Page 59 of The Burden of a Scottish Chieftain
“I know. We’re both covered in blood. That’s why I’m taking you to the beach. We both have another tunic, so we’ll change. Wash the blood from our faces. I have a sliver of soap in my saddlebag.”
He carried her to their horses, then to the beach a distance away from any fishermen. “Be ready, the water will feel cool at first.” He set her on her feet, but she couldn’t let go of his arms, the horror of what she’d just seen and experienced so awful that she couldn’t slow her pounding heart.
He pulled a plaid out of his saddlebag, pitching his dirty plaid to the side and removing his blood-soaked tunic. “Sorry, but my clothes have to go. I cannot get any more blood on you. If you wish to turn your head, then please do. I’ll change quickly.I’ll take you in the water in your chemise, and I’ll keep my plaid on until I can duck under water.”
She reached for her own tunic, ready to remove it, and he asked, “You have a chemise on?”
“Aye. This tunic. Off, off. I want it off. Please, Lennox.” She peeled off her leggings so they would stay dry as they didn’t have blood on them, then tugged the chemise down to cover her lady parts.
She stepped into the sea, allowing the cool liquid to cover her. “Lennox, do not let me go, please. I can’t swim.” While part of her wished to be embarrassed because she was only in her chemise, she trusted Lennox completely.
He followed her in, holding his plaid up until he was covered by the water, then tossed his garment back onto the beach.
“I’ll never let you go, lass. I promise.” Lennox took the soap and a linen square and washed her from head to toe, so soft and gentle that her tears ended, and all she could think of was Lennox.
How they belonged together. How she was finally beginning to understand what all the lasses talked about into the dead of night, about loving a man. She was falling in love with Lennox MacVey. She’d never felt the same for any other person the way she felt for him.
When he finished, she took the soap from him and said, “My turn.”
She washed his chest and then his face, neck, and his arms, swirling the water around to rinse the blood away. When she finished, he said, “Come. We’re going deeper. Hold my hand and I promise not to let you go.”
“It’s cool!” she said as she followed him out, the water nearly up to her shoulders.
“Tip your head back so you can wash your hair.”
She did but grabbed on to him as soon as she felt herself ready to drop.
“You won’t fall. I have you.”
She giggled and slipped enough so her face got wet. “It’s salty.”
“It is. Not a loch but part of the ocean, and the salt helps keep you buoyant.”
“What?” She had no idea what he spoke of since her only experience with swimming was the small burn and waterfall near their home. She’d bathed there many times, but in summer she washed her hair under the waterfall’s stream.
“I’ll show you, but you’ll have to trust me.”
“All right.”
Turning her around, he tugged her against him, her back to his chest, then wrapped his arm around her waist. “Promise me you won’t struggle and you’ll float with me.”
“I’ll try.”
“Relax and you’ll feel it. And if we are truly calm in the water, the dolphins will appear. Taskill and I used to do it all the time. Ready?” He arranged her in front of him, then fell back into the water, lifting his legs to propel her up. She squealed a bit, but then settled. “Look at the sky and put your arms out.”
It took them a bit, but before long she was floating next to him, his torso still partway under hers, his hand still on her waist. “Naught is more calming than swimming. And if we are verra quiet, you’ll hear the dolphins talking to each other.”
She did her best to keep still, and within a few minutes, she heard an odd chatter. Shocked by it, she waited, turning her head to glance over at Lennox, who pointed off to his right.
“Dolphins,” he whispered.
So stunned, she set her feet down, pleased that she could touch still, and watched the graceful creatures in the water, gliding in and out of the surface. Lennox stood in front of herand she set her chin on his shoulder, watching the show in front of them. He glanced back and asked, “Lovely, is it not?”
“Lennox,” she whispered. “I’m enchanted. Totally enchanted.” Her hands wrapped around his waist, anchoring herself. It was so peaceful and serene, she didn’t know what to say. She would remember this moment forever.
“Meg, your touch is affecting me in ways that tell me it’s time to get out. The sun is going down, and we should go back to the cave and sleep. We’ll find Lia on the morrow.”
“I’m tired and chilling a bit.”
