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)
“We’ll have our own one day,” Knox said, seeing the way his wife looked with longing at the cottage after they mounted his mare.
Dru didn’t need to force a smile, it came naturally. “Aye, but this place will always hold special memories, ones I will always cherish.”
“True enough, but we will make more memories together in our new home,” Knox said confidently as he directed his mare away from the cottage.
“I want to believe that, truly I do, but the truth of it is that we are powerless against someone like Lord Torrance. He can punish and condemn without consequence. And we would be fools not to consider that.”
“Aye, I agree, but we will find a way to deal with him. He hired me to fight along with him because of my exceptional warrior skills. I can pledge my fealty to him, fighting for him whenever needed.”
With a stubborn tilt of her chin, she ordered, “Absolutely not. You will do no such thing.”
He chuckled. “I now feel wed, having a nagging wife.”
“This is not humorous, Knox,” she scolded. “You accepted this mission so you would have land of your own where you could build a life of peace rather than constant fighting. I will not let you give that up for me.”
“You prefer we separate?”
She sighed as if defeated. “There are far too many obstacles in our path to find an easy solution to our problem.”
“One obstacle at a time, Dru, that is our wisest move. We find out who wants Autumn dead and eliminate the threat. With that done, we move to the next one, Lord Torrance.”
“You speak of Autumn as if she is separate from me.”
“For now, it is imperative she remain so.”
“If only we could let her die peacefully, never to surface.”
Knox shook his head. “I don’t believe that would be wise. There are those who know your secret and a secret doesn’t remain a secret if known by others. There is always a risk of it being revealed, leaving us to always live in fear of it being discovered. And if Lord Torrance was to find out about it…” He shook his head again. “I don’t even want to consider the consequences. We see this settled so we never have to fear discovery or revenge.”
She grinned, a need to lighten the troubling discussion. “You really got more than you bargained for when you wed Dru.”
His eyes flared, she thought with desire, then realized she was mistaken. It was love that blazed in them, and she hurried a kiss to his lips.
“I love you too,” she said afterward.
“It wasn’t a fair bargain, wife. I got far more than you did.”
She laughed, running her glance over herself and then him. “Look at the size of me and the size of you. I’m the victor here.”
He tugged her tighter against him. “You may be a wee bit of a thing, but you love with the fierceness of a giant and aren’t afraid of showing it which has helped me to get to know love that much easier.”
He kissed her as he brought his mare to a stop.
It was a strong kiss, a loving kiss, and Dru could not help but say… “You kiss me as if we are saying goodbye.”
“Beyond this point is a path where we may meet others. I don’t want to chance anyone seeing a difference in us than what we have shown thus far—”
“A couple forced to wed since news of the incident at the abbey has to have spread wide by now.”
“Aye, so caution must be taken,” he said, and she nodded as they continued their journey.
They had been riding for a while, the road narrowing as it twisted through a stretch of thick woodland. Dru kept her hood up, her gaze scanning the path ahead while Knox remained silently tense beside her, one hand resting near the hilt of his blade as if expecting trouble at every bend.
It wasn’t until they rounded a slow curve that they saw the cart—small, wobbling slightly under the weight of bundles tied with fraying rope. A merchant sat atop the bench, reins slack in his hand, a half-eaten apple in the other. At the sound of hooves, he looked up and quickly smiled.
“A good morning to you, travelers,” the man called. “Fine day for a bit of trade, if you’ve coin or curiosity.”
“News if you have it,” Knox said, slowing his mare as the cart came to a stop.
“News is always free,” the merchant said, tossing the apple core into the woods. “Though not always welcome.”
“Then it is dire news you share?” Dru asked.
He scratched at his jaw. “For the woman who was caught.”
Knox stiffened. “What woman?”
“Name’s Autumn—or so folk say. Phelan got hold of her not far from the river crossing.”
Dru’s breath faltered.
“Was she alone?” Knox asked.