by Pandora Pine
Atlas walked forward and sniffed at Cadence before taking the apple. She could feel his soft lips tickling against the palm of her hand. Cadence reaches her free hand up to stroke the side of the horse’s face.
Stepping away, Donnall watched while Cadence cooed to his warhorse who was acting as smitten as he felt. Cadence was beautiful. Her attitude toward life was as wild and free. It was no wonder she and Atlas made a striking pair.
He grabbed a few more apples, handing them to Cadence. He thought she would give them to Atlas, but she wandered over to the next stall down the line which housed a grey mare dappled with a snowflake pattern.
“Donnall, she’s beautiful. Can I give her an apple?”
“You can try, but Starburst is very shy. I do not like thinking of this, but Fionn and I believe she was mistreated by her former owner.”
Anger burned in Cadence’s green eyes. “Someone hurt her?”
Donnall nodded. “She shies away from everyone who tries to come near her. It has been an exercise in patience. We are hoping she will one day start to trust us.”
Cadence turned away with a look of steely determination in her eyes. “Hello Starburst. I have a yummy apple for you.” She held out her hand, but the horse stayed where she was, her head turned toward the corner of the stall. Pulling her arm back, she took a crunchy bite from the apple and chewed loudly. “Mmm, delicious. I’ll leave the rest here on your stall door in case you want it later.”
Donnall could see the disappointment in her eyes when the mare failed to respond to her. He reached for her hand and led her out of the stables toward a small rise near the bailey wall. “I am sorry we quarreled, my beauty.” Donnall cupped Cadence’s face in his large hand. “Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
“Only if you can forgive me.” She could see the sincerity clearly in Donnall’s eyes and hoped he could see the same from her.
Donnall pulled Cadence a little closer and bent forward to capture her lips with his own.
Only allowing herself a short taste of Donnall, Cadence pushed against his broad chest to move him back a step.
“Why won’t you let me love you? It is obvious you enjoy my kisses.”
“Obvious?”
“Your eyes are dark with need. Your breathing is labored and your heart is racing. Stop avoiding my question, little mouse.”
“Which question?” She was stalling for time and having a hard time focusing with Donnall standing so close.
“Why will you not choose me?”
Cadence sighed and headed toward the grassy spot and sat down, turning to face to the weakening autumn sun. Donnall settled in next to her. “I was left at the altar a while back.”
Donnall’s eyes bugged out, his mouth dropping open. “You were to be sacrificed? And you call me a barbarian! We may be Celts but we did away with human sacrifice centuries ago.”
Cadence snorted, which quickly turned into a laugh. She turned to Donnall who looked at her like she’d lost her mind, which only made her laugh harder. “No. I wasn’t going to be sacrificed to the gods. I was getting married and my asshat fiancé was arrested and thrown in the…dungeon.” She finished on a sigh, knowing Donnall would not know the word jail.
“When was this?” His voice was kind, encouraging her to tell the whole tale.
Cadence saw his hand reach out to touch her arm and pulled back before he touched her. “About a week ago in my time. Nearly six hundred years from today.” She huffed out a weak laugh.
“If you like, I shall borrow Carter’s moonstone medallion and travel to your time to run him through with my sword, so long as it would bring a smile back to your lips.”
Cadence gave Donnall a dazzling smile, while her mind played out Donnall doing just what he promised. Truth be told, losing Liam didn’t seem to hurt so much anymore. “No need, Donnall, but thank you for offering.”
“Oh, I see. You killed him yourself.” He sounded impressed.
“No! What kind of a barbarian do you think I am?” In her mind she’d killed Liam a thousand ways since that awful morning back in South Boston. Donnall’s offer to avenge her was sweet in an old fashioned way.
Reaching out toward her, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her left ear. “My kind.” Donnall’s voice dripped with longing and sincerity.
Cadence was half-afraid he was right.
9
“Do my eyes deceive me or is that Carter and Fionn out of bed and fully dressed?” Donnall bellowed when he entered the great hall and saw his friends sitting at the head table sharing a pitcher of ale. He grabbed a seat across from the newly reunited lovers.
“If you like, we can strip off and have at it right here.” Fionn waggled his eyebrows. Carter stood up and went for the hem of his blue tunic.
“NO! Stop right there.” Donnall held his hands up. “I have no need to see it for myself. Hearing you go at it like angry cats is more than enough to last me a lifetime.”
Carter snorted. “He’s talking about you.”
“The fuck he is, princess.” Fionn grinned.
Donnall sighed and reached for an empty tankard and the pitcher of ale. He poured and drank it all down in one swallow before belching loudly and refilling the cup.
“Nice. Do that in front of my sister and she’ll fall at your feet for sure.”
Donnall raised his eyebrows in surprise and sputtered on his mouthful of ale. “In truth?” It couldn’t be that easy, could it?
“Gods, no! Were you raised with wolves?” Fionn’s tone was incredulous.
“No, I was raised with you, so I suppose I was raised with wolves.” Donnall grabbed for the pitcher and Fionn moved it out of his reach. Donnall grinned at his oldest friend, remembering a time not so long ago when he’d done the very thing to Fionn when he was having difficulties with Carter. What was it with the McCanns that made them so maddening?
“I know that frown, my friend,” Fionn said with glee. “Many was the time I wore the same look until my princess started behaving himself.”
Carter laughed. “I could say the same thing about you, stubborn warrior.” Carter kissed Fionn’s battle-scarred hands and turned back to Donnall. “We both know your grumpiness is because of my sister, so spill it. What has she done this time?”
“She will not let me love her.” Donnall sank his chin into his hands.
Carter choked on his ale, his face turning an alarming shade of red, while Fionn pounded on his back.
“Explain yourself quickly before Carter gets his wind back. Don’t forget I was the one who taught him how to wield a sword.” Fionn winked at Donnall and went back to fussing over Carter.
“I’m not talking about lying with her. I mean she will not let me get close to her heart.” Donnall crossed his arms over his broad chest and pouted.
“Did she tell you why?” Carter managed with a raspy voice.
“She said something about an asshat and an altar. I think I managed to work out what she meant.”
Carter burst out laughing while Fionn looked confused.
“What is an ass hat and how do you wear it?” Fionn asked seriously, peeking over his shoulder to look at his own backside.
Carter laughed harder, his face turning red again, slapping his open hand against the table. Fionn and Donnall started chuckling along with him as Carter fought to breathe and control his fit of the giggles. “It’s another word for arsehole. Cadence was supposed to marry a man named Liam. He committed crimes and was caught by the town guard the morning of their wedding. If he hadn’t been such an asshat, I never would have been in Ireland with my sister.”
“We owe that arsehat a debt of gratitude.” Fionn raised his mug in a mock toast.
“Like hell we do!” Donnall roared, not missing the conspiratorial look that passed between his friends. “That bastard should be run through, burned at the stake and drawn and quartered for hurting her so.”
Fionn took a deep breath and turned to Donnall with a serious look on his face.
“You are going about it all wrong. You must be her friend first. Remember what you told me about attracting more flies with honey that with shite? Take your own advice, be the honey. Carter was quite appreciative when I gifted him Cerberus and taught him to ride the stallion.”
Donnall bit his lip and nodded seeing where Fionn was going with the direction of his thought. “Cadence fell in love with Starburst and the mare seemed less shy with her.”
“Really? I’ve been trying to bring her around and she’s never responded to me. My sister has always been good with animals.”
“Cadence also wants to assist in defending Moone Castle. Maybe you should help her in that endeavor. Be her friend and if it is meant to be, the rest will follow,” Fionn urged.
“Whatever you do, don’t accuse her of being a Scottish spy.” Carter burst out laughing at Fionn’s eyeroll.
“How long will you remind me of my error in judgment, my heart?”
Carter smacked a kiss against Fionn’s frown. “Only for the next hundred years or so.”
10
It was a long morning in the kitchens for Cadence. Jilly wanted to go with her brother to see the wet nurse, leaving her to brave Mallory without an ally. Cadence kept to herself and kneaded the dough while Mallory spent the morning complaining about Donnall.
“It’s like he doesn’t even recognize me, like I haven’t been sucking his cock for the last six months.”
“For the love of the gods, Mallory,” Aggie cried. “The mouth on you.”
“That’s nothing compared to her mouth. I bet she doesn’t even swallow.”
Cadence glanced at Aggie who looked like she was about to drop from shock. She liked the older woman who had taken Jilly into her home after her little niece was orphaned.
“Who doesn’t swallow?” Donnall asked, striding into the kitchens.
“A scared mare.” Mallory said sweetly. “Poor little thing doesn’t know what she’s missing.”
Cadence rolled her eyes so hard her head hurt.
“Good morn, my beauty. How goes your day thus far?”
It wasn’t like Donnall to be so solicitous, which meant something was up. She had nothing but time, she’d bite for now. “I love working here. The women are so wonderful. I know I’m making life-long friends.”
Mallory snorted. “It’s a good thing we’ve only got a few weeks to live.”
Cadence couldn’t help herself and burst out laughing. Mallory was sinking her own ship and seemed too stupid to realize it. She turned her attention back to Donnall who was looking at her rather hungrily. “What brings you to the kitchens? Would you like some buns?”
“I have the softest, freshest buns in the castle,” Mallory interjected.
“Pity every man in the castle has had a taste.” Cadence smirked at the stunned kitchen girl. If Cadence were honest with herself, she understood exactly where Mallory’s anger was coming from. She had been that angry herself when her wedding ended before it began, but she’d never lashed out at anyone, preferring instead to keep her emotions inside.
Donnall bit his lip to keep from laughing. “I have already eaten. I have a surprise for you when your work here is complete.”
“She’s free now, lad,” Aggie grinned. “I can egg wash this last batch of buns and see them into the oven.”
“Are you sure, Aggie?” Cadence dusted her hands off on her apron before slipping it over her head.
Aggie winked and nodded.
The last thing Cadence saw on her way out of the kitchen was hatred burning in Mallory’s eyes.
“Does Mallory continue to vex you, little mouse?” He would need to pull his former lover aside and caution her about mistreating Cadence. Not that the thought of two women fighting over him didn’t have appeal.
Cadence shrugged noncommittally. “No, she’s just young.”
“So are you. You can be no more than twenty summers.”
“I am twenty-four summers. You must be what, fifty summers?” Cadence started to laugh.
Donnall looked offended. Did she really think he was that old? “I am thirty summers.” He nudged her shoulder with his own.
“Where are we going?” Cadence put a little distance between them.
Donnall tried not to be disappointed that she moved away from him. “To see your surprise.”
“Donnall, you don’t have to give me anything.”
“Yes, I do. You said you wanted to help defend Moone, or do I have you confused with another brave lass from the future?”
“You’re going to help me?”
“I am.” Donnall led her into the horse barn, past Atlas’ stall. He could tell Cadence was mulling over what he’d just told her as she hadn’t yet noticed they were standing in front of Starburst’s stall. He had all morning to wait her out. The look on her face was something he would remember for the rest of his life.
“Why are we in the horse barn?” She looked around as if she just noticed where they were standing.
Donnall laughed. “Because this is where your surprise beds down.”
Cadence looked into the stall they were standing in front of and saw the sweet grey mare she visited yesterday. “Hello, pretty girl.” Cadence reached her hands out to the horse. “Thank you for bringing me to visit her. Do we have any apples?”
Donnall grabbed a few from the wooden barrel nearby and handed one to Cadence. “So you think we are here to visit Starburst?
Cadence was holding out her palm with the red fruit in her palm as she cooed to the skittish mare. “Why else would we be here?”
“The mare is your surprise. She is my gift to you.”
“I-I don’t understand. You’re giving Starburst to me?”
“You have a way with the animal and will suit each other nicely.”
Cadence looked from the horse to Donnall and back again. “But I don’t even know how to ride.”
“I will teach you, starting now. Step one is getting in the stall so she can get used to your presence.” Donnall opened the stall door and the mare immediately shied away.
“She did that yesterday too. Do you think she’s afraid of men?”
“Could be. Islynn was walking outside the castle walls looking for mushrooms when she came upon the abandoned horse. The animal was malnourished and in dire need of assistance. Islynn was able to lead the mare back to the castle but she wouldn’t let Carter or Davin, the stable master, anywhere near her. Islynn cared for the animal alone until the mare started to put weight on.”
It didn’t surprise Cadence that Islynn had a way with animals. She stepped into the stall and sidled closer to the horse. “It’s okay, pretty girl. I won’t hurt you.” She offered her hand and the horse took a shy step forward to sniff her before bumping her hand with her muzzle. “No one will ever hurt you again. If we find the bastard who hurt you, my friend Donnall will run them through.”
The horse nickered softly as if she understood Cadence.
“So I’m your mercenary, am I?” He would gladly fill the role of her champion.
Cadence turned back to Donnall and nodded. “I doubt I can even pick up your sword, otherwise I’d do it myself.”
“Perhaps we need to have a bow made for you, that way you could pepper his body with arrows.” Donnall loved the sweet way Cadence had with the horse. She was speaking softly to the mare and running her hands down her flank, her fingers tracing over the white markings.
Cadence’s face brightened in surprise. “I have no use for people who hurt animals. They’re just as bad as people who hurt children.”
“Were you hurt as a child, little mouse?” His hands fisted at his sides. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone who mistreated her.
“No, but my sister Bree was, which is how she ended up in foster care. She was taken away from her drunk father after a bad beating. Carter worked hard to get us both out of foster care and living with him.”
“It is easy to see why you came back with Carter. You are very close.” His heart clenched
for the three brothers he left behind in England.
“You and I both know it takes more than blood to make a family. You and Fionn are closer than any brothers I know.”
It was as if she read his mind. “You are right, but I wonder who my brothers grew up to be. Are they good and honorable men?” Donnall sighed.
“You may never find out, but what you are, Donnall Healy, is a good and honorable man.” Cadence turned from the mare to look up at Donnall.
Feeling his chest start to tighten, he cleared his throat. “Let us begin your first lesson.”
“Why can’t I wear pants?” Cadence demanded. The lesson with Starburst had been going well. She’d learned how to saddle and un-saddle the horse. Now she was standing to the side of the mare as Donnall demonstrated how to sit side-saddle. Not knowing anything about horses, even she could see the idea of riding with both legs on one side of the horse was suicide.
“It is not proper for a woman to ride astride the horse.”
Cadence raised an eyebrow.
“I know women are more liberal in your future.” Donnall said the word “liberal” as if it tasted bad in his mouth.
“I either wear pants or hitch up my dress. You choose which.” Cadence fisted his hands on her hips.
Donnall blew out a ragged breath. “Hitch up your dress. We don’t have time for you to run back to the castle and change. He knelt down beside the horse and linked his fingers together, his hands palms up.
“Why are you kneeling? You don’t have to play at being a gallant knight on my account.” She had to admit he looked pretty sexy down on one knee like that. Donnall being chivalrous was nice, unlike Liam who never even held open a door for her.
Donnall snorted, his greenish-gold eyes shining in the bright sunshine. “I’m here to give you ten fingers to boost you into the saddle.
“Wait! You mean the horse won’t lie down so I can climb aboard?”
“Lie down? Cadence, this is a horse. She is a magnificent animal with pride and won’t lie down so you can-”