meal.

Dinner was a pleasant surprise as the laird kept up the conversation with not just Connor, but also Fiona and Jacqueline.

“How many brothers do you have?” Fiona asked her.

“Eight,” Jacqueline replied, then added, “all of them older.”

“What number is Owen?” Fiona asked.

“There are six brothers older than Owen, only my twin James and I are younger,” Jacqueline told her.

“That’s good,” Laird Fraser said, “you were well protected growing up I’m sure.  I sometimes wish my wife and I would have had time to have more children.”

“Sometimes a little too protected, Da,” Jacqueline laughed and told him.

“So what do you enjoy doing, Jacqueline?” Laird Fraser asked.

“I enjoy target practice with my bow; I try to do that at least once a sennight,” Jacqueline hesitantly answered, afraid the practice of women shooting would be frowned upon at Tarmon.

“You shoot?” the Laird asked.

“Aye,” she said, waiting for him to object as her own Da had.  “That’s one of the advantages of growing up with eight brothers.  I also know how to handle my dirk, I am proficient but not good with my sword, and I ride well.”

“Owen McCabe,” Laird Fraser called out.

“Aye, Laird,” her brother called back from a table not far away.

“Come up here,” the Laird said.  Owen walked up to the head table.  “Your sister is telling me she shoots well with a bow.”

“She is lying to you, Laird,” Owen said.  Before Jacqueline had time to protest he added, “she shoots better than well.  She can probably outshoot most of your archers.”

“She’s that good?” Laird Fraser asked.

“She’s better than me,” Owen  replied honestly, smiling at his sister, “in fact, she can outshoot all of her brothers, except Eadan.”

“I’d like to watch you when you practice next,” Laird Fraser said to Jacqueline.

“I’ll make sure I let you know,” she replied, then turned to her brother and mouthed the words, “thank you.”  Owen nodded and walked back to his table to finish his meal.

“Would you like some more wine?” Connor asked her, offering her the cup they had shared throughout their meal.

“Aye, please,” she said taking it from him.

“Would you be interested in a walk down to the village with me when you finish?” Connor asked.

“Is this the courting part?” Jacqueline asked him and smiled.

“Just the beginning,” Connor replied.

“Then I would be happy too,” she said.

“So you shoot, weld a dirk and can fight with a sword?” Connor asked.

“I’m good with a bow and my dirk,” Jacqueline explained, “I have my own sword and bow packed away upstairs.  They’re both much smaller than what you have, Alastair had Craig make the sword for me, but I’m not very good with it yet.”

“I could teach you if you’d like,” Connor told her.

“You’d do that for me?” Jacqueline asked surprised.

“Aye,” Conner replied without hesitating.  “Ready to go for that walk?”  Connor rose from the table and offered Jacqueline his arm, which she gladly took, and they strolled out the door of the hall together.

“So tell me about life with eight brothers,” Connor said.  “I can’t imagine having that many siblings; I just had Fiona growing up.”

“What do you want to know?” Jacqueline asked.  “You’ve been to Gleann many times, so you’ve met all my brothers.”

“That’s just it, I know your brothers, but now I want to get to know you, my wife,” he said smiling at her.

“It was just a typical life, nothing special,” Jacqueline replied.

“I know you and Eadan have always been close, what about the rest of your brothers?” he asked.

“Aye, Eadan and I have always been close.  You know my mother died just a few days after giving birth to me and James, right?” Jacqueline asked.

“Aye,” he replied.  “Eadan told me that.”

“My brothers helped raise me.  If it wasn’t for them, I would’ve been left with the nurses my father hired all the time,” she told him.  “Eadan taught me how to shoot my bow, Ham and Ross taught me how to defend myself with a dirk, and Alistair was teaching me how to use a sword.  I told you Craig made my sword for me since he’s training to be a blacksmith.”

“I don’t know Ham and Ross that well,” he told her.  “They were already fostered the first time I came to Gleann with Eadan, and then they went off to join the King’s guard.”

“Ham and Ross are twins like me and James,” she said.

“I knew that,” Connor told her.

“Ham is a few minutes older than Ross, so when their time is up with the King, and they come home, Ross will be in charge of the Gleann guards and Ham will be his second,” she explained.

“What about the rest of your brothers?” Connor asked.

“Alastair loves working with the horses and is a good trainer, so he’s now in charge of the Gleann stables.  Rory was at clan Macleod for a few years training, and he’s now a very skilled tanner, he can make just about anything you would want or need.  Of course, you know Owen is here, he’s always wanted to be a Knight, so he’s training and will probably go join the King’s army like Ham and Ross did,” Jacqueline told him.

“What about your twin brother, James?” he asked.

“James is very smart.  He’s always excelled at his studies.  His teachers have asked that my father send him to the University in Glasgow,” Jacqueline proudly said.

“That’s impressive,” Connor said.  “He must be very intelligent.”

“My Da is hoping when he comes back he’ll help Eadan with negotiating and writing contracts,” she said.  “At least that’s what James has told me.  Clan McCabe is small, and so is Gleann.  With new contracts, it’s a chance for the clan to grow and prosper.”

“And what about you?” he asked.  “Were you a quick learner like James?”

“My Da didn’t really believe a girl needed to learn to read and write,” Jacqueline said.  “What he didn’t know, was that every evening when James and I were in the nursery together, he would teach me everything he’d learned that day.”

“So you can read and write?” he asked.

“Aye.  I can do some maths too,” she proudly told him.

“I’m impressed,” Connor said.  “My father has an impressive library.  Tomorrow I’ll give you a tour of Tarmon and show it to you.”

“Your father won’t care if I read?” she asked.

“Not at all.  He made sure Fiona was taught,” he said.  “She spends a lot of time in the library herself and has chosen many of the books that are there.”

“I would love to see it then,” she told him smiling.  Connor stopped them both and just stared at her.  “What?” she asked him.

“You’re very beautiful when you smile.  I think I need to make you smile more often,” he said, smiling back at her.

“So are you saying I’m ugly when I don’t smile?” she teased.

“Hideous,” he teased back laughing harder, loving her sense of humor.

“My husband, the charmer,” Jacqueline said, but couldn’t help laughing with him.

“I like the sound of that,” Connor said.  “Husband.”

“I’m still trying to get used to it,” Jacqueline truthfully told him.  “I never wanted to get married you know.”

“I know,” Connor replied.  “Eadan used to worry about your opinion of marriage.”

“He’s probably glad to get rid of me,” Jacqueline said angrily.

“Stop it,” Connor told her.  “You need to get over your anger and just try making this marriage work. If you talk like that again about your brother and my best friend, I’m going to put you over my knee until you change your attitude.  Do you understand, wife?”

“Is that going to be your answer to everything?  Putting me over your knee and spanking me till I agree with you?” she said loudly back to him.  “That’s not going to make me like you any better.”

“You’ll learn to like me as you get to know me, and I only spank wives, you were my first and the only woman to ever go over my knee.  Here we are,” he said as they reached the village, “what would you like to see?”

“I don’t know what you have here,” she said looking around.

“Our village is a bit bigger than yours at Gleann,” Connor explained.  “In the village, we have a blacksmith, a tinsmith, a  broom maker, a candle maker and even a few shops where you can find jewelry, cloth, and ribbons.  We also have a fine kirk and a school for the children.”

“For all the children?” she asked.  “Even the girls?”

“Aye.  I told you my father believes that all children should learn to read and write.  We also have many tenant farmers that live outside the village.  One day we can take the horses, and I’ll introduce you to them,” he said.

“I’d like that,” she replied. “Just take me around and show me where everything is today if that’s alright with you.”

“That’s fine,” he told her and once again offered his arm, which Jacqueline took, and they continued their walk.

“This is the blacksmith’s workshop,” Connor said pointing, “and next to it is the bakery.”

“Taking your new bride out, Connor?” Jacqueline heard Catherine yell sarcastically from the front of one of the homes in the village, where she was gathered with a bunch of the village women.

“Just giving her a tour of her new home,” Connor replied, keeping his tone light.  He looked away from Catherine and to the rest of the women standing around and said,  “ladies, I’d like you to meet my new wife, Lady Jacqueline Fraser.”

The women were not rude as they nodded at Jacqueline, but they weren’t overly friendly either.  Jacqueline knew she was going to have to work hard to earn the respect of the women that had been friends with Catherine for a long time.

“I heard an interesting story today,” Catherine said, and the women around her laughed softly trying to hide it.

“What’s that, Catherine?” Jacqueline asked, beginning to get annoyed.

“I heard Connor had to marry her,” Catherine said bitterly to the rest of the women, “he was found in her bed at Gleann.”

“That’s none of your business, Catherine,” Connor told her, getting annoyed himself.

“Is it true, Connor?  Did you have to marry her?  Did she invite you into her bed and then trap you into marriage?” Catherine said, provoking them both.

“The whore who has warmed his bed for the last year is questioning me?” Jacqueline angrily asked.

“Whore?  Who are you calling a whore?” Catherine yelled back.  “See what kind of woman our next laird has married?” she said to the women standing around her.

“Enough, Catherine,” Connor said, “I won’t allow you to speak to my wife that way.”

“Oh that’s right,” Catherine spat, “if I talk bad about her you’ll have me banished from the village.  Isn’t that what you said, Connor?  You used me and led me to believe we had a future together,  then you run off and get trapped into marriage with some trollop.”

“I never led you on,” Connor spat back.  “You were more than willing to be in my bed without any offer of marriage.  And you know I never said if you talked bad about my wife I’d have you banished.  I said I’d banish you if you tried to attack her again.”

“Why would I attack your wife?  She attacked me,” Catherine lied to the women around her.  “Who are you going to believe?” she asked them, “the woman who you’ve known all her life, or this new ‘lady’.”

“You bitch,” Jacqueline said and began walking towards Catherine.

“Jacqueline, stop,” Connor said and grabbed her by the arm stopping her.  Speaking softly so only she could hear, he added,  “you’re doing exactly what she wants.”

“I told you in the solar Catherine,” Jacqueline began, ignoring Connors words, “if you ever try to attack me again, it will be the last time it will ever happen. Consider verbal attacks part of that warning.”

“Are you threatening me?” Catherine said, baiting her.

“Not a threat, but a promise,” Jacqueline hissed in reply as Connor again took her arm trying to silence her.

“Why do you want to start trouble, Catherine?”  Connor asked her.  “What has my wife ever done to you?”

“She tricked you into marrying her, Connor,”  Catherine said.  “Everyone in the village knew you and I were going to marry one day soon.”

“If that’s what everyone in the village knew, then it was because of you telling them lies.  I was never going to marry you, Catherine,” Connor angrily told her, “and I was hardly the first in your bed.”

“That’s what you say now in front of your wife,” Catherine said.  “The people of this village know the truth though, and they will never accept this new wife.”

“Is that your plan, Catherine?  To turn the people of the village against me before they even get to know me?”  Jacqueline asked her.  She then looked at the faces of the women around Catherine, and she could tell by their expressions that Catherine’s plan was already succeeding.

“There is no plan when one tells the truth,” Catherine said, smirking at the newly married couple.  “Nobody wants your new wife here at Tarmon.  She will never be welcome.”

Jacqueline had heard enough, and before Connor could stop her, she stepped towards Catherine, poking her in the chest with her finger and said, “I’m not going anywhere.  I don’t care if you or any of the rest of the people in Tarmon want me here or not.  You’re a bitch, Catherine.  Stay out of my sight, or you’ll be sorry.”

Connor grabbed Jacqueline by the arm and began pulling her back towards the Keep and the castle.  “Why couldn’t you just stay quiet,” he said quietly to her, knowing the villagers could still hear them.  “The women around her are going to talk about what you said to her; you came off as the bitch.”

“So I’m supposed to let her treat me like that?” Jacqueline asked him loudly.  “Maybe you still want the whore in your bed at night.”

“Enough, Jacqueline,” he hissed at her.  “I’m already angry, don’t make it worse.”

“So you’re going to take the side of your whore?  Are you forgetting that I’m your wife and it’s me you should be defending?” Jacqueline practically yelled back.

“I remember you’re my wife.  I’m going to show you what a husband does to a wife who doesn’t know when to stop talking when she’s told,” he quietly said back.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” she said back.

Connor glanced around and seen a large rock on the side of the path they were walking on.  He pulled Jacqueline over to it, placed his foot on top of it and quickly pulled her over his bent knee, in view of some of the villagers that were still watching them.

“I’ve had enough,” he said, pulling up her skirts but leaving her shift down, not wanting to bare her in front of the villagers he knew were still watching.   He began repeatedly bringing his hand soundly down upon her backside.
Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.
“This is just a warm-up.  If I hear anymore sass out of you, the next time I have to stop I’ll lift your shift also and I don’t care who sees it, understand, wife?”

“Stop, Connor,” she cried, “someone is going to see what you’re doing.”

“I..
smack don’t..
smack care..
smack
” with each word he struck her once more. “Do..
smack   you..
smack   understand..
smack now..
smack
?”

“Aye, I understand,” she said back.  “That hurts, please stop.”

Connor flipped her back up onto her feet.  “Not another word,” he once again warned her as he took her arm and led her back home. It was a silent walk as both were too angry to speak to one another.

“Did you have a good stroll?” Caiden asked them as they walked back through the doors of Tarmon castle.

“Not really,” Connor said to him.

“What’s wrong?  Did something happen?” his Da asked.

“We ran into Catherine, who’s been telling tales about my wife to the rest of the villagers,” Connor explained.  “It wouldn’t have been so bad, but my wife couldn’t keep her mouth shut, and probably turned all the villagers against her by threatening Catherine in front of them.”

“That’s not good,” Laird Fraser said.  “What are you going to do about it?”

“With the villagers?  I’m not sure,” he answered.  “My wife is about to get a lesson in listening to her husband.  We’ll see you in the morning, Da.”  He once again steered Jacqueline, who had been looking at the floor the entire time Connor had talked to his Da,  towards the stairway.  Before getting there, they ran into Jacqueline’s brother Owen.

“Hello, little sister,” Owen said, “what did you think of the village?”

“I think they are horrible, hateful people,” she hissed.

“Did something happen?  Are you alright?” Owen asked her.

“Do you know Connor’s whore?” she bitterly asked him.  “Maybe you should have warned me about her.”

“That’s not fair, Jacqueline, what was going on before you were married is none of your business.  If something happens now that you’re married; than I will gladly stick up for you,” Owen defended himself.

“Maybe you should have stuck up for me before the wedding,” she said to her brother.

“I’ve heard enough out of you tonight,” Connor said to her as he bent down, picking her up and tossing her over his shoulder before standing back up.  “I’m sorry about your sister’s attitude tonight, Owen.  I’m hoping that I can change it this evening and tomorrow it will be much improved.”

“I’ve had to improve it once or twice myself,” Owen told him.

“See you tomorrow, Owen,” Connor said as he began climbing the stairs holding Jacqueline in place with one arm across her thighs.

“Aren’t you going to help me,” she called to her brother.

“I think you’ve earned whatever happens, little sister,” he called to her.  “Just remember, I do love you and want the best for you.”

“Liar,” she yelled at him as he walked away.  “Just go away.”

Connor entered their solar and bedroom, he not very gentle dropped Jacqueline onto their bed and told her, “you have two minutes to strip down to your shift.  I’d advise you for the first time today not to argue with me, you’ve already got a hell of a punishment coming.”

Chapter 5:  Attitude Adjustment

“I’m not going to let you punish me,” she snapped at him as she sat up on the bed.  “Who do you think you are?”

“I’m going to show you what a husband does to a disobedient wife,” he snapped back.  “You’re down to a minute; I suggest you hurry.”

“Nay,” Jacqueline said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at him.

“Very well,” he said as he walked towards her.  “We can do this the hard way.  You’ve just added a strapping on top of the rest of your punishment.”

When he reached the bed where Jacqueline was sitting and staring at him, he reached and grabbed her by her ankles.  With one quick pull and a flip he had her lying down on the bed on her stomach.  He quickly jumped upon her back so she couldn’t get up, but being careful not to hurt her, he began to unfasten her dress down the back.

“Get off me, Connor,” she yelled, becoming even angrier and trying to buck him off.

“Nay!” was all he said in reply.

“You’re being a brute.  Stop it,” she yelled back over her shoulder at him.

“Am I hurting you in any way?” he asked her.

“Nay,” she said, “but I don’t like being held down.”

“Too bad, wife,” he calmly said.  “I gave you every chance to do this yourself,”  he said as he grabbed the top of her dress and pulled it down.  He lifted his weight off of her just long enough for him to pull it down to her hips.”

“Are you ready to listen and cooperate now?” he asked her.

“Aye,” she snapped at him.

“Alright,” he got up off of her back and held his hand out to her, “get up and take the rest of the dress off.”

“Why does my dress have to be off?” she asked him, her face turning red with embarrassment.

“You just keep adding extras,” he said as he once again grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.  Before she had time to react, he grabbed her dress where it pooled around her hips and pulled it down the rest of the way; it fell around her feet on the floor.

“Connor, stop,” Jacqueline tried to protest.  Connor wasn’t listening, he spun around and plopped down on the edge of the bed pulling Jacqueline, belly down, over his knees.

“Now before I start, let me tell you what’s going to happen tonight,” he calmly began. “I’ve had enough of your attitude, and I’m going to change it before either of us gets any sleep tonight.”

“There is nothing wrong with my attitude,” she shot back.

“I can see you’re not ready to listen yet,”  Connor said shaking his head.  “Let’s see if I can put you in a more agreeable mood.”

“What are you doing?” Jacqueline cried as she felt her shift being lifted up exposing her from the waist down.  “This isn’t proper.”
“Sisters and acquaintances get spanked over their clothing,” he told her, “wives get spanked on the bare.” Those were the last words Jacqueline heard before she felt the first smack upon her left cheek, then one to the right.  She had been spanked many times by one of her brothers over her trews or skirts, but never on her bare bottom.  She couldn’t believe how much it hurt.

“Ouch, smack,  ouch, smack,  stop, smack,
Connor that hurts, smack, smack, smack
.”

“Am I getting your attention yet?” Connor asked her.
Smack, smack, smack, smack.
He alternated left and right.

“Aye,” she cried out.

“Good,” he said.  “Twenty more and then we can try talking again.”

“Nay,” Jacqueline pleaded.  “That’s too many.”  Connor ignored her and carried on.
Smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

Connor finished the promised twenty and looked at his handy work.  Both butt cheeks were a nice shade of red but there was no sign of bruising, he was happy with the result so far.  He stood Jacqueline up between his knees holding onto her by her arms. When he looked up at her face, it nearly broke his heart, seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Now let’s talk,” he said.

Jacqueline was angry, in fact, she was very angry, and with every spank she had become angrier.  Not thinking she yelled out, “this is why I hate you,” as she swung and slapped Connor right across the cheek.  She regretted it instantly but before she could apologize Connor once again had her face down over his knee, with her shift up to her waist.

“I cannot believe you, woman,” he growled at her as he grabbed her hairbrush off the table next to the bed.  “You don’t want to talk?  Very well, I’ll let this hairbrush do my talking for me.”

Thwack, the first strike of the hairbrush fell upon her left leg sit spot.  “OUCH,” she yelled out.  “That’s too much, Connor.”

“You know what’s too much, Jacqueline?” he asked, and before she could answer, he did it for her, “your attitude and temper are too much.  Time to get them under control.  Remember though; you didn’t want to talk.”  He didn’t talk anymore after that as he brought the back of the brush down.  Alternating sides as he paused a few seconds between each stroke.

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack.

By the twentieth stroke, Jacqueline was again in tears.  Connor lifted her up and walked her over to the corner and gently pushed her nose into the crease where the walls came together.  “I want you to stand right here and don’t move.  Think about why this is happening.”

“This is stupid, Connor,” she said turning around.  “I’m not going to stand in some stupid corner like a disobedient child.”

“Very well,” Connor said, propping his leg up on a chair and once again hauling Jacqueline down over it, “let me know when you’re ready to stand in the corner.”  Jacqueline hadn’t noticed he still had her hairbrush in his hand.

Connor quickly pulled her shift back up; her sit spots were a bright shade of red, so he decided to abandon that area and focus back on the cheeks of her butt.
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack.

“I’ll do it,” Jacqueline cried after three strokes to each side.  “Just stop, I’ll stand in the stupid corner.”
Thwack, thwack, thwack, the brush came down again.  “I’ll stand in the corner I said.”

This time Connor let her up.  “Nay, first you said it with attitude, the second time you said it correctly.  Nose to the wall, Jacqueline, think about why this is happening.”

Jacqueline turned and put her nose into the crease like she’d been told.  “Hike you shift up so I can see my handiwork,” Connor said to her.

“Nay,” Jacqueline replied.  “I’m not going to do that.  That’s humiliating.”

“You just don’t learn, do you,” he said as he walked over and once more had her flipped over his knee.  This time only using his hand.
Smack, smack, smack smack, smack, smack, smack, smack.

“I’ll do it,” Jacqueline cried out, “please stop and I’ll do it.”

Connor didn’t reply but once more placed her on her feet and turned her towards the corner.  Jacqueline slowly lifted her shift up over her hips, her face turning red knowing Connor was looking.

“This is so embarrassing,” she said without looking back at him.

“No talking,” he said.  “I just want you to listen, and when I’m done, you’re going to stand there and think for a bit.”

“How long?” she asked.

“Until I decide you’ve had enough.  Don’t be in too much of a hurry to get out; you’ve still got a strapping coming.”

“I can’t take anymore, Connor,” she cried.

“I haven’t touched your thighs yet, wife,” he said.  “I promised a strapping, and it’s going to happen.  How many you get depends on you.  This whole thing could have been over already if you weren’t so stubborn and hardheaded.”

“Fine,” she snapped at him.  “Just say what you have to say and go away.”

“There’s the problem right there, that attitude.  You just added on five more strokes to the twenty I was going to give you,” Connor replied.

“I’m sorry,” she said, regretting her words and trying not to cry,

“I don’t know if you really are right now,” he told her, “but you will be by the time this is over.”

Connor gave her a few minutes to calm down before he began.  “I want this marriage to work, Jacqueline Fraser, but for that to happen, you need to do something about this attitude.”

Jacqueline turned to speak but Connor quickly stopped her, “don’t say anything and put your nose back into that corner.”  Jacqueline stamped her foot and did as he asked.  “Right now I just want you to listen.  The people in the village here at Tarmon have known Catherine all her life.  They are loyal to her because they don’t know you.  Speaking as you did in front of them is not going to make them accept you, it’s going to make them shun you.  I want you to be respected and loved by the people of my clan.  I know what a loving person you can be, your brothers have always talked highly of you, that’s the person I want my people to get to know. Now when it comes to you and me, you can not ignore what I say to you in front of the people here.  If you disagree with what I am saying, then you can tell me in private, I have no problem with that, but I will not have you ignore me, or talk back to me in front of the people in this clan.”

“I am sorry about that,” Jacqueline told him, although she did not turn around.  “I know how important it is to have the respect of your clan.  Eadan would have been just as upset with me if I had done that to him back at Gleann.”

For the first time since the punishment had started Conner couldn’t help but notice the perfect apple shape of Jacqueline’s back side.  It even had the nice color of a ripe apple he thought, and smiled slightly, although he made sure Jacqueline couldn’t see him.  He felt his cock begin to harden and knew he had to end the punishment soon.

“Speaking of your brothers, you need to think about how you made them feel that day when we left Gleann,” he told her.  “You refused to speak to them; you refused to speak to your father, you wouldn’t even speak to me.  Owen tried to talk to you on the journey here, and he said you were very rude to him.  Your brothers would never have made you marry me if they didn’t think I was a good man.  I know you never really liked me, but you’ve never really known me, give me a chance, Jacqueline, maybe we can make this into a good marriage.”

Jacqueline sighed, thinking about what he had said.  “I’d like for this marriage to work also.  I’m just so angry about how it happened.”

“Well let’s get this punishment over, and then we can talk more if you’d like,” he told her.

“Isn’t it over already?” she asked.

“I told you that you’d earned a strapping.  I mean to see that through,” Connor told her.

“I don’t think my butt can take any more, Connor, please,” she pleaded.

“I won’t be applying the strap to your butt,” he said as he stacked pillows on the edge of the bed.  “You’ll be getting all twenty-five to your thighs.”

“I don’t think I can take twenty-five,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.

“Please don’t argue, Jacqueline and make me have to raise it to thirty.  Come, lean over the edge of the bed onto the pillows,” he told her.  “Let’s get this over with.”

Jacqueline sighed once more and turned towards the bed letting her shift drop down.  “Lift it up,” Connor said immediately.

“You’ll be able to see everything,” Jacqueline protested.

“Thirty,” Conner said softly.  “Lift it up.”

“Alright,” Jacqueline told him as she lifted her shift back up, her face turning as red as her bottom, and she walked over to the bed where she bent forward onto the pillows with her legs tightly pressed together.

Connor looked at the red bottom before him and again felt his cock jump and harden.  “Spread your legs,” he told her.

“I can’t,” Jacqueline cried.  “You’ll see everything.”

“Last chance, spread your legs, or I’ll make it thirty-five,” Connor told her.  “You’re going to learn to do as I say right now.”

“Connor, please,” Jacqueline pleaded.  Connor walked up behind her and landed a hard smack on each side of her bottom.
Smack, smack
.  “I can do this until you follow directions,” he told her.
Smack, smack, smack, smack.

“Stop.  I’ll do it,” Jacqueline cried out and slightly spread her legs.

Smack, smack.
“More,” Connor told her.  Jacqueline spread them wider.  Connor couldn’t help it as his shaft grew rock hard.  Jacqueline had the prettiest cunny he had ever seen.  It was a light pink color with the same auburn colored hair surrounding it that was on top of her head.  Instead of a strapping he just wanted to rub it, lick it and kiss it.

“Let’s get this over with,” he said as he took an extra belt out of his trunk at the end of the bed.  “Stay in position, or I’ll add more.”

“I’ll try,” Jacqueline replied.  She was already so sore she didn’t want to make it any worse than she already had.

Connor placed his hand upon her lower back to help steady her as he raised his arm and began.  The first ten were given quickly without a break, starting just below her sit spots and each stroke landing just a little bit lower.
Swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack.

“Please, Connor, no more,” Jacqueline sobbed.  Her brothers had never punished her this severely.  “I can’t take anymore.”

Connor looked at her thighs, although they were red, and he had no doubt they were sore, he had not broken any skin or even left deep welts.  “I’ll give you a break, but you have twenty to go.  Don’t get up,” he told her.

“I hurt so bad, Conner,” Jacqueline pleaded.  “Can’t we forget the rest.”

“Nay,” Connor told her.  “I intend to finish this, and I hope I never have to be this severe with you ever again.  I’m not happy about having to do it.  My plan for tonight was to seduce you, not punish you.”

“I’m sorry, Conner,” Jacqueline said, for the first time meaning it.  “I didn’t mean to upset you so bad.”

“You did upset me, Jacqueline,” he told her.  “I want my clan to like you, maybe even learn to love you as I hope I do.”

“You want to love me?” she asked.

“Once we get to know each other better, aye.  I hope we learn to love each other,” he told her.  “Ten more, Jacqueline,” he said as he began once again.
Swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack, swish, whack.

Although she had been crying since Connor had laid the first stroke, it wasn’t until the tenth the Jacqueline finally screamed.  “Please no more!”

Connor looked at her thighs and knew any more would just be cruel.  “I’ll give you a choice,” he said.  “I can do the last ten, and this portion of your punishment will be over, or you can sit on a chair for the next hour and think about what I’ve said to you.”

“I’ll take the chair,” Jacqueline quickly said. Then she blushed and added, “can I stand now?”  She had forgotten how exposed she was.

“Wait just a minute,” Connor told her as he grabbed the chair that sat at his desk in the room and pulled it over near the bed.  “I want you to keep your shift up, and I want your bare bottom and thighs touching the chair.”

Jacqueline groaned but nodded her agreement as Connor helped her stand.  She couldn’t believe how tight her butt and thighs felt, but she remembered to hold her shift up as Connor helped her walk over and sit in the chair.  When her butt and thighs made contact with the wooden seat she wanted to instantly jump back up, Connor was ready and put a hand on each shoulder holding her in place.

“No talking, I just want you to think about what I’ve said,” he told her.  Jacqueline nodded as she sat and looked at the floor.  Tears were still rolling down her cheeks as Connor sat on the bed watching her.

It seemed to take forever for the hour to go by,  As Jacqueline sat, she thought about what had happened the last few days.  She knew Connor was right and she should never have disobeyed him in front of the villagers.  She also thought about the way she’d treated her brothers, although she was angry with them for not getting her out of this marriage, they had always protected her and treated her fairly.  Jacqueline thought about her new father and sister by marriage.  She had never expected such a warm welcome, especially like the one she had gotten from Connor’s father.  Maybe she did need to try a little harder to accept her circumstances. Maybe she could try to be nicer to Connor himself, except for this punishment, that she had to admit she deserved, he had been nothing but kind to her.

“Times up,” Connor said.

“Can I put my shift down now,” Jacqueline asked him, her face once again turning red.

“Not yet,” he told her.  “Come back over here and lean over the bed.”

“No please, Connor,” she begged, tears automatically welling up in her eyes.  “I can’t take anymore.”

“It’s not what you think, wife,” he said kindly.  “For once, just do as I say, please.”

Jacqueline nodded, knowing her butt and thighs couldn’t take anymore tonight.  She got up and leaned over the edge of the bed just as she had done for the strapping.  Connor walked up behind her with a tin of salve and opened it.

“I won’t do this in the future,” he told her.  “I’m hoping I never have to punish you like this ever again, Jacqueline.  No matter what you may think, I didn’t enjoy doing that.  I’m going to put some cream on that will help take some of the sting away.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Jacqueline said, her face even becoming redder knowing where Connor would be touching as he rubbed in the cream.  “I can do it myself.”

“Just let me help you, Jacqueline,” he said,  “please, it will make me feel better too.”  Jacqueline nodded as he took a dollop of cream out of the tin.

“This may sting a bit at first,” he told her as he began rubbing the cream into her thighs.  Once again Connor felt his shaft grow hard as he ran his hands up and down Jacqueline’s bare thighs.  He glanced down and was pleasantly surprised when he noticed her cunny was glistening with moisture.

He took another dollop and once again started working it into her bottom and sit spots.  Just to check to see if he was correct he accidentally let the back of his hand brush against her cunny, it almost was his undoing when she let out a small moan.  He smiled to see the moisture on the back of his hand.

Jacqueline couldn’t believe how good it felt as Connor rubbed the cream into the welts and brush marks he’d left.  In fact, she’d never felt anything like it.  As he ran his hands up and down her thighs, she began to wish he would rub just a little higher, where she had only touched herself when washing.  She could have sworn she felt wetness but knew she’d just had her menses right before Eadan’s wedding and it wasn’t time for them again yet.  Connor’s hand accidentally brushed against her cunny, and she couldn’t stop the small moan that escaped.

“All done,” Connor told her, turning away from her and putting the tin back into his trunk at the foot of the bed.  “Come to bed now, wife.”

Connor quickly blew out the candles in the room and got undressed.  He didn’t want to scare his new wife, but he always slept naked and didn’t intend to stop doing so now.  He quickly climbed into the bed and under the covers while Jacqueline’s back was turned.

“I need my nightdress, Connor,” Jacqueline told him.

“Can’t you just sleep in your shift tonight?” he asked her.

“I suppose,” she said and shyly got into the bed pulling the blankets up to her chin.

“I know I promised nothing would happen in this bed until you were ready, but I’d like a good night kiss, wife,” Connor said to Jacqueline, hoping she would agree.

“I’ve never kissed a man before,” Jacqueline told him.  “I’m not sure how.”

“I’ll be happy to teach you,” Connor told her.

“I suppose one kiss won’t hurt,” Jacqueline said to him, curious to find out what kissing him would be like.  “Afterall, you are my husband.”

Connor sat up and leaned to the side coming down with one arm on each side of her head.  He gently cupped her cheeks and brought his lips down to hers giving her a tender kiss.  It took Jacqueline a second before she began kissing him back.

“That was nice,” she said when Connor broke the contact.  “Can we try that again?”

“As much as you want, wife,” he answered and again brought his lips down on hers.  This time he made it last a little longer before breaking the contact.  Since Jacqueline didn’t protest, he decided to do it again.  This time he ran his tongue along her lips until she slightly opened her mouth and he touched his tongue to hers gently.

Jacqueline had never known kissing could be like this.  When Connor touched his tongue against hers, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his neck pulling him closer.  Connor kissed her over and over.  She felt his hands as they stroked the sides of her face  and down her neck.  Then one of his hands began stroking her arm softly.  Jacqueline pulled Connor’s head down once more getting more confident as their tongues tangled together.  It wasn’t until Connors hand slid up her side and covered her breast that she jumped and pulled back.

“Sorry,” Connor said.  “I got carried away.  I made a promise, and I’ll abide by it.  I think every night we should do a little more until you’re comfortable with me.  How does that sound?”

“Alright,” Jacqueline replied once again embarrassed by her behavior.

Connor reached over and pulled Jacqueline unto her side fitting her back up against his front.

“What are you doing?” she asked him.

“This is how married people sleep,” he told her putting an arm around her waist.  “Relax and go to sleep.”

“Something is poking me in the back,” she told him.

“Ignore it,” he said chuckling, “unless you want to lose your virginity tonight.”

Jacqueline shook her head and tried to relax.  Then it dawned on her, “Connor?”

“Aye, Jacqueline,”

“Are you naked?”

“I always sleep naked,” he answered.  “You’ll get used to it.”

Jacqueline scooted a few inches away, realizing what had been poking her in the back.  Connor laughed and pulled her closer.  “Go to sleep, wife,” he said.

Jacqueline was surprised when she fell asleep soon after, warm and comfortable in the arms of her new husband.  It took Conner quite a bit longer as his new wife, not realizing what she was doing, snuggled into the warmth of his body.

Chapter 6:  Confined for a Day

“Good morning, wife,” Connor said as Jacqueline rolled over in the bed towards him.  He was lying next to her with his head propped up on one arm watching her sleep.

“Why are you staring at me?” she asked him.

“You’re very beautiful you know,” he replied.

“I’m not,” she said, once again turning red.

“How about a morning kiss for your husband,” he said as he bent down and once again pressed his lips to hers.  Jacqueline was surprised at how quickly she responded, as she opened her mouth slightly to let his tongue once again tangle with hers.

Connor, just like the night before, began running his hands up and down the sides of her face, then her neck and eventually her side, wanting to cup her breast but being afraid of going too fast for her.  “Stop, Jacqueline,” he said breaking the kiss.

“I’m sorry,” she said becoming embarrassed.

“Don’t be sorry,” he answered giving her a quick peck on the lips.  “I enjoy kissing you.  I have to tell you something, and I believe you aren’t going to be too happy with me afterward.”

“What is it, Connor?” she asked, becoming concerned.

“You have one more part of your punishment yet,” he began.  “I need to show the village that I will not put up with your poor behavior.  You’ll be confined to our rooms for the entire day.”

“Nay Connor,” she said.  “Please, I’ll go crazy stuck in our rooms all day.”

“It needs to be done, wife,” he said.  “I’ll come have dinner with you tonight though, just the two of us.  I’m sorry, but it must be done.”

“I understand,” she said sighing.

“Think about the things we talked about last night while you have the time today,” Connor said to her.  “I want you to find a way to be happy here.”

Jacqueline nodded at him but did not smile, Connor threw back the covers and jumped out of bed.  “Connor, you’re naked,” she squealed and quickly turned away.

“I’m not ashamed for you to see me this way,” he said laughing.  “I hope one day you’ll be used to it, and even like what you see.”  Connor grabbed his trews and quickly pulled them on before grabbing his kilt and shirt.  “You can look now, wife; I’m decent.”

“I have Fiona looking at maids for you today,” he told her.  “Although you’re banned from having any company today, you can talk to the women she thinks would be acceptable in the solar and decide who you would want.  I’ll tell her to send them up to talk to you right after you break your fast.”

“At least it’s something to do,” she sighed and answered.

“There is to be no other company,” he said.  “I’ll let Fiona know she’ll have to wait until tomorrow to visit with you herself.”

Jacqueline nodded, and Connor headed towards the door to get to his duties in the keep, “I’ll have a maid bring up some food for you,” he told her.

“Connor,” she called out as he opened the door, he turned back to her as she said, “I am sorry for my behavior in the village.”

“That’s a start,” he said and smiled at her.  He quickly walked back over giving her a quick firm kiss on the lips.  “Do some thinking today, please.  Tell me later what will make you happy, that’s very important to me.” He again turned and this time left the room closing the door firmly behind him.

As Connor entered the hall, he stopped one of the women serving the morning meal, “have someone take a tray up to Lady Jacqueline to break her fast.  She will be spending the day in our rooms.”

“Aye, sir,” the serving woman replied and quickly went on her way.

“Where is my new daughter this morning?” Connors Da asked as he sat at the table.  He was breaking his fast with Fiona and Jacqueline’s brother Owen.

“She’ll be spending the day in our rooms, Da,” he explained.  “We came to an understanding last night, and it’s part of her punishment today.”

“You weren’t too hard on her last night I hope, son,” Laird Fraser said.

“I don’t think so, Da,” he replied.  “She’s had some problems accepting this marriage and all the changes in her life.  Hopefully, last night helped her understand a few things.”

“What things?” Owen asked speaking up, somewhat worried about his sister. “She’s been so unlike herself since the wedding, I’ve been worried about her.”

“Don’t worry, Owen,” he said.  “She’s fine.  We also discussed her treatment of her brothers.  The only person she’s been herself with since arriving is you, Da.  I don’t understand why though.”

“That’s easy to explain,” Owen said.  “Your Da has been so accepting and kind to her.  Our Da loves her, but he’s never known what to do with her.  He usually just makes sure she has what she needs and avoids her.”

“How could any father treat his daughter that way?” Caiden Fraser asked.  “Especially such a lovely young girl like Jacqueline.”

“Truthfully, I think she reminds him too much of our mither.  I don’t really remember her either, but my oldest brothers have told me how much our Da loved her,” Owen explained.

“Then having her should have been a blessing and comforted him,” Caiden said.

“He was never cruel to her,” Owen said in defense of his Da.  “My brothers and I would have never allowed that, he just didn’t really have anything to do with her growing up.  I’m not saying it’s right, it’s just how things were done.”

“So who took care of her and raised her?” Fiona asked.

“There was always a nurse and maids around to teach her woman things.  But Eadan made sure she could shoot a bow, the rest of us made sure she could defend herself with a dirk and ride a horse.  I hate to admit it, but we’ve probably spoiled her rotten being the only girl in the bunch,” Owen told Fiona.

“It was just Connor and me growing up,” Fiona said, “but I also had Da.”

“Jacqueline always had one of us around,” Owen said, once again defending his family.  “We all love her very much.”

“That’s good to know,” Caiden told him, “but I for one am going to make sure she knows how much we want her to be here, and part of our family.”

“Thank you, Laird Fraser,” Owen said.  “You have no idea how good that makes me feel knowing you care for my sister already.  I’m off to train.”

“Remember what I told you, Owen McCabe,” the Laird yelled after him.  “You’re family now, so you belong at the head table for meals.”

Owen grinned and nodded, continuing on his way to the training fields.  Plus, he had plans to make and needed to find ways to sneak away every hour or so.

Jacqueline spent the first hour of the morning talking with some of the women Fiona thought would be appropriate for her personal maid.  The first three were not overly friendly, although they answered her questions, they never smiled or made any friendly conversation.  It wasn’t until the fourth, and final girl named Edith came in, that Jacqueline knew she had found the right girl for the job.

“Why are you being so nice to me, Edith?” Jacqueline asked, a little suspicious.

“Can I be honest with you, Lady Jacqueline?” Edith asked, and Jacqueline nodded.  “We have something in common,” Edith said grinning, “Catherine hates us both.”

Jacqueline laughed at her answer and asked, “why does she hate you?”

“Fiona, Catherine and I all grew up together.  When we were girls, Catherine tried so hard to get Fiona to like her best and to hate me.  Fiona saw right through her schemes though, and the two of us were very close growing up.”

“You were allowed to play with the laird’s daughter?” Jacqueline asked.  Her Da had never allowed such a thing.

“My mother was a maid here in the castle.  Laird Fraser
used to ask her to bring me so that Fiona would have someone to play with,” Edith told her.  “We were very close growing up, and still are.”

“Would you like to be my maid, Edith?” Jacqueline asked her.  “And my friend?  I could use one here in Tarmon.”

“I would love to, Lady Jacqueline,” Edith said smiling back at her.

“You know I am confined to my quarters today, but you can start first thing tomorrow morning,” Jacqueline told her.

“I’ll be starting this afternoon by bringing you a tray for lunch, My Lady,” Edith said.

“Thank you, Edith, I’ll see you this evening then,”  Jacqueline told her as she got up to leave.  As Edith left, Jacqueline couldn’t help but smile although it didn’t last long.

As the morning wore on Jacqueline thought more and more about the way she’d treated her brothers.  She realized she had been so unfair to them all.  Although every one of them, with the exception of James, at one time or other put her across their knee, had always shown her how much they loved her.  She couldn’t believe how horrible she’d been to them all.

She missed them all so much, especially at a time like this.  Jacqueline had been confined to her quarters many times in her life, but one thing had always been able to get her through her punishment.  Every hour on the hour a rock would always come sailing through her bedroom window with a note from one of them.  They never missed an hour.  She would miss that.  She was sitting at the desk in the bedroom when the first rock came through the window.  She went over and picked it up.  Sure enough, there was a tiny piece of paper tied around it.  She undid the string and unraveled the paper.

Did you think I’d forget little sister?

O

She read and couldn’t help but smile.  Owen hadn’t forgotten her. She was so happy even though she knew he would never be able to get a note to her every hour as the brothers had at Gleann.  She was surprised an hour later when the next rock came through the window.  Once again she untied the string and read.

Behave yourself today; I miss seeing your smile! O

Jacqueline laughed as she read it and ran to the window to see if Owen was still in sight.  Of course, he wasn’t.  She once again thought about the way she’d treated her brothers and knew she had to forgive them all.  How could she have even thought they would let anything bad happen to her.  Right on schedule, the next note came.

Just want you to know, I love you, little sister! O

Again she ran to the window and tried to spot Owen.  She wanted to yell down to him that she loved him too, but he was nowhere in sight.  She went back to the desk where the three small notes sat and just held them in her hand smiling at them.

Owen was in trouble, he once again made an excuse to the officer on the training field and had snuck off to throw the third note through the window.  This was so much easier when it could be spread out among his brothers, but he couldn’t let his sister down.  He’d tossed the rock through the window and took off running around the side of the keep when he ran right into Connor.          “What are you up to?” Connor asked him.

“It’s tradition, Connor,” Owen said, trying to explain.  “It’s nothing bad, I promise.”

“Explain,” Connor said.

“Whenever Jacqueline got into trouble growing up our Da would confine her to her quarters.  Sometimes for a day or two.  It used to make her very sad, and we would see her sit in her window watching us and crying.  Eadan came up with the idea years ago.  Whenever she was confined to her room, one of us would throw a rock with a note through her window every hour.  We never missed one.  It makes her happy.  She’s been so sad since she left Gleann, I just wanted her to know I hadn’t forgotten.”

“What do these notes say?” Connor asked.

“Do you really want to know?  They’re kind of personal,” Owen told him.

“I’d really like to know,” Connor said.  “Do you intend to sneak out of your training every hour to get one to her?”

“That was my plan,” Owen said.  “Although it hasn’t been easy to come up with excuses to leave the training field.”

“I’d like to help you,” Connor said.  “Tell me what to write, and I’ll take over.”

“Nothing really, Just something short.  So far the first one just said ‘I bet you thought I forgot’ the second one said ‘I  miss seeing your beautiful smile’ and the last one said ‘I love you, little sister’.  I’m sorry if I went against your wishes but she’s been so angry with all of us, and I wanted her to know we still love her,” Owen explained.

“I’m not angry, Owen.  I’m glad you did it.  How about I do the next note and then you do the one after that.  I’d love to be part of it,” Connor told him.

“That would be wonderful,” Owen told him thankfully.  “I could use some help.  There used to be anywhere from three to six of us doing it, so it was much easier to get away from our duties for a couple of minutes.”

“Get back to the training fields,” Connor said.  Owen went to walk away, but Connor called out to him.  “Owen, thank you for caring so much for your sister.”

“She’ll always be my little sister, Connor.  Married or not, that doesn’t change,” Owen replied and walked away.

Jacqueline was ready when the next note came through the window.  She was excited to see what Owen had written this time.  Being confined to her room had always been difficult for her, but this tradition her brothers had started so many years before, had always made her feel special.  Right on time, a rock flew through the window.  Jacqueline picked it up and quickly untied the string.  The first thing she noticed was that it wasn’t Owens writing, then she read it and blushed.

I enjoyed our kissing last night wife, looking forward to ‘more’ tonight. C

Her heart skipped, and she couldn’t help but smile knowing the note had been from Connor.  She wondered what his more could be.  She also enjoyed their kissing last night, and this morning.  She was lost in her thoughts when a knock came upon her solar door.

“Da,” she said, surprised to open the door and find Connor’s father standing there.

“I came to check on you,” the Laird said.  “Can I come in?”

“Connor said I’m not to have any visitors today.  I’m sure he told you why,” Jacqueline told him, embarrassed to have to explain.

“I outrank Connor, so if I want to visit my new daughter I can,” he told her as he smiled at her.

“Come in, Da,” she said laughing.  “Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable.”

“I just want to make sure you have everything you need, daughter,” Caiden said to her.

“I think I do,” she told him.  “Edith is going to be my new maid.  I liked her a lot.”

“Good.  Edith is a nice girl; her mother worked here in the castle for a long time before she became ill and passed.  Edith is a good choice,” he told her.

“She told me that,” Jacqueline said.

“Now let’s get down to this Catherine problem,” he said to her.  “I won’t have her turning the village against my new daughter.”

“I can handle Catherine,” Jacqueline told him.  “I just have to not let my temper get the best of me, like I did yesterday.”

“I did hear about that,” he said to her, although his smile gave away his humor at the situation.

“I’ll win the villagers over eventually.  This is going to be my home for a long time hopefully, they’re just going to have to get to know me and learn to like me,” she said smiling back. Then jokingly told him,  “if they don’t, then I guess I’ll have to challenge the men to an archery contest and earn their respect that way.”

“You’re that good?” he asked.

“Aye,” she quickly answered.

“Then I’ll leave you to figure it out,” he said and stood up.  “But if you need any help, you can always come to me.”

Jacqueline felt her eyes fill with tears, she had never been treated so kindly by her own father.  “Thank you,” she said and flung her arms around him.

“You and I are going to get along just fine, Jacqueline,” he said as he hugged her back.  “You are very welcome here.  I just want you to be happy.”

Jacqueline nodded and stepped back from him.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do that,” she apologized.

“Sorry for what?  It’s not every day I get hugged by a beautiful woman,” he laughed and told her.  “I’ll let you get back to your punishment.”

“Thank you again, Da,” she said.  “I do like it here so far.  Well, at least in the castle.”

“You’ll win everyone over,” he said.  “I know you will.”

The Laird left, and Jacqueline waited for the next note to arrive.  Right on schedule, the rock landed on her bedroom floor; she was hoping it was another one from Connor and was somewhat disappointed to find it was from Owen.

Your husband caught me.  He wasn’t mad.  I think he loves you already. O

Jacqueline was surprised by his words.  There was no way Connor loved her.  Did she love him?  She didn’t think so, although she didn’t hate him like she used to.  In fact, she kind of liked him.  Even though he had punished her quite thoroughly last night, he hadn’t been unkind.  Truthfully, he reminded her of Alastair, who never let her out of a punishment or stopped one early. She sat for a long time thinking about everything Connor had said to her since their forced wedding.  Time passed by quickly while she was thinking, it seemed only minutes later when the next note came through the window.  She was curious to see who it was from this time.

I am certainly a lucky man to have such a kind, funny and beautiful wife. C

Did he really think she was kind and funny?  They had started off well the evening before at dinner and even talked and laughed on their stroll to the village.  It wasn’t until they ran into Catherine that everything had gone wrong.  Beautiful?  Did he really think she was beautiful?  She’d always thought he was handsome, even when he used to tease her when she was younger.

Throughout the rest of the day, the notes kept coming, one from Owen and then one from Connor.  Jacqueline looked forward to both.  Right before it was time for the evening meal the final note fell onto the bedroom floor.  Jacqueline quickly untied the string to read it.

Looking forward to having dinner, just the two of us.  See you soon. C.

Jacqueline was still holding the note and smiling when Connor walked through the door with a tray filled with their supper.  “Hope you’re hungry, cook got a little carried away,” he said.  Then he noticed her holding the last note and the smile that seemed to be stuck on her face.  “Did you have a good day, wife?”

“Considering I was stuck in my room all day it wasn’t the worst day I’ve ever had,” she answered still smiling at him.  “Thank you for not getting mad at Owen.”

“I think today, it was good to carry on with the tradition,” he said.  “I haven’t seen you smile like that since you got here.”

“I did a lot of thinking today,” she said.

“And did you make any decisions?” he asked.

“I did,” she said.  “I’m going to give you and this marriage a chance.  You’re right; I haven’t given you a fair chance.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Jacqueline,” he said.  “Come sit down and eat.  I have a surprise for you after dinner.”

“I haven’t sat much today,” she told him truthfully.  “It’s a bit uncomfortable.  What kind of a surprise?”

Connor walked over to the bed and took two of the pillows.  He then placed them on her chair, “come,” he said, “see if this helps.  It won’t be a surprise if I tell you.  I’m starving, so come join me and let’s eat.”

Jacqueline slowly sat down, Connor was right, the pillows did help and make it tolerable to sit.  She uncovered the dishes he had brought and was happy to see roasted pork, pheasant, an assortment of different cheeses, roast vegetables, and fresh bread.  It all smelled wonderful, and she filled her trencher and began to eat.

“Would you like some wine?” Connor asked her.

“Aye, please.”

“So would you like to tell me what you decided today?” he asked.

“I decided you were right about a lot of things.  Especially about my brothers.  They would have never let me marry you if they thought you weren’t a good man.  Owen showed me today that no matter what happens, they’re still going to always be there for me,” she said.

“I agree,” he said.  “That’s also why I wasn’t angry with Owen today when I caught him throwing that rock up here.  I was hoping you would see that you are still special to them.”

“I don’t know what I would’ve done without them growing up,” she said.

“I only had one sister,” he told her smiling.  “Eight brothers is actually a lot.”

“But you had your Da,” she said.  “My Da was there, but he really never had anything to do with me unless he had to.  I’m not saying he was mean to me, he just only talked to me when he had to.  The nurses would tell him what I needed, and then he would make sure I got whatever they requested.”

“That’s almost sad,” he told her.  “My Da was always there for both Fiona and I.  He spent a lot of time with both of us growing up.”

“I know,” she sighed and told him.  “I could see how close he and Fiona were as soon as I arrived here.  You know what, Connor?”

“What?”

“Your Da came to see me today.  I think in the seventeen years I lived in Gleann my Da was probably only in my room a few times.  I only saw him at mealtimes or special occasions.  He never sought me out to make sure I was alright,” she told him. Then thinking for a minute, she added,  “well, I do remember once when I was much younger being very ill.  I woke up, and my Da was sitting next to my bed holding my hand.  He looked really sad.”

“My Da really likes you,” he told her.  Then shook his head and said, “I can’t believe he came up here knowing you were confined to our rooms.”

Jacqueline couldn’t help it and laughed before telling him, “he said he’s still the laird around here, and he can go wherever he wants.”

“That’s true.  I’m just glad to see you looking much happier today,” Connor said.  They continued to make conversation throughout their meal and as they finished a knock sounded on the door.

“That would be your surprise.  Just stay seated right there,” he told her as he went and opened the door.  “Come in, set everything up in the bedroom.”

Jacqueline watched as a line of servants entered the room.  The first two carried a large tub with four others carrying two buckets of hot water each.

“A bath?” she said to him excitedly.  “You ordered me a bath?”

“I thought you might want to relax and clean up a bit.  I’m sorry I didn’t think about it yesterday,” he said.  “I’m hoping in the future to be the one to help you with your baths, but I know you’re not ready for that yet.  Edith will be here in a few moments to assist you.”

“Oh, Connor,” she said as she jumped out of her chair and threw her arms around his neck.  “Thank you.  I would love a bath.”

Connor quickly wrapped his arms around her waist before she could pull away, “does this surprise at least earn me a kiss?” he asked.

“Oh, aye,” she said as he lowered his lips onto hers.  At first, the kiss was gentle, but when Jacqueline tightened her arms around his neck, he quickly deepened it.  Parting her lips with his tongue and thrusting it into her mouth.  They were both so involved they didn’t even hear the servants leave the room.

“Should I come back in a bit?” Jacqueline heard Edith ask from the doorway.

Jacqueline quickly pulled away from Connor, embarrassed to be caught, “nay, Edith, thank you for coming.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up and ready for bed then,” Edith said grinning.  Jacqueline nodded, and the two entered the bedroom and shut the door.

Connor was happy with himself.  Now that he knew how happy a simple bath made his wife, he’d make sure she had one every day.  He sat back down at the table where they had shared their meal and couldn’t help but smile.

“Should I take away the dishes, sir?” a maid at the door asked.

“Of course, Sally,” he answered.  “Tell the cook that it was a wonderful meal.”

Chapter 7:  A Memorable Night

“Is there anything else you need tonight, Lady Jacqueline?” Edith asked as she opened the bedroom door.

“Nay, Edith,” Jacqueline told her.  “Thank you.  I’ll see you on the marrow.”

“Goodnight,” Edith said as she passed Connor in the solar on her way out the door.

“Goodnight, Edith, and thank you,” Connor told her as he got up and walked into the bedroom to join his wife.

“Are you ready for bed, wife?” Connor asked her.

“Aye,” Jacqueline answered.  She was dressed in a long white nightdress.

“Did you enjoy your bath?” he asked

“It was heavenly, thank you again for arranging it for me,” she told him.

Connor did just like the night before, he went around the room and blew out the candles before joining his wife in their bed. He would have liked to leave a few burning so he could see, but didn’t want to shock his young wife too much by his nudity, and hopefully hers.  He turned on his side and put his arm around Jacqueline’s waist, pulling her tight against his body and began to softly rub her bare arm.

“That feels nice, Connor,” she softly said and sighed, beginning to relax.

Connor moved the hair away from her neck, softly kissing behind her ear, again his wife sighed as he softly began to suckle all around the area, eventually pulling the lobe of her ear into his mouth.

“Why does that feel so good?” she whispered to him, tilting her neck to give him better access.

Connor chuckled and turned her onto her back.  “I can make you feel better,” he told her.  “Can you trust me just a little bit?  You can stop me at any time.”

“I trust you, Connor,” she said.

Connor started just as he had the night before and cradling his wife’s head he began kissing her on the lips.  He caressed her up and down her arms and then slowly moved to her side. He kissed her nose, then her chin and then moved down to her neck.  He heard his wife moan softly.  “Do you like that?” he asked her.

“Aye, but it makes me feel funny,” she told him.

“Take off your nightdress, and I can make it feel better,” he told her.  Jacqueline looked at him unsurely.  “Remember I said you could stop me at any time.”
“I’m scared,” she told him.

“You’re still under the covers,” he assured her.  “I won’t look.” He smiled as he looked away.

Jacqueline wasn’t sure what to do, but she had been enjoying what he had done so far, she decided to do as he’d asked.  She pulled her nightdress up over her head and dropped it to the floor next to her, quickly pulling the covers back up to her chin.

“It’s off,” she shyly told him.

“Just lie back and close your eyes,” he told her as he once again leaned over and began kissing her.  Although she was nervous at first, it only took a few minutes for Connors kisses to relax her once again.

Connor slowly let his hand wander to all the safe areas first, down the side of her face, up her arm, from her hip to under her arm and then across her stomach.  Once he knew she was enjoying his attention, he slowly let his hand slide up until he cupped her breast.  Jacqueline at once tensed up.

“Shhhh,” he quietly told her.  “Close your eyes, relax and just feel, wife.  Don’t think about what I’m doing.”  She laid her head back down, once again doing as he asked.

Connor knew he needed to go slow with his skittish wife and once again began kissing her.  Thrusting his tongue in and out of her mouth slowly as he rubbed first one breast and then the other, eventually cupping one in each hand and squeezing them gently.  He then moved his mouth down to her neck where he spent more time kissing, licking and sucking as he slowly uncovered the top of his wife and moved his mouth even lower.

Not wanting to move too fast and needing to see his wife’s reactions, Connor lifted his head and looked at her face, his eyes had adjusted enough to the dark that he could see her well enough. He took hold of each of her nipples and gave them a gentle pinch.   He couldn’t believe it when his wife moaned and threw her head back, totally enjoying the experience.  His cock instantly became hard at the realization.  He lowered his head more and quickly drew one of her nipples into his mouth and sucked on it as he pinched the other.

“Oh, don’t stop, Connor,” Jacqueline moaned.  “That feels so good.” Connor just grunted and smiled, running his teeth across the rock hard nipple he had just let go of.  “Don’t stop,” Jacqueline told him again.

Connor leaned over and pulled the other nipple into his mouth and sucked just a bit harder as he let his hand slide down her stomach and rest just above the hair that grew around her cunny.  Once again he felt his wife tense up.  Not wanting to spook her he stopped and just rubbed her stomach as he sucked on one breast and then the other.

“Connor,” Jacqueline whimpered, “something is happening.  I feel so funny.”

“Spread your legs just a little bit, and I’ll make it feel much better,” he whispered to her and couldn’t believe it when she did as he asked.

Connor again moved slowly as he ran his hand across his wife’s mound. Focusing on the outside at first so she would get used to his hand being in that area.  He found as long as he kept playing with her breasts she didn’t seem to mind what his hand was doing.  He ran one finger up and down her folds, pushing a little further inside each time.

As he rubbed, he found her opening.  He could already tell how tight she was as he ran his finger back and forth over the soaking wet hole.  Not wanting her to think about what he was about to do, he took one of her nipples between his finger and thumb and pinched it just hard enough to make his wife gasp as he drove a finger up into her cunny.

“Oh,” was all Jacqueline said as Connor began to ease his finger in and out of her as he once again suckled each breast.  Once his hand was good and soaked, he moved his fingers up and found the hard little nub of her clitty, and began rubbing it slowly back and forth.

“What are you doing to me, Connor?” Jacqueline moaned as she began to rock her hips up and down.

“Just go with it, Jacqueline.  I promise, you’re going to love it,” he told her and once again and then pulled a nipple into his mouth, sucking harder than he had before.

He began rubbing just a bit harder and faster, surprised that his wife was matching his movements.  Her clit became rock hard, he knew she was about to cum as he bit down on her nipple, just enough for her to feel it and pinched her clit at the same time.

“Ahhhh,” Jacqueline screamed as her whole body began convulsing.  She wasn’t sure what was happening but had never felt so good in her entire life.  “Connor!”

“You’re alright,” he said to her, smiling, as he slowed down and gently rubbed the nub he could still feel jumping underneath his fingers.  “Just relax and go with it.”

“What happened to me?” she asked becoming embarrassed and pulling the blankets up, covering her naked body.

“That was you finding pleasure,” he said and smiled at her.  “Don’t be embarrassed; you looked beautiful.”

“I thought you were supposed to use your…” she motioned towards his genitals, which were still covered, although the blanket was tented in that area.

“My cock?” he asked laughing, and she nodded blushing even more.  “That’s one way.  I can also use my hands and my mouth.  There are many ways to enjoy the marriage bed.”

“I did enjoy your mouth on me,” she said turning away from him but letting out a small giggle.

“There is a much better way to use my mouth.  Would you like me to show you?” he asked her.

“I don’t know.” she answered.

“Did you enjoy what just happened?”

“You know I did, Connor,” she answered still smiling and giving a quick look his way.

“Let me show you then,” he said and once again began kissing her.

Although he started at her mouth, Connor was able to move much quicker this time.  Once he felt his wife relax he quickly moved to her neck easing the covers back down to her hips, exposing her breasts.  He cupped them in his hands and looked at his wife’s face.  “Don’t look,” he told her.  “Just close your eyes and enjoy.”  Jacqueline did as he instructed.

After playing with her breasts and suckling each nipple, first gently and then a little rougher, he inched down her body, pulling the blanket completely off of her.  “Spread your legs,” he whispered, surprised when she once again did it without question.  He was beginning to think his wife was going to enjoy the marriage bed once she got used to it.  He was very pleased with the idea.

He licked a line from her breasts to her belly button, swirling his tongue around the indention there.

“That tickles,” Jacqueline said giggling and squirming.

Connor reached back up grabbing both nipples and pinching them almost to the point of being painful, but not quite, making her once again gasp. He then brought one hand down and again began stroking the crease of her cunny.  He inched himself down lower as he pushed her legs wider apart, making enough room for him to lay in between her thighs.  Using both hands, he grabbed the sides of her cunny and pulled them apart, exposing the little pink pearl that was already hardening again.  Oh, yes, his new wife was enjoying herself.

“Don’t move,” he told her and smiled before taking his tongue and running it from her opening to her clit.  Jacqueline jumped.  He playfully slapped her clit and said, “don’t move, wife.”

Jacqueline couldn’t believe how good it felt.  At first, she was surprised when Connor pushed her legs so far apart.  When she felt his tongue she tried to close them, but with his whole body between her legs she just couldn’t, but when he’d slapped her in that special spot, she felt the tingle all the way up to her breasts.

“Connor, that isn’t proper,” she squealed.

“There is no proper in the marriage bed,” he told her as he again licked her from opening to clit.  This time he didn’t stop.  He swirled his tongue around the spot that felt so good, then laid his tongue flat licking it quickly.  Jacqueline felt herself once again begin to tense up, she grabbed hold of the sheet on either side of her body in her fists, needing something to hang onto.  Connor stopped and moved his tongue lower.  She could feel him pushing his tongue in and out of the hole his finger had been in earlier.

Connor was in heaven.  Not only was his wife wet, she was dripping.  He knew the time to take her virginity was going to be this night.  He just had to make it good for her.  He’d never slept with a virgin before but had been told the first time could be quite painful.  The last thing he wanted to do was cause his wife pain. He moved his tongue out of her opening and began licking once again up and down her crease, each time flicking his tongue over her hard nub.  He took one finger and slowly slid it into her.

He tried to create a rhythm with his tongue and finger.  Soon Jacqueline was raising her hips with each pass over her clit.   He pulled out the one finger, added another and slowly pushed the two in together.  She was tight but didn’t complain. Connor knew she had no idea she was breathing so loudly, or moaning, or raising her hips to meet each thrust of his tongue and fingers. He almost chuckled when he felt her let go of the sheets she had been gripping and took hold of the back of his head trying to keep him in place.

Connor slightly shifted his weight onto his side, knowing his prick was hard as a rock, he decided it was time.  He quickened his pace, quickly thrusting his fingers in and out as he laid his tongue flat on her clit, pushing down and grinding back and forth on top of it.  Jacqueline gripped his hair in her fists as she thrust her hips up in rhythm with his fingers.  As soon as his wife began to convulse, Conner quickly scrambled up on top of her.  He continued to rub her clit with his fingers as he gently but forcefully pushed himself into her with one thrust of his hips, feeling the membrane tear on his entry.

Jacqueline had been enjoying everything Connor had been doing.  She could feel her body once more growing tense but knew what was about to happen this time.  She was actually anticipating the feeling as it began,  She felt it as her body began to convulse and that part down below that Connor was rubbing and making feel so good began to pulse.  She felt Connor climb on top of her as he kept rubbing and before she could even think about what he was doing, she felt the sharp stab of pain as he thrust inside her.

“Ouch,” she cried out, as the feeling of pain, mixed with the sensations that continued from his rubbing; she wasn’t sure which feeling was more overwhelming.

“I’m sorry,” Connor whispered, although he held himself still as he softly continued to rub her clit.  “It will get better once your body adjusts.  Just relax.” He slowed down as her orgasm came to an end.

“That hurt, Connor,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

“It would have hurt more if you would have known it was coming.  You were nice and relaxed.  Does it still hurt?” he asked.  “I need to move soon.”

“Nay, I don’t think so,” she told him, as a tear slid down her cheek.  “I just feel full.”

“Tell me if I hurt you,” he said wiping her tear away as he pulled a small way out and thrust slowly back in.  “Alright?”

“It stings a little, but not terribly,” she said.

Connor again pulled out and pushed back in.  He started off slowly, pulling out a little more each time as he built up a slow rhythm.  Soon he was able to pull all the way out before pushing back in.

Jacqueline closed her eyes and laid back on the bed.  The first few times when she felt Connor push inside her, it had stung, but slowly it was starting to feel quite nice.  She concentrated on the rhythm and soon found herself lifting her hips to meet each thrust.

“Is it starting to feel good?” he asked smiling down at her.  He already knew the answer since her breathing had become heavier and she was beginning to join in.

“Aye. can you go faster?” she asked him.

“Whatever my lady wants,” he told her.  He grabbed her by the back of her knees and pulled her legs up, putting his arms underneath them.  He then leaned forward, pushing Jacqueline’s legs up and much further apart, increasing his pace, but still trying to be gentle.  Soon Jacqueline was holding onto his shoulders, pulling him towards her as she lifted her pelvis up to meet his.  He began to thrust into her harder and faster, knowing his wife was enjoying what was being done to her.

“I’m not going to last much longer, wife,” he said to her, sweat beginning to drip down his face and torso.  “Time to bring you to pleasure one more time.” He sat up and once again reached down between her legs and began to rub her nub quickly while he thrust in and out.  Jacqueline again felt that flutter in her belly and her body tensing.  “Right now,” Connor said and thrust extremely hard into her while he pinched her clit.  Jacqueline exploded around him, gripping his cock so tight he was only able to thrust one more time before he too exploded in her warm cunny.

When it was over, he collapsed on top of her trying to catch his breath.  “That was incredible,” he said to her as he rolled over onto his side next to her, pulling her with him tight up against his body.

“Oh my,” she said.  “How often do married couples do that?”

“I don’t know about most married couples,” he said laughing, “but I intend for us to do it every night, and every morning, and if I can find a reason to sneak you up to our room, maybe every afternoon.”

“The whole keep would be talking if you did that,” Jacqueline said laughing with him.  Then she shyly asked him, “can we do it again tonight?”

“Give me a few minutes res,t wife,” he said.  “Then we can do it again.  Are you sure you’re not too sore?”

“Maybe a little sore,” she replied. “But I could do it again.”

“Good,” Connor said pulling her even tighter into his side.  “Let’s rest a bit first.”

“Connor, can I ask you a question?” Jacqueline said blushing.

“You can ask me anything you want,” he said.

“You know that thing you did to me with your mouth?” she asked him.

“You mean licking your cunny?” he asked.

“Aye,” she said turning even redder.  “Can a woman do that to a man?”

“Well I don’t have a cunny,” he teased, and Jacqueline smacked his arm and pulled the covers up over her head.  “Don’t be embarrassed,” he said, pulling the blanket back down so he could see her face.  “To answer your question, aye.  A woman can give pleasure to a man with her mouth.  I’ll teach you that tomorrow if you want to learn.”

Jacqueline nodded at him and snuggled into his side.  Soon both fell asleep.

Chapter 8:  Target Practice

“Wake up, wife,” Connor said, using a feather to tickle her nose.

“Not again, Connor,” she said, although she was smiling.

“What do you mean not again, it was you who woke me up the last time,” he teased.

“I did not,” she said laughing.

“I didn’t hear you complaining last night,” he said looking down at her.

“It was how you woke me up,” she said.  “Especially the third time.”

‘That was fun,” he said to her and leaned down giving her a quick kiss.  Just as he began to deepen it, a knock came at the door.

“Aye,” Connor called out.

“I was just seeing if Lady Jacqueline was going to need me this morning,” Edith called back.

“Give me ten minutes to get dressed and out of the way and she’s all yours, Edith,” he said back.  Connor jumped out of bed and headed over to the water in the washstand in the room.  The water was from the night before and very cold, but he didn’t mind as he washed up.

Jacqueline was surprised when he walked over towards the bed with a wet cloth in his hands.  “Spread your legs, wife,” he said to her.

“Why?” she asked him.

“I’m going to clean you up a bit,” he told her.  “I thought you might be embarrassed for Edith to see the virgin blood on your thighs.”

“There’s blood?” she asked alarmed.

“It’s perfectly normal, Jacqueline,” he told her as he quickly cleaned her and then pulled the covers back over her.  “Don’t be so embarrassed.”

He looked over at his wife who was staring at him.  “What?”

Jacqueline pointed at his now limp cock and said, “that seemed much bigger last night.”

Connor jumped onto the bed making her laugh as he held her down and kissed her.  “It was much bigger last night.  Are you still up for your lesson tonight?”

“Aye,” she said leaning up, and for the first time kissing him first.

“I need to get down to the hall.  Don’t take long and I’ll wait and break my fast with you,” he said, giving her one last kiss before getting dressed and leaving the room.  “Might want to put your nightdress on,” he said and winked before closing the door.

Jacqueline had forgotten she was naked and quickly grabbed it off the floor next to the bed and throwing it on over her head.  She was just in time as Edith entered the room.

“Did you sleep well, Lady Jacqueline?” Edith asked.

“Aye, Edith,” she answered and blushed, “quite well.”

“Well let’s get you up and dressed,” Edith said.  “I’m sure you’re in need of some food to break your fast.”

Jacqueline climbed out of bed and as she turned back towards it was shocked to see the large bloodstain on the sheets where she’d slept.  She tried to quickly throw the blankets over it.

“No worries, Lady Jacqueline,” Edith said smiling at her.  “That’s a sign of a pure bride.  I’ll have the maids come up and put fresh sheets on the bed before the day is out.”

“The maids will know,” she said once again embarrassed.

“It really isn’t anything to be ashamed of, My Lady,” Edith assured her.  She decided not to tell her the laird had requested the sheets to be delivered to him once the evidence was upon them.

Edith helped Jacqueline dress and plait her hair for the day before she walked with her down to the hall where Connor, Owen, Fiona and Laird Fraser were already seated ready to begin their morning meal.

“Good morning, daughter,” Laird Fraser said as he stood to greet her.

“Good morning, Da,” she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek, “and good morning to you, brother,” she quickly kissed Owen on his cheek also.

“What about me, wife?” Connor asked, as Jacqueline went to peck his cheek he quickly turned his head, kissing her firmly on the lips.

“You scoundrel,” Jacqueline said to him laughing.

“Good morning, sister,” Fiona said to her cheerfully,

“Good morning, Fiona,” Jacqueline replied, “my, don’t you look lovely today.”

“Thank you, Jacqueline,” Fiona said blushing.  “You look quite beautiful yourself.  So what are your plans for today?”

“I was hoping someone might show me where I could do a little target practice with my bow,” she answered.  “If that’s alright with you, husband?”

“I can show you where to go,” he said.  “I’ve heard you're an excellent shot, do you mind if I join you?”

Owen laughed and said, “good?  She’s better than good.  The only one in the McCabe clan better is Eadan.”

“Really?” Laird Fraser said. “Would you mind if I also came out to watch?”

“Not at all, Da,” she answered. Then laughed and added, “I’ll even let you challenge me if you want.”

“I think I’ll just watch today,” Caiden answered laughing with her.

“Can I come to, Da?” Fiona asked.

“Of course,” he answered his daughter, then turned back to Jacqueline.  “I’m curious as to the reason you were taught to shoot.”

“It was Eadan’s idea,” she answered.  “He always said what if we were attacked and the invaders made it inside the keep, it would be a good idea if I knew how to protect myself.”

“Does Gleann get attacked often?” the laird asked.

“Not at all,” Owen said.  “I believe once Eadan takes over as Laird, he’ll probably train as many women who want to learn how to handle a bow.  You hear of such awful things happening to women that are captured.”

“I never thought of it that way,” Caiden replied, nodding in agreement.  “Maybe Eadan has a point.”

“I wish I knew how to shoot,” Fiona said.

“I’d be happy to teach you if Da says it’s alright,” Jacqueline told her.  “Of course you’d have to share my bow, the men’s bows are much too difficult to pull back.  Eadan had it made special for me.”

“I think that’s a good idea, Fiona,” her Da said to her, “except you won’t need to use Jacqueline’s bow.  We’ll go over to the armory this afternoon and get you measured and have one made to fit you.”

Just as they were finishing up their breakfast the doors to the hall opened, and two visitors entered.  “Ham,” Jacqueline squealed, “and Ross.” She ran to Ham first who picked her up and spun her around before throwing her to his brother who did the same; it was something they had been doing since she was a little girl.

“Careful with my wife,” Connor said, although he could see she was laughing, he pulled her out of her brother’s arms, put his arm around her and pulled her into his side.

“What are you doing here?” Jacqueline asked them both.

“We’re heading back to the palace and our duty.  Since Tarmon was on the way, we thought we’d stop and visit with you for a day,” Ham said.

“Are you checking up on me?” she asked them.

“Maybe we were a little worried about you after the way you left Gleann,” Ross told her.  “It’s good to see you smiling, and even better to know you’re happy to see us.”

“I’m sorry about the way I left,” she told them both.  “I was angry that day.”

“You look happy, Jacqueline,” Ham said to her, pulling her away from Connor and hugging her again, “I’m glad to see it.  I was so worried Da pushed you into an unhappy life.”

“We were on our way to the target practice field.  I’m going to show Laird Fraser that I can shoot,” she said.  “Anyone want to challenge me?”

“Nay,” said Ross.  “It does my reputation no good to get beat by a woman.” The rest of the group around them laughed.

“I just have to run up and get my bow,” Jacqueline told the group.  “I’ll be right back.”  She quickly ran up the stairs and into the rooms she shared with Connor.  As she opened the door, she found a very unwelcome visitor already in the room.

“What do you think you’re doing in here,” Jacqueline asked Catherine, who was in the bedroom, she had the top open and was snooping through one of Jacqueline’s trunks.

“I was asked to come up here and put some of your things away,” Catherine said turning towards her with a fake smile on her face.

“You lie, Catherine,” Jacqueline said.  “You don’t even work in the castle.  In fact, I heard Connor tell you to leave and stay out of it.”

“That’s what he said in front of you,” she said smirking, “but to me in private, well, he’s asked me to visit him often.”

“And when did this conversation happen?” Jacqueline asked, not really believing her but having some doubts.

“After last evening’s meal,” she said.  “I heard your husband was punishing you and had confined you to your room.  It gave him plenty of time to spend with me yesterday.”

“You lie,” Jacqueline again said to her, getting angry.

“I don’t,” she said.  “Connor came to me after his meal; we spent a very enjoyable hour together.”

“Well then there must be two Connors,” Jacqueline said, “my Connor spent the evening with me.  We had our meal together here in our room, and then I can guarantee, he never left the room as we spent an enjoyable night together.”

“I’m going to kill you, bitch,” Catherine said as she flew at Jacqueline with her own dirk, which had been in her trunk.  Catherine slashed at her and caught her on her forearm, causing a small cut through her sleeve.  Jacqueline watched as a drop of blood splashed onto the floor.

“That’s it, Catherine,” Jacqueline told her.  “I’ve had enough of you.”  When Catherine came at her a second time, Jacqueline used one of the many fighting moves that Alastair had taught her.  As Catherine’s arm came down, she stepped quickly to the side, grabbing Catherine’s arm and using her own momentum to twist her arm and fling her to the floor.  The dirk flew out of her hand and under the bed.

Luckily for Jacqueline, the lid of the trunk was still raised, and a long strip of material lay on the top.  She grabbed it out and tied Catherine’s hands behind her back.

“Get off of me and let me up,” Catherine screamed.  “I’m going to make sure no one in this village ever accepts you.”

“Your threats don’t worry me, Catherine,” Jacqueline said to her.  “You just tried to kill me.  What do you think the Laird is going to say about that?”

“He’s going to say she is banished,” Laird Fraser said as he stepped through the door with Connor, Ham, and Ross right behind him.

“Are you alright?” Connor asked her, pulling up the sleeve of her gown to see how badly she was wounded.”

“Is it deep?” she asked him, beginning to feel a bit woozy.

“Ham go downstairs and tell Fiona to get the healer,” he said to her brother.  “I think it may need to be stitched.” He grabbed a piece of cloth, folded it and pressed it over her wound, making her wince.  “Come sit down.”

“What about me?” Catherine screamed from the floor.  “Your wife attacked me.  Look how she tied me up.  She’s crazy, Connor.”

“She’s lying,” Jacqueline began.

“Say no more, Jacqueline,” Laird Fraser said.  “We heard enough as we were coming down the hall.  You’re done here at Tarmon, Catherine.  I’ll have one of my men escort you to your cottage to pack, and then I want you off my land.”

“Where will I go?” she cried.

“I don’t really care,” he said.  “You tried to kill my new daughter; you’re lucky I don’t have you hung.”

“She attacked me,” Catherine cried.  “Look at me, she tied me up and left me here.”

“And what happened to her arm?” the Laird asked her.

“She cut herself and told me she was going to tell you I did it,” Catherine lied.

“Very well,” said Laird Fraser.  “If it’s a trial you want, then it’s a trial you’ll get.  Take her to the dungeon,” he told one of the guards who was just entering the room.  “We’ll have a trial in two days.”

“That’s not fair,” Catherine screamed as they dragged her away.  “She attacked me.”  She continued to scream, making sure all the servants in the castle could hear her.  “Connor said he was going to marry me until she tricked him,” they heard her rant until finally she was far enough away and they could hear her no more.

“How bad is it?” Caiden asked his son.

“It’s deep but not long,” he said.  “I think a few stitches, and then it should heal just fine.”

“Who was that woman?” Ross demanded to know, “and why did she attack our sister?”

“It’s a long story, Ross,” Jacqueline told him.  “Let’s just say, she had hopes of being the next Lady of Tarmon.  She is not happy Connor married me.”

“Obviously,” Ross answered, squatting down next to her chair and pushing her hair back from her face.  “Is there anything I can do for you, little sister?”

“I would love a drink of water,” she said to him, she hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until that moment.

“I’ll be right back,” he said and went to exit the room at the same time the healer entered with Owen and Fiona.

It didn’t take long for the healer to put in a few stitches and wrap the cut up with a clean bandage.  “I’ll be back to take the stitches out in a fortnight,” she told Jac queline.  “Just watch for infection.”

“I will,” Jacqueline told her as she left.  “So are we going for target practice or not?”  She grabbed her bow out of a trunk in the room.

“Maybe you shouldn’t go today,” Connor said to her.  “It may hurt your arm.”

“I think I’m fine,” she said to him.  “If it starts to bother me I’ll quit.  Please, Connor, I really want to shoot today.”

“If you’re sure,” he told her, and the group left the solar together.

When they reached the fields for target practice some of the Tarmon soldiers were already there.  They were surprised to see Jacqueline with her bow.

“You’re going to let a woman shoot?” one of the young soldiers asked.

“Aye,” Connor said.  “Do you have a problem with that?”

“I guess if you want to teach your wife that’s up to you,” the young man said.

“What’s your name?” Jacqueline asked.

“Angus,” he answered.

“Well, Angus,” Jacqueline said, “since you’re such a strong man and I’m such a weak woman, how about a little competition?”

“What kind of competition?” he asked.

“How about we each take twenty shots,” she said.  “You choose ten, and I’ll choose ten.  The person who is the closest to the middle on each gets the point.  When it’s over, the person with the highest points wins.”

“What will I win?” he asked, looking at the Laird, wondering if it was some kind of trap.

“If you win, I will walk around with a piece of parchment pinned to my back saying ‘Angus is a better archer than me’, but if I win, you will wear one that says, ‘Jacqueline Fraser is a better archer than me’. What do you think?” she asked.

“Is this alright, Laird?” he asked, surprised the Laird wasn’t putting a stop to it.

“Absolutely, Angus,” he said.  “Teach my new daughter a lesson.”  He tried to hide his smile.  If Jacqueline was as good as he’d been told, Angus didn’t stand a chance.

“Very well,” Angus said, shrugging, “I’ll try not to beat you too bad.”

Ham, Ross, and Owen burst out laughing.  Connor and Fiona, who had never seen her shoot just smirked.  “You can pick the first target,” Jacqueline told him.  “That way I can watch what you do.”

“The closest one right there,” Angus said pointing.  He picked up an arrow, notched it into his bow and released it, hitting just a couple inches off center.  He then turned to her and smirked saying,  “Your turn.”

Jacqueline picked up an arrow, quickly notched it and let it go without even pausing to aim.  The arrow hit dead center on the target.  “Lucky shot?” she said to Angus smiling, as all the men around her and Fiona burst out laughing once again.

“I’ve been set up haven’t I?”  Angus, who was beginning to catch on, said to her laughing.  “Try not to make me look too bad.”
“My pick,” Jacqueline said.  ‘Furthest target, way back there.” she pointed and once again grabbed an arrow, placing it into her bow and quickly releasing it.  This time she hit the target a few inches away from dead center.

Angus, being a good sport, took his shot hitting just a few inches further out than hers.  “That’s two for me,” she said.  Ham, Ross, and Owen were laughing almost hysterically.

“None of us will even shoot in competition against her anymore,” Ham said.  “The only one who can still beat her is Eadan, and he’s the best archer in our clan.”

“Does she ever miss?” Laird Fraser asked Ham.

“There is only one way to make her miss,” he said.  Jacqueline had already won the competition.  Angus had only come closer to center on two out of the nineteen targets they already shot at.  She was just about to take her last shot, as she was going to release her last arrow, Ham reached forward and pinched her on her side.  Her arrow went wide, barely hitting the side of the target.

“Ham,” she turned and yelled at him,  “I hate when you do that.” She couldn’t help it when she started laughing.

“I can’t believe you weren’t expecting it,” Ross said chuckling.  “He’s only been doing it since you started beating him.  What were you then, ten and two?”

“And how old was she when she started beating you?” Ham said to him sarcastically, “ten and one?”

“Both of you be quiet, and the next time we shoot, maybe I’ll let you win,” she joked with them.

“So when will you start teaching me?” Fiona asked her.

“As soon as your bow is ready we can start,” Jacqueline replied.

“You’re going to teach the Laird’s daughter to shoot?”  Angus asked surprised.

“Aye,” Jacqueline said to him.  “It’s good for a woman to be able to protect herself.”

“I agree,” Angus said.  “Would you be willing to work with my wife also?  I’d like her to be able to protect herself or our bairns if needed.”

“I’d be honored, Angus,” Jacqueline said, liking the man. “I’d be willing to work with any of the women who would like to learn.  She’ll need a smaller bow, like mine.”

“When we go to the armory this afternoon I’ll have them make up ten smaller bows for the women,” Laird Fraser said.  “Will that be alright?”

“Thank you, Da,” Jacqueline told him.  “It will make it easier than having to share mine.”

That night at the evening meal Jacqueline had a wonderful time, she was happy to have not only Owen, but Ham and Ross there at the head table with her.  Connor made sure her trencher was full and she ate her fill, while she joked with her brothers.  Finally, the meal ended and she said her goodbyes to her two brothers knowing they would be gone before she rose the next morning.

Chapter 9:  Nightly Lesson

“I had such a fun day,” Jacqueline said to Connor as they retired to their room.

“You seemed very happy today,” he told her.  “I hope to see you that happy every day,”

Edith knocked upon the door and called out, “Lady Jacqueline, I’ve come to help you with your bath.”

Jacqueline opened the door as the servants entered, once again with the tub and buckets of hot water, heading into the sleeping area.

“I just had a bath last night,” Jacqueline said to Connor as the servants walked past them.  “I didn’t order one for tonight.”

“I put in an order for you to have a bath brought up every night,” he told her.  “If something so simple to arrange gives you so much pleasure than you should have it.  I know Fiona has a bath brought up every evening to her room also.”

“She does?” Jacqueline asked surprised.

“Aye,” he replied, then walked close and whispered,  “Go have your bath, hopefully soon you’ll be comfortable with me helping you instead of Edith.  I promise it will be much more fun.”

Jacqueline blushed, nodded and headed for the door to their bedchamber.  Once the servants had filled the tub, Edith helped her disrobe and take a quick bath.  It was less than an hour later when the door opened once again, Edith, who was leaving asked, ‘is there anything else you might need tonight, Lady Jacqueline?”

Jacqueline, standing in the doorway behind her dressed in her nightdress replied, “nay, thank you, Edith, find your bed, I’ll see you on the marrow.”

“Good night then, My Lady,” Edith said before turning and walking away.  Connor waited for the solar door to shut before approaching his wife.

“Are you ready for your lesson tonight, wife?” Connor asked her smiling.  “I know I’ve been looking forward to it all day.”

“Aye,” she said once again blushing, “I’ve been thinking about it too.”

“Let’s get this nightdress off of you,” he said reaching over to untie the laces holding it on.

“I don’t know if I can do that, Connor,” she said becoming shy.

“Why?” he asked her and then laughed at the look on her face.  “I saw it all last night, wife, and I’ll admit I loved everything I saw,” he then added, “and tasted.”

Jacqueline turned even redder and said, “so you just want me to be naked in front of you?” Connor nodded.

“Try?” he said as he again untied her laces.  “Let me help you.”  He slowly slid her nightdress down past her shoulders and let it slide down her body until she was standing naked in front of him.  Jacqueline stood staring at the ground, too embarrassed to look at him. “You’re beautiful,”  he said taking hold of her chin and tipping her head up till their eyes locked.  “Kiss me, wife,” he said, bringing his lips down to hers.

Jacqueline couldn’t believe how fast Connor could excite her.  Soon she had her arms wrapped around his neck pulling him closer as her tongue swirled with his.  He slowly ran his hands up and down her back as his cock grew hard.  Finally, he grabbed each bottom cheek, firmly pulling her in close so she could feel how excited he was.

“This isn’t fair,” she told him.  “You should be naked too.”

“I do believe in being fair, wife,” he said and began to peel off his own clothes.  When he took off his kilt, and his cock sprang free, Jacqueline gasped at the size of it. “Do you like what you see, wife?”

“Are they all that big?” Jacqueline asked him, staring.  Although they had consummated their marriage many times last night, she hadn’t seen his cock, only felt it.

“Nay,” he told her.  “That’s why I didn’t want you to see it last night.  I’ve been told I’m fairly large. You would have been too worried about it hurting you.” he told her.  Connor walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge.  He then grabbed one of the pillows and put it on the floor between his spread knees.  “Come here, Jacqueline,” he held his hand out towards her, “let’s start your lesson.”

Jacqueline walked towards him and took his hand.  “I don’t know what to do now,” she said.

“I’ll teach you,” he said.  “Kiss me,” she leaned forward and kissed him, for the first time letting her tongue cross over into his mouth, letting their tongues touch.  Connor broke the kiss, telling her, “kneel on the pillow.” She did.  “Now take my cock in your hand,” she did.  “Gently,” he said putting his hand on top of hers showing her how to stroke it.

“It’s both so hard and soft at the same time,” she said surprised, stroking him by herself as he let go.

“Stick your tongue out,” he said to her.  She again did as he asked and he placed the tip of his cock on her tongue.  “Lick all around the top.” Jacqueline did as he said.  Connor let out a low groan before telling her.  “Now lick, up and down the whole thing.”  Jacqueline watched as he threw back his head as she ran her tongue down the underside of his cock all the way to his sack before coming back up.

“Like that?” she asked him.

“Just like that,” he said breathing heavily.  “There is no wrong way to do it.  Experiment.”

Jacqueline decided she was enjoying this.  She tried different techniques of running her tongue over different spots, finding some that made his cock twitch, and some that made Connor groan.  She swirled her tongue around the tip getting a taste of the precum that was dripping out.  Feeling a bit braver she even reached up and gently took hold of the sack under his cock, massaging it between her palms.

“Open your mouth now,” Connor said.  Jacqueline who was amazed at how much she was enjoying herself, did.  He placed the tip of his cock in her mouth and told her, “suck it.  Take as much as you can and then pull back.  Just watch your teeth.”

Jacqueline was tentative at first, sucking on just the tip.  Slowly she began to draw a little more in and then pull back.  “That feels so good,” Connor groaned.  She tried applying a bit more suction and pulling him in deeper.  Jacqueline then picked up the pace.  Soon Connor was pumping his hips as she would slide her mouth down onto him.  Jacqueline felt her cunny drip, as watching Connor enjoy what she was doing was making her tingle.

“Faster, Jacqueline,” Connor groaned, putting his hands on the back of her head and grabbing a fistful of hair in each. Pulling her head down further and making her gag and pull her mouth off of him, “sorry,” he said.

Jacqueline again took his cock in her mouth, the feel of Connor gripping her hair making her even more excited, she sucked in as much as she could, and then pulled back, letting her tongue flick across him at the same time.  She picked up her pace and tasted the salty flavor of the precum that began to drip heavier from the opening on the head of his cock.

“I’m going to cum, Jacqueline,” Connor said.  “Try swallowing it.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant until she felt something hit the back of her throat.  At first, her reaction was a slight gag, but Connor kept hold of her hair as he pulled her down onto him once more. She swallowed, not minding the salty taste.

“My god, woman,” Connor said flopping back onto the bed, “that was incredible.  Especially for a first time.”

Jacqueline giggled and continued to lick at his now softening cock; it didn’t take long for it to begin once again to harden and rise.  She kept playing with it, fascinated by its feel, and changing shape.  Connor let her play for a few minutes more, enjoying her attention before sitting up and grabbing her under her arms.

“Your turn,” he said standing up and pulling her with him, he quickly pushed her forward over the edge of the bed, so that her feet were still on the floor but her torso, shoulders, and head were on the bed.

“Connor, what are you doing?” she asked as he placed a hand in the middle of her back to hold her down.  “Quiet now,”
crack:
he gave her one sound smack on her right butt cheek.

“Ouch,” she said laughing.  “I don’t deserve to be spanked.”

“Nay,” he said.  “No spanking tonight.  Although, spankings don’t always have to be just for punishment.  We can save that lesson for tomorrow night.”

“Mmmm,” was all that she said, Connor had begun to rub his hands firmly up to her shoulders and then all the way down to her buttocks, relaxing her.  He took his foot and gently kicked her legs apart. “Spread them wider,” he whispered in her ear leaning over her and pressing into her.  She spread her legs more.

Connor brought one hand down between her legs and parted her folds, “oh my, wife,” he said teasing, “I think you liked sucking my cock, your cunny is soaked.” He rubbed around her nub then down to her entrance, shoving a finger up inside of her, then pulling it out and repeating the process.  Jacqueline moaned. “Did you like sucking my cock, Jacqueline?” he whispered into her ear.

“Aye,” she whispered back so quietly he could barely hear her.

“Tell me,” he said. He waited a few seconds and when she didn’t answer, crack, crack,  one smack to each side of her arse.  “Tell me,” he said again.

“I liked sucking your cock,” she said, hiding her face in the blanket.

“I loved, you sucking my cock,” he said chuckling.  “In fact, I’m going to show you how much.”  He dropped to his knees on the pillow that was still there and gave her cunny one long lick from her nub to her hole.

Connor gave her no time to react as he began licking and sucking her clit and cunny, he would bring her to the edge and then slow down.  “Please, Connor,” she said to him.

“Tell me what you want?” he said to her.

“You know what I want,” she said.

Crack, crack,
“tell me,” he said again.

“I need to cum,” she whispered.

“Soon,” he said.  He plunged two fingers into her dripping cunny and then unexpectedly began to lick around her arse.

“Connor,” she squealed.

“You’ll like it,” he stopped and said, “trust me.”

He took his tongue and pushed it into her arse using the same rhythm as his fingers in her cunny.  In, out, in, out.  With his other hand, he began rubbing her nub which was once again rock hard.

He took his tongue out of her arse and said, “are you ready, wife?”

“Aye, Connor, please,” she said again.

“Now!” he said pinching her clit.  Jacqueline came hard.  As soon as Connor felt her orgasm begin, he stood up and plunged his cock into her, as deep as he could go.  He gently pushed one finger up into her arse and kept the other hand between her legs so he could keep rubbing her clit.

“Connor!” she screamed.  It was almost too much.

Connor quit moving except for the hand rubbing her clit and the finger in her arse.  Slowly her orgasm began to fade, and he once again began to move in and out of her.  He would push his cock into her cunny while pulling his finger out of her arse; then when he pulled his cock out, he would push his finger in.

Jacqueline was amazed at how good it felt.  She began pushing her hips back in time with Connor, not knowing what felt better his cock or his finger. “Harder, Connor,” she said.

“Harder with my cock or my finger?” he asked.

“Both.”

Connor pulled the one finger out of her arse and pushed two back inside.  God, she was tight, the extra finger in her arse made her cunny even tighter, squeezing his cock.  He began thrusting into her hard using his extra hand to pull her hips back into him.  “Better?” he asked.

“Aye!” she squealed.

“Come with me, wife,” he said.  “Come with me now,”
crack, crack  he spanked each of her bottom cheeks once as she erupted.

“Oh my god, oh my god,” she screamed squeezing his cock so hard with her cunny he couldn’t hold back anymore and came harder than he ever had.  Connor pulled his fingers out of her ass grabbing both of her hips and pulled her back into him holding her there as he pumped into her.  Finally, his orgasm slowed and he collapsed upon her back.

“Wow,” was all he said.

“Wow,” she agreed, nodding.  “I think I am beginning to like being married.”

Connor laughed and pushed himself off of her.  “Good, I think we can make this marriage work.”

“What was that you did to my arse?” she asked him again blushing.  “My maid told me about the marriage bed, but she never told me about that.”

“Some women like it,” he said.  “If you didn’t like it I wouldn’t do it again.  Did you like it?”

“Aye,” she said.  “Does that make me wanton?”

“Nay,” he said.  “That makes you passionate.  I’ll let you in on a little secret, some women like a man to put his cock up their arse.”

“Nay!” Jacqueline said.  “Have you ever done that to a woman?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t talk about this,” he said laughing and tried to turn away.

“Tell me,” she said crawling into the bed and under the covers.

“Aye, I have,” he answered.

“Why would a woman do that instead of having it put into her cunny?” she questioned.

“I”m going to really shock you. Some women like two men at once.  One in her cunny and one in her arse,” he told her.

“Nay!” she said.  “I don’t think I’d like that,”

“Good,” Connor said pulling her into his side and throwing his arm over her.  “You’ll only have me for the rest of your life, wife, and I don’t share.”

“Have you ever shared?” she asked.

Connor turned away trying to hide his smile.  “I don’t think that’s a topic you talk about with your wife.”

“You have,” she said trying to turn and look at him.  “Who did you do that with?”

“That’s none of your business,” he said.

“Why can’t you tell me?” she pressed him for an answer.

“Because,” was all he said.

“Do I know the person?” she kept her questions coming.

“Jacqueline, stop!” he laughed.

“I do don’t I?”  she said and thought for a minute.  “It was Eadan, wasn’t it?”

“Stop!” he said again, giving her a pinch on the arse.

“Ouch,” she squealed laughing.  “It was Eadan, I know it was,”

“Don’t you ever tell him you know,” Connor said laughing.  “He’d be so mad at me if he knew, you knew.”

“That’s kind of disgusting, Connor,” she said thinking about it.  “What kind of woman does that?”

“The kind you give money to at a tavern,” he replied, kissing her neck.  “Now go to sleep, wife.”

“Good night, Connor,” she said yawning.

Chapter 10:  The Trial

“I thought you said the trial would be in two days, Da?” Connor asked his father, while they were breaking their fast the next morning.  “That would be on the morrow.”

“Catherine is making such a racket down in the dungeons that none of the guards want to be down there with her.” his Da answered.  “Better to get this nonsense over with.”

“So when do you plan to begin?” Connor asked him.

“I’ve sent Angus and Owen into the village to let any of the villagers who might want to attend know it would be today.  The clan elders have also been called, to make a judgment on her.  I don’t want the decision to be mine alone,” his Da answered.

“I’ll be glad to get it over with too,” Jacqueline told him.

The family finished their meal, and the servants cleaned up the hall before the villagers and elders entered.  The elders sat at the head table where the family usually took their meals, while the villagers sat in the chairs at the tables in front of it.

“Bring Catherine in,” Laird Fraser said to the guard at the door.  “Let’s get this over with.”

Catherine was brought into the room and placed in a chair in front of the elders.  She held her chin up and looked as defiant as ever.

“Catherine McCoy, you are charged with trying to harm Lady Jacqueline, the future laird of this clan’s wife.  Do you have anything to say for yourself?” Laird Fraser began.

“Aye,” she said.  “Connor Fraser lied to me.  He tricked me into his bed by telling me he was going to marry me..”

“That’s a lie,” Connor shouted.  “I never told you I was going to marry you.”

“He took my innocence,” she said and sniffed, “he dishonored me.  Who will marry me now?”

“That’s another lie,” Connor said.  “I never tricked her into my bed, and I sure didn’t take her innocence.  I don’t know who did, but it was someone way before me.”

“You sully my reputation,” Catherine said, putting her head into her hands like she was crying.

“Get over yourself, Catherine,” Connor nearly growled at her.  “You know you are lying.” He looked around at the villagers and seen the women were all glaring at him.  Catherine must have been telling them lies for quite some time he realized.

“Then he let this whore trick him into marriage,” Catherine said, “I was just trying to protect what was mine.  Connor was mine.”

“I was never yours, woman,” Connor said to her.  “You’re lying to all these people.”

“Then when I went to the castle to talk to him,” she said, addressing the elders, “his new wife attacked me.  She pushed me to the ground and held a knife to my throat.  I was so frightened.”  Jacqueline had to admit she was putting on a good show in front of the people of the clan.

“You attacked me,” Jacqueline said standing up.  “In truth, you attacked me twice.  The second time I pulled my dirk to protect myself.”

“I had no weapon,” Catherine said to the elders.  “She attacked me, and Connor let her do it because he didn’t want her to know about us.  In fact, the next night he came to me at my cottage, to see if I would still service him.  It was insulting.”

“That’s a lie,” Connor said.  “I haven’t been to your cottage since before my wedding.”

“He’s lying,” Catherine said, letting tears roll down her cheeks.  “Then he invited me to his room.  Told me to wait for him there, and as I was waiting, his wife came in.  She attacked me again that day.  She pulled a knife on me but luckily I was able to get it away from her, but I accidentally cut her as she attacked me.  Then the Laird came in, she lied again and said I attacked her.”  Catherine put on a good performance, pretending to sob.

“She’s lying,” Jacqueline said.  “I walked into the room to get my bow, and she was going through my trunk.  When she turned, she had my dirk from my trunk and attacked me with it.  Luckily I know how to defend myself, and I got it away from her.”

“I heard you, Catherine, as I was coming into the room,” Laird Fraser said.  “You were throwing all types of threats at my new daughter.  In fact, I heard you tell her you’d kill her for taking Connor away from you.”

“She tricked him,” Catherine screamed.  She looked behind her at the villagers, “you all knew he was going to marry me.” Some of the village women nodded in agreement, while others were beginning to doubt her story.

“The only way anyone would have thought that was if you told them so,” Connor said.  “There was no way I was ever going to marry you.”  Some of the villagers gasped.

“You lie to protect your wife,” Catherine yelled at him.  “In fact, when he came to my cottage that night, he told me how sad he was that he hadn’t been the first with his wife.  He said she was a whore, and he wished he’d never married her.”

“You lie,” Connor yelled.

“Stop,” the Laird shouted.  “Edith, where are you?”

Edith stood up, “right here, Laird.”

“Do you remember what I had you retrieve for me the day after Jacqueline and Connor arrived?”

“Aye, Laird,” Edith replied.

“Did you store it in the trunk in my room, as I asked you to?” he asked.

“Aye, Laird,” Edith said.  “Would you like me to go get it?”

“Aye, Edith,” he said, “please.”  He then turned to the villagers,  “not another word out of anyone until Edith returns.”

She wasn’t gone long and when Edith reentered the hall, she had a piece of linen held in her arms.

“Hang on to that for a minute, Edith,” Laird Fraser told her. “I’m going to ask you a few questions.”

“Aye, Laird,” Edith answered.

“When did you become Lady Jacqueline’s maid?” he asked.

“The day after her arrival,” Edith answered.

“And tell me what do you have in your hands?” he asked.

“The sheet from Lady Jacqueline and Lord Connor’s bed,” Edith said blushing slightly.

“And why did you take the sheet from their bed?” he asked her.

“You told me to, Laird,” she answered.

“Is there a reason why?” he asked.

“Because the virgin blood of Lady Jacqueline is upon it,” Edith answered.  Jacqueline gasped and blushed, Connor, put his arm around her pulling her close.

“Is there any doubt to that?” the Laird asked her.

“Nay, Laird,” Edith replied.  “Lady Jacqueline was quite embarrassed by it the next morning.  I didn’t tell her you requested the sheet.”

“Thank you, Edith,” Laird Fraser said to her.  He turned back to Catherine.  “So there’s another lie you’ve told.”

“Edith lies,” Catherine yelled, “she’s never liked me.”

The laird turned to the elders and asked, “do you have any other questions?”

“I think we’ve heard enough,” they told him.  “We find Catherine McCoy guilty of trying to harm Lady Jacqueline.  Not only harm her physically but also her reputation.”

“Connor was mine,” she said.  “I tried to get you to put your babe in my belly, and you always made sure not to let that happen.”   Again a gasp could be heard by many of the villagers.

“I was always truthful with you, Catherine,” he said to her, “we were just having a little fun, you’re not the kind of girl I wanted to marry.  You knew that.”

“I hope you go straight to hell, Connor Fraser,” she cursed him.  Connor just shrugged.

“Catherine McCoy,” Laird Fraser said, “you are now banished from the Fraser keep and the village of Tarmon.  You’re to leave immediately in the morning, and if you are seen on these lands again, you’ll be hung.  Do you understand?”

“Aye,” she spat at him, then she turned to the villagers.  “See how the Laird’s son used me and then discards me?  One of Tarmon’s own, and for an outsider.”

Jacqueline could see by the look on many of the villager’s faces, that a few were torn, some on Catherine’s side and some supporting their Laird and future Laird.  It was going to be hard to win some of them over.

“Angus,” Laird Fraser called, Angus stepped forward, “escort Catherine to her cottage and post a guard there for the night.  Tomorrow have her escorted off of Fraser land.”

“Aye, Laird,” Angus said taking Catherine by the arm.  She screamed and yelled the entire way out the door.

“I’m glad that’s over,” said Connor.

“Me too,” Jacqueline replied.  “Although some of the villagers will never forget it was because of me she was banished.”

“Once they get to know you, they’ll learn to love you like I do,” he said.

“You love me?” she asked him, stunned that he’d said it.

“Aye, Jacqueline Fraser I do,” he told her.  “I don’t know when it happened, but I’ve fallen head over heels in love with my wife.”

Jacqueline couldn’t quit smiling as she said, “I’m glad, because I’m pretty sure I’m head over heels in love with my husband too.”

Connor couldn’t help it, he grabbed her by both arms pulling her to him and kissed her right in front of everyone still gathered in the hall.  Although they didn’t see it, many of the villagers smirked, happy for their future laird and his new bride, who despite Catherine’s claims, they were becoming more fond of every day.

Chapter 11:  A Baby

“Time to wake up,” Jacqueline heard Connor say as he leaned down and kissed her.  Jacqueline quickly spun away and got out of the bed, she quickly pulled out the chamber pot from under the bed and was sick.

“Are you alright?” he asked concerned.

“I think I might be getting ill,” she told him. “My stomach feels horrible, and I’m just so tired.”

“I’m going to call for the healer,” he told her.  “Get back into bed.”

Jacqueline felt too tired to argue, before she made it back into the bed she had to once again turn back to the chamber pot, getting sick again.  Connor walked around to her side of the bed, helping her stand up and get back under the covers.

“Lady Jacqueline,” they heard Edith call through the door as she knocked.  “I’m just checking if you need me yet this morning.”

“Enter, Edith,” Connor called back, helping his wife tuck the blanket around her.  Edith entered the room, and he told her,  “Lady Jacqueline is ill this morning, could you go get the healer please.”

“What’s wrong?” Edith asked.

“My stomach is just not right, and I’m so very tired,” Jacqueline told her.

“How long have the two of you been married now? Edith asked the two of them.

“A little over two months,” Connor answered, “why?”

“Have you had your menses lately, My Lady?” Edith asked Jacqueline.

Jacqueline thought for a minute and answered, “I haven’t had them since I arrived at Tarmon.  Do you think there’s something very wrong with me, Edith?”  Connor knew right away what Edith was thinking, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Didn’t anyone ever talk to you about what happens when you miss your menses?” Edith asked.

“My mother died when I was born, Edith, and I had eight brothers.  I was lucky that my nurse took pity on me and told me what to expect on my wedding night,” Jacqueline told her.  “What do you think is wrong with me, Edith?”

“I don’t know for sure,” Edith said.  “Are your breasts tender?  Have you been feeling more tired than usual lately?”

“Aye to both,” Jacqueline answered, she was starting to get worried until she seen the smiles on both Connor and Edith’s faces.

“Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“I believe you’re going to have a babe,” Edith said to her.  “I’ll get the midwife, and she’ll be able to tell you for sure. I’ll be back shortly,” she said as she left the room.
“A baby, Connor,” she said to him stunned, not sure how she felt about it. “Are you happy about that?”

“I would love to have a baby with you,” he said.  “Why don’t you look happy?  Don’t you want a baby?”

“My mother died after having James and me,” she said to him.  “I’m scared.”

“I won’t let you die,” he told her sitting on the bed next to her and pulling her into his arms.  “You are not allowed to die.”

Jacqueline couldn’t help it, and she laughed.  “You can’t order me not to die, Connor.  What are you going to do?  Spank me if I do?”

“Aye,” he said.  “Seriously wife, I don’t know if I could survive you dying on me.  I love you too much.”

“I wonder if that’s how my Da felt when my Mither died,” she said.  “Eadan told me that they loved each other very much.”

“Maybe that’s why he has such a hard time talking to you,” Connor said.  “You don’t resemble your Da much; maybe you look like your Mither.”

“Eadan, Ham, and Ross have told me I look just like her,” she said.  “I used to be so jealous that they remember her and I don’t.”

“I’m surprised your Da never remarried,” Connor said.

“Eadan said that he doesn’t think Da could ever love anyone like he loved our Mither,” she said.  “Ham said that Da used to be very different.  He used to play with the boys and spend time with them and my m ither often.  After she died, he just shut everyone out.”

“That’s almost sad,” he told her.

“I never really thought about it much before,” she said.  “But if he loved her anywhere near as much as I love you, I think I can understand it now.  I think my heart would break if anything happened to you, Connor.”

“I feel the same,” he said leaning down to kiss her.

“I was sick this morning, Connor,” she said turning her head away.  “You might not want to kiss me this morning.”

“I want to kiss you every morning,” he said kissing her again, “and every afternoon,” another kiss, “and every evening,” he kissed her again this time deepening it and pushing his tongue into her mouth.  Then the knock came at the door.

“Damn,” he said making Jacqueline laugh.  “Enter,” he called out getting up off of the bed as the midwife entered.

“I hear we may be having a new arrival?” she asked smiling at Jacqueline who just nodded nervously.  “Can you leave us for a few minutes, Laird?” she asked him.

“Why?” he asked.  “I’d like to stay.”

“I’m going to need to examine your wife,” the midwife told him.  “She may be more comfortable with you out of the room.  I’ll let you back in shortly. I promise.”  She waited until Connor reluctantly exited the room and shut the door before turning back to Jacqueline.

“I’m so sorry, My Lady, I didn’t even introduce myself,” she said.  “My name is Helga, and I deliver all the babies here at Tarmon.”

“Hello, Helga,” she said, “please just call me Jacqueline.”

“I’m going to need to examine you to determine if you are carrying a babe and then we can call that handsome husband of yours back in, and I’ll answer any questions you both may have,” Helga said, making Jacqueline feel comfortable right away.

It wasn’t long after when Helga called Connor back into the room.  “You are definitely with child,” she told them.  “Guessing from the time of your arrival, I think about six to eight weeks along.”

Connor smiled and sat on the bed hugging his wife.  “I think you should stay in bed today,” he told her.”

“It’s best if your wife stays active,” Helga told him, winking at Jacqueline.  “As long as she’s feeling well enough, there’s no reason for her to stay in bed.”

“She was sick this morning,” Connor said, “and she’s been very tired.”

“Being sick in the mornings is normal,” Helga told him.  “A piece of dry bread and some water first thing in the morning will help.  You’ll probably want to slow down a bit at first until your body adjusts, a nap in the afternoon would be fine.”

“What else?” Connor asked.

“Just be careful,” Helga told them.  “You can still do just about anything you did before unless there are problems.”

“What about riding my horse?” Jacqueline asked.

Connor started shaking his head no, but Helga cut him off, “you can safely ride up until around your sixth month as long as there are no problems.  By ride, I mean a gentle walk, no full on gallops, you can’t take a chance of being thrown or falling off your horse.”

“I’d prefer you keep your feet on the ground,” Connor told her.

“And I prefer to ride my horse,” Jacqueline shot back at him.

“We’ll talk about it after,” Connor said, Jacqueline could tell it was a warning for the tone she’d just used in front of the healer.

“What is there to talk about,” she again said, not caring about the obvious warning she had been given already.  She didn’t feel well and just didn’t care.

“Can a woman with child still safely be turned over her husband’s knee, Helga?” Connor asked the healer.

Jacqueline gasped, and Helga chuckled before answering the question, “aye, Laird Connor.  Just make sure you pad her stomach well while the babe doesn’t show and once it does there are ways to keep weight off the belly for correction.”

“Thank you, Helga,” he said to the healer.  “You can leave us now.”

“Lady Jacqueline,” Helga said before leaving.  “I believe your husband loves you very much, listen to him.  If either of you have any other questions just come find me, I’ll be looking in on you in about a sennight.”

“Thank you, Helga,” Jacqueline said not looking at her husband.  She knew she had been wrong to speak to him the way she had in front of the healer.  As the door closed, she said, “I’m sorry, Connor, I know I was wrong to talk to you that way in front of Helga,” then she began to cry.

“Hey, Hey,” Connor said, climbing on the bed next to her and pulling her into his arms. “Why are you crying?”

“Because you’re going to spank me and I don’t feel good,” she answered him, crying harder.

“Stop it right now,” he said to her softly, kissing her on the head.  “No spanking this time.  I’m too happy to punish my wife.”

“Really?” she asked him.

“Aye,” he said, then he added, “this time.  But remember what I told you before, if you don’t agree with me, you tell me in private, alright?”

“Alright,” she said snuggling in closer to him and closing her eyes, “I love you, Connor.”

“I love you too, Jacqueline Fraser,” he said kissing her again as he felt her relax and drift back off to sleep. Soon a knock came at the bedroom door.

“Enter,” Connor said quietly as Jacqueline stirred slightly.

Edith entered the room with a tray that held two slices of bread and a pitcher of water.

“I thought Lady Jacqueline might need these when she’s ready to wake,” Edith told him.

“Thank you, Edith,” he sincerely told her.  “I need to get to the training fields, will you sit with her until she wakes?”

“Of course,” Edith said.

“Try to keep her from doing too much today, Edith,” he said to her as he got off the bed, waking Jacqueline in the process.  “I have to get to my duties, wife,” he said to her.

“I need to get up soon myself,” she told him.

“Edith brought you some bread and water, have that first before you get up.  Helga said it would help your stomach,” he told her.  She nodded and took the bread from Edith as he left.

Jacqueline was finally able to get up halfway through the morning and felt much better the rest of the day, she was hoping the morning sickness wasn’t going to become an everyday thing as she had heard happened to some pregnant woman.

“I’d like to tell my father before we start our evening meal and then announce it to the clan after we eat,” Connor said to her as they were getting ready to head down to the great hall.  “It’s going to get out anyway.”

“That’s fine,” she said to him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked her.

“Nothing,” she said.  “I just wish the women who don’t like me didn’t need to know.”

“Those women were friends of Catherine’s,” he told her.  “I told you before not to care what they think.”

“I can’t help it,” she said to him.  “I’m the future Laird's wife and they still give me dirty looks and say things behind my back.”

“They better hope my Da or I never catch them,” he told her.

“Why?” she asked.  “What would Da do to them?”

“He wouldn’t do anything,” Connor told her, “he would turn them over to their husbands with orders to change their attitudes.”

“How would they do that?” she asked him.

Connor bent close to her and said,”the same way I change yours, a good spanking usually does the trick.”  Jacqueline couldn’t help it, and she began to laugh.  Connor said to her, “I love to see you smiling and happy.”

“You make me happy,” she said to him, “now let’s go make Da happy.  He’s been hinting for a grandchild for a while now.”

“That he has,” Connor answered, extending his arm to her.  Jacqueline took it and let her husband lead her to his father’s study that was located not far from the hall.  They knocked and were immediately directed to chairs near the Laird’s desk.

“Is there something wrong?” Connor’s Da asked a bit concerned.  Although he spent plenty of his time each day with his son doing clan business, it was not common for Connor with Jacqueline to seek him out during the day.

“Can’t a daughter come looking for her father by marriage for no reason?” Jacqueline asked him, teasing him just a bit.

“Of course she can,” Laird Fraser said, relaxing seeing Jacqueline was in a teasing mood.  “It’s just she never has before so there must be a reason for it to start now.”

“There is, Da,” Connor told him.  “But it’s a good reason, not a bad reason.”

“Well is someone going to tell me what it is or are you both just going to sit there smiling at me like idjits?” Laird Fraser teased back.

“Idjits?” Jacqueline acted offended.  “Well, maybe I won’t tell you now.”

“Well, you have to admit you both look a bit giddy.  Neither one of you can seem to quit looking at the other and grinning.  Do I need to guess at the news?” he asked them and grinned.

“You already know don’t you?” Jacqueline asked surprised.

“Know what?” he asked, but couldn’t keep the grin from escaping.  “I know my daughter was sick this morning, I know the midwife was called to check on her, I know that some bread and water was sent up to her room, I know that a little while later she came downstairs and was fine.  So do I know for sure?  Nay.  Have I had two children and know the signs of a woman with child?  Aye.  So I am really, really hoping you’re both here to tell me I’m going to be a Grandda soon,” he finished hopefully.

Connor looked at his Da surprised while Jacqueline busted out laughing.  “Well,” Connor said, “I guess it’s not a surprise, you’re going to be a Grandda.”

“Woohoo,” Laird Fraser hollered, jumping out of his chair and rushing over to the couple, pulling first Jacqueline and then Connor into a bear hug.  “I can’t even begin to tell you how happy you’ve made me.  I can’t wait to hold a wee Fraser babe again.”

“Even if it’s a girl?” Jacqueline asked him seriously.

“Even if it’s two girls,” Caiden Fraser told her.  “Let me explain something to you both.  I don’t care if you have a dozen girls as long as I get to bounce them on this old knee before I pass on.  Boy or girl, it makes no difference.”

Jacqueline felt tears well in her eyes at the kind words of Connor’s Da.  She hugged him once again and only muttered the words, “thank you.”

That night at the evening meal the family was having a wonderful evening.  Jacqueline was just finishing her meal when two visitors came through the doors of the main hall.

“Alastair, James,” she called out as she jumped out of her chair and ran to meet them.  Alastair scooped her up on a big bear hug and began to swing her around.  When he was done, he passed her off to James who did the same.  “I’m so happy to see you both.”

“We’re happy to see you too, little sister,” Alastair said to her.  “We were just on our way back from Glasgow University and decided to stop here for the evening.”

“What were you doing at the University?” Jacqueline asked.

“Da has agreed to let me study there,” James told her.  “I’ll be leaving in a month, but I couldn’t go without telling you goodbye.”

“Oh,” Jacqueline said, happy for her brother, but also sad he would be going away.  “Part of me is happy for you, and part of me is sad for me.  I will miss you.”

“I miss you every day,” James told her hugging her again as Connor and Owen walked up behind her.  “But I’ll be back in a few years.”

“I know,” she said softly.

“Alastair, James, welcome to Tarmon,” Connor said to the brothers.  “Are you hungry?”

Alastair and James quickly greeted Owen with brotherly embraces before Alastair replied, “I don’t know about this youngster I’ve been traveling with, but I’m starving.”

“Then come, join us, I’ll have the servants get you a trencher and some wine,” Connor said leading them to the main table where he introduced them, “Alastair and James McCabe, I’d like you meet my father, Caiden Fraser and my sister, Fiona.”

“Welcome,” Caiden said to the pair, motioning them towards chairs,  “Sit, eat.”  The brothers did as requested and soon were digging into full trenchers.

“Can I have your attention,” Connor yelled out to the members of Clan Fraser who were also just finishing eating.  “My wife and I would like to make an announcement.”  Connor waited until everyone had quieted and settled before continuing, putting his arm around his wife and pulling her close.  “First I’d like to welcome our guests, these two gentlemen are my brothers by marriage and the blood brothers of my wife, Alastair and James McCabe.  I’d like to extend clan Frasers offer to stay as long as you’d like.  In fact, I know my wife will enjoy your visit very much.  There is also another reason for this speech tonight.  Having the McCabe’s here just makes this even more special for my wife and me.  I’d like you all to be the first to know; next spring, there will be a new addition to the Fraser clan.”

At first, the hall was quiet as the member’s processed what Connor was telling them.  For a second Jacqueline was just beginning to worry when the first of clan Fraser’s soldiers understood and began to cheer, soon more and more joined in as understanding spread.  Jacqueline looked over at her brothers, James was sitting at the table beaming, while Alastair sat in stunned silence.  Then he locked eyes with Jacqueline, he pointed to himself and mouthed the words, “uncle?”  Jacqueline nodded, and had to laugh at the excited yell he let loose.

Chapter 12:  Missing

“What are your plans for today, Jacqueline?” Fiona asked her as they were breaking their fast.

“Since I’m finally feeling better, and the midwife has finally convinced my husband that it’s safe, I’m going to go to the practice fields and do some target shooting,” Jacqueline answered.

“Would you mind if I join you?” Fiona asked.  “I’ve been practicing regularly since our lessons.  I’ve gotten much better.”

“I’d love for you to join me,” Jacqueline told her.  Then elbowed Connor in the side as she added, “then maybe this guy will go do something with the men and stop hovering over me for the day.”

“I’m just trying to keep you safe,” Connor told her. “You were so ill the last two months.

“I wasn’t ill, Connor; I’m going to have a baby.  I feel much better though now, so you need to quit watching my every move.  You’re making me crazy,”

“How am I making you crazy?” he asked, surprised by her words.

“Husband, you are trying to keep me from doing anything,” Jacqueline said to him getting annoyed.  “If you had your way, I’d never even get out of bed each morning.”

“If I could get you to stay there I would,” he agreed with her, then leaned over and whispered, “you didn’t seem to mind being in bed last night,”  Jacqueline just giggled and blushed, thinking about the things they’d done to each other last night.  “That’s better,” he said grinning at her.  “You know I love that laugh and smile.  Target practice is fine this morning.  In fact, I’m glad Fiona is going with you.  I worry when you’re alone.”

“You’re becoming worse than a woman, son,” Laird Fraser said, laughing and winking at Jacqueline.  “You’re suffocating the poor girl; I’ve even noticed it.  She’s doing nothing wrong, leave her be, she looks healthy and happy.”

“Thank you, Da,” Jacqueline said to him.

“To the practice fields and back then,” Connor said to her as he got up from the table.  “Da and I have some contracts to go over this morning, so we’ll be tied up in the study most of the day.” He leaned down, giving his wife a quick kiss.

“We won’t be gone long,” she assured him as he walked away.  “Let’s grab our bows and go,” she said to Fiona, “before my husband can find some reason to change his mind.”

“You’ve really improved,” Jacqueline said to Fiona a short time later, impressed with her confidence with the bow.  “I’m going to have to watch out, or you’ll be better than me.”

“I don’t think you’ll ever have to worry about that,” Fiona told her and giggled.  “You are an incredible shot.  How do you do it?”

“Well,” Jacqueline replied, thinking about how to answer the question, “I’m not sure.  I practiced a lot, but truthfully, it’s just kind of always been easy for me.  I can’t really explain it.”

“I think it’s wonderful,” Fiona said.

“Well I’m very impressed with how far you’ve come,” Jacqueline again honestly told her.  “You hit every target, and close to the middle.  That’s really good considering you’ve only learned to shoot a few months ago.”

“I had an excellent teacher.  I’ve seen some of the other women that you taught come to practice now and then.  Most of them have improved also.  Angus is so proud of his wife that he brags and makes her shoot at a target for anyone who shows up at the fields,” Fiona told her and laughed.

“That’s wonderful.  I wish more of the women would have come out when I offered to teach them.  I think too many of them were still loyal to Catherine at the time.  I think they’re starting to like me a bit now.  What do you think?” Jacqueline asked.

“I agree with you.  Catherine was a bitch.  Don’t tell my brother I said that,” she answered laughing.  “I’ve noticed you get a warmer reception from many of the village women lately.  Oh speaking of the village, I need to run to the candlemaker.  She was making a special order for me,” Fiona said.  “Do you mind if I don’t walk back to the keep with you?”

“How about I join you on your walk to the village?  I would love to stretch my legs.  I’m feeling so much better lately,” Jacqueline said, her belly just starting to be visibly rounder.  “Soon winter will be here, and we’ll all be stuck inside.  That cookoo husband of mine will probably never let me out once the snow flies.”

“Hey,” Fiona said laughing again.  “Watch what you say, that cookoo husband of yours is my brother.”

“If I didn’t love the man so much, I’d shoot him,” Jacqueline joked back.

“Will you be in trouble with my brother?” Fiona, becoming serious again, asked.  “I heard him tell you to practice and come straight back.”

“You heard him say he would be with Da all day in the study.  He’ll never even know I’m gone,” she told Fiona and giggled.  “Unless you tell on me.”

“My lips are sealed,” Fiona said.  “What should we do with our bows?”

“We’ll have to take them,” Jacqueline told her and slipped hers over her shoulder.  Fiona followed suit.

The walk to the village was uneventful, and the two strolled together quietly, enjoying the sounds of nature around them.  The village was teeming with activity when they arrived.  The fall harvest was just ending so the mill was busy grinding wheat into flour. They stopped at the candlemaker and then plenty of the other small shops located there.  It had turned into a fun afternoon, and the two had quickly lost track of time.  They stopped in at the home of the Fletcher, who was also making some special arrows for the women.  Jacqueline was in the process of inspecting one when she heard someone call her name.

“Lady Fiona, Lady Jacqueline” greeted Alice, Angus’ wife as she walked up to them.  “I was looking for little Angus and Rodney,  Have you seen them?”

“Nay,” said the two women.  “How long have they been gone?”

“Since after breaking their fast,” she said, sounding a bit worried.  “They didn’t come home for their afternoon meal, which is very unusual.”

“Alice,” called one of the other women in the village.  “Have you seen Aiden?  I was hoping he was with Rodney and Angus.  He hasn’t come back home since finishing his morning chores.”

“My boys are missing also,” said Alice sounding even more concerned.

“Are you looking for your boys?” another woman passing by asked.  “I was looking for my girls.  Something is very wrong.  Where are all the children today?”  The group of women standing around looked out around the village and also noticed that none of the children seemed to be in sight.

“Go to the castle and report this to the Lairds,” Jacqueline said to Alice.  “Fiona and I will keep looking for your boys.  Something is obviously wrong, and the Lairds need to know.”

“Aye, Lady Jacqueline,” Alice replied and hurried off towards the Keep castle.

“Let’s have a look around,” Jacqueline said to Fiona, she was so worried she didn’t even realize that as she walked away, she still held one of the arrows from the Fletcher.

It was only minutes after when they heard the sounds of screams coming from the direction of the village Kirk and ran that way.  As they came around the corner, Jacqueline was shocked by what she was seeing.

“Catherine, what are you doing?” she asked alarmed.  Catherine stood on the steps of the kirk with a young girl no more than seven summers held in front of her.  In her other hand, she held a lit torch.

“There she is,” Catherine just about growled.  “There is the whore who stole Connor from me.”

“I didn’t steal him from you, Catherine,” Jacqueline said as other members of the clan began to gather.  “He was never yours to begin with.  What are you doing with that little girl?  Let her go, Catherine.”

“Let her go, Catherine,” she mocked back.  “Who are you to tell me anything.  These were my people, my clan and you turned them against me.  Look at how they are all looking at me as if I’m the one who’s wrong.”

“Let the little lass go, Catherine,” Jacqueline said once more.

“I’m going to teach the people of this clan a lesson.  They are all so happy their future Laird is going to have a bairn.  It should have been my bairn, not yours.  I’m going to teach this village a lesson and take all your children from you, then I’m going to kill you, Jacqueline Fraser, and Connor will be mine again.”

“What do you mean, Catherine?  How are you going to take the children?” Jacqueline was becoming very scared, Catherine had obviously gone crazy.

“They’re in the kirk,” Catherine said and laughed crazily.  “You see a few sweets, and they all were easy to coax inside.  They aren’t able to get out now, and I’m going to burn it down.”

For the first time Jacqueline noticed the liquid that was poured all around the outside of the kirk, it was also splashed up onto the walls.  If Catherine touched the torch to any part of the flammable liquid, the kirk would go up in seconds.

“Stop, Catherine,” she said.  “You’re angry with me, let the children go, and you and I can settle this together.”

“It will be settled as soon as you’re dead and Connor is mine again,” Catherine spat at her.  Jacqueline could hear the cries and pleas of the parents that had gathered around her.  Every Time one of the villagers inched closer to her, Catherine would move the lit torch closer to the kirk walls.

“Stop,” they heard Connor Fraser yell out.  “No one else steps toward her.” Connor had heard enough to know Catherine had gone mad and would light the kirk on fire killing all the children.  He needed to stall for time so he could plan what to do next.  “Catherine, let the little lass go and come hand me the torch.  Let’s end this peacefully.”

Jacqueline turned towards Connor hearing his voice.  She wasn’t surprised to see him, and his Da arrive with close to fifty of the keep guards.  What she was surprised to see, was her own Da riding with them.

“Are you alright, daughter?” he asked her.

“I’m fine, Da,” she replied, shocked he was there.  She hoped she would have time to find out why later.  Instead, she turned back to Catherine.  “It’s me you want, Catherine, let the children go and I’ll let you take me instead.”

“I want you to take that dirk off your leg and give it to Fiona there, then I want you to step towards me,” Catherine said to her.  “Maybe if you follow directions I’ll think about letting the children go.”

Jacqueline turned and handed Fiona the dirk from her thigh and the arrow she still carried from the Fletcher.  She whispered quickly into Fiona’s ear before turning back to Catherine.  “I’m coming to you, Catherine, don’t hurt the lass.”

“Don’t you dare go to her, wife,” Connor yelled to her.  He went to get off his horse.

“Stay where you are, Connor, or the kirk goes up,” Catherine yelled to him as she inched the torch within a foot of the kirk’s damp walls.

“It’ll be fine, Connor,” Jacqueline called to him.  “I can’t let her hurt the children.”

“I swear, Jacqueline Fraser, I’ll spank you like you’ve never been spanked before if you take one step closer to her,” Connor yelled, but Jacqueline ignored his threat.

Jacqueline moved slowly towards Catherine afraid if she spooked her she would light the walls, killing all the children inside.  She tried to drown out the sounds of the parents who had gathered around and were begging Catherine to let their children go.  She also blocked out the calls of her husband, Da, and father by marriage, who she could tell were not happy with her.

“Let the lass go, please, Catherine,” Jacqueline said softly one more time as she stepped within an arm span of Catherine.  “She’s done nothing to you, please, let her go.”

“I’m going to make you watch these children die, and then I’m going to kill you so your baby will die also,” Catherine hissed at her.

Jacqueline moved so quickly Catherine never had a chance to react.  She sprung forward, with one hand snatching the lit torch out of Catherine’s grasp and the other grabbing the little girl Catherine had loosened her grip on.  Jacqueline quickly flung herself with the little girl on top of her to the ground just as an arrow penetrated Catherine’s chest dead center, killing her instantly.  Jacqueline looked over at Fiona who still had her bow held in position.

“Nice shot, sister,” she said still shaking from the experience.

Connor jumped off his horse and quickly ran to his wife’s side, helping her up as the little girl’s mother snatched her up off the ground, thanking Jacqueline for saving her.  “Are you alright?” he asked her concerned.

“I think so,” she said.

“I’m going to spank the daylights out of you when I get you to our room,” he said wrapping her in his arms.  “What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking about all those children,” she said as she stood up and became light-headed, almost falling if Connor wouldn’t have caught her and picked her up.

“We’ll be discussing this later in private,” he said quietly to her.

“Just take me home, husband,” she said burying her head in his shoulder.  Connor walked over to his horse and handed her off so he could mount.  Jacqueline was surprised when she opened her eyes to find herself in the arms of her Da.  A place she hadn’t been since she was a very little girl.

“What are you doing here, Da?” she asked him surprised.

“I came to make sure my daughter was well,” he said.  “We’ll talk more once your husband gets you home, and makes sure you’re well.” Jacqueline was even more surprised when he smiled warmly at her before handing her back up to her husband.

Connor pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her.  She looked over, seeing Fiona sitting in front of her own Da and said, “nice shot, Fiona.  I knew you could do it, but are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Fiona said.  “Maybe a bit shocked that I took another life, but I have no regrets, she was going to kill all the children and you.  I’d never let that happen.”

“Thank you, sister,” Jacqueline said warmly to her.

“Thank you for teaching me to shoot so well,” Fiona said to her.  “I was so frightened I was going to hit you or the lass.”

“You did well, daughter,” Caiden Fraser said before kissing his daughter on the top of her head and pulling her close to him.  “I’m proud of the decision you made.”

“What about Catherine?” Jacqueline asked as they were turning away.

“The village priest said he’ll take care of her body and burial,” Connor told her.  “After what she did, I doubt there will be many in attendance at her funeral service.”

“That’s sad,” Jacqueline said to him.  “I think she was very sick in her head.”

“That she was, Jacqueline,” Connor said to her.  “I can’t help but feel this is all my fault for bringing that woman into our lives.”
“Oh, Connor,” Jacqueline said, snuggling back against him, “this was no one’s fault but her own.  I do feel bad for her though.  Were all the children alright?”

“They are all fine,” he said.  “Thanks to you.”

Chapter 13: Amends

Connor carried Jacqueline up the stairs once they made it back to the castle and into their solar.  He sat down in a chair and pulled her onto his lap, resting one hand on her blossoming baby bump and the other around her shoulders pulling her close.  “I’ve never been so scared as when I saw you approaching that woman as she threatened to kill you.”

“She was going to set the kirk on fire with the children in it if I didn’t go to her,” Jacqueline explained.  “I couldn’t let them die, Connor.”

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to stop?” he asked her.

Jacqueline cringed before replying, “aye, I heard you.”

“And still you went,” he said to her sighing.  “I know I should turn you over my knee and spank the disobedience out of you, but I’m so relieved you’re alright I’d rather kiss you instead.”

“I like that option much better,” Jacqueline told him as she tilted her head up to him as he brought his lips down firmly onto hers.  Connor was just deepening the kiss when a firm knock sounded on the solar door.

Jacqueline went to jump off Connor’s lap, but he pulled her firmly back into place before calling out, “enter.”  Jacqueline was surprised for the second time that day to see her Da standing in the doorway.

“Come in, Da,” she said to him.

Hamish McCabe took in the sight of his only daughter sitting in her husband’s lap looking healthy and happy before speaking to Connor.  “Could I have a few minutes alone with my daughter, Connor?  I think there are some things I need to explain to her.”

“Of course, Hamish,” he replied.  “I’d like to go check on my sister anyways.”  He then stood with Jacqueline still in his arms, turned and set her back on the chair whispering, “if you need me, I won’t be far away.”

Jacqueline just smiled and nodded at him as he gave her one last kiss in front of her father before turning and walking out the door, shutting it behind him.

“Do you mind if I sit?” Hamish asked his daughter.

“Of course not, Da,” she said, becoming more curious about why he was there, after all, he had really never sought her out before at Gleann.

Hamish took a seat and a deep breath before speaking, “I was speaking with your brothers not too long ago, and I believe there are some misconceptions about you and me, daughter.”

“I don’t understand, Da,” Jacqueline said to him.

“Your brothers informed me that you thought I wanted to get rid of you.  They told me how I never treated you right, how you were never loved by me.  I’ve never felt so gutted in my life listening to them,” Hamish told her, actually choking up as he spoke.

“You never really had anything to do with me,” Jacqueline told him.

“There are some things I need you to know,” Hamish said, taking another deep breath before continuing.  “When your mither died it was the worst day of my life.  I loved that woman so very much.  From the day she found out she was pregnant again, she prayed for a little girl.  Not that she didn’t love her sons, but after seven of them, she really wanted a daughter.”

“But you wanted more sons,” Jacqueline said to him.

“Nay,” he quickly said.  “I always wanted a daughter, but I assumed your mother would be there to show me what to do with one.  When you and James were born, your mother was so happy, and then within a few hours she started to become weak and died within two days.  I was heartbroken, I quickly hired a wet nurse and caregivers for both you and James, and nurses for the rest of the boys, and then I sat back and grieved.  I didn’t really talk to anyone for the next two years.  In the meantime, you grew and looked more and more like your mither every day.”

“Is that why you didn’t like me, Da?  Because I looked like my mither?” Jacqueline asked him, a tear running down her cheek.

“Nay,” Hamish answered quickly.  “I never meant to make you think I didn’t like you; I love you, daughter.  You’re my only girl, and I’m so ashamed that I let you grow up thinking I didn’t care about you.”

“Then why, Da?” Jacqueline asked him.

“I just didn’t know what to do with a girl,” he said.  “That’s not a good excuse I know, but it’s the truth.  Plus, every time I looked at you, I saw your mither. Do you know I came into your room every night to check on you before going to my own rooms?”

“I thought I always dreamed that,” she said.

“No dream,” he told her.  “That was me.  Once when you were younger you were so ill, the healer said you might not make it.  I sat next to your bed for three straight days until your fever finally broke, then I slept for two days myself.”

“I remember waking up, and you were there,” she said.  Then remembering she added, “You cried.”  Hamish just nodded.

“I’m so sorry that I made you feel unloved, daughter,” he said.  “When your brothers came home and told me I was going to become a grandda, I was so excited.  Then while we were celebrating and drinking some of the clan whiskey, they began to give me a hard time about how I treated you growing up.  I was shocked when I realized they were right.  I’ve been a horrible father to you.”  He again looked down as he finished talking.

“Nay, Da,” Jacqueline said to him.  “You were never a horrible father.  You always made sure I had anything I needed.  I just wish you would have spent time with me or talked to me once in awhile.”

“Is it too late to start again now?” he asked her.

“I’d love to start again,” Jacqueline said to him.  “You know, Da, I’ve always loved you anyway.”

“Thank you, daughter,” Hamish said, “that’s more than I deserve.”

“Da?” Jacqueline said.

“Aye, daughter,” Hamish answered.

“Can I hug you?” she asked.  “I’d really like to do that right now.”

“I’d really like that,” he said meeting her halfway and wrapping her up in his arms. “You can hug me anytime you like for the rest of your life.”

“Will you be here when I have the baby, Da?” Jacqueline asked him sometime later as they sat and talked.

“I’d like to be, “ he told her.  “I’m excited to be a grandda, but I’m terrified of losing you in the process.”

“Because of my mither?” she asked.

“Aye,” he said.  “I never expected her to pass from childbirth complications.  The other births all went so well, and she recovered so quickly.”

“I’ll be honest, Da,” Jacqueline said to him.  “I’m kinda scared because of that myself.”

“Then I’ll be here,” he told her.

That night Jacqueline had a grand time at the evening meal.  Connor sat to her left, and her Da sat to her right, it was the first time in her life she could remember him giving her so much attention.  Although she was happy that they had made amends, she was sad about the time that they’d lost.  When the meal ended, she realized just how tired she was.

“Did you have a good visit with your Da?” Connor asked her as they got ready for bed.

“The best,” she told him as she climbed into bed next to him.  Connor slid his arm around her, pulling her close.  As they lay together Connor rubbed her stomach with one hand, as he began to kiss her neck softly, and suckle on her earlobe.

“How can you still want me when I look like this?” Jacqueline asked him motioning towards her stomach.

“You are swelling up with my baby, there is nothing sexier than that in a woman,” he said to her as he gently flipped her onto her back and latched onto a nipple, while sliding a hand between her legs.

“Connor,” she moaned as she grabbed his head to keep him in place.  Her breasts had become much more sensitive since she became pregnant.  “That feels so good.”

Connor lifted his body up over her and scooted down between her legs until his shoulders were fit squarely between her thighs.  He quickly latched onto her nub that was just beginning to harden and began sucking on it, as he thrust two fingers up her cunny.

“Oh, Connor,” she moaned again.  “Don’t stop, please don’t stop.”

Connor grinned as he suckled just a little harder on her nub and worked his fingers in and out of her until she was dripping wet.  He began running his tongue from her hole to her nub, up and down, slowly, while he rubbed his fingers from her opening to her bottom hole, carrying her wetness to that area.

Once he knew she was wet enough he again sucked hard on her now rock hard nub as he plunged one finger into her cunny and the tip of another into her arse.  He began working up a rhythm of pulling his fingers out and back in, making the one in her arse go deeper each time.

Jacqueline couldn’t believe how good it felt, she grabbed hold of his head, taking a fistful of his hair in each hand holding him in place as she raised her hips up to meet each thrust.  “I’m going to cum, Connor,” she said as she moaned once again.

Connor slapped her clit hard, “not yet, wife,” he said to her laughing as she jumped.  Stopping his licking but still plunging his fingers in and out of both openings.

“I need to cum, Connor, please,” she begged him.

“Soon,” he told her and again ran his tongue repeatedly over her clit until just before she exploded and stopping again.

“Please, Connor,” she said.  “Please, make me cum.”

“Now,” he said and pushed his fingers into her openings as hard as he could while applying pressure on her nub.  It began to pulse instantly as her climax overwhelmed her.

“Oh my,” she said when she came down.

“Roll over on your hands and knees, wife,” Connor said to her.  Jacqueline did as he asked.  Without any warning, Connor plunged his hard cock into her dripping cunny.

“Aye,” Jacqueline cried as Connor groaned.  She was amazed at how deep he always seemed to go into her when she was in this position.

Connor plunged in and out of her multiple times before stopping and holding himself firmly inside of her.
Smack, smack, smack, smack.
“Ouch, Connor stop,” she said, still breathing heavily.

“I thought I was going to lose you today,” he said to her.  Plunging in and out a few more times before again stopping.
Smack, smack, smack, smack.
“This is your spanking.  Don’t you ever put yourself in danger like that again.”
Smack, smack, smack, smack.
“Do you understand me, wife?”
Smack, smack, smack, smack.

“Aye,” Jacqueline squealed.  Although Connor was spanking her quite forcefully, she was pleasantly surprised to find that each smack made her want him to put his cock in her even harder.

Connor couldn’t believe it when he noticed each time he smacked his wife’s arse she became even wetter.  “Are you enjoying this, wife?” he asked and did it again.
Smack, smack, smack, smack.

“Aye,” she answered honestly, “but I need you to do it faster and harder, Connor.  Please.”

Connor didn’t need to be asked twice as he began thrusting into her again.  Building up a faster and faster rhythm, afraid to thrust too hard though because of the baby.  Again he took two of his fingers and wet them from the juices that were flowing out of her cunny and began slowly working them into her arse.

“Connor,” Jacqueline again moaned.  “I don’t know if I can take much more.”

“I’ve got you, wife,” he said to her as he once again brought her to climax.  Once she came, she gripped his cock so hard he also climaxed.

“That was wonderful,” she said to him as she collapsed next to him on the bed.

“Aye it was,” he told her.

“Sometimes I’m afraid it’s going to be too much,” she told him honestly.  “It almost scares me.”

“Never be scared when you’re with me, wife,” he told her.  “I’ll always be here for you.”

“I love you, Connor Fraser,” Jacqueline said snuggling closer to him.

“I love you too, Jacqueline Fraser,” Connor said wrapping his arm around her.

Epilogue

“How long does it take?” Connor asked as he paced in the solar outside the bedroom door.

“It takes as long as it takes, son,” his Da told him.

“She’s strong,” Hamish McCabe said, although he was as nervous as Connor and trying not to show it.  “She’ll be fine.”

“It’s been going on for more than a day,” Connor said.  “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.  Especially with all of you here pacing with me.  You’re making me more nervous.”

“That’s our sister in there,” Alastair said to him.  It had been quite a surprise to Jacqueline when a week ago not just her Da, but her brothers Alastair, Craig, and Rory, all arrived at the Fraser keep.  Owen who was now done with his training at the Fraser keep, had refused to go home to Gleann until after the birth of his niece or nephew.

“I know,” Connor said.  “I’m sorry if that sounded like I didn’t want you here.  I do, I’m just scared for my wife.”

“Come and sit, son,” Caiden said.  “You’re not doing anyone any good pacing a groove into the floor.”

As Connor went to sit, they again heard a scream come from Jacqueline, something that had been happening on and off for the past hour.  This time though, it was followed by the sound of a baby crying.

Minutes later Fiona opened the door to the bedroom and walked out with a small babe wrapped in a white blanket.  “My wife?” Connor asked looking at the small bundle.

“Is fine,” Fiona said.  “Would you like to hold..”

“Fiona,” Edith yelled from the door, “we need you.”

Fiona pushed the babe into Connor’s arms and ran back into the room slamming the door behind her.

“Something must be wrong,” Connor said.  Hamish jumped up next to him, and the two stood, staring at the closed door together.

“Give me the babe, son,” Caiden said.  Connor had not even realized he was still holding his child as he worried about his wife who he heard scream once again a few seconds later.  Then it went quiet.  Connor waited for someone to open the door to tell him his wife had not survived the birth when he heard her scream once more.

“I can’t take waiting anymore,” Connor said walking towards the door as he heard another babe cry, making him freeze in his tracks.  He turned back and looked at the babe his Da was holding.  “Twins?”

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Caiden said.  “Your wife was pretty large towards the end.”

Fiona opened the door and stood holding a matching bundle to the one she’d given him just minutes before.  “You can come in,” she said to him.

Connor took the first babe back from his Da before entering the room.  Jacqueline was sitting up in the bed.  She looked tired but beautiful as the babe Fiona was holding began to cry.

“Put her to your breast,” Helga told her, instructing her how it was done, as the baby latched on.

“That’s beautiful,” Connor said watching.  “So a daughter?”

“You didn’t know?” Jacqueline asked.  “Didn’t Fiona tell you when she brought the baby out?”

“She was called back into help before she had time, then I was too worried about you to ask,” he said chuckling.

“Actually, two daughters,” she said.  “Is that alright?”

“I’m thrilled,” he told her, cuddling the baby he was holding just a little tighter.  “I love them already.”

“You told me your mother’s name was Alyssa, right?” she asked him.

“Aye,” he said, fascinated by his new daughter and playing with her tiny hand.  “It was.”

“My mother’s name was Annabelle,” she told him.

“I know,” he said.  “You’ve told me.”

“How about Alyssa Fiona Fraser and Annabelle Edith Fraser?” she asked.

“I like it,” he said.  “But which is which?”

“I don’t know,” she said and giggled.

“Can we come in?” asked Hamish from the door.  “We’d like to know if we have granddaughters, grandsons or one of each.”

Jacqueline was afraid at first, afraid she was going to disappoint her Da as she told him, “they’re both girls.”

“Granddaughters,” he said beaming, turning and slapping Caiden on the back, “we have granddaughters.”

“Can I hold her, son?” Caiden asked Connor.  “Have you given them names yet?”

As the babe at her breast fell asleep Jacqueline covered herself and handed the second baby to her own Da telling him, “I’d like you to meet Annabelle Edith Fraser, and her sister Alyssa Fiona Fraser.”

The two Grandda’s beamed at each other, “I love it,” Hamish told his daughter.  “Your mother is smiling down on you from above today.”

“Can we come in?” called Jacqueline’s brothers from the door.  “We won’t stay long, just long enough to meet our nieces and make sure our sister’s well.”

“Come in,” Jacqueline told them.  “Meet Alyssa and Anabelle.  Named after their two grandmothers in heaven.”

“Everyone out now,” Connor said to the group admiring the new babies, “my wife is tired and needs her rest.”

As the family left, Connor climbed onto the bed with his wife and new daughters, pulling his wife back into his arms as the babies laid sleeping next to her.

“You’re the best thing that ever happened in my life,” Connor said to her as she began to doze.

“Even though our marriage started as a mistake?” she asked him.

“An honest mistake,” he said to her, “and the best mistake I’ve ever made.”

Thank you for reading ‘An Honest Mistake The McCabe’s Book 1.  Please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads letting me know what you thought of the book.  Questions or comments about the McCabe’s?  Contact me directly at bethanyhauck11@yahoo.com

You can also follow me on twitter at @bethanyhauck11 or on facebook https://www.facebook.com/bethanyhauck11/
I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy reading,

Bethany

Copyright © 2017 by Bethany Hauck

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
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Printed in the United States of America

First Printing, 2017

KDP Publishing