Devin sat up in the tree. At least 10 squires were at the foot of the tree demanding she come down. "No, I'm not coming down." She yelled. She was sure they had sent a courier to fetch her father. No doubt he was killing his poor horse now in a race to beat Lord Marcus here. Her father had been here two days ago to inform her she was to wed Lord Marcus. The meanest and most deadly Lord in all of England. He had a nasty reputation, which is why he had not wed up to now. No man would give there daughter to married to him, no matter how big a dowry was offered. No one but her father anyway. She had told her father two days ago she would not wed the beast. She had been beat severely for her say so. Her mother had died in child birth with her. Her father Lord William had been so disappointed that she was a girl; he had sent her to the squires training grounds where she had been turned over by them to be raised. She had seen her father few times in her 18 years and when she did, a beating was usually involved. The trainers here had not known what to do with a girl, so they did what came natural they raised her like they would a boy. She could fight with a sword as well as any man and could out curse anyone she knew. She was pretty much raised as a wild child coming and going as she pleased. She had been taught to read and manage as a boy would have. The head trainer here Jonathan had done the best he could with her, but after all what did he know about raising a girl. "Devin I demand you come down here and put on this dress your father bought. Lord Marcus is on his way as we speak." Jonathan said. "No, I'm not going to marry that monster." Devin said. "Devin I'm going to switch you good when you come down." He threatened. Jonathan felt bad about the threat knowing her father had whipped her so bad she could hardly move now, but what else could he do. "I don't care." She said. She wasn't about to put on a dress and act like some simpering female. Jonathan turned he heard horses riding up. Oh by everything holy, it was Lord Marcus. Lord William was going to have a fit. Lord Marcus reined his horse in sharply to stop in front of Jonathan. "I'm here to see the girl, where is she?" he demanded in a deep voice. Devin looked down from her perch. By everything holy, she had never seen such a man. She watched as he swung down off the horse. He was a giant; he looked close to seven foot. He had long auburn hair which he had tied back. He had a mustache and trimmed bread which only added to his good looks. He had on black britches which were tight and revealed his well muscled legs and a white shirt which showed off his huge arms. By goodness for a man with the reputation of a devil he surely was the most handsome   man she had ever laid eyes on. "Well where is the girl?" Lord Marcus demanded. Jonathan pointed up the tree. Lord Marcus raised his brows. What sort of woman went around climbing up trees? Lord Marcus walked to the bottom of the tree and looked up.  Devin looked into the most startling green eyes she had ever seen. Marcus's eyes widened. She looked like a hell cat. She had long brown hair which was tangled and had twigs and leaves sticking out of it. She had large blue eyes which seem to stare right through him. She had on boy's clothes which looked to small for her and did little to hide her womanly curves. By lord she was barefoot and she looked like she hadn't had a bath in a couple of days. Looks like Lord William was trying to get rid of this little problem by marring her off to him. "Get down here girl." He said. "NO!" she shouted. Marcus gave her a dangerous look. Damnation she thought he looks mean. "My Lord she has been up there for two hours and refuses to come down." Jonathan said. Marcus grabbed a tree branch and started to climb. Oh good lord he's coming after me Devin thought. She watched him for a minute, and then decided her best choice was to come down, since he looked like he could climb with no problem. "I'm coming down." She said. Marcus stopped where he was and waited. She shimmied down the tree like a monkey, obviously she did this often. When she got to a low enough branches she dropped to the ground. Marcus dropped back to the ground. Jonathan who was angry by this time grabbed a switch off the tree and stripped it. He grabbed Devin and tucked her under his left arm and started whacking her bottom and legs with the switch. Marcus watched. Devin showed no signs of distress and didn't even cry out or try to get away. Devin had been whipped many times in her 18 years and learned if you cried you just got it worse.  Jonathan had already gave her at 15 licks with the switch and showed no signs of slowing down. Marcus grabbed his arm. "That's enough." He said. Jonathan dropped the switch. "Yes Lord." He said. Devin twisted away from Jonathan and glared at Marcus. "You can beat me for the rest of the day, and I'll still not wed him." She said pointing at Marcus. Marcus grinned, and it wasn't a pleasant one either. "You'll do what you're told girl. But you're not exactly a prize. You're lucky your father found someone to agree to wed you." Marcus said. "You can go strait to hell you bloody bastard, where you belong." She yelled. Just then her father rode up. Oh God he would kill her for sure. He wobbled down off his horse. She could see the anger in his eyes. "Lord Marcus, you arrived early." He simpered at Marcus. "I know she seems a little wild, I have indulged her to much it seems, but I'm sure a man like you can take her to hand in no time." Lord William said. Marcus couldn't stand Lord Williams, he had the feeling the man would sell his own mother for the right price. "She will do." Marcus said. "As you said when she mine, I will teach her hold that tongue in her mouth." He said. Marcus grabbed her chin hard. "In two days time you will be my bride, then you will be mine to train." He said. He turned around and got on his horse and rode off. Lord William grabbed her and pulled his riding whip off his horse. "Leave us he instructed the other men gather around. They left immediately. "You worthless little bitch, I'll teach you to embarrass me." He lifted the whip and began to beat her unmercifully. Again and again he brought the whip down on her body. Thankfully she passed out about half way through the beating. Lord William only stopped because his arm got so tired he couldn't lift it anymore. He left her lying there bruised and bloody. Jonathan waited till Lord William left and went and picked her up and carried her inside.