Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“I have not finished my mission,” Knox said, concerned over the sudden summons.
“I have my orders. You are to come with us,” the warrior ordered and mounted his horse.
His actions left no room for debate. Knox was to obey without question.
“A few moments to say our goodbyes,” Knox said and turned away from the warrior not waiting for a reply. He slipped a few coins into his wife’s hand and whispered in her ear. She hurried off and he went to get his mare.
Dru hurried to the MacTavish brothers and nudged them awake with her foot. “I need a favor.”
The jingle of coins had them all sitting up fast.
“The cleric that wed Knox and me was coerced into claiming an innocent woman was Autumn,” she explained.
“God help her,” Reena said, clinging tightly to Atley.
“You need us to dispute the news?” Quim asked.
“As fast as you can,” Dru said, though wasn’t sure if it would help. Wasn’t sure if she should finally own the truth.
“Who is the woman?” Olin said with a stretch.
Dru handed coins to each of them. “Me.”
That had the four brothers rushing to their feet, Reena as well.
“I’ll beat him senseless,” Quim said, and his brothers were quick to agree.
“Someone beat you to it and the reason he named me, a useless urchin that no one cared about or would miss,” Dru said, thinking how the life she created to survive would in the end be her downfall.
Fyre reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder. “The cleric is a fool and ignorant as well. You have friends who would miss you greatly.”
The other brothers agreed with nods and strong ayes.
“You helped me, a stranger to you, and I will do whatever I can to help you,” Reena said, tears filling her eyes. “I know the horrors of being condemned with the name Autumn and I would not wish them on any woman.”
Condemned.
Had she been condemned since birth, Dru wondered. And why? Was it because of her father or because of her mother?
“Have no worries, Dru, we’ll see to it,” Quim assured her.
Reena didn’t look convinced. “You need to be careful. Some will pay no heed to the truth, their only thought—to fill their pocket with coin.”
“Knox will keep me safe. Besides, Lord Torrance has summoned Knox. Several of his warriors are here to escort us to him.”
Silence struck the brothers and Reena paled.
Quim finally spoke. “Not good, Dru. What if the news of you being Autumn reaches Lord Torrance before you and Knox do? What then is your fate?”
“Or Knox’s fate?” Fyre said. “He’s as vulnerable to Lord Torrance as you are.”
A grin spread over Dru’s face—unbidden—surprising her. Her resolve, her tenacity that helped her survive sprung alive like never before. It was more than only survival she was fighting for this time—it was for a decent life with a man she loved and who loved her. And she couldn’t let anything stop her, especially fear.
“Have some faith in me, fellows. I may be a wee lass, but I’m a powerful one.”
The brothers laughed.
“That you are, Dru,” Quim said.
“Dru!”
She turned to see her husband, raising his hand to summon her. She nodded and turned to the MacTavish brothers. “Thanks for the help, fellows.”
“Stay safe, Dru,” Fyre said, and the other brothers joined in saying the same as did Reena.
Dru hurried to her husband, grateful for the many friends she never realized she had.
“The leader has given you no indication of why Lord Torrance summoned you?” Dru asked as they rode surrounded by Torrance’s warriors.
“I don’t believe he knows. His task was to take me to Torrance. Me. When I mentioned my wife was coming with me, the warriors appeared surprised. So, I don’t believe Torrance knows I am wed.”
“Do you think there is a chance that someone delivered a woman to him who he believes is Autumn?” she asked, trying to prepare for whatever situation they might face.
“I suppose there could be that, or it could be that Lord Torrance has changed his mind and has lost all interest in finding his half-sister.”
“How great would that be?” Dru shook her head. “But with my lack of luck that isn’t even a possibility.”
Knox poked her playfully in the stomach. “You got lucky when you met me, and I agreed to wed you.”
She smiled, then chuckled. “You got that backwards. It’s you that got lucky meeting me and me agreeing to wed you.”
His teasing worked—he got a smile out of her. And she was right.
“The luckiest day of my life was when I went for that swim and I latched onto a wee, tenacious lass and never let go.”
Dru sighed heavily and batted her lashes at him playfully. “You forgot perfect and beautiful.”
His tone turned serious. “Aye, the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Her heart skipped a beat, his response was so heartfelt.