Highlander of My Heart (Mcardle Sisters of Courage 1)

He appeared a man of power, though his size and his angry look gave one pause and cautioned one to keep a distance. The thing Sorrell didn’t understand was why the warriors appeared fearful of him. You could see it in how they avoided standing too close to him and how they tensed when he snapped orders.

Ruddock turned a glare on the warrior who Sorrell had knocked off his feet. “What were you doing on the ground?” Before the warrior could respond, Ruddock turned to the other warrior. “And why aren’t Melvin and Dole working on the fence?”

Both men’s eyes went to Sorrell.

Ruddock looked to his wife and when he saw her bare feet, he demanded, “Where are your shoes?”

“In my room where I left them when I came upon my sisters packing my things.”

“Go!” he ordered with a raised voice, but not a shout, dismissing his warriors.

“You should have told me last night,” she said, walking Prince over to the fenced area next to the stable and freeing him to run out the rest of his agitation.

“I didn’t want to spoil the evening,” Ruddock admitted, joining her by the fence. “Last night would have been ruined if I had told you and I didn’t want that.”

Hearing that, she was glad he hadn’t told her last night. She would have never had the wonderful memories they had made.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t have wanted that either,” she confessed.

“A wife who admits when she is wrong. I’m a lucky man.”

“Not too lucky, since I’m rarely wrong,” she said with a teasing smile and thought how easily she calmed around him.

Ruddock gave a quick laugh. “I’ll have to remember that.” He reached out and eased her close to him. “I wish I could give you more time with your sisters, but it is imperative I return home at once,”

“A few days will matter?” she asked, resting her hand on his chest and recalling what a comfortable pillow it had made last night.

“I wish it wouldn’t. I’d like us to spend more time here before taking you home. Unfortunately, I can’t delay my return. My father is dying and I don’t know how much time he has left.”

Sorrell’s stomach roiled and her heart hurt for her husband, reminded of her own da’s death and the pain it had brought. She wanted to hug him close and ease his pain, but there was no sadness in his eyes or sorrow in his voice. He didn’t care that his father was dying. Why? What had happened to make him feel that way?

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “Of course, you must leave right away.”

“My lord,” a warrior called out, interrupting their private moment. “You are needed.”

Sorrell contained her annoyance. She needed time to speak with him. It wasn’t necessary that she go with him? She could join him later, though the idea left an ache in her heart. Would she miss him too much?

“We leave at mid-day. Hurry and get done.”

She took hold of his arm when he went to walk away. “There are things we need to discuss.”

“On the journey home.”

“No, they need to be discussed here,” she said firmly. “I will not see two stocks erected here. We don’t punish our clan that way. And you of all people should know that Melvin and Dole aren’t capable of building a fence.”

“I have no time for this, Sorrell.”

“Make time,” she snapped.

“Go speak to James, it has already been discussed and agreed upon. Now go prepare to take your leave. The hour will be upon us soon.”

He turned and strode off before she could say another word, his commanding manner irritating her.

“Sorrell,” he called out without looking back. “Don’t ever interfere with my command again.”

She was about to go after him and tell him exactly what he could do with his command when she heard Prince’s agitated cry. She turned to see a figure on the edge of the woods, bow and arrow in hand ready to release the arrow arched in the air.

The target was obvious… her husband.

She took off running, gaining as much speed as she could while screaming the name most familiar to her. “John!”

He turned just as she hurdled herself into his arms with such force that he stumbled, the arrow grazing Sorrell’s upper arm as it whizzed past them.

Chaos broke loose, Ruddock yelling out what sounded like a battle cry and warriors descending on them, some rushing into the woods, others keeping guard around the couple.

“Do you have a death wish, wife, risking your life to save mine?” Ruddock asked, trying to keep the fury and fright out of his voice as he dropped his arm from around her waist, his stomach clenching with fear that he might have lost her.

His heart slammed against his chest when he saw the blood that stained her sleeve. “You’re bleeding.”