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Authors: Teresa J Reasor
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feverish
hue. She felt sick knowing the lengths he would go to gain another’s
property and undermine their power.
Her attention shifted to the swords drawn and ready. Her answer could
cause an outbreak of bloodshed that would only bring pain to the innocent
and rekindle a feud that would continue indefinitely. She wanted no such
legacy for her child.
She pulled away from Alexander to stand alone.
“Father Patrick.” She searched for the priest’s habit among the many
clansmen.
“Aye, Lady Mary.” His voice came from somewhere at the back of the
room. Avoiding the drawn swords on every side, he wove his way through
the men to come to her.
Her composure nearly deserted her as she looked up into his face. “I
would ask that you wed us now, so that peace may be restored.”
His relief evident, the priest nodded. “‘Twill be my honor, Lady Mary.”
****
Dread twisted the muscles between Mary’s shoulder blades. Bound to
a man who harbored no affection or respect for her, the future stretched like
a dark empty abyss before her, frightening and cold. The very thing she had
fought against was happening and she was powerless to stop it.
Father Patrick’s voice droned on as he expounded on the sanctity of
marriage. A dull ache had settled in the small of her back, and her knees
had grown stiff before they rose from their kneeling position and faced one
another to exchange the vows.
Her composure uncertain, she avoided looking up as Alexander
grasped her cold hands and held them within his.
His deep voice though quiet, filled the room. “I, Alexander, son of John
Campbell, take thee, Mary, daughter of Collin MacLachlan, to be my wife. In
the presence of God and before these witnesses I promise to be a loving,
faithful, and loyal husband to thee, until God shall separate us by death.”
Her voice came out just above a whisper as she recited the vows. “I,
Mary MacLachlan, daughter of Collin MacLachlan, now take thee, Alexander
Campbell, son of John Campbell, to be my husband. In the presence of
God and before these witnesses I promise to be a loving, faithful, and loyal
wife to thee, until God shall separate us by death.”
She finally looked up at him as he drew her close.
“‘Twould not be official without a kiss to seal the vows, Mary,” he said
softly. He brushed her lips gently with his own.
A deafening cheer went up from the Campbell clansmen. She started,
thinking violence had broken out despite the occasion.
Alexander’s arms tightened around her. “They are voicing their
approval of the match, lass,” he said against her ear and gave her slender
waist a reassuring squeeze.
John rested his hands on her shoulders as he looked down into her
face. “‘Tis glad I am to claim you as my new daughter.” He drew her to him
in a hug more fatherly than any Collin had ever offered her.
“You are a fool, Mary,” Collin said as he glared down at her. “You could
have claimed all he has for the bairn and seen him punished as well.”
Mary looked into his face, for the last time she hoped. Never again
would she acknowledge him as her sire. The tenuous ties between them
were severed by that one word he yelled at her. Whore . He had been willing
to sacrifice her honor for whatever he could gain for himself.
“Why would you not speak agin him?” he demanded when she
remained silent.
She uttered the words most certain to gain for her the only revenge
available to her. “Because you wished it.”
Collin’s head snapped back as though she had struck him. His face
grew red, his eyes a glaring blue. The rage evident in his features moved
beyond anything she had ever witnessed from him before. He thrust his
face close to hers. “You deserve whatever sorrow he brings you, Daughter,”
he said, the spite in his words intent.
He turned and, signaling his men to follow, left the great hall. The
MacLachlan clansmen followed in force, leaving only the Campbells
hue. She felt sick knowing the lengths he would go to gain another’s
property and undermine their power.
Her attention shifted to the swords drawn and ready. Her answer could
cause an outbreak of bloodshed that would only bring pain to the innocent
and rekindle a feud that would continue indefinitely. She wanted no such
legacy for her child.
She pulled away from Alexander to stand alone.
“Father Patrick.” She searched for the priest’s habit among the many
clansmen.
“Aye, Lady Mary.” His voice came from somewhere at the back of the
room. Avoiding the drawn swords on every side, he wove his way through
the men to come to her.
Her composure nearly deserted her as she looked up into his face. “I
would ask that you wed us now, so that peace may be restored.”
His relief evident, the priest nodded. “‘Twill be my honor, Lady Mary.”
****
Dread twisted the muscles between Mary’s shoulder blades. Bound to
a man who harbored no affection or respect for her, the future stretched like
a dark empty abyss before her, frightening and cold. The very thing she had
fought against was happening and she was powerless to stop it.
Father Patrick’s voice droned on as he expounded on the sanctity of
marriage. A dull ache had settled in the small of her back, and her knees
had grown stiff before they rose from their kneeling position and faced one
another to exchange the vows.
Her composure uncertain, she avoided looking up as Alexander
grasped her cold hands and held them within his.
His deep voice though quiet, filled the room. “I, Alexander, son of John
Campbell, take thee, Mary, daughter of Collin MacLachlan, to be my wife. In
the presence of God and before these witnesses I promise to be a loving,
faithful, and loyal husband to thee, until God shall separate us by death.”
Her voice came out just above a whisper as she recited the vows. “I,
Mary MacLachlan, daughter of Collin MacLachlan, now take thee, Alexander
Campbell, son of John Campbell, to be my husband. In the presence of
God and before these witnesses I promise to be a loving, faithful, and loyal
wife to thee, until God shall separate us by death.”
She finally looked up at him as he drew her close.
“‘Twould not be official without a kiss to seal the vows, Mary,” he said
softly. He brushed her lips gently with his own.
A deafening cheer went up from the Campbell clansmen. She started,
thinking violence had broken out despite the occasion.
Alexander’s arms tightened around her. “They are voicing their
approval of the match, lass,” he said against her ear and gave her slender
waist a reassuring squeeze.
John rested his hands on her shoulders as he looked down into her
face. “‘Tis glad I am to claim you as my new daughter.” He drew her to him
in a hug more fatherly than any Collin had ever offered her.
“You are a fool, Mary,” Collin said as he glared down at her. “You could
have claimed all he has for the bairn and seen him punished as well.”
Mary looked into his face, for the last time she hoped. Never again
would she acknowledge him as her sire. The tenuous ties between them
were severed by that one word he yelled at her. Whore . He had been willing
to sacrifice her honor for whatever he could gain for himself.
“Why would you not speak agin him?” he demanded when she
remained silent.
She uttered the words most certain to gain for her the only revenge
available to her. “Because you wished it.”
Collin’s head snapped back as though she had struck him. His face
grew red, his eyes a glaring blue. The rage evident in his features moved
beyond anything she had ever witnessed from him before. He thrust his
face close to hers. “You deserve whatever sorrow he brings you, Daughter,”
he said, the spite in his words intent.
He turned and, signaling his men to follow, left the great hall. The
MacLachlan clansmen followed in force, leaving only the Campbells
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