Gasps were heard from those in the Great Hall, all except Slatter… he smiled.
Tarass yanked her against him, the little pup snarling and snapping at him. Tarass paid him no heed. “Don’t ever, ever point a finger at me again and as far as a leash, if you were mine, I’d keep you on a short one.”
Snow could make out the shadow of his face and she planted her own face close to his. “Then I thank the heavens that I’m not stuck with an idiot brute like you.” Thaw snarled in agreement.
“Snow!” James called out in a reprimanding tone as he approached her.
Tarass appeared ready to explode. “If you weren’t blind—”
“What? What would you do to me?” Snow challenged.
Tarass planted his nose against hers. “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.” He gave her a slight shove and stepped away from her.
Slatter leaned down and whispered to his wife, “You Macardle woman certainly have courage.”
Willow had been worried for Snow, fearing what Lord Tarass might do to her, but Slatter was right. Snow had gained much courage in her absence and she was proud of her sister. She was about to hurry over to her when her husband stopped her.
“She can make her way to us, just let her know you’re here,” Slatter said.
“Snow, over at our table,” Willow called out, realizing habit would have had her going to Snow.
Snow made her way to Willow, leaving James to speak with Lord Tarass.
“You need to deal more firmly with the Macardle sisters. First, you allow Sorrell to ruin the marriage arrangement made for her, then you let Snow, a blind woman, wander around without anyone looking after her or chastising her for being disrespectful, and now Willow arrives home with Slatter, my prisoner, now her husband. This will not do, James. Husband or not Slatter needs to pay for his crimes. I received a missive from Lord Ruddock before I learned of Slatter’s escape from my men, letting me know that he played a part in the devastation his family suffered. Slatter needs to pay and I intend to see that he does.”
“My husband did nothing wrong,” Willow said, Tarass having spoken loud enough for all to hear.
“You are a fool if you believe his lies that a man who resembled him is responsible for his dastardly deeds,” Tarass said.
“But what if it is true and you condemn an innocent man?” Snow asked.
Tarass shot Slatter a look. “You let women speak for you, Slatter?”
Slatter grinned. “Intelligent, courageous women can speak for me anytime.”
“You’ll not take my husband from me,” Willow said with a defiant toss of her head.
“He will suffer the consequences of his crimes,” Tarass said as if declaring it already done.
“Prove he committed the crimes,” Snow challenged.
Willow reached out and squeezed her hand grateful for her sister’s support.
“I leave this in your hands for now, James,” Tarass said. “Find out the truth and if Slatter isn’t responsible, then I care not about him, but if he is, I will see him punished. You have until the end of winter. If nothing has changed by then, he will be returned to me for punishment,” —he held up his hand when James went to protest— “and I have no doubt Lord Ruddock will agree with me on this.”
“I have your word on that?” James asked.
“You do,” Tarass said.
James nodded, wearing his worry for all to see.
The door burst open. “Lord Tarass! Lord Tarass! Rhodes is dead, a stab wound to the chest.”
Chapter 15
Willow gripped her husband’s hand tightly as she, James, and Tarass stood looking down at Rhodes. The warrior was dead, blood covering his chest from what looked to Willow to be two stab wounds. He lay inside the woods, not far from where Clan Macardle land met Clan MacLoon land.
Fear ran through Willow. Her husband would be blamed for this. Too many had seen the animosity Rhodes and Slatter had for each other. And there were those who had heard Slatter threaten to kill Rhodes. This did not bode well for her husband at all and she did her best to calm her fears and think sensibly. Not an easy task with the fire she saw blazing in Tarass’s eyes. And when he turned his eyes on Slatter, Willow’s stomach twisted with such fear that she thought her legs would fail her.
“Slatter killed him! He killed him!”
They all turned to see Owen, another of Tarass’s warriors and one who rode with Rhodes, rushing toward them.
Pain and fury mixed in the warrior’s dark eyes when his glance landed on Rhodes. He turned his anger on Slatter.
“Slatter killed him,” Owen said, his curt remark leaving no room for doubt. “Rhodes told me that Slatter asked to meet with him at sunrise, that there was something of great importance he needed to tell him and only him. I wanted to go with him but he ordered me to remain at camp with the men.”