Highlander of My Heart (Mcardle Sisters of Courage 1)

Ruddock ran a tender caress down her cheek and along her jaw. “That is utter nonsense, wife. You were braver today than I have ever seen you. It takes courage to stand there while fighting goes on around you, not knowing what will happen, and taking quick action when a sword is about to claim your life. The way you flung your cloak and caught it on his sword made it easier for me to strike with one blow. We stopped him together.”

“You are a good husband to say that.”

“I speak the truth.”

“The truth is that you fought those savages without fear while I trembled in fright,” she argued.

“Fear is instinctive. It resides with every warrior when entering battle. It’s what keeps a warrior fighting to survive and conquer death, as you did when you flung your cloak. You were no different from every warrior there.”

“Do the screams go away?” she asked.

“I would like to tell you they do, but I’ve found they hide and creep up on you when least expected.”

“I feel a coward for asking, but I don’t want to leave your arms tonight,” she said.

“You are not a coward and I will not hear such nonsense. In my arms are where you will remain all night long.” Her eyes suddenly turned away from him and he could see she struggled with whatever it was she wished to say. “Sorrell, you can tell me anything.”

“I don’t want to disappoint you, but I fear I’m not up to making love tonight. I simply want to lay here with you wrapped around me.”

“I have you in my arms and that’s all that matters,” he assured her, though wondered how he got so lucky to find such a loving and giving wife.

He was relieved to feel her body begin to relax against him and to help ease her even more he told her about the discussion he had with Hugh.

“I think Hugh will be a great help to you and I believe he is still a loyal friend to you, even more so now with the truth coming to light. The more the truth is revealed, the more secrets will be discovered.”

“It is good to have a friend again,” Ruddock admitted.

“Hopefully you will have a da again as well.”

“I fear that is impossible. There is nothing that can bring my father and me together.”

“But there is… the love you both have for your mum. As much as your da doesn’t want to admit it, he hasn’t stopped loving your mum. That could be the very thing that helps solve this mystery and brings you both together again.”

“Quite unlikely,” Ruddock said, though silently wished otherwise.

“I thought it would take time for your da to care anything about me, but he paid me a visit to see how I was and sat and talked with me. He told me I was a courageous wife.”

“He did?” Ruddock asked surprised, though pleased that his father had been thoughtful to Sorrell.

“Aye, he offered me words of comfort and I believe he meant them and that they came from his heart.”

“He doesn’t have a heart, at least not for his son.”

“Perhaps he had hardened his heart from the pain of losing the woman he loved, then thinking he had also lost the son he loved.”

“He should have never doubted either,” Ruddock argued.

“Forgiveness can be difficult, but we all do foolish things, some more foolish than others. Your da needs to see how foolish he was before he can ask your forgiveness.”

“My father would never ask for forgiveness and I wouldn’t forgive him.”

“Like father like son,” she said on a yawn.

“You need to sleep,” he said, trying not to think on her words. He was not like his father. Or was he?

“I fear I will have nightmares,” she said with a shiver.

Her shiver rippled over him and he hugged her, wishing he could reassure her that no nightmares would invade her sleep. Unfortunately, he couldn’t, since nightmares almost always followed battle.

“You will be here tucked safely in my arms,” he said.

She yawned again and Ruddock eased them down on the bed and pulled the blanket over them.

“Sleep. I’ll not leave your side,” he assured her.

She snuggled against him and tried to fight sleep, frightened of what awaited her, but exhaustion claimed her and she fell into a deep sleep.

They won’t survive. They couldn’t with so many barbarians descending on her and her husband and no one to help them. He slayed them one after another, but they kept coming. They didn’t stop. Sorrell turned and in the distance stood a man and another figure not far from him. The one figure was blurred, too difficult to make out, but there was something familiar about the man. He was too far away for her to see him clearly, and yet, she knew he smiled as he watched her and her husband about to meet their death.