My Wee Mate

36 - Hope

The small gap between success and failure makes it seem as if the Moon Goddess is laughing in my face as she watches my hardships from above.

It's as if all the odds are stacked against me. There's nothing I can do. I'm powerless. I'm pathetic.

I yell out again, wanting to pull my hair out.

My mate is in trouble, and I simply must wait for what is to come.

Ailsa

The first thing I feel is aching. I groan, and the sound only fuels the throbbing pain hidden under my skin.

I try to roll away, as if I can get away from the discomfort, but it only worsens and a broken sob leaves my cracked lips.

Although my middle is sor, the real pain laces through my neck. I put my hand to it, hissing at the contact of my fingertips with the tender flesh that's been abused.

What's happened?

I groan, moving from side to side as I struggle to move up the hot sheets wrapped around me.

"Not a chance, lass." Strong, capable hands grasp at me, pulling my body and pinning it to my bed. I fight as fiercely as I can, swinging out and striking something. The person releases a gruff, surprised sound as my fist meets flesh.

"You won't take me, Douglas! I won't allow it. I belong to one man only." I demand, swinging again and hoping to hit him again before he can hurt me.

"Ailsa, open your eyes!" The voice yells.

Oh yes, I forgot I could do that.

Light greets me when I open my eyes, looking around through squinted eyes. It's too bright. After a few blinks, Gentry comes into focus, holding one of my wrists in each hand. Her eyes are wide and round with terror.

I've never seen her look at me like that.

"Never do that ever again!" She says through clenched teeth, releasing me as she shakes her head.

I try to sit up, my lungs clenching, and my maid shoving me back down into my bed with more force than is necessary.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was you." I insist, and Gentry rushes to a nearby table, dipping a cloth into a basin of water and hurrying to my side.

She sits on the side of my bed, wiping my forehead with the cold, wet rag and pinching her lips up tight the way she does when she's holding back.

"Not that, lass. It's good that you're finally sticking up for yourself, your form wasn't too bad either." Gentry sighs, cupping my cheek. "Don't scare me like that again. I thought you were dead, or dying, either way I don't want to be put through such a fright. Ever. Again."

My jaw slackens, my lips parting, the events of last night flashing through my mind like lightning strikes.

"Douglas... did he?"

Gentry's expression turns stone like.

"No. He didn't do anything other than give you some bruises. The Ramsay's are leaving today. It gives us a month before your wedding. I'm thanking my lucky stars that it's unlucky to hold a ceremony in May. We have time to stop this madness."

Her fingers skate across my throat and I flinch, closing my eyes as tears threaten. Embarrassment blooms in my chest, and I wish I could run and hide from all of this.

"You still have hope then? That I can escape this fate?" I gesture to my unruly appearance.

Gentry winces, but doesn't answer for awhile, fiddling with the rag.

"If we don't have hope then what will we do? Give up? Give you to that spoiled boy so that he can put more bruises on you until you can't take anymore and you.." She trails off, but I can sort out the blanks for myself well enough.

"Enough of this talk, who's this man you say that you belong to?" Gentry presses, leaning down as she lifts her eyebrows and smiles a little tiny smile.

I gawk, pulling the blanket up to my chin as I curse my groggy self. I should have kept my mouth shut. How am I supposed to explain about Fraser to Gentry?

I can't. It would be too risky.

"You don't know him." I hedge, biting my bottom lip as I picture his handsome, rugged face. "Its a simple crush, really. I'm not sure he cares much for me."

Gentry grins. I've never shown interest in boys before, and I do mean never. They never so much as glanced in my direction, so why would I pay them any mind?

Fraser, however, well Fraser is just different in every way that counts.

"What's his name?"

"No. That's all I'm revealing today, thank you very much."

The bed creaks as Gentry scoots closer, determined to get at least some information out of me about the man I've so suddenly claimed.

"Well, he must be a real catch if you prefer him to Douglas Ramsay."

The joke eases some of the tension in my body, and both of us quake with laughter. I ignore the twinges in my throat, wanting more than anything to not let this attack dampen my spirit.

Sorry i didn't quite live up to a chapter a day! I'm going to try to upload more often this week. No promises it'll be every day, but I'm trying my best to put out more chapters for all of you!! :)