Chapter Thirty-Two #2
And what would Alex say about this? She was aware there was a possibility he would be so disgusted he would walk out of the water and never return.
Then what would she do? Her humiliation would be complete.
Maddie buried her face into her arms and reached back with her hands to fist her hair.
Everyone would hate her, just like Kenneth had always wanted.
He had always been jealous of the affection and respect people gave her, and he had tried to ruin her in every way possible. Mayhap he would have the last laugh.
But if she gave up now, when she was this close to happiness, she would be letting him win. Alice had advised her to always be honest with Alex, and this was the time for honesty, even if it hurt.
“I need to tell you something,” she said, her arms still crossed in front of her.
Alex’s head dropped momentarily, but then rose to look at her. “I am listening.”
Madeline fought to keep herself from crying. “My stepbrother was very angry that I refused to marry the Comming.”
“I know that, Maddie,” he whispered. “I bore witness to his brutality.”
“I had refused him two times before the night you rescued me. Kenneth said if I would not marry the Comming, he would make sure and mark me so no other man would want me.”
She studied Alex’s face, trying to gauge how he was taking the news. He did not react to her words.
“Go on,” he said.
“He had a tool that he heated in the fire while he whipped me.”
Alex’s jaw clench and he closed his eyes for a moment, but she forced herself to continue.
“After he finished whipping me, he turned me around, and while his guards held me, he held the tool to the skin under my breast. He said he would do it each time I refused him, so that my chest would be completely scarred if I never relented.” She wrung her hands as she thought carefully.
Alex turned his face to the heavens and let out a deep breath.
“I was not running from your touch, Alex. I was afraid if you saw my scars, you would not want me anymore.” A single tear rolled down her cheek. Her hands shook as she reached up to wipe her face.
Alex held his hand out to her. “Come here, Maddie.”
She hesitated, but then walked over and placed her hand in his.
Alex led her into the shallower water and sat in the pebbles, where the water reached his chest. He settled Maddie onto his lap, wrapped his arms around her tight, and rested her head on his shoulder.
Maddie reached her arms around his back and leaned into him.
There was nowhere else she would rather be.
***
Neither one of them spoke. Alex willed himself to rid the anger from his body. He knew Maddie needed him more. They held each other silently.
Alex, totally undone by the unfairness in the world, could not fight the deep sadness that enveloped his body.
How could anyone be that cruel to a helpless woman?
Although Maddie was not totally helpless, she could not fight the brute strength of three men.
In some ways, though, his wee Maddie was stronger than all three men combined.
Her strength was an inner strength, a strength of character.
He was so proud of her. After all the pain she had been forced to endure, she still had the most beautiful smile he had ever seen.
She was wonderful with the bairns, adored by his sister Jennie, and she always held her head high.
He knew many strong men who would let such constant torture defeat them. But not his Maddie.
“Maddie,” Alex whispered several minutes later.
“Yes, Alex?”
“Is there anything else you have not told me? I would know everything now, please.”
“Nay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Aye, Alex. They are not things I would ever forget.”
Another minute of silence followed. Alex rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Alex?”
“Aye?”
“Are you going to cancel our betrothal?”
“Nay, Maddie, I am no’ going to cancel our betrothal. But I must ask you something.”
“Anything, Alex.”
“I would see the scars under your breasts. I want no surprises on the day of our wedding. I know this is much to ask, but we need to put this behind us.”
Maddie pulled back and gazed at him. He knew this would be hard for her, but he was afraid of the anger that might explode inside him when he saw the marks.
Even though he prided himself on his strong control, this wee lass could send every ounce of control he possessed out of his body in an instant.
He did not want to spend his wedding night in a fury.
She slowly nodded and reached down to untie the ribbons of her chemise. Covering her nipples, she held each breast up so Alex could see the scars. On each side, a small angry curved welt sat just above the fold where her breast met her abdomen. He leaned down and kissed each one with tenderness.
Alex breathed a sigh of relief. He could handle this. He stood, tugging her shivering body with him.
“I think it is time we head back, you are cold.” He dressed and helped her into her gown, then secured the basket on his horse. Once he was mounted, he reached down and scooped up Maddie. As soon as she was settled on his lap, he tied her horse’s reins to his.
“Alex?”
“Hmm?”
“I feel better now. I do not have any more secrets.”
He kissed her forehead and nudged his horse forward. As they moved away from the loch, his men dropped in behind them.
After they dismounted at the keep, they continued to walk hand in hand, much to the surprise of his clan.
“Alex?”
“Aye?”
“I think I would like to stop at the chapel. I have much I need to be thankful for.” She gave him a tentative smile.
“I will go with you, Maddie. I will go with you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jennie and Emma are playing when a sinkhole opens up, swallowing them into the ground. Alex is on patrol, so Robbie waits for his return, but Maddie is unwilling to wait and jumps into the hole to save the wee ones. Maddie grabs another piece of his heart.
The rope was finally dangling above them. Emma, still awake, silently sucked her thumb as she clung to Maddie. Standing without much difficulty, Maddie grabbed for the rope above her head, but she could not reach it with Emma.
“More, Alex,” she shouted. “I cannot reach it.”
He let more of it down.
“More!” she shouted. Finally, it reached her. “All right, I have it now.”
“Tie it around your waist, Maddie.”
Maddie tugged it a little more and set Emma down. “Just for a moment, sweeting. We are going to get you to your mama.” She clumsily tied it around her waist and picked Emma back up with her right arm, holding her tight. There was no other way. Her left arm was dangling at an odd angle.
She tugged on the rope and yelled to Alex. “Ready, Alex!”
As soon as Maddie’s feet left the ground, her entire body swayed.
The movement made Emma wail and Maddie was forced to grab the rope with her left hand to help steady them.
Stabbing pain gripped her, but she refused to let go.
Just a little pain, she chanted in her mind.
She could bear it until Emma was safe. They continued to move up slowly, the pain in her arm relentless.
An image of her mother singing helped her focus, but it was blurry. She switched to Alex, recalling the warm comfort of being in his arms. She pictured his face and thought of everything she loved about him. Hearing her name again, she snapped to attention—they were almost at the top.
“Stop, Alex, stop!” she yelled. “We will not be able to fit through together.”
“Hand her up and I will grab her,” he shouted.
She found a wedge for her foot and pushed with all her strength. Alex reached in and plucked the bairn from her. He handed her out as the crowd cheered. Moira rushed over and grabbed the lassie, sobbing as she rocked Emma back and forth.
When Alex turned to Maddie, his eyes landed on her arm.
“Maddie, your arm,” he whispered.
“I know, Alex. I think ‘tis broken.”
“It must pain you. How will you hold Jennie? She is much heavier.”
“I know, but I can do it. We have no choice.”
He turned to Robbie. “Pull her out!”
“Nay,” she yelled. She wedged her foot solidly into the side of the hole.
Alex held his hand up to motion for the men to stop.
“Maddie, I cannot allow you to do this. We will dig the hole wider.”
“And the dirt could bury Jennie. We have no choice. You clearly cannot fit in here. If you do not agree, I will let go of the rope and jump down again, but then I would risk breaking my other arm. I have to get Jennie out. She needs to see Brenna!”
They glared at each other until Alex turned and motioned for the men to lower her down.
“What is it, Alex?” Maddie recognized Robbie’s voice.
“Maddie’s arm is broken.”
“How can she carry Jennie out then?” Brenna asked. “Jennie is much heavier than Emma.”
“You are about to witness just how strong my Maddie is. She can do it.” The words sent more strength through Maddie. He believed in her, and it made her believe more keenly in herself.
When Maddie reached the bottom again, she adjusted her arm to relieve the numbness.
She attempted to awaken Jennie, but the lass did not budge.
The bump on her forehead was no larger, so that was good—or so she thought.
She retied the rope around her waist as tight as possible.
Her left hand did not want to cooperate, but she did the best she could.
Losing control and falling while she carried Jennie was not an option.
She gathered Jennie up in her right arm, fighting the lass’s dead weight.
It took her a few moments to regain her balance with the extra weight.
If Jennie had been any bigger, she would not have been able to manage it.
Finally settled, she shouted up to Alex.
“We are ready, but please go very slow to start. I have to balance her. She is very heavy for me.”