Highlander of My Heart (Mcardle Sisters of Courage 1)

Ruddock caught sight of her, his heart slamming in his chest as he rushed down to lift her in a hug.

“What happened?” Sorrell asked and a horrible thought hit her. “Nothing happened to Willow, did it?”

“No,” he assured her, having sent a large troop to escort her here. “It’s Lander. He’s been found… dead. Coyle is dead as well, both murdered.”

Sorrell found herself speechless.

“I need to go see to this and you need to go inside the keep and stay there, and on that I’ll have your word,” Ruddock said, making sure she would do as told.

“I’ll go with you,” she said, latching on to his arm.

“No, Sorrell,” he said firmly. “I will spare you seeing any more horrid death.”

She thought to argue, but bit her bottom lip instead. Did she want more horrid images to haunt her as the ones from the battle with the barbarians continued to do?

“Let it be, Sorrell. I will tell you all when I return.”

She nodded relieved he had denied her this. “I will have food and drink waiting in our bedchamber.”

He turned to go, then turned back, kissed her cheek and whispered, “I love you, wife.”

Sorrell’s heart still fluttered when he’d tell her that. “And I love you, husband.”

She watched him disappear into the dark night and the softly falling snow before she retreated into the keep.

Sorrell paced in front of the bed, the hour growing late or though it seemed. Food and drink sat waiting on the table, not that she was hungry. That two men had been murdered within the confines of the castle made Sorrell think that whoever was responsible for this atrocity had done so out of fear of discovery.

Lander had to have known who the person was, but what had Coyle to do with it? And how could anyone have been so ruthless to kill Coyle while defenseless in the stocks? She also couldn’t stop thinking about what Wilda had said.

But only one is different from the others and that one holds the missing piece.

Who was different from the others?

She shook her head, not able to think clearly, her mind too busy trying to sort the pieces and fit them together. She would share it with Ruddock and see if he understood what Wilda meant and if not him, then Willow. She could reason things far better than most.

The door suddenly opened and for a moment Sorrell froze where she stood. Her feet took flight as soon as she saw her husband. She threw her arms around him, hugging him, and when she turned a smile on him, it quickly faded seeing the annoyance in his eyes.

Sorrell took his hand and tugged him to the table to sit and filled a goblet with wine for him. “Tell me.”

Ruddock swallowed half the wine before he responded. “I was told that Coyle had begged anyone who passed by him to fetch Lord Ruddock. He had something to tell me that couldn’t wait. Every one ignored him, thinking it was a ploy to get his release. I assume he saw something concerning Lander, possibly the person who killed him, and that was what he wanted to tell me and why he was murdered.”

Sorrell disliked Coyle, but she detested that someone killed him in such a cowardly fashion. He had had no chance to defend himself.

“That Coyle didn’t trust anyone to share with what he knew, tells me something,” Sorrell said.

“I reached the same conclusion. He didn’t think anyone would believe him, which means the person who killed Lander and has wreaked havoc on the clan is a trusted and possibly high-regarded individual.”

“So the culprit does walk among us.” Sorrell shook her head. “One person couldn’t inflict this much damage.”

“We think alike, wife. There is more than one person responsible for this madness.”

Sorrell left her seat to plant herself in her husband’s lap and he welcomed her, his arms going around her to tuck her close.

“I had things I wanted to discuss with you about all that has gone on, but I find myself not wanting to talk about this anymore tonight.”

“I’ve had enough of it myself,” he admitted. “I sometimes think I would have preferred to have remained at your home and lived a simpler life. Unfortunately, life is never simple.”

“It can be for one night. Nothing has to exist but you and me tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough to face the problems at hand.”

He cupped her face with his one hand. “First, you will promise me that you will not go anywhere outside or within the confines of the castle walls without Hollis or Bruce accompany you. Also, you will be cautious while in the keep and not place yourself in any position that could prove dangerous.”

“Like here on your lap?” she asked, turning a sweet, wicked smile on him.

His whispered ‘aye’ fell like a gentle breath on her lips before he kissed her.