Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
The morning air was chilly, but Jenna was focused on the fact that she was about to mount a horse and take her first riding lesson since her accident as a child.
“Dinna fash, Jenna. I willnae allow anything to happen to ye,” Cormac assured her.
“Okay. It’s just that I’m afraid and I know Rose can feel it. Are you sure I won’t make her nervous?”
“She is a verra quiet mare. Many a child has learned to ride on her. Now ‘tis yer turn.”
Jenna tentatively stepped up next to Rose and laid her hand on the horse’s neck. “Hi, Rosie. Be good to me, okay?” Cormac helped her mount the horse and then took the lead rope and walked Rose around the circular pen near the stable.
“’Tis important that ye learn to balance yerself,” Cormac instructed. “I’ll hold onto Rose and ye can concentrate on yer seat.”
Jenna did as she was instructed and Cormac had her walking and then trotting around and around without holding onto the horse.
He taught her how to sit, where to keep her legs and most of all how to relax on her mount.
Rose for her part was a star. She never once took a wrong step and she seemed as concerned as Cormac that Jenna stay safe in the saddle.
Rose was a very kind horse and if she felt Jenna’s weight shift she would push herself to that side in order to save Jenna from falling.
Jenna’s confidence grew and grew and she found herself smiling and enjoying herself.
“Shall we take her to a canter, Jenna?” Cormac asked.
Apprehension lit Jenna’s face. “I’m not so sure that would be a good idea.”
“Try it for me. Have Rose and I not taken good care of ye today?”
“Yes, you have,” Jenna said. She squared her shoulders and sat up straight and tall. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Jenna, put yer right foot back and squeeze,” Cormac instructed.
“Oh, my …” Jenna squealed as Rose broke into a gentle canter. She grabbed for the saddle for balance.
“Ye can hold onto the saddle if ye like, Jenna. Dinna be afraid. Ye are doing verra well, lass.”
Jenna held the saddle with both hands and then without being told, she took first one arm and then the other straight out to either side and relaxed into the saddle and the rhythm of the horse.
“Jenna, we’re going to go back to a trot and then to a walk.”
As Rose slowed to an eventual walk, Jenna’s face lit up with a glorious smile. “I did it, Cormac! I did it!” Stopping Rose, Cormac scooped her from the saddle and she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him soundly on the lips before alighting on the ground.
“Ye did it! I’m so proud of ye. Thank ye for trusting Rose and me.”
“I can’t wait to tell Ashley. She’ll never believe it.”
“Tomorrow I’ll take ye off the lead and ye can do it on yer own.”
She couldn’t believe it, but she was actually excited about overcoming her fear. It felt so good to be in control of something that had been a constant source of stress for all these years.
“You’re the best teacher, Cormac. I love you,” she blurted out before she could stop herself.
Cormac appeared surprised, “Do ye, Jenna?”
“I do, Cormac,” she quietly said, realization dawning.
She really did. Back in San Francisco, she thought she might love him, but she had just confirmed it in her own mind.
It was not just a romantic dream she’d been having.
It was something so much more. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Cormac.
You’re kind, you’re patient, you’re fun to be with.
You make me feel so special. I’ve never had that before.
I didn’t think it was possible and I’ve been denying it ever since we met.
I thought I was a really bad judge of character because of what happened with Jonathan, but you proved me wrong. ”
Cormac appeared to be speechless. The love in his eyes was apparent. After a moment, he said, “Ye fill my heart, Jenna. It feels ready to burst with happiness. Does this mean ye’ll stay? Please, stay, Jenna. Ye can’t leave now.”
The euphoria that Jenna had been feeling vanished as she realized that this was not going to work.
She had just told Cormac she loved him and she’d made the mistake of letting him think they had hope of a future together.
Irene was right. She was going to break his heart and hers was going to be broken as well.
“Jenna?” Cormac looked worried. “What’s wrong, lass. Ye were so happy and now ye seem …” he let his voice trail off. He must have known exactly what Jenna was thinking.
“I’m sorry, Cormac. I shouldn’t have said any of those things to you. I’m a terrible person. Please forgive me.” Tears welled up in Jenna’s eyes as she realized what a dreadful mess she had made. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Cormac hugged her tightly to his chest. “Dinna greet, Jenna, love. I understand. I truly do. ‘Tis a terrible trick that has been played upon us. ‘Tis not yer fault. There is nothing for me to forgive.”
Jenna sniffled and gulped for air. Tear filled eyes gazed into Cormac’s and she saw that he too had eyes full of sadness.
Why had this happened to them? She silently cursed Edna and once again was thankful she wasn’t standing in front of her.
If she had been, Jenna might have knocked her on her ass.
Cormac put one arm around her and holding the lead rope in the other hand, led Jenna and Rose back to the stable.
Jenna was inconsolable as he handed Rose off to the stable boy.
“Come, Jenna, we can’t have the others see ye like this.
Let’s sit for a moment.” He led her to a bench just outside of the stable, but hidden from the view of passersby.
There they sat, each in their own world of hurt.
Each wanting something they knew was not going to be possible.
It took a while, but eventually they were able to express their feelings.
“I’m sorry, Cormac. I’ve made a complete mess of things,” Jenna apologized again.
“Jenna. Ye must not feel that this is yer doing. ‘Tis not.”
“I know. I guess on some level I wish I could stay here with you. Not go back home. I’d have you and Ashley.”
“Ye’d have much more than just the two of us. Ye’d have my family, my clan.”
“I don’t think your sister likes me very much. I don’t know that I’d fit in here.”
“Irene and ye are verra much alike. She is my sister and she believes ‘tis her role in life to take care of me and my brother, Cailin. Ye’d think she had enough to do with her own bairns, her husband and being the Lady of the castle,” he chuckled.
“You may not have brothers, or bairns, but ye have Dylan. Ye take care of him and ye’d be verra suspicious of any woman who was in his life for more than a mere night.
Ye love him as though he were yer brother.
Ye have yer friends and yer life in San Francisco.
I cannae ask ye to give that all up for me and as much as I love ye, Jenna, I dinna believe I could survive in San Francisco.
I fear I would be lost and that I’d become a burden to ye. I couldnae live with that.”
“You’d never be a burden to me, Cormac. But, you’re right. It would be much too difficult for you to jump ahead 500 years and fit comfortably in with life there. It was a fun vacation, but living it every day is something else altogether.”
“Well, then, I think we agree that we only have a few days together. So, I’d like to spend them with ye, Jenna. But, not sad Jenna. I want to see yer smiling face and know that we are making the most of every second we have together. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Jenna smiled for the first time since they’d sat down.
“Then let’s go see what mischief we can get into, shall we?”
He took Jenna’s hand and they wandered off towards the castle doors.
***
Cormac opened the doors to Breaghacraig and peeked around in search of his sister.
It was totally silent inside. No one was around to disturb them.
When he’d suggested that they see what mischief they could get into, both he and Jenna knew exactly what he meant.
He wanted to be alone with her, but he had a few things he needed to get in order first.
“Wait for me up in yer chambers, Jenna. I willnae be long, I promise.”
“I hope not. I can’t get out of this dress on my own mister,” Jenna playfully eyed Cormac as she headed for the stairs.
Cormac laughed as he headed off to find someone to help draw a bath for them.
Well, for Jenna. He couldn’t exactly tell anyone that it was for them both, but what they didn’t know couldn’t hurt.
He rounded up the tub, the largest one he could find, and the boys to bring the hot water.
He also found some of Robert’s fine wine and two goblets.
Cheese and fruit were next and for good measure, he went out to the garden and picked a beautiful red rose for his love.
Arriving back upstairs in Jenna’s room, he found her waiting patiently for him in a chair by the fireplace, where he presented her with his treasures.
“I tried to start a fire, but I’m not very good at it,” she said.
“I’ll take care of that for ye, my sweet.” Cormac got the fire started and it was blazing before long.
“Don’t you think that might be a bit too much heat?” Jenna asked.
“Not at all, love,” Cormac replied. There was a knock at the door and he opened it up to a troop of young boys with buckets of hot water and a large tub, which they set by the fire. Jenna seemed to be catching on as her tongue darted out to wet her lips.
“A bath would be very nice. Thanks for thinking of me,” Jenna said.
Cormac impatiently waited for the lads to finish filling the tub and then closed and locked the door behind them. He hesitated only a moment before turning back to Jenna. “Shall we?” He motioned towards the tub.
Jenna glided across the room and was in his arms in a heartbeat.
Their lips met in a tangle of tongues and lips.
The physical yearning for each other had reached its limit and Cormac could hardly wait to get Jenna out of her dress.
He made fast work of the laces and had it off of her as quickly as was possible.
He admired her from head to toe and then led her to the tub.
She stepped in and then sat, sinking in to her chin and looking at him wantonly.
Cormac disrobed to Jenna’s appreciative stare and joined her, sloshing water out of the tub as he got in and sat across from here.
Jenna leaned forward and kissed him gently, her tongue tickling his lips.
Her hands went to work below the water line and Cormac threw his head back in ecstasy.
He knew this had been a good idea. Perhaps the best one he’d ever had.
He loved that Jenna was so uninhibited. She was so unlike any of the women he’d been with.
She was a beauty beyond compare and she was his.
His for this short time and he would enjoy every minute he had with her.
From the looks of her, Jenna was enjoying it as well.
She scooted forward and lowered herself onto his hardness.
A moan escaped her lips and Cormac was lost to the incredible sensations that assailed him as Jenna slowly rocked up and down.
His hands found her hips and guided her movement, just as their lips locked on one another.
Cormac growled deep in his throat and quickened his movements within Jenna.
“Oh, Jenna, Jenna,” Cormac cried out as Jenna called his name, each reaching their climax and seeing it in the other’s eyes.
“That was fun,” Jenna breathlessly said. “I like your idea of mischief.”
“The water’s getting cold, aye. Let’s get out and under the covers.”
They got out of the tub and dried themselves off. Jenna scurried into the bed and Cormac grabbed the food and wine, bringing it with him. He climbed in next to Jenna and poured them both a goblet of wine and then placed the bottle on the floor. The plate of food sat in his lap.
“This is a very romantic way to spend an afternoon, Cormac,” Jenna batted her eyelashes playfully at Cormac.
“Aye. I have a bit of romance in me, love.”
“You certainly do,” Jenna seemed to have forgotten her woes and was happily wrapping herself in Cormac’s embrace.
They finished their wine and set everything aside. Jenna yawned and lay her head on Cormac’s chest. He was content. If only he could make this moment last forever.