“Brenda did and ye dinnae argue with Brenda when it comes to healing. So I waited.”
“And are waiting now.”
“Trying to go slow. Been trying since I met ye,” he added in a disgruntled mumble.
“Weel, ye are being annoyingly slow now.”
His laughter cut off quickly when she scraped her nails over his backside then slid a hand between their bodies to stroke him just above where they were joined. She quickly wrapped her arms around him when he finally began to move. Bethoc clung to him, sharing greedy kisses, until they both found their release.
As he left her, rolling to his side and pulling her into his arms, he said, “Still cannae do slow, make it last.”
She rested her cheek against his chest as she struggled to catch her breath and idly stroked his chest. “I dinnae understand why ye think it so verra important.”
“Ye will when I finally succeed.”
She wondered why that sounded as much a threat as it did a promise.
Chapter Twenty
“Ye do ken that ye must be verra careful who ye let ken about your gift, aye?”
Bethoc looked at Gillyanne as they walked out to where the horses waited and idly wondered if the Murray clan had any plain people among its members. “Aye. As I said, I told Kerr about it when I was still a small child and thought it something everyone could do and he reacted badly.” She grimaced. “Backed away as if I was a leper and said it was witchery. My mother was sensible that day and intervened saying it was a gift from the Murrays. I didnae ken what she meant then but he did. He knocked her down and then told me to never mention it to him again. I didnae.
“I did try to understand why he was so upset from time to time and decided it was because he couldnae do it. It took me a long time to understand it was nay something everyone could do but then I was rarely out of the cottage. I think t’was the fact that nay one of the children said a word about how he smelled like soured milk.”
Gillyanne laughed. “And they would have. But the way Kerr acted is, I fear, how many would act. ’Tis fear. Fear is a verra dangerous thing to cause in people as weel. So just be verra cautious.”
“Oh, I shall be. There are times that I wish I didnae have thisgift.”
“When ye meet bad people?”
“Aye.” Bethoc laughed. “The things they smell like are verra hard to endure. ’Tis also, weel, e’en though I ken it helps me to ken who I should avoid, it is upsetting to meet someone and abruptly realize he is wrong, deep down wrong.”
“I can only imagine. ’Tis right up your nose. I dinnae ken how ye can nay reveal yourself.”
“Weel, if ye e’er see me place my hand o’er my nose and mouth ’tis because whoe’er is near me is verra bad.”
“How do ye do that without them kenning that ye are smelling something bad and asking what it is?”
“Practice. I practiced it so that it just looks as if I make some wee feminine gesture that is of no consequence.” She smiled when Gillyanne laughed.
“Ah, Callum looks ready to leave, and allow me to apologize for Kirstie nay coming to see ye off. She has difficulty in the morning and also gets very tired. I cannae think she truly believes Payton doesnae ken that. Oh dear, my husband is tormenting Payton again. I best go get him to be quiet.” She started toward Connor.
Bethoc saw Margaret leave Callum’s side and hurry over to protect Sir Payton so she reached out to catch Gillyanne by the hand. “Nay. Wait. Margaret appears to have gone to protect Sir Payton.” She exchanged a grin with Gillyanne.
Margaret put on her fierce face and shook her finger at Connor. “Nay! Bad mon. Bad, bad.” She then turned to Payton, took his hand in hers, and patted it, but when Connor tried to say something, she glared at him again and bellowed, “Hush!”
Gillyanne was leaning against Bethoc, laughing so hard all the while struggling to be quiet about it. Bethoc had to struggle not to join her. She made a point of not looking at Callum who had turned as if to adjust his saddle, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
“That child has no fear,” said Gillyanne, and wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.
That Margaret had come out of the home run by Kerr Matheson and his fists with such boldness delighted Bethoc but she said, “And no manners.” She started after Margaret who was merrily chattering with Payton.
“Ye must nay bellow at adults, Margaret,” she said as she picked the child up. “We must leave now, love.”
“Kiss!” Margaret flung herself toward Payton, nearly unbalancing Bethoc.
After Margaret kissed his cheek, Bethoc gave her a quick scold for grabbing the poor man by the ear and the nose to hold his cheek in place for that kiss. After reassuring her that no harm was done, she turned to find Connor presenting his cheek to Margaret. She had to choke back a laugh when the little girl sighed and then kissed him. Despite the somewhat insulting behavior of the child Connor was grinning as Bethoc hurried over to join Callum.
