The Recalcitrant Wife

Chapter 11: The Harvest Home

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Jamie and I worked side by side, scythin' the barley. I sent Robert to the shed to get us more string, needin' him out o' the way whilst I spoke to Jamie 'bout some important matters. "I talked to yer wife this day past."

He wiped the sweat from his face. "Is that so?"

"Aye ... and I wished to see if ye had an opinion on havin' a lovin' relationship wi' yer woman."

"Ye thinkin' o' getting' marrit then?"

We continued harvestin' the field, and bundlin' op the grain. "I been thinkin' on it, aye. I'm no getting' any younger, and I'd like to have a wee bit o' company when I'm too auld to do for myself."

"It is a comfort to be sure, but didna ye tell me as ye ne'er wished to get marrit?"

"That was afore I met Taryn. She's a good woman, Jamie, and she'll make me a fine wife."

Tying several bundles wi' lengths of string, Jamie set them opright agin' the shock to dry. "What 'bout the weans? Have they taken to ye?"

I set another sheave on end, addin' it to the stack. "It's like this ... Robbie follows me 'bout where'er I go. Annie is still a wee bit scairt o' me, but I expect she's comin' 'round.

"So, have ye got any advice for yer godfather, or no?"

We walked back to the grain lying at the edge o' the field. "I'm no an expert, but aye, there's an opinion or two in my head. First o' all, ye gotta show respect for yer wife." He lifted four or five more bundles, and strapped them to his back. I did the same and followed him to hear what more he had to say.

"And, dinna e'er tell her as her cookin' isna fit for man nor beast. Let's see now ... Keep yerself clean. A woman isna likely to let a mingin sod into her bed to shive her. And stars and stones, tell her ye love her, no just when ye wish to bed the lass."

I couldna help the flush in my cheeks, as I said, That's somethin' else I wanted to talk to ye 'bout.

"I've ne'er been wi' a woman afore—I mean to say, in the carnal sense, ken?"

Jamie's eyebrows rose, then he shrugged, and removin' the sheaves from his back, placed them down to start a new shock, a bit o' a distance from the first. "I'll tell ye what Claire said to me. Go slow and pay attention. And make certain yer woman takes her pleasure first, mind. Else ye'll no be havin' many opportunities to take yer own pleasure, I expect.

"If I remember correctly, it was afore my weddin' night as ye and Dougal told me as women dinna care much for it. Weel, I'm tellin' ye different ... they do, if ye make it so she begs ye for it."

I pulled down my sheaves and stacked them next to Jamie's. "Och ... ye're no foolin' wi' me now, aye?"

"Nay ... a woman takes to it fine if her mate sees to it properly. Just ask what ye need to do to please her."

I brushed at my arm, the awns stickin' through my shirt and irritatin' the skin underneath. "Somethin' to think on."

Jamie headed back toward the un-bundled grain. "One more thin'. All the men strap their women to make them obey. She'll obey ye to be sure, but she'll resent ye as weel, and that wilna make for a happy couple. If ye have a brain in yer head, ye'll use yer strap to hold op yer kilt, and nothin' else.

"Claire says as a woman was made from Adam's rib to stand as equal at her husband's side. She wasna taken from his head to rule o'er him, nor his foot to be trampled opon. I ken that to be so."