*Author's Note:* Romance is the only category that seemed appropriate for this story, but it is actually a Historical EROTIC Romance containing some very HOT sex! So, if you're looking for a purely romantic story, this isn't one... just a warning for anyone who might be offended by plain language and very descriptive sex! Please let me know if you enjoy it... thanks!
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The passage from Islay to Dungarvan on the south coast of Ireland had been pleasant for the most part... they'd only encountered one stormy night at sea. Which was lucky for the summer months... storms could pop up at almost any time over the unpredictable North Atlantic channel and the Irish Sea.
Jordan Reece had enjoyed the fresh ocean air during the voyage and had almost acquired a good set of "sea legs" by the time the boat had sailed into Dungarvan Bay. But he was happy to set foot on dry land once again, and even happier when his horse was led from the supply boat that had accompanied the passenger vessel on which he'd traveled.
The big black stallion snorted softly in greeting when the groom handed him over. "Well now, Ares... ya don't look any the worse fer wear..." he soothed in his deep Scottish burr. "Yer hindquarters must be queverin' fer a good gallop through the countryside! An' ah'll jus' bet you'll be sniffin' fer fillies the whole way, won' t'ye lad?"
He chuckled when his giant companion nuzzled his hand as he fed him a carrot and then uttered a low horselaugh, as if in agreement that his master knew him too well. He leaned next to Ares' ear and muttered quietly, "Ah wesh you'd put tha' nose ta good use an' sniff out a few lasses fer mi as well, my friend!"
Jordan was surprised when Ares threw back his head and issued a stream of what sounded like loud horse "guffaws!" He yanked the reins down and stared into one of the stallion's large brown eyes. "Tha' was na funny, you... you..." he ran his eyes down the big, gleaming sleek body that he kept perfectly groomed as he tried to think of an appropriate insult.
"Aahhhrrrggg!!!" he growled in frustration as he dropped his head in defeat. Then he stared into the large brown eye again. "Yer a bloody black stud an' ya know et! You have every damn little filly on Eila prancin' around ya! Well... yer supposed ta help mi make an impression on the lasses, too, damn yer hide!!! So... how 'bout managin' no' ta throw me while we're here en Ireland, ehh?!! Es't a deal?" Jordan asked the animal earnestly.
He laughed again at how foolish he felt... trying to make deals with a horse... like the stallion could understand him! But he frowned suspiciously when Ares stamped his right front hoof on the ground and acted like he was nodding his head in agreement. Nahhh... the animal was just reacting to his tone of voice... that's all it was...
Jordan gathered up all of his gear, saddled Ares and loaded his things onto the animal. They headed east out of Dungarvan toward Waterford. He had traveled to Ireland to issue a warning. He felt he owed no loyalty to the Scottish royalty. He sympathized with Ireland in their plight to fight off being added against their will to the British Empire!
It was the year of our Lord 1595, and Britain was desperate to annex as many of the surrounding kingdoms as possible in order to compete with Spain. The Spanish Empire was expanding by leaps and bounds ever since that Italian explorer Christoffa Corombo had discovered the Americas for Queen Isabella some hundred years before. And ever since, England had been trying to "keep up with the Juarezes..."
It had started out as a beautiful day for a ride... a clear blue sky with puffy white clouds floating over the rolling emerald hills that stretched to the low mountains. The temperature had been mild for the middle of summer, but during the afternoon, the humidity started to rise and the clouds began to build. Jordan could tell that storms wouldn't be far behind...
He kept riding across the countryside hoping he would spot a village soon. When it started to darken, he spotted a few lighted windows in the distance just as the first lightning bolt flashed and a crack of thunder filled the air. Rain began to spatter him as he reined Ares in the direction of the lights and urged him to full speed.
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"Da!!! Ah tol' ya ta put the animals en the stable 'afore ye came enside... that storms were a'comin'! Why do ya never listen ta mi?!!" Caitlin O'Brick exclaimed at her stepfather. He stared at her for a moment and then turned to go out again.
"Never mind! Ah'll do et miself! Ah probably need ta make sure that ya properly mucked the stalls an' fed the horses any way! Nuttin' aroun' here would ever get done properly ef ah did no' see to et..." she muttered in her thick Irish brogue as she stomped past him out of the house.
The rain was just beginning to pour as she ran across the path and along the paddock fence to the stable entrance. And in that short space of time, she managed to get completely soaked! Oh well... it was bound to have happened any way when she had to go out the side and lead in their two cows and their family of goats. The animals didn't fight her... they were happy to get in somewhere they couldn't see the flashes of lightning! She pushed the heavy doors closed and it was somewhat quieter.
She checked on the few horses that some travelers were boarding with them until they resumed their journey. At least Da had made sure to clean out the stalls, spread some fresh hay and put oats in the feed bins.
From the sound of the rain pounding on the roof and the loud booms of thunder, Caitlin didn't want to risk venturing out into the storm again. She decided to wait out the worst of it in the stable, but she was feeling chilled from the wet clothing plastered to her body...
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Jordan reined Ares to a stop in front of a two-story building that appeared to be an inn of some sort across from a stable. He dismounted and held onto the reins as he pounded on the door. After a moment, an older man opened it and eyed him up and down, raising his eyebrows as he stared at Jordan's legs.
"Have ya never seen a kilt before, old man?" he asked in amusement as he pulled at the wet plaid cloth plastered to his thighs. When the man frowned and looked back up at him he asked, "Ah beg yer pardon, but this es an enn... es et no'... an' do ya have any available rooms?" The man nodded. "Very well... Ah shall require a room fer the night an' where can ah shelter mi horse?"
"That's ar stable across the way, sir... you kin put yer horse inside. Wi still have some empty stalls."
Jordan grimaced through the pouring rain. "Thank ya, sir. Ah'll take care of mi horse an' then ah'll bi en later... ef you would be good enough ta save mi some food, ah would bi mos' grateful. Thank ya!" he called again as he hurriedly led Ares toward the stable.
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Caitlin lit a lantern and went to a wooden trunk in the back of the stable, opened it and pulled out a woolen blanket. She removed her wet shoes and began the arduous task of removing her dripping garments... then she would be able to wrap the dry blanket around her and warm up. And if she stoked the fire in the pit where the smith worked in the outer part of the stable, she might just be able to dry some of her clothes...
She had just finished stripping when she heard the noise of the storm grow louder when one of the stable doors was opened momentarily and then shut again. She started to call out, thinking it was her stepfather but she knew most of the guests at the inn would be expecting supper soon and he, hopefully, was busy setting out the food she had prepared earlier.
Caitlin hesitated a moment as she wrapped the blanket around her and then snuck out toward the front of the stable to see who had entered. She stopped suddenly and hid inside one of the stalls, peeking between the boards to watch a strangely dressed man unloading his belongings from a magnificent, but bedraggled, black steed. The first thing he did after that was to remove his soaked boots and strange calf stockings and dry his feet with a cloth from one of his bags.
The man and beast seemed completely at ease with each other as he spoke soothingly while he unsaddled the horse and wiped down the animal's wet hide with another semi-dry cloth he'd pulled from one of his sacks. Caitlin smiled softly... she'd always had an affinity for horses and she appreciated that same quality when she recognized it in a man...
She couldn't help but notice how the wet material of the strange "skirt" he was wearing was clinging to his thighs. His calves and lower thighs looked very muscular and she almost giggled as the thought popped into her head when he turned toward her that he had nice knees! Not that she'd ever noticed a man's knees before...
His light brown hair was long, but was pulled back into a neat ponytail and tied with a strip of leather. When she finally got a good look at his face, she noticed he looked a little scruffy... like he hadn't shaved in a day or two, but she smiled when she realized he obviously preferred to be clean-shaven. She wasn't that crazy about men with beards and mustaches... they usually didn't keep them clean or bathed often enough for her liking!
