Read Online A Promise in Midwinter by Alyssa Stark - Free Book Online Page A

to a dwindling
fire, in a bed made of straw on the floor of Alistair MacFarland’s barn.
    When Angus and his
war party had set out to rescue Lachlan, he had prayed that he would find his
son before it was too late.  Never in his wildest dream had he expected to find this.
    Angus reached down
and yanked the blanket away from the sleeping couple, revealing that the lass
was clad only in her shift and that his bare-chested son wore nothing.
     Lachlan’s eyes
flew open and he sat up.  He held a dagger in his hand and he shielded the
frightened girl with his body.  He scrambled to pull the horse blanket over
their nakedness.
    “Christ, Da!  Ye
scairt me half tae death!” Lachlan exclaimed as his defensive stance relaxed
and he lowered his weapon.
    “I had half a
notion tae kill ye whilst ye slept ye rutting bastard!” Angus growled as he
looked down disparagingly at his son.  His bushy gray eyebrows scrunched
together and his head shook from side-to-side in obvious disapproval.  “I
wouldna have thought that my own son…” his words broke off as he shook his
head.  “Do ye see this Liam?” he asked as he arched an eyebrow at his best
friend and war chief.
    “We’ve taught ye
better than this, lad,” Liam glowered as he crossed his arms and reached down
to toss a woolen blanket to the shy lass.
    Elizabeth grabbed
the blanket thankfully and covered herself, suddenly feeling quite naked
beneath the scornful eyes of the MacFarland warriors.  She blushed profusely
and cast her eyes down to the straw, shielding herself behind the protective
wall of Lachlan’s broad back.
    “Ye have no idea of
what I’ve been through father!  Give me a moment tae explain and-
    “No amount of
explaining will explain this!   I may be an auld man, but I was young once
and I ken well enough what ye’ve been up tae!”
    Lachlan’s hand
came to rest on Elizabeth’s thigh beneath the horse blanket.  He squeezed
slightly in an effort to assure her that all would be alright.
     Elizabeth’s heart
went wild in her chest.  Her face was surely the most unappealing shade of
crimson and although nothing had happened between her and Lachlan, well nothing
save for that marvelous kiss last night, their situation was quite innocent.  Lachlan had saved her life by warming her with his body.
    She was suddenly
very thankful to have her face obscured behind Lachlan’s back.  However could
she face his father when she had just been discovered sleeping nearly naked
with his son beneath a horse blanket in a barn?
    Such a liaison
would ruin her!
    Elizabeth bit her
lip at the realization.
    She was already
ruined.
    Elizabeth said a
silent prayer for strength and clenched her eyes closed with embarrassment
while clasping the blanket firmly about her breasts.
    “Father,” Lachlan said calmly.  “If ye will regain control of yerself and give me a chance tae
explain I’m sure that ye will understand-
    “I understand well
enough, Lachlan!” Angus said as he glowered down at his son.  “And as I’ve
always told ye, if a lass is good enough tae warm yer bed, she’s good enough
tae take tae wife.  Get yer clothes on son.  I’ll see tae it that ye make an
honest woman out of her.”
    Lachlan coughed loudly
and his words of protest caught in his throat.
    “Twas life or
death!” he exclaimed as he pulled his still damp kilt on beneath the blanket.  “She
was frozen through from the snow…lying with her was the only way to warm her!” 
Lachlan stumbled to his feet and pulled his linen shirt hastily over his
head.  His eyes darted wildly towards Elizabeth, who looked as if the wind had
just been knocked out of her.
    “Ye will marry her, son.  I’ll no have ye fathering bastards and…”
    “Give me a chance
tae explain!” Lachlan thundered as he squared his shoulders and prepared to
battle his sire.
    “I’ll hear nae
more of it, Lachlan.  What would yer mother say of this were she alive?  Ye
will marry the lass immediately and