Evan nearly bumped into her as he jumped to action. “Wish me well, sister. I finally am called to serve the clan.” His eyes were alive with excitement that held no concerns of danger.
“Why are you so thrilled, you fool? You are about to rush into heaven-knows-what and face armed men. Are you insane?” her questions were thrown at him with hostility.
Instead of showing that he heard a word of concern, Evan laughed and planted a hard kiss to her mouth. “Aye, ‘tis a grand day for adventure.” Then he ran away into the stable and Conall stood glaring at his departing back.
“He is a fool,” Conall growled. “If only he had been sent out to serve the clan before now. I risk all with him at my side.” When his hard gaze found her, Sarah winced at the accusation that would continue their fight. So now it’s my fault Evan has to go? If only he’d knocked me up on the first try, there would likely be an heir to replace Evan. Seriously?
Gathering what little remained of her composure, she asked, “When are you coming back?”
“As soon as the thieves have been caught.” Instead of looking at her, he turned to tie bags to his saddle.
“How are you going to do that? You don’t even know how many or where they are.” Her concerns rushed out and her mind screamed with the unknown possibilities.
“I ken my business.” Conall straightened and his voice rose above the chaos. “With Evan and I seeking justice for the Draig, I leave my wife, Sarah, to care for you and handle all. Seek her for what you need.”
To add to her shock, cheers rose and several men chanted her name. “What? You aren’t even speaking with me and you’re going to leave me in charge?”
“Peter will aid you, but all decisions are yours.” His green gaze carried weight and too much gravity for her. Somewhere behind her Peter pledged his service without cracking a joke, which alarmed her more than the rest combined.
Blurting out all she could think to say, she said, “But we need to finish our argument, find some common ground and make up.”
Conall’s gaze softened but his mouth never faltered in its frown. “I ask only that you see to the clan in my absence. Upon my return, if you have no wish to remain my wife, your request would be honored.”
Clearly Peter heard his whispered words given the sharp inhale at her back. Unable to speak, nature answered for her with thunder rumbling from over the sea.
“I must go before rain makes the trail harder to find.” He only stated the simple fact.
Moisture filled her eyes as a solitary certainty crept over her. “You don’t want to be married to me.” Despite knowing the timing was incredibly wrong, she added, “I didn’t meet your immediate expectations, so you’re done with me.” How in the hell do I keep finding men who don’t really want to be with me? “So, every word I overheard is true. You only married me to appease the Bruce. Why would you do that to me?”
“We will speak when I return.” Short clipped tones had her heart sinking into her feet.
Exhaling, she didn’t need to hear him say it. His face told her more than she needed to know. Asking a loaded question seemed a far cry from receiving the answer that washed away the hope she wanted so desperately to have. “You lied to me.”
She turned to face him and the sight before her forced a desperate sound from her throat. His face held no warmth, only an impenetrable mask of steel. The tingles that normally spread from being near to him faded to being almost imperceptible. Before she could utter a peep, he leapt on his stallion and called the men to the gates.
“You fucked that up. That is not how you send a man into battle.” Peter’s unneeded chastisement filled her head and she ran to the gates ignoring whatever else he said.
In a flash, she faced Peter. “What didn’t you follow? He married me to make someone else happy. Since I was inconsiderate enough to not to get pregnant, he’s dumping me.”
“Both of you are ridiculous. He’s nuts about you and has no idea what to do with you and apparently you have more insecurities than I thought humanly possible.” His gaze followed the men gathering at the gates. “Stop him and make peace.”
“Conall!” Her scream filled the air and yet seemed barely discernable over the horses and whoops of the men who rode. Running after the throng, she cried out, “Don’t you dare leave me like this! Don’t you dare leave me without settling this!” While she expected to be ignored by him, she had completely captured the attention of everyone remaining in the courtyard.
Feeling dozens of eyes on her back, her chest heaved as she continued to run with her skirts bunched up in her hands and Bella at her side. Her pace continued until he stopped and turned the horse to face her with shoulders slumped and his eyes closed.
Stopping only when she reached him, her breath came in harsh gasps and her hands fell to her knees as she doubled over. I am way out of shape. “Please don’t leave like this.” Her rambling halted as he leapt down and stood in front of her. Forcing her body to straighten, she continued, “You and I happened too fast. . . I don’t understand why you are acting this way. Just tell me if you don’t want me.”
He stood before her with his breath hissing between his teeth. “What have I done to make you think I dinna want you?”
Forcing her breathing to slow, she stared up at him in disbelief. “You just told me you’d let me out of our marriage. That doesn’t scream of a man that wants me.” She added, “Plus you told Evan and Peter that you only married me to appease the Bruce even if you told me something different. Which is it? I need to know.”
His lips twitched. “Your fire runs deep in your soul.” To her amazement, Conall ran a hand over her bound hair. “I should ken better than to argue with you. It made me dead inside.”
“Oh, sweetie, I hated it too.”
“I acted as I thought best. Many told me to threaten my wife to ensure a quick heir.”
“What?”
“I fear I may have been misled.” Conall seemed to think out loud. “I beg your forgiveness, Sarah. Never again will such foul words ever be spoken to you. I swear it.” His eyes scanned hers as the men called from the trail. “Do you want a bairn?”
Sarah laughed at the simple question. “Um, I think I do. But I want them with you here.”
For the first time all day, he smiled at her, which loosened the knot in her stomach. “I will be back in a few days to be here with you.”
“Come back safe. We can talk, no more arguing. I promise.” His grin faltered to reveal the silent question in his eyes. “I want to be with you.” A small chuckle left her lips. “I want to be with the side of you that talks to me and shares with me. I don’t want the man who kept such distance between us in the study. I can’t handle that.”
A ragged cry left her mouth when she found herself wrapped in his embrace. His hand yanked and pulled her hair from the messy braid and tangled within in her curls. “I spoke to my brother and told him only what he should ken. He had no need to hear of my heart beating only to be with you. While our marriage does aid me with my king, even if it dinna, I would still be yours.”
Hot tears fell down her cheeks and gentle hands lifted her face to wipe them away. Conall asked, “Have you carried such in your thoughts since?”
Failing at blinking away the moisture that mixed uncertainty and relief, she only managed a slight nod trapped in his hold. “Add in what you said in the study and I’m lost.”
“You should have told me and I would have eased your mind. Yet, all I did was behave the arse. I only wish for you to want me as I want you.” Sarah sagged against him with the heat once again alive between them, sensations shooting through her limbs. “And I wish for a bairn to share with you.”
“I’m sorry,” she muttered.
“As am I. When I return, you will share any lingering doubts with me.” Conall finished with holding her close to him and kissing the side of her head.
“Be careful out there.” It seemed pathetic, but she had no idea what else to say.
“I will return to you.” His vow felt empty to her with a world of unknowns dangling before her, so she inhaled his scent from his neck.
He pulled away but kept his arms on her shoulders and the softer glow in his eyes let her know the morning’s insanity lay behind them. Hearing the men call further down the path, she placed her hands on the skin of his freshly shaved cheeks, savoring the texture and heat against her skin.
They met together in a gentle brush of lips, capturing, releasing and savoring the other until harsh cries of impatience drowned out the bliss of being together. Sarah pulled back without dropping her hands and stared into his emerald depths that once again burned with passion. “Go get the bad guys.”
Conall chuckled and planted one more hard kiss to her lips before letting her go and leaping back onto his horse. “Aye, wife.” Then he was gone, a blur riding down the trail leading into the woods of opening leaves.
“Now that’s how to send a man off,” Peter said from behind, but she didn’t turn to face him. Instead she stared at the empty trail and listened until the beating hooves were a distant memory while the approaching storm whipped her hair around her head. Sarah felt the second Conall rode too far away when the tingling he created blinked away. Bella lay at her feet whimpering, the sounds matching the emptiness in her heart.
Chapter 19
Sarah stopped and stared at Bella, who was curled before the low embers that served only to drive the damp from the chamber rather than heat the space. After days of non-stop rains, the damp chill permeated every corner of the keep. “Sorry, but it’s been four days.” She wanted to blurt out that the Middle Ages sucked. Even if cell phones were a distraction and prevented people from being involved in what transpired around them, a quick call or text would have let her know what was going on, if he was safe and when he would return. Even a thumbs-up emoji would be outstanding right now.
Lena glanced up from the chair before the hearth in the study. “The men always return and will likely be coated in mud. When I lived with Conall’s mother’s people, the women would curse the heavy rains, kenning mud would be tracked all over the floors covered in sweet smelling rushes.” Her head bent back down over the fabric being sewn; a new shirt for Conall. I know she’s sewing front of me to drive home my incompetence.
Sarah nodded but couldn’t picture floors being considered clean covered in straw and debris from the tables. Lena boasted that she had never heard of another clan in the Highlands forbidding food scraps and bones being thrown to the floor for dogs to fight over. The stench of rotting food covered by herbs would be mixed into the mess. Images of rodents and insects made her skin crawl. She refused to ponder chamber pots or drunken men relieving themselves in corners. Gross.
Lena held out the mass of white linen. “Mayhap you could learn a stitch or two?”
Peter stuck his damp head in the door, hopefully to save her from another humiliating lesson. “I need your help.”
“Anything, seriously, I will do anything right now.” Save me from another sewing lesson that I will fail.
“I have a problem that needs judgment. Word’s spread that you are the law.” Peter smirked at her and Sarah groaned.
“Is this a problem I’m qualified to handle?” She left out how inept she’d been with the decision about moving the livestock to higher ground. What do I know about hooves and rain?
Peter gave her a wide grin. “This is up your alley. We have a pregnant villager, one would-be suitor, and two pissed fathers. Did your education prepare you for this?” While given with a tease, there was also a challenge issued.
“Family conflicts are totally my thing. How old is the villager? Why, besides the obvious, do we have angry dads and tell me about the guy.” Feeling back in her realm, Sarah waited with eager anticipation.
“Sorcha is eighteen and starting to show. Her boyfriend, Simon, is two years older. Her dad wants her married. Simon’s father doesn’t want them to marry and may have made slanderous remarks insinuating the child may not be his grandchild.”
“What is it with this place and teen pregnancy?”
Peter only laughed and led her out of the study, with Bella padding behind.
Sarah followed Peter into the hall, where the four individuals waited. Even with their wet cloaks hanging near the fire, they were all soggy from their walk to the keep. “Have one of the women bring something warm to drink. That rain has a nasty chill.”
Before she could introduce herself, a tall man rushed forward, dragging a soaked girl behind him. When Bella growled at the rapid approach, he halted. “Shh, girl. It’s okay.” Rubbing the dog’s head, she said, “It’s fine. I’m Sarah. How about we start with introductions?”
The man glared as the shorter man behind them spoke first. “Lady Sarah, I am Morris and my son has been falsely accused.”
The taller man whipped around and snarled, “Your son has left my daughter with child.”
“Gideon lies, my lady.”
Before the two men could continue their argument, Sarah put two fingers to her lips and let out a loud whistle. “Enough. You came here for help, so let me help you.” When Morris demanded justice, Sarah added, “Call it whatever you want. But I need to ask some questions first.” Glancing at the teenage girl, Sarah gave her a soft smile. “Sorcha, would you please come with me. I’d like to talk to you away from the men.”
The girl stepped forward and the swallowed loud enough for Sarah to hear it. She held out her hand and waited patiently for the girl to reach her and to feel the cold, damp fingers brush hers. With a soft, gentle voice, Sarah said, “Let’s talk away from them.”
Leading the girl to the study, Lena immediately vacated the chair before the fire. “Please sit down.”
“Nay, my lady. I am wet and will ruin your fine furniture.” The girl froze in place at the door.
“Sorcha, the chair will dry and so will you.” Patting the fabric cushion she waited for the girl to join her. Several seconds later, Sorcha sat. “Why don’t we start with your version of what happened. I need you to be honest with me.” Staring at the pretty girl, Sarah used her best, hushed professional voice. “I am going to need to know if you were forced in any way. I would never make you marry a man who hurt you or scared you. In fact, I would see him severely punished.”
“Nay, m’lady. Owyn never hurt me. He loves me.” Sorcha beamed, and Sarah knew with whom she would speak to next.
“Please call me Sarah. The my lady makes me nervous.” Sorcha giggled. “Tell how this all happened and what you want.”
To her delight, Sorcha spoke with eloquence, intelligence and spared her no details. To Sarah, the story told like a standard teenage love story, complete with the addition of an unplanned pregnancy.
The next person before the fire in the study was Morris’s son, Owyn, who shared the same story. So far so good. Two crazy kids in love.
Only upon meeting with the last member of the group, Morris, did she discover the source of conflict. Sorcha and Owyn wished to marry and had Gideon’s blessing. Morris remained the obstacle.
Sending Morris out after hearing his version, Sarah sat with Peter. “I need to know I have this type of power. Can I give this order?”
Peter laughed. “You can do whatever you want, but I like what you’re proposing. It makes you sound fair and reasonable. You need to be seen like that by the village.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes. “This isn’t a PR event. Lives will be impacted and changed.”
“What’s PR?”
Sarah blew out a breath. “Public relations, making moves to enhance how you or your business is perceived.”
Peter nodded. “Cool, but this is that. This is your first judgment and every member of the village is waiting to hear how you will decide.”
Ignoring his probably true statement, Sarah rose with Bella following and went back to the hall. Father and daughter sat on one side with father and son on the other. Yet only a blind person would have missed the googly eyes Sorcha a
nd Owyn made at each other. Feeling confident in the facts, Sarah addressed the waiting villagers.
“Sorcha and Owyn will marry, today if they wish. Orders have been given for the empty cottage near the well to be gifted with the laird’s compliments.” Before anyone could speak, she found Morris’s hostile gaze. “But there are conditions. As the eldest of seven, Owyn must promise to help his father two days a week. The other work days will be spent as deemed appropriate by those in charge. Does anyone have any comments or concerns?”
To her relief and surprise, no one grumbled. Even Morris looked contented. After his private accusations of Sorcha trapping his son, his agreement shocked her. “Morris.” She waited until she had his attention. “Will you acknowledge the child as your son’s?”
“Aye, my lady.” He gave her a slight bow and Sarah tried not to look confused.
This is great. I can actually fix problems rather than doling out advice that may or may not be taken.
Peter intruded on her victory. “Judgment has been made. Gideon and Morris, head home and have your wives light the hearth in the new home Sorcha and Owyn now hold.”
Then foursome headed back out into the endless rain. Peter grinned at her. “Not bad work.”
“Thanks, I have to admit I’m pretty pleased with myself. They could have handled that themselves if Morris would have admitted he needed the extra set of hands a few days a week.”
Peter laughed. “If everyone handled everything themselves, you wouldn’t have had much of a career.”
Sarah chuckled at the obvious. “True, but just be glad that one was easy and simple.”
“In all seriousness, you handled that very well. All parties are happy and we have a wedding to honor tomorrow.” Answering her question before she asked, he continued, “The keep sends down a basket of food for newlyweds and new parents. It’s one of the few duties Evan did well, but Conall was good, too.”
“Don’t speak in the past tense about them,” Sarah snapped.
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