Disclaimer: the usual- Touchstone Pictures owns them I don't except for mine and they don't I do.
Time- three years before the movie, the night after chapter 6
Chapter 7: The Next Morning
Dawn approached as Tamara lay in her warm comfortable bed thinking of him; that brooding, moody, handsome and captivating scout of Arthur's. Her arm extended across her eyes as she lay in her bed. Simone curled up on her belly; he was her one true friend and confidant these past five seasons. She told Simone all her secrets because he would keep them safe and protected. Her hand reached down to stroke the feline as his paws kneaded her stomach.
Her thoughts drifted to what had happened the night before. Playing each moment spent with his arms around her and the way he made her feel over and over again in her mind. One moment she felt safe the next as though he would surly snap her like a twig. How frustrating it all was to her. Yes he was indeed frustrating and infuriating then wonderful and charming she thought as she let out a deep sigh.
Stepping out of bed in only her shift she made her way downstairs. Silence, oh the peace, she loved this time of the morning when all was still within the walls of the cottage. Opening the door to his bedroom she could see that her father lay where Tristan had placed him there in his bed. Sadness filled her soul. She missed her mother very much. She closed the door and made her way to the hearth.
Tamara took hold of the poker, holding it in her hand she smiled thinking how the touch of his hand felt as it wrapped around hers. Her stomach fluttered, her cheeks flushed. Shaking her head she placed the poker in the coals and stoked them up before placing pieces of kindling. Once the fire started again Tamara placed several pieces of wood. Simone rubbed her legs, making circular patterns form one leg to the next as he meowed loudly for his breakfast.
"Alright then let us go to the barn and fetch some milk for you." She bent down and picked the cat up and held him in her arms as she made her way toward the door.
Slipping on her shoes and then her shawl she left the cottage. The mist covered the ground in a thick blanket as the sun lit the first hours of the day. Letting Simone down she wrapped the shawl tighter around her shoulders and tied it in a loose knot. Heading to the barn she heard a loud screech in the distance, she looked to the sky but saw nothing. Simone on the other hand scurried to the barn without hast.
"Well there girl how was your night eh?" she whispered as her hand caressed the back of the milk cow in the stall.
Tamara gathered the leather milking pouch and stool from the corner. Setting the stool near the cow's utters she began her morning ritual of milking. She sang to the cow as it seemed to calm her nerves and steady the beast while she milked. Simone sat patiently to the side waiting for Tamara to shoot some breakfast his way, which she did, spraying the cat in the mouth with milk. She laughed.
There was a screech again, this time it was louder, drawing her attention to the rafters. Her eyes beheld a beautiful hawk with red wings and a white tipped tail sitting majestically as it gazed down at her cat. Suddenly the hawk flapped its wings releasing a loud predatorily screech. Simone ran for cover towards the front of the large cow. The sudden commotion caused the large animal to become startled by the cat and the screech of the hawk, kicking over the pale of milk.
"Look what you have done! OH! " she shouted in anger as she stood with her hands upon her hips "You had better not even think of it you… shew…shew…shew…go about your way!" she commanded waving her shawl at the bird of prey but to no avail. The creature merely sat mocking her as it turned its head from side to side in curious wonder.
The hawk swooped down to perch its self upon a stall partition. Bending its neck forward toward Tamara the fowl let out a sound of defiance to the young woman.
"You should give up, you won't win." His voice deep and sultry "I have never won an argument with her yet, in all these years."
Tamara spun around to find the scout leaning against the opening of the barn, his leg crossed at the ankle, his arms folded across his chest.
"Is she yours?" she inquired pointing her finger at the bird "This menace is yours…I should have guessed as much."
With that the hawk screeched and took flight swooping in attack formation at Tamara who quickly ducked to the ground as the falcon headed out the barn opening into the sky.
"Now you have gone and done it." He smarted "You have gone and hurt her feelings…she is very sensitive…just like a woman….isn't very forgiving either…just like a woman."
He made his way farther into the barn till he was almost upon her. Standing up from her crouched protected position the young girl cast a look of fire and anger toward the lithe man who was fast approaching her. Her teeth gritted as she made a huffing moan while brushing the muck from her shift. She had forgotten that she wore only a thin shift. The material was shear and revealing, especially when the light cast upon it just right. He found her silhouette to be a particularly pleasing sight first thing in the morning.
He stood at the edge of the stall watching her. He leaned against the post, making himself at home as though he were master of the estate. Kicking his right boot up, he crossed it over his left ankle resting its tip on the dirt. Once again he folded his arms; a smirk of pleasure crossed his lips as he gazed down at the girl.
"What do you plan to do about this mess your bird made? Our milk for the day is gone." She grunted looking down at all the spilled milk from the overturned leather pale.
He smiled, looking at her across a cocked eyebrow and tangled locks.
"You are the one who made her angry not me, so why do you blame me?" he snarled.
"She belongs to you…so it is yo-"she began before he cut her words off.
"She belongs to no one…" he cut her off as he moved his slender body toward her, brushing her shoulder as he bent down to pick up the stool. His arm rested on her thigh as he leaned in, her body swayed, her stomach became queasy. He purposely took his time in returning the stool to its upright position so he might be in closer proximity to her. Slowly he raised himself, his face trailing her midsection lingering just a few seconds at her small but enticing breast, whose nipples could be seen rather nicely through her shift. His nose, his lips, his face so close to her being, uncontrollably her chest heaved up and down as he made his way up her torso. Soon his face was but a breath's air away from hers causing her eyes to flutter and her mouth to dry. Her body swayed back as though she would fall. Suddenly she felt his strong arm around her waist bracing her.
"Steady now." He whispered in that sultry accent of his "Wouldn't want you to fall again." He held her tightly as her back arched, her head tilted back ever so slightly and her hands were now pressed on his chest. He pulled her closer; she was helpless to fight any urge she had to object.
"Tamara…Tamara girl…. where are you…." The sudden yell from her father for the girl caused her to come back to reality and push herself free from the hold the scout had on her.
"Coming father…." She answered.
All of a sudden Tamara looked down; she released how immodest she was and attempted to cover her private parts with her hands. Her cheeks turned a flushed red color as heat raised within her from embarrassment.
Tristan bent down, took her shawl in his hands and gently draped it over her shoulders. Placing his hands on her arms he smiled.
"We cannot have you taking a chill can we." He said with a soft smile across his lips.
"Tamara child where are you?" called her father once again.
"I should go." she softly "Before he comes looking for me." She head toward the barn opening.
"I'll wait for you, get dressed." He replied.
"Wait for me?" she inquired with a quizzical expression.
"Yes, you are going to the tavern are you not?" he said matter of factly.
"Why yes I am …but…" she began.
"You will need a ride…I am going that direction from my night patrol….do not make a fuss about it woman….get dressed…it means nothing." He grumbled.
She smiled.
"Hurry girl….I have not all day to wait for you….I have duties." He moaned in a tone of annoyance as though she was causing him to go out of his way.
She turned and smiled once again as she wrapped her shawl tightly around herself.
To be continued…
