Page 17 of Love Beyond Words
Much love,
Morna
P.S. If it makes you feel any better, Jerry is very cross with me. He wanted you to know that. He tried to talk me out of all this many, many times.
When Marcus finished reading the letter, he crumpled it up and threw it as hard as he could across the stables.
“This is madness, Laurel. What are we supposed to do until tomorrow?”
I patted my new friend as the horse leaned his large head into my hands. I could see that Marcus was angry, worried, and grappling with how any of this could be real. I was worried for him, too.
“Hey.” I walked across the stall and reached for his hands. “Are you okay? I believe what Morna says. I don’t think she would allow anything to happen to you. If she says that these men are different, I’m certain they are. And as for what we do, I guess we hang out with this big fellow.” I patted the horse as if Marcus didn’t already know who I meant. “At least we are safe in here, and it will be far warmer than camping outside.”
Marcus’ angry expression softened as he pulled one of his hands away from mine to gently cup the side of my face.
“Laurel, as angry as I am with the witch, I’m glad she didn’t bullshit me. Of course, things will be trickier for me here. Although, I imagine things will be more difficult for you here, as well. I’ll be fine. Anything that is said to me, I doubt it will be anything I haven’t heard before. And I agree, if there is any real danger posed to me, surely if Morna has the power to send us here, she has the power to help me out of a bind. I want you to promise me something, Laurel.”
“What?”
“When ignorance rears its ugly head—which it’s bound to—please keep your mouth shut. I know you mean well, but sometimes you tend to make things worse. I can handle myself, okay?”
I knew he was right. Marcus might as well have been my brother for as protective as I was of him.
“I’ll do my best.”
He smiled and threw me the dress he’d draped over the side of the stall and closed his eyes tight.
“That’s all I ask. Now, let’s get changed. The next time I see Morna, I’m going to kill her.”
Laughing, I began to undress. Marcus was the gentlest man I knew. “Says the man who called me when a mouse got into his apartment.”
“All right. Maybe I won’t kill her, but I’m definitely going to give her a piece of my mind.”
“I’m sure you will. Now, help me tie this up, and can you please just try and enjoy this a little bit? We’ve stepped into a world most people have never seen.”
It took a few hours of visiting and me making every possible effort to make him laugh, but as the night wore on, Marcus relaxed.
By the time we stopped talking and decided to try and get some sleep, he was as curious about what the next day would bring as I was.
Our excitement was replaced with fear as we were both startled awake at dawn.
Chapter 10
The Castle of Eight Lairds
* * *
Lifted up by my arms in the middle of a deep sleep, I struggled fruitlessly against the hands that gripped at me as I woke.
A giant of a man with curly red hair and a frizzy red beard held me away from him as I found my footing. He smiled widely but shook his head and clucked his tongue before speaking.
“Ye two are the worst thieves I’ve ever seen. Ye fell asleep in the middle of yer jobs.”
“We’re not…we’re not thieves.”
I glanced over to see Marcus who was being held back by a tall but slender man with dark hair that was cropped short and eyes that were a startling blue. His face was grim. He looked remarkably serious.
Marcus said nothing. He still looked half-asleep.
