Highlander of My Heart (Mcardle Sisters of Courage 1)

Ruddock felt his heart swell with joy. He had the best wife and he wanted all to know how he felt about her. “I love her even more.”

Lana smiled. “You have found a love as strong as your father’s,” —she paused and shook her head— “I don’t understand how your da fell prey to the lies. He was always so cautious, needing proof before he would even pass judgement on anyone in the clan.”

“Did this Slatter speak with Father Andrew?” Ruddock asked.

“I saw him coming from the church a couple of times, but I can’t say if he spoke with Father Andrew,” Lana said. “I did see him speak with Wilda a few times.”

“Ruddock told me you’re familiar with the healer in the woods,” Sorrell said.

“Sage,” Lana said with a nod. “She has been here three years now and the women trust her. She is pleasant unlike Wilda.”

“Though Wilda is a wise healer,” Hugh said. “My arm may be useless, but she refused to remove it when others insisted I would die if she didn’t. And as long as it is there, I can hope that by some miracle it may be useful again one day. She also saved Lander’s life after losing his tongue.”

Lana shook her head. “And she claimed that liars get what they deserve. Lander avoided her after he healed.”

“Did he start the rumor about me not being my father’s son?” Ruddock asked.

“So many tongues were wagging, I couldn’t say for sure who started it. I do know it spread fast.”

“So my father had time to at least make an attempt to find out the truth,” Ruddock said.

“His word was good enough for everyone and once he disavowed you, there were few who didn’t believe him. Unfortunately, when Hugh’s troop was attacked and he and Lander claimed to have seen you on the hill watching, then there was no one who doubted Lord Finn’s claim.”

“Except Lana,” Hugh said, reaching out and taking her hand. “She continued to believe in you, her friend. She told me over and over again that I couldn’t have seen you. That you would never have allowed anyone to harm me. She never gave up on you.”

Lana looked to Ruddock. “I was there when you and Hugh made that pact with your blood. I knew that you both would die before letting harm come to each other. There was no way you would have stood by and seen Hugh hurt.”

“You know my husband well,” Sorrell said more than pleased that someone had continued to believe in him.

“I appreciate the faith you have in me, Lana,” Ruddock said. “Is there anything else that you recall about that time that might help us solve this puzzle?”

“Things changed rapidly once Slatter was gone. Your father had not been well and it began to show on him. People were divided. What were they to believe? Their beloved Lady Alida had been marked a…” Lana would not repeat what Lady Alida had been called. “Then Father Andrew got sick and died. Your father turned terribly angry after that.

“I am grateful for you sharing this with me,” Ruddock said. “There is one other thing, Lana. Is there any reason why the healer in the woods doesn’t come to the castle?”

“Wilda told her she’s not welcome here and to stay away,” Lana said.

“Then she would come if I summoned her?”

“I don’t see why not,” Lana said.

When Ruddock stood, signaling that the meeting had ended, Sorrell looked to her husband, “A word with you, please?”

“I’ll see my wife out and wait in the Great Hall for your summons,” Hugh said.

“I will pay a visit soon,” Sorrell said with a smile to Lana.

“I look forward to it, my lady,” Lana said and took her husband’s hand as they left the room.

Ruddock rested his hands on his wife’s waist, lifted her, and walked with her feet dangling above the floor to sit her on the edge of the desk. He planted his hands to either side of her and kissed her.

“You feel well, wife?” he asked, having been concerned after she had detailed her nightmare to him over breakfast. And how adamant she had been that the nightmare had warned there were two people out to see them both dead.

“I do very well,” she reassured him.

“Then what troubles you?” He kissed her again.

She draped her arms over his shoulders and leaned close. “That your kisses make me forget what I wanted to ask you.”

Ruddock laughed and kissed her quick. “You have too sharp of a mind for that to happen.”

“You underestimate the power of your prowess,” she said with a wink.

“I never underestimate that, wife,” he whispered near her lips, then kissed her with the prowess that was so very familiar to her.

A knock sounded at the door and Erland called out, “Sorry to disturb, Lord Ruddock, but the morning wanes and there’s work to be done.”