Edward MacDonald left Edinburgh on a brisk spring sunny morning, heading southwest on horseback to his home near the Scotland/England border……

He stopped for lunch at a small village, choosing a tavern called the Fallen Angel. While having lunch he chatted with the serving wench. She was quite attractive, a pleasant addition to a hearty meal. Her name was Leah and she obviously liked his curly blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

During their conversation, the reason for his trip came up and he explained where he was headed. She smiled and suggested an alternate route, a small path through the neighboring woods that she often used as a shortcut.

"Are ye sure that's faster than using the main roads," he asked with a smile.

"Aye, as long as you're only on horseback, I use it all the time," she responded. "It will save Ye over ten miles and it's a pleasant enough ride."

He was almost finished eating when she came by and suggested that he pay the bartender since the lunch crowd was gone and she had to head home. He opened his pouch and paid her right away, adding a nice little tip for her advice and fine service.

She delivered his fee to the bartender, a gruff older fellow that doubled as the cook. They spoke quietly for a few minutes, then she removed her apron and hurried off. Edward couldn't resist watching her bottom wiggle under that skirt as she left. It was too bad he was hurrying home, she certainly seemed friendly enough.

He had left his horse at the little village stable where a lad had fed and watered him while Edward had lunch. He retightened the saddle cinch and was soon on his way again, taking the turn southwest as she had suggested.

The route varied from a narrow path through heavy forest to open meadows. He even forded a little shallow creek, which explained why carriages couldn't take this route.

Nary a soul did he see as he rode along. He had just ridden through a nice little glen when he entered another narrow path that cut between two large hills. He was barely under the thick trees on either side when he had to rein in his steed. There in his path lay a recently fallen tree. It was too tall for the horse to just jump and the trees on both sides too thick to ride around.

There was no choice but to dismount and move the tree. Swearing softly at this inconvenience, he slipped down from the saddle and began the task of heaving the heavy tree off to the right.

To his surprise, as he lifted and pushed the bulky tree aside, standing there was a woman. Not your normal woman. This woman was wearing a mask and brandishing a rapier…..

She was dressed totally in black. A cloak covered a black silk blouse and a knee high black skirt.

"Good afternoon sir, " she spoke, "If Ye would be kind enough to just hand over your pouch, I'll let Ye be on your way."

Edward laughed, and quickly drew his short sword. "Surely ye jest, young lady. You're no match for me."

She smiled and with one hand released the clasp so her cloak could drift to the ground. He could see her breasts moving under the silk blouse. Pay attention to the sword he reminded himself, ignore those breasts and long slender legs.

He intended to simply disarm her, but they had only exchanged several parries and thrusts when he realized she was more than he expected. He found himself sweating and retreating back into the glen. In anger he tried to use his strength to back her off, but she was too fast. One flick of her thin blade and his soft leather tunic was slit open.

He backed away, realizing his life was in danger. She was smiling, obviously enjoying his plight. Each time he tried to gain an advantage, her deft feet would move her ever so quickly left or right and the tip of her blade would slice loose another article of clothing. She was merely toying with him!!

He tossed the remains of his now shredded tunic aside as he backed further into the glen. This was not good and he was running out of room to easily retreat.

As he stood there aghast, she cleverly picked two buttons off his white shirt, exposing a chest of blonde curly hair. "You're a handsome fellow, maybe I'll see more than your purse," she laughed, and removed the third button exposing his navel.

It was then that he saw it, a root from a nearby tree. He retreated in that direction as she continued her little game of cat and mouse. He let her drive him to the left of the tree, then at precisely the correct moment he lashed out, knowing she would attempt one of her elusive spins.

It worked, she failed to see the root and tripped, falling backwards into the grass, dropping her rapier as she landed hard on her back. He dropped his sword and was on her in a flash. She was still trying to catch her breath from the hard fall, so he quickly and easily had her beneath him on the ground.

They were nose to nose as he pinned her there, using one knee between her thighs. It was his turn to play now. He ripped the blouse open exposing her beautiful firm breasts. She struggled but was no match for his overpowering physical strength. The more she struggled, the more his thigh rubbed on her mound.

She realized then his intentions were to take her and she tried with all her might to push him away. She kept repeatedly mumbling "no" as she struggle beneath him.

"No you say?" deftly removing her mask. "Oh my God, it's you, the bar wench that sent me this way. Of course, it was a planned trap."

"All I wanted was your purse, sir," she cried in fear.

"Then you've gotten a tad more than you bargained for," he smirked and rubbed his knee between her thighs, hard against her mound. "You're beautiful you know."…. He leaned down and used his teeth to tug at a nipple.

She gasped out loud as her nipple responded and those wild tingles began in her loins.

"Please don't kill me," she whimpered.

"Only with pleasure," he responded, his mouth covering hers, gradually forcing it open with his tongue. He used one hand between their bodies to open his trousers and draw up her skirt.

Her resistance faded and she allowed her legs to relax and open, her hands reaching up and tangling in his thick blonde mane.

She gasped as his hand played over her. He tugged her knickers to one side and she felt his heat touch hers. In spite of herself she wanted him now as much as he wanted her.

He was surprisingly gentle, rubbing her little thimble with his soft silky manhood until she was soaking wet. It slipped inside and her legs lifted and wrapped around him. He restrained himself, long enough to take her over the crest before spending deep inside her.

Whether she would she bare his child, only time would tell. They both dressed quietly in their torn and slashed clothing. He offered to pay for her damaged blouse, but she blushingly declined, saying she had done more damaged to his shredded tunic. He promised to return some day and possibly once again use her secret route through the trees. She blushed, knowing that would please her, playing rider and bandit with this handsome devil. They kissed goodbye and each headed their merry way, pleased with their afternoon delight.

The End