His mouth came down on hers in a punishing kiss, almost as if he was trying to frighten her away, but it didn’t work, not after hearing his last few words.
I’d never let you go.
His kiss stopped abruptly and that’s when Willow heard Sara moaning.
His hand released her as soon as she turned and he followed her to the bed.
“Her fever rises again,” Willow said, her hand on the old woman’s brow.
Slatter reached the bucket before he finished saying, “I’ll get more snow.”
It was a difficult night. They took turns watching over his grandmother. They got little sleep, but when the day dawned, her fever had broken, leaving them both much relieved, though not completely worry free. Willow knew her fever could return and there was still the possibility of her wounds turning putrid. And while she made no mention of it to Slatter, she could tell he was already aware of it.
Once he saw that the snow had stopped, he had told her he would go hunt, in hopes of finding them a more substantial meal.
With Sara sleeping peacefully and Slatter hunting, Willow decided to freshen herself with a quick wash. She grabbed the empty wooden bucket, not bothering with her cloak, since she’d be but a moment in scooping up some snow to melt by the hearth.
She cast a glance at Sara, checking on her as she opened the door and kept her head turned to make sure she closed the door good, not wanting to let any cold air in the cottage. She turned and took a step, halting abruptly, the bucket falling from her hand.
A few feet away stood not only Rhodes and his warriors, but Ruddock’s warriors as well.
Chapter 12
“You’re a difficult woman to find, but now that I’ve found you, you won’t be escaping me again,” Rhodes said, taking a step toward her and stopped when her hand shot out in front of her.
“Don’t bother to come near me, since I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said with worry for her husband filling her every thought. If he returned now, he would be captured. What then? And what of Sara? She needed care.
“We have orders to see you safely home.”
Willow was pleased to see it was William who spoke. He wore a clean bandage around his head and looked much better since she’d last seen him.
“You do well, William?” she asked.
“Thanks to you and I’d like to repay that kindness and see you home without any problem.”
“That is very nice of you, William, but I’m not ready to go home just yet,” she said, chasing her worry as best she could so that she could think more clearly and find a hasty solution.
“Whether you’re ready or not, you’re going home,” Rhodes commanded.
A quick and stinging response rushed off Willow’s tongue. “Lord Ruddock’s men were charged in seeing me returned home. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Wrong,” Rhodes said and marched toward her, though William brought him to an abrupt stop with a curt shout of his name.
“Rhodes, give me a moment to speak with Willow.”
That William spoke to Rhodes as if the man was in charge disturbed her. Had Tarass’s men been directed to lead the mission to rescue her?
“What is there to say?” Rhodes asked with annoyance. “She is to come with us and you and your warriors are charged with finding Slatter and returning him to Lord Tarass to serve his punishment.”
“Who has given such an order?” Willow demanded.
“The Lord of Fire,” Rhodes all but snarled.
“He has no say over me,” Willow said with a defiant lift of her chin.
Rhodes grinned. “James, Chieftain of the Clan Macardle, gave the Lord of Fire say over you when Lord Ruddock’s men arrived at the Clan Macardle wounded. William,” —he gave a nod toward the warrior— “gladly accepted our help, since I doubt he wants to return home and tell Lord Ruddock that a Northwick troop failed to see you home safely. I received word what was to be done and William confirmed it once he joined us. Unlike, William, I will see my duty done without incident.” His grin had long faded. “Get your cloak. We leave now.”
Did she go with him to draw them away from here, so that her husband would be safe? But how safe would he be with William and his men searching for him? She threw reason aside and did something, she never did before. She threw caution aside and stood her ground.
“I don’t care what orders you were given, I’m not going with you,” Willow said, squaring her shoulders, ready for a fight.
“It’s not your choice,” Rhodes said and rushed at her.
Willow reacted, picking up the bucket she had dropped and throwing it at Rhodes.
He batted it out of his way with his arm, and grabbed her arm, his fingers clamping like a shackle around it before she could move out of his reach.