Plead Forgiveness (Loyalty Series) Read online

  Ella interrupted, and was barely coherent when she mumbled, “Mmmy saddle baaag. Healing saaaalve, my . . . my . . . aunt. Yooou must cauterize. Saaalve after . . . speeed healing.”

  Utterly speechless by her acceptance, Gavin and Nicholas expected her to become hysterical, to plead against having a searing hot knife close her flesh. She was a complete contradiction to all English women, to any woman in fact.

  Gavin turned at the sound of twigs breaking under heavy booted feet, and saw Osgood and Tavish approach; and their identical expression indicated they too had heard Ella’s words.

  Tavish raced off to fetch her saddlebag, while Nicholas explained to Osgood and Gavin what he needed from them.

  “I will use two daggers to quicken the process. Osgood, ye will stay close by the fire to heat the daggers and give them to me on my request. While I use one dagger, ye will heat the other, and then we will exchange. Do ye understand?”

  “Aye,” Osgood said strongly.

  “Good,” Nicholas replied before he looked across Ella’s back and saw Gavin gingerly smooth hair away from her face. With the exception of his mother and sister, it was rare for his laird to be so openly affectionate with a woman. Unfortunately, Nicholas had little time to reflect on the matter.

  “Gavin,” Nicholas began, “ye will need to keep her from screaming. A piece of wood-”

  “Nae,” Ella cut in. “I willll nae screeeam.”

  Nicholas and Gavin exchanged a look of disbelief, but they did not want to upset her further by denying her request. Turning to Tavish, Laird Macleod gave his youngest brother the silent message to retrieve a piece of wood.

  9

  Dropping the hares they recently killed, Edric and Paen stood motionless, stunned by the sight of the English captive on her stomach with jagged bloody lacerations running down her back. Edric turned to Paen and saw anguish in its rawest form.

  Memories of a time years ago assailed Paen as he took in the scene before him. Gavin and Nicholas were kneeling on opposite sides of the girl, while Osgood stood by the fire with two daggers in his massive hands. Tavish appeared from the depths of the darkened forest, holding a small piece of wood, and was now moving to sit beside her head. A pot of boiling water suspended above the roaring fire. Its flickering lights danced upon the clean linen strips strategically placed for intended use.

  Paen knew what was to happen to Ella this eve. All the signs were there, and he knew them well. He fought the wave of regret that threatened to drown him without mercy.

  Blackness clouded Paen’s vision when he heard Edric ask the foolish question, “What goes on here?”

  Gavin growled, “Two boars came upon her while she was bathing, forcing her to remain in the water as they tore apart her clothing. Clothing that was bloody from a verra recent flogging!”

  Sensing his laird’s reluctance to clarify further, Nicholas continued the explanation. “Her back will need to be cauterized.”

  Edric and Paen approached slowly, and stared at the damage done to her back. The ones who flogged her so ruthlessly had used a thick leather whip normally used on cattle, and not intended for tearing the flesh from a human’s back, let alone a small, young girl.

  Nicholas asked her, “When did this happen?”

  With teeth still chattering, she replied, “Yesterrrday . . . afternooon.”

  Gavin snarled, “Why?”

  In a raspy voice, she managed to say, “I publicly refused the maaan Greystone betrooothed me to.”

  In a menacing tone, Gavin asked, “Who?”

  “Roger Moreland, Baaaron of Montgommmery.”

  Nicholas’s eyes flew to Gavin’s, but his laird was staring intensely at Ella.

  It was no secret that Roger Moreland killed his first two wives. Noblemen now refused to sacrifice their daughters' to the sick bastard. Gavin’s chest tightened painfully when he thought about what Montgomery would do to Ella. He would brutalize her body and destroy her spirit until death would be a welcomed gift.

  “Montgomery whipped ye,” Gavin assumed.

  She nodded, and then whispered, “He and Greystone.”

  Nicholas asked, “Why would Greystone want to harm ye?”

  Warmth from the fire began to seep into her body, lessening her shivers when she replied, “On the day I came to Greystone eight years ago, Aunt Eleanor lost her child, sister and father. Philip told me I bring only pain and suffering to those around me. First my parents, and then. . .” Shamed washed over her, preventing any further words.

  “Bollocks, all of it,” Osgood barked out. “Complete and utter balderdash.”

  Ella turned her head slightly to look at the fierce redheaded warrior, and then gave him a weak smile for attempting to alleviate her disgrace.

  With gentle fingers, Gavin caressed her cheeks until her attention was back on him. “I believe that is the general opinion of all of us.”

  “Thank you,” she said as tears blurred her vision.

  Looking over his shoulder, Gavin saw that Paen and Edric stood a few paces away in apparent shock or disbelief. The sight of Ella’s injury affected Paen in a way he could not even fathom.

  When Paen was just a boy, he fostered at Montgomery and suffered years of brutal whippings at the hands of Roger Moreland and his father Harold, the Baron of Montgomery. If it had not been for Nicholas, who foster there as well, Paen would not have survived his first year with the sadistic men who hated Scots.

  Even though Nicholas was English by birth and was the only son to Baron of Thornton, he too felt the sting of the whip, yet not as severely as Paen. They endured hell in those years, which neither one ever discussed.

  Gavin’s men knew the cruelty inflicted on Paen and Nicholas by Roger Moreland, and now realized the reason for Gabriel's kidnapping. Roger wanted revenge against Gavin for killing his father. However, there would be time later to confer over such matters. At present, all thoughts were on Ella.

  Holding her hand, Gavin nodded to Nicholas for him to proceed.

  Nicholas asked, “Lady Ella, are ye ready?”

  “Aye,” she whispered.

  Gavin was grateful she turned towards him. She did not need to see the blazing dagger or Nicholas’s expression when he sealed the wounds on her back.

  When Gavin noticed Tavish holding her other hand, he was pleased with the gesture of kindness displayed by his youngest brother.

  He gave him a thankful nod before leaning forward to whisper to Ella. “Be strong, little one. The pain may be great, but it will nae last.”

  Hearing the endearment ‘little one’, Ella allowed a single tear to escape and crawl down her cheek.

  Seeing that tear, Gavin wished to God that he could endure this pain for her. He then silently cursed both Greystone and Montgomery to hell.

  “’Tis time, Lady Ella,” Nicholas said with sympathy.

  10

  Gavin felt Ella’s small hand tighten on his, and then saw her back stiffen in anticipation. He took at deep breath to still his raging emotions as Osgood gave Nicholas the first of two sharp blades.

  The blazing hot dagger made contact with her shoulder, and with lightning speed moved down her back to seal the first lash mark. She clenched her teeth together trying to contain the screams of pure agony, while every muscle in her body flexed as if it helped to reduce the searing pain.

  The smell of burnt flesh permeated the air along with small whimpering cries.

  While Nicholas swiftly worked on each laceration, Gavin and Tavish held her hands with a firm grip. Sweating by the fire, Osgood continued to heat and hand daggers to Nicholas. Nearby, Paen looked like a wounded animal caught in a trap as he paced by her feet with one hand covering his mouth. Edric had crouched down in front of him, shaking his head at the horrific sight. And all the Macleod warriors wore the same tortured look as they listened to her faint grunts of pain.

  The time it took to cauterize each lash felt like an eternity to Gavin. He did not understand why he felt so protective of her, why se
eing her in pain was so unbearable. Her courage far surpassed any female he had ever known or would ever know, he suspected, and it only intensified his desire to kill the men responsible for this atrocity.

  Finally putting down the dagger, Nicholas stood and washed his hands before applying the healing salve to her tender back. In the corner of his eye, he saw Paen retreat into the woods, most likely to be alone with his warring thoughts and memories.

  In the shadows of the forest, Paen was close enough to see, hear and smell what they did to the girl. His hands cupped the back of his head as he tried to still his ragged breathing. He knew her pain, had felt it himself. Dear God, she was just a young lass, nae a highland warrior. The fragile looking, sharp tongued Lady Ella would nae last a month with Roger Moreland.

  Wanting to give Ella a little privacy, Osgood took Edric and Tavish down to the burn to skin and wash the hares caught for the evening meal. The giant ran his hand though his hair as he thought about the sight he had just witnessed. Lady Ella, naked from the waist up, and surrounded by six highland warriors. A father’s worst nightmare. But the wee lass had nae father, nae mother, nae brother or kin who could protect her. She had only an aunt, who may love her, but was unable to protect her from her son-of-a-whore husband. No female deserves such an evil twist of fate.

  Nicholas smiled as he rubbed salve on her back, noticing that she had yet to relinquish Gavin’s hand. “Lady Ella, I have known many warriors unable to remain conscious while I cauterized wounds of this nature. I admire your strength, and admit I dinna believe to find it in such a delicate body.”

  Gavin did not like Nicholas commenting on her delicate body any more than he liked seeing another man touch her bare skin. With a growl, he asked, “How often will the salve need to be applied?”

  Ignoring his laird’s ire, he replied, “Twice a day.” Putting down the salve, Nicholas then reached for the linen. “Lift her while I wrap her upper body. She will be too weak to lift herself.”

  “Nae, I’m not weak,” Ella adamantly stated. “Turn your back so I . . . You have already done too much.” To prove her words, she released Gavin’s hand, and then surprised both men by attempting to rise.

  Gavin fought the urge to crack a smile at her charming streak of stubbornness. However, he did not intend to let her cause further damage to her battered body. “Nae, little one, ye need our help. Blood loss and scant food in yer belly, coupled with the over-long dip in the burn, have left ye weak. And all can lead to fever.”

  “How encouraging,” she groaned.

  Nicholas coughed to disguise his amusement at her sarcasm, while Gavin grinned, pleased by her humorous response in the aftermath of such an ordeal.

  Ella discovered the truth of Gavin’s word a moment later. She was too weak to move, let alone wrap linen around herself. Yet, the thought of them seeing her bare breasts made her suddenly very shy. Of course, they had already seen her naked, but it was only quick glimpses here and there as they settled her on her stomach near the fire.

  “Then let us be done with it before the others come back,” she conceded, and then paused for a moment. In a sincere voice, she added, “And . . . thank you.”

  The soft admission tore at Gavin’s heart, confirming that she had seen little kindness in her short life. He was unable to respond, due to the approach of Edric.

  Handing his laird folded garments, Edric said, “I believe these are Lady Ella’s. They are clean and were found by the burn.”

  He hated her, Ella believed, so why would he be so considerate? Hoping it was not a sick jest, she turned to look up at him, and saw his forlorn expression. Still a little skeptical of his change in disposition, she said, “Thank you, Edric.”

  Edric nodded, and then walked away.

  Gavin removed the breeches, sat the bundle down, and then stood straddling her legs. “This maybe a wee bit awkward, lass, but in the end ye will be warmer and more comfortable with something protecting yer virtue.”

  “My virtue?”

  “Is safe,” Gavin stated. “And we will keep ye safe as well.”

  “Aye, I trust you.”

  He proceeded to shimmy her breeches up her legs while she was still on her stomach. What made this task so arduous was keeping the plaid covering her lower body in place to protect her modesty. She was young, innocent and not used to a man’s touch or eyes on her soft skin.

  Even so, he could not help brushing his knuckles against the outside of her slender hips and thighs. The plaid fell away as he lifted her to tighten the leather lacing around her waist, giving him an enticing view of her saucy, high and round, cloth covered bottom.

  Gavin imagined running his hands up her toned legs and perky rump, both he had recently discovered were firm and the texture soft. His groin instantly reacted to the mental image, but he shook himself to regain composure as he listened to Nicholas give him instructions on wrapping her body.

  Nicholas grinned as he watched his laird tenderly wrap the clean linen around her as she knelt on a plaid by the fire. She seemed comfortable with Gavin, which was odd, since most women were not. The linen was large, and left only her arms and shoulders bare. Gavin worked slowly, savoring the sight and feel of her bare skin, completely enjoying the task all too much.

  While Laird Macleod tended to Ella, Nicholas went through the contents of her bag, surprised to come across numerous bottles and pouches of herbs. He made quick use of them by heating a brew that would limit her pain and reduce the risk of infection. With Gavin’s help, they were able to coax her into drinking the foul concoction.

  Moments later, Ella was back on her stomach, but continued to shiver, even with numerous plaids covering her. Nicholas added more wood to the fire as the other men returned to camp.

  As Osgood carried the skinned rabbits over to the fire, he inquired about their sleepy captive. “How is the lass?”

  “As well as can be expected. She’ll be fit to travel as long as the dressing is changed and salve is applied twice a day,” Nicholas imparted.

  Edric paced back and forth with a disgruntled look on his face, while Tavish retrieved a trencher for the meal.

  Nicholas suggested to Gavin that they should take the opportunity to bathe in the burn, but his laird was more than a little reluctant.

  Osgood decided to ease the man’s obvious distress, and said, “Have nae worry, Gavin. She will come to nae harm while ye are a way. I’ll personally see to that.”

  Hearing Osgood’s word of reassurance, he nodded, and then took his leave.

  Walking to the burn, Gavin asked Nicholas, “Will she recover?”

  “With the exception of scarring, she will, but. . . ”

  “But?”

  “But, I canna ken for certain. I’ve ne’er had to cauterize a female or one so small. As long as she dinna take fever this eve, she’ll be fine. I suspect her dip in the cold burn brought down her fever.” Nicholas stopped when he saw Gavin’s expression change to fury.

  “Ye kenned she had a fever and ye-”

  Nicholas held up his hand to explain. “Nae, I dinna ken then, but now I suspect she did this afternoon. Ye noticed too, the change in her bearing.”

  “My apologies, Nicholas. My anger is nae with ye, but the men . . . what kind of men would . . . God, I would like naught more than to rip out their bloody hearts.”

  “Aye, I believe we all would like to see them pay for the sins they committed against the lass.”

  11

  Stars blanketed the black sky and the moon provided scant light when Gavin and Nicholas returned to camp. With the exception of Paen, the warriors sat by the fire enjoying their meal while Ella, still on her stomach covered in plaids, ate the food Osgood gave her.

  When Osgood finished and moved away, Gavin saw Edric go down on one knee beside her. He instantly became furious, remembering how the man had treated her throughout the day. Gavin stomped over to Edric, prepared to battle one of his own. He noted she was still awake, still shivering. Bloody hell, the lass ne
eds her sleep. And so help me God, if he insults her again . . .

  Gavin suddenly froze, surprised to hear an apology spew forth from his warrior’s mouth.

  When Edric had heard her soft moans, he moved closer to assist her and was glad she was awake so he could make amends for his earlier harsh treatment and cruel words.

  “May I . . . water, please?” Her vision was blurry and she could not make out the warrior sitting an arm’s length away, but she hoped it was Gavin. When he came forward with water, her eyes focused on hair that was black as night. Edric.

  He helped her to sit, then handed her the water-filled deerskin bag. Her thirst was so great that she drank too quickly and began to cough.

  “Easy lass,” Edric crooned. “Nice and slow.”

  Handing back the empty deerskin jug, she blushed before saying, “My thanks.”

  He gave her an empathetic smile as he gently eased her down on the pallet, and then adjusted the plaid that covered her. Seeing her brilliant green eyes staring at him intently, he knew it was time.

  “Lady Ella, I sorely misjudged ye. What I said about Greystone . . . yer loyalty. I have ne’er been more wrong.”

  His tone changed from soft to fierce in a heartbeat when he added, “That man dinna deserve yer loyalty. Nae honorable man would lash his own kin, especially a wee lass.” He stopped when he saw her eyes become watery, and then cursed himself for making her cry.

  Female tears were his undoing. Desperately, he tried to rectify the situation by saying, “Nae, lass. Please nae tears. I dinna mean to make . . . hell . . . I only meant . . .” He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair.

  His blundering ceased when he saw the sweet smile on her delicate face.

  “Thank you for your honorable words this night.”

  Watching her struggle to keep her eyes open, he patted her hand, and said, “Sleep, lass. Ye have earned it this eve.”