Page 77 of The Fierce Highlander

Noble had the word spread throughout the village of an immediate attack instead of sounding an alarm so that his warriors could reach the woods and attack the troop from behind. Unfortunately, they were unable to stop the first barrage of arrows, but they were able to make it be the last barrage of arrows.

“All but three are dead,” Finley said, specks of blood on his face. “The fight was quick, the archers unprepared to face Gallowglass warriors. I don’t think the troop of archers were native to the area.”

“Not native to the area and unprepared can mean only one thing… they had not been told who it was they were hired to attack. They paid a dear price for their ignorance,” Noble said and looked to where the three surviving archers were having their hands tied behind their backs and forced to kneel.

“They did, which means they may be more than willing to talk. I will wait with the captives while you go speak with your wife,” Finley said.

“You surmise I will speak to my wife first before questioning the captives?” Noble asked, which, of course, he intended to do, but he was surprised Finley had known his intentions.

Finley shrugged. “Mistress Leora would be at your side by now if something wasn’t stopping her.”

“I see I am not the only one who has gotten to know my wife,” Noble said.

“Mistress Leora has made herself known to everyone throughout the clan and our warriors. There isn’t a person here who doesn’t return her smile. Even that cranky old man who does nothing but complain smiles when he sees your wife and stops to talk with her when he barely says two words to anyone else.” Finley lowered his voice. “That is why Mistress Leora cannot be the granddaughter of that cranky old woman, she is far too pleasant.”

Noble had to smile. “You have a point there, Finley. Leora took shelter in Adele’s cottage with Lady Elizabeth, so I believe all is well with her. As soon as I make sure, I will return here to speak with the captives.”

It was with a hasty pace Noble left Finley. He was glad Finley had shared his thoughts on the unlikelihood of Leora being Lady Elizabeth’s granddaughter. It made him feel more confident that Leora was no relationship to the cranky woman.

He hurried to Adele’s cottage, confident that Leora was busy calming Lady Elizabeth and did not bother to knock on the door. He flung it open, and his heart slammed against his chest, and his eyes rounded in shock. His wife was bent over the small table, her garments hiked up onto her back and her backside red with blood that ran down her leg.

“What are you doing? Go away! Go away now!” Lady Elizabeth screeched and slammed the door in his face.

CHAPTER22

Fury replaced the shock that had gripped Noble, and he kicked the door open and stepped inside and with an anger that permeated the small room, he ordered, “Get out!”

Lady Elizabeth spoke up with a tremor in her voice. “This is most inappropriate.”

“Another word from you and it will be your last,” Noble warned with controlled fury.

Novice Angelica hurried to take hold of Lady Elizabeth’s arm and rushed her out the door. Chief didn’t move from where he sat near Leora.

“Do not dare move!” Noble ordered when his wife was about to stand.

His angry command stilled her as well as sending a chill through her. She had seen anger swirl in his deep blue eyes on occasion but what she saw now in his eyes appeared more of a raging storm about to break loose.

“It is nothing more than a minor and inconvenient wound,” she said, hoping to quell his anger as he approached her.

“That’s a lot of blood on your backside and running down your leg,” he said as he stopped just behind her and pressed his hand on her lower back when she went to get up. “I told you not to move.”

Leora did not bother to argue since she knew it would do her little good. She let herself relax, releasing a soft sigh as she balanced herself on her elbows and kept her head turned toward him as best as she could, from the position she was in, while she spoke with him. “There is not as much blood as there appears to be. It is because water mixes with the blood. Novice Angelica was cleaning the wound when you entered unannounced.”

“I do not need to announce myself anywhere in the clan, I am chieftain,” he said, snatching up a clean cloth and gently wiping her backside dry to get a better look at the wound.

Anger lingered in his voice but had quelled some and Leora hoped to quell it more. “I believe the arrow hit the cottage, then grazed me, my garments and my quick response to your command preventing a far worse wound.”

His hand followed where the cloth had been, and his intimate touch sent a slight shiver through her.

“Novice Angelica believes a thick coating of honey should seal it well enough, though she did warn that sitting might prove uncomfortable for a day or so.” She shut her eyes tight trying to ignore his hand gently stroking her backside. His touch, one of concern, still managed to spark her desire for him, and if he didn’t stop soon…

“Keep touching me like that and you will soon need to satisfy the passion you are fast igniting in me,” she warned, and his hand fell off her, to her disappointment.

“Bloody hell,” he mumbled.

She smiled. “Good, I am not alone in what I feel. You feel it as well.”

“You are wounded,” he said as if needing to remind himself. “And I have prisoners to talk to.”

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