A Good Man, page 1
A Good
Man
The McCabe’s Book 2
By: Bethany Hauck
C opyright © 2017 by Bethany Hauck
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing, 2017
KDP Self Publishing
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 A Good Man
Chapter 2 I Do
Chapter 3 Preparations
Chapter 4 Wedding Night
Chapter 5 Lachlan Returns
Chapter 6 Jacqueline and Connor
Chapter 7 Laird of Tioram
Chapter 8 Defiant Wife
Chapter 9 Tioram
Chapter 10 Christening
Chapter 11 A Mother’s Lesson
Chapter 12 Village Terror
Chapter 13 Rescue
Chapter 14 Just for Fun
Epilogue
Gleann:
Hamish-father and Laird of Gleann
Annabelle-mother (died shortly after giving birth)
Children:
Eadan
Ross and Ham (twins)
Alastair
Craig and Rory (twins)
Owen
James and Jacqueline (twins)
Nessa McDougal-Married to Eadan
Tarmon
Connor-Married Jacqueline McCabe
Fiona-Connor’s sister
Caiden-Conner’s father and Laird of Tarmon
Alyssa-Connor’s mother (deceased)
Alyssa and Annabelle-Connor and Jacqueline’s twin daughters
Angus-Tarmon guard
Helga-Tarmon midwife.
Tioram
William-Captain of the McCarthy guard.
Iain McCarthy-Laird of Tioram Angela’s Da.
Catrina McCarthy-Angela’s mother
Kenna McCarthy- 17 Angela’s sister
Rhona McCarthy- 14 Angela’s sister
Angela McCarthy-Married to Ross McCabe
Villains
Catherine McCoy-Connor’s mistress before marriage.
Lachlan Stewart-Tried to force Angela into marriage
Chapter 1 A Good Man
“Are you sure you don’t want me to wait for you?” Ham McCabe asked his brother Ross. “You’re sure it’s only going to be another day or two?”
“No need to wait,” Ross told him. “I know you’re anxious to see Jacqueline’s new babies. I’ll finish my business here and head home as soon as it’s done.”
“I hate leaving you to travel alone,” Ham said. “At least I have a few men riding to Tarmon with me. I’m sure if I need it, Connor will let me borrow some of his men to go the rest of the way to Gleann after I visit.”
Although Gleann was the home of clan McCabe, Ham was planning on stopping at Tarmon, the home of his sister Jacqueline and her husband, Connor Fraser. Jacqueline had recently given birth to twin daughters, and he was anxious to see and meet them both.
“No need to wait, I’ll be fine. I’ll try to tag along with someone heading that way if I can. If not, I’m not worried, it’s only a day and a half ride. Tell Jacqueline I’ll be along in less than a week,” Ross told him.
“I thought you said a few days?” Ham remarked.
“It should only be a few days, but if you tell Jacqueline that, and it takes longer, she’ll be worried and give me grief when I get there,” Ross said laughing.
“That’s true,” Ham said and smiled back at him. Both brothers loved their little sister dearly but knew better than to worry or anger her.
“Plus if she gets too mouthy I can’t turn her over my knee anymore,” Ross said, again chuckling. “That’s now Connor’s right.”
Ham burst out laughing and added, “you mean Connor’s problem. As much as I love our little sister, she can be quite a spitfire.”
“That she can, brother, but I wouldn’t want her to be any other way. Head for home, I’ll catch up with you in a few days,” Ross said again. “If not at Tarmon, then at Gleann.”
“Are you sure you want to wait for your armor to be completed? I’d be happy to come back with you in a fortnight if need be,” Ham said.
“The blacksmith said only another day or two, and it’ll be done. It may be only a two-day trip, but once I get back to Gleann, I plan on staying put for a long while,” Ross said. “We’ve been gone for three years; it’ll feel good to live back at our home again.”
“Then I’ll see you there, safe travels, brother,” Ham said as he turned and mounted his horse. Waving one last time at his twin, he rode through the open castle gates, heading in the direction of Tarmon, the home of his baby sister.
Ross watched him leave and then pulled the paper the armorer had given him out of his pocket reading it once more. He decided to make a trip to the smithy shop the armorer used, to make sure his order was now being completed. He and Ham had spent the last three years in the service of the king, and just like his brother, he was more than ready to head back home to settle. Seeing his sister Jacqueline and oldest brother Eadan both married and happy had made him begin to think it might be time to settle down, and take a wife of his own. He had always wanted children and couldn’t wait to travel to Tarmon and meet his two new nieces. After a day or two visit, he planned on heading home in time for the birth of Eadan and his wife Nessa’s first baby, which was due in just a few months.
Ross was so engrossed in his own thoughts he didn’t even feel the wind that had begun to blow until the paper he still held was snatched out of his hand and began to blow away. “Damn it,” Ross mumbled, and began chasing after it.
The paper, with his proof of order and payment, seemed to pick up speed as it reached the corner of the castle getting caught up in a cross breeze there. Ross began to run after it and rounded the corner of the castle, catching up to it. He rounded a corner and snatched it out of the air, looking up he couldn’t help but notice what was happening off in an isolated corner of the garden he now stood in. The scene was so bothersome he came to an abrupt stop.
“Let me go,” a woman was saying as she fought off the man trying to lift her skirts.
“You will be mine, Angela McCarthy,” he hissed at her as he pinned her more firmly against the wall. “Once I’ve had you no one else will want you, then finally you’ll be forced to marry me.”
“I’ll never marry you,” she said as she tried to scratch, hit and knee him, trying everything to get away to no avail.
“You will,” he said, laughing menacingly. “Your father will have to agree to the marriage once I tell him I took your innocence.”
The woman finally got an arm free and raked her nails down the man’s face drawing blood and making him cry out in pain and anger. Before Ross could react, the man backhanded the woman viciously across the cheek. Ross had seen enough. He quickly stepped forward, grabbing the unknown man by the shoulder, he pulled him away from the woman, without saying anything, he then quickly punched him twice in the face making him fall to the ground.
“That is no way to treat a lady,” Ross said to the man. Then turning to the woman, he asked, “are you alright, My Lady?”
“I don’t know,” she said as she began to cry and slide down the wall until she was sitting on the ground holding her injured cheek.
Ross decided he needed to deal with the man first and turned back towards him. “Who are you?” he demanded.
“None of your business,” the man sneered at him. “This is no business of yours. Go away. This is a private matter between the lady and myself.”
“Do you want me to leave you alone with this man?” Ross turned his head and asked the woman.
“Nay!” she cried. “Please get me away from him.”
“If I see you near her again I’ll run you through,” Ross warned the man, giving him a small kick with his boot. “Get out of here.” He turned back towards the woman with every intention of helping her to her feet. As he reached for her, their eyes locked, Ross couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She finally broke eye contact with him and gazed over his shoulder; he saw her eyes grow wide with fear once again. Knowing something was wrong he quickly turned back around. The man who had been attacking the woman was running towards him, trying to pull his sword free.
“Look out,” she finally was able to scream.
Ross, who had been in many battles, pulled his sword and pointed it at the man before he could free his own. “Walk away before you force me to kill you,” Ross calmly warned him. “I’ve killed many men fighting for the King. One more won’t bother me.”
“This isn’t over,” the man, who had come to a stop just inches from the sword Ross held out, said to both of them. Pointing at the woman he said, “she is mine. You can’t protect her forever.”He turned and walked away. For a minute Ross thought about killing the man then and there, but decided to let him live, as long as he left peacefully.
“Who was that?” he asked, turning back to the woman, “and if you don’t mind me asking, who are you?”
“My name is Angela McCarthy,” she said to him. “Thank you for saving me. That man was Lachlan Stewart, and he was trying to force me to marry him.” She once again began to cry softly.
Ross didn’t know why, but he was drawn to this woman and quickly pulled her up onto her feet and into an embrace. “Shhh,” he said softly, “you
“I’m supposed to meet the captain of my father’s guard in the hall of the castle. I know Lachlan is going to lie and say he compromised me. I can’t be forced to marry him,” she said crying even harder. “I just can’t. He’s a horrible, vile man.”
“Where is your father?” Ross asked her.
“I came with a large escort of his guards for the Mayday festival. I’m supposed to head back home with them on the morrow,” she said. “I met Lachlan two days ago, and he’s followed me around since.”
Although Ross felt bad for the girl, he could see why Lachlan had become obsessed so quickly with her. Even with the bruise he had put on her cheek, she was beautiful. She was small, barely coming up to his chest, but she had the most enticing hourglass shape he had ever seen. Her hair was the most unusual color, not quite golden but not red, and those green eyes could draw in any man.
“Do you really think your father would make you marry a man that would hit you and compromise you in such a way?” Ross asked.
“If he lies what else can my father do? My reputation will be ruined,” she said, her eyes once again filling with tears. “My father won’t have any other choice, who else would marry me?”
“Come,” Ross said putting his hand upon the small of her back. “Let’s go find a cool cloth to put on your cheek and get you to a safe place.”
“Who are you?” Angela asked him. “You haven’t even told me your name so I can thank you properly for saving me.”
“I’m Ross McCabe,” he introduced himself. “My family lives in castle Gleann, a small keep about two days ride from here.”
“Thank you, Ross McCabe,” she said sincerely. “You’ve saved me for now, although I don’t know for how long.”
Ross felt bad for Angela, and he again steered her towards the castle forgetting all about checking on the armor he had ordered. It didn’t seem as important as the safety of this small woman. “How did you end up out her alone with him anyway?”
“I just needed to get away,” she said. “My father told the men who traveled with me to keep me safe, and they haven’t let me out of their sight except when I’m in my chamber at night. I just wanted a few minutes alone. Lachlan must have followed me out to the gardens.”
“Why would you wander away knowing that man had been harassing you?” Ross asked, becoming slightly angry. “You’re lucky nothing worse happened. You need a good spanking woman.”
“No man has ever spanked me,” she said back to him, showing some spunk he hadn’t seen until now. It reminded Ross of his sister, and even though he was angry with her, it made him like her even more.
“I can tell,” Ross said. “Maybe that’s the problem.”
“And no man ever will,” she shot back at him, her tears completely drying up.
“We’ll see about that,” Ross mumbled so she could barely hear him.
The two walked together silently, both lost in their own thoughts. Ross stayed at her side, keeping an eye out for any sign of Lachlan Stewart, determined not to leave her until she was in the safekeeping of her father’s guard. When they entered the main hall, Angela came to an abrupt halt.
“What’s wrong?” Ross asked, seeing her become tense.
“Lachlan is talking to William, the captain of the guard my father sent,” she said.
“Let’s go see what he’s saying,” Ross said to her. He walked slightly ahead of her. He wasn’t sure who William was, but spotted Lachlan talking to a man who had his back turned to him.
“She will have to marry me now,” Lachlan was saying, not seeing them approach. “I’ve made her my wife in every way but having the ceremony.”
“I don’t believe you,” the guard was saying, “I’ve known Lady Angela for many years, there is no chance she would willingly do that.”
Ross once again walked up in front of the man and without a word, punched him right in the mouth, making him fly backwards, and land on the ground. “Whatever this man is saying is a lie,” he said. “I came upon him attacking the lady in the back garden, against her will.”
“Ross McCabe?” said the guard.
“William McGuire,” Ross responded, shaking the man’s hand. “I haven’t seen you in years.”
“I’m glad to see you, old friend,” William said. “I’d love to catch up later, but right now can you explain what happened with Lady Angela, please.”
“I came across the Lady and that man in the back garden. He had her pinned against the wall and was trying, against her will, to compromise her. I put a quick stop to it.”
“Why did you wander away, Lady Angela?” William said to her. “You know your father wanted me to watch over you while you were here. You may end up forced to marry this knave if he spreads rumors about you.”
“I’m going to tell everyone I had her already,” Lachlan spat at them from the floor. “Even if only a few believe me, it will be good enough. You will be my wife very soon, Angela McCarthy.”
“Never,” she said back at him. “I’ll die a spinster before I marry you.”
Ross reached down and pulled Lachlan up by his shirt and shoved him towards the door, “go now,” he said to him, “while you’re still able. I’m about to make it so you’ll never walk or talk again, so you better think before you say anything else.”
Lachlan walked towards the door but turned back before exiting saying loudly, “you’ll be my wife by the end of the day tomorrow. If not, your reputation will be ruined.”
“What have I done,” Angela whispered and sunk into a chair. “I can’t marry that man.”
Ross, who had grabbed a cloth and soaked it in a bucket of cool water he had found in the hall, placed it on her cheek. He couldn’t believe how drawn he was to this woman. “Will her Da actually make her marry him?” he asked William.
“Laird McCarthy is a good man, but he may have no choice if Stewart spreads his lies about the lady,” William said to him.
“Do you think that could happen?” Ross asked.
“It’s very possible,” William said. Turning back to Angela he said, “I think we need to pack your things and leave here as soon as possible.”
“How bad do you want to avoid marrying that man?” Ross asked Angela.
“I’d do anything,” she said. “I can’t marry him. He’s horrid.”
“Good,” Ross told her, making a decision.
“What do you have planned?” William asked him.
“Don’t leave her alone and meet me in the kirk in an hour,” Ross said to William.
“Why?” Angela asked.
“Because you and I are getting married,” he said to her.
Chapter 2 I Do
“Married?” Angela almost yelled, “we can’t get married. We just met and barely know each other.”
“Would you rather be forced to marry Stewart?” Ross asked.
“Nay,” she said. “How can I marry you without my Da’s approval?” she said to him. “What would my Da think about this, William?”
“I’ll speak to your Da,” William said. “I’ve known Ross McCabe for a long time. We come from neighboring keeps, and even though I’m a bit older than him, we played together as children at festivals. I’ll explain to Iain why you had to marry quickly. If Lachlan Stewart starts spreading lies, or worse yet goes to the King, you may be commanded to marry him.”
“We need to do this today,” Ross told her. “I need your acceptance, Lady Angela.”
“So this will be a marriage of convenience,” Angela said to him. “We can have it annulled later.”
“Nay,” Ross said to her. Then he added more softly so only she could hear, “if we’re married in the kirk, it will be a real marriage. We’ll also need to make sure it’s consummated. I won’t have anyone question the validity of the marriage.”
“How can you be so sure about this?” Angela asked him.
“I don’t know, Angela,” he said, “there is just something that seems to draw me to you. I have a good feeling about this.”
“Alright,” she said quietly, then to William she added, “if you think my Da will approve, then I agree.”
“I’ll set everything up,” Ross told her. “Be at the kirk in an hour. Everything will work out, try to trust me a little.” Ross walked away, for some reason feeling good about his decision.
