Chapter 8 #2
“Am I supposed to allow them to lay like that?” Lysander asked. “I’m thinking I might get a sword to my middle for it should her father ever learn of this.”
“I’ll take one to your backside if you don’t leave them be,” Cat said. “I think they make a beautiful couple.”
“I knew she was too quiet,” Viktor said. “I should have known she’d be fast asleep.”
“Well, rouse them,” Bavel added. “I’m hungry enough to eat my boots.”
“I’m awake,” Ewan said gruffly. “Who could sleep with the four of you yapping like a herd of puppies?”
Ewan gently shook Nora awake.
She blinked open her eyes, then smiled at him.
In spite of his best intentions, he smiled back.
“Where are we?” she asked as she realized the wagon was no longer moving.
“I’m not sure,” Viktor said. “We’ve come up to a small village. I thought we might buy ourselves a nice supper and mayhap find a comfortable bed for the night.”
Nora stifled a yawn as she scooted out of the wagon.
Ewan came out behind her and forgot that he was supposed to be injured. The minute he took a step, Nora clucked her tongue at him.
“For shame, my lord, feigning injuries and playing on my good nature. And to think I was worried over you.”
Ewan scratched his chin and sheepishly averted his gaze.
She playfully patted his arm, then stood up on her tiptoes to give him a sisterly kiss on his cheek. “Not that you asked it, but I forgive you.”
They took a few minutes to freshen their appearances. Ewan took Nora’s hand and led them into the town.
He paused long enough to ask if there was a pub and they were directed to the largest cottage in the village.
The gypsies were eerily quiet as they walked along behind them.
The pub’s door was open and several men were seated at tables, drinking from goblets.
“Can I help you good people?” an older woman asked as she came forward to greet them. She had dark auburn hair that was liberally laced with gray and a large, full figure.
Ewan inclined his head. “We’d like some food and beds for the night if you have them.”
The woman led them to a table near the hearth.
“They’re not very friendly here, are they?” Nora asked as she sat down by the wall.
“‘Tis a small town, my lady and most are rather suspicious of our kind.” Catarina winked at her.
“Well, I can’t imagine why.”
“Neither can I,” Ewan said. “Especially since they drugged and then abducted us.”
Viktor’s cheeks darkened.
Catarina and Nora laughed.
“But admit it,” Catarina said. “Your being abducted is the best thing to happen to you.”
Ewan looked at Nora. There might be some truth to that. But he didn’t want to admit it.
After they were served their food, the door opened again.
Ewan saw a man a couple of years older than him enter. He knew there was something familiar about him, but it wasn’t until the man drifted past the table that he realized what.
‘Twas Isobail’s older brother.
His heart stopped. He hadn’t seen Graham MacKaid since the day before Kieran had stolen Isobail away from her father’s house.
“Graham,” the maid said in greeting. “Been awhile since you passed this way. Are you heading home?”
“Aye, though I don’t know why I bother. You have a room for the night?”
“Sorry, love, I just rented my last one out a few minutes ago.”
He cursed and turned to his right which faced him toward where they were eating.
Ewan’s hand tightened on his goblet as he saw rage descend on Graham’s face.
“You,” he snarled. “Fi, I would have expected better of you than to let filth into your establishment.”
Ewan rose to his feet. He’d never been the kind of man to let an insult pass. “You’d best be calming yourself, Graham MacKaid. I’m in no mood for you.”
Graham cast a disdainful look over Nora. “Which of your brothers did you steal her from, hmmm? Everyone knows Ewan MacAllister can’t ever have a woman unless he takes her from someone else.”
He heard Nora’s sharp intake of breath.
Ewan roared in anger as he came around the table to attack.
Nora was dumbfounded as she watched the two men fight.
“You bastard!” Graham snarled as they punched at each other. “You ruined my life.”
Ewan said nothing as he caught the man a blow that sent him straight to the floor.
Ewan picked him up by his shirt and shoved him toward the door. “Leave, Graham. Otherwise, I might kill you.”
Graham laughed, displaying a set of bloody teeth. “Why don’t you then? What’s my life to you? I might as well be dead since your family ruined mine.”
“What did we do to you? ‘Twas your sister who killed my brother.”
Graham spat blood onto the floor and snarled at Ewan. “Isobail would never have left home had it not been for you and your brother. You’re the one who killed Kieran. Don’t try and blame an innocent lass for your deeds. She was a good lass until you ruined her.”
Ewan bent down and caught the man about his waist. He ran at the wall, pinning Graham to it.
Nora was on her feet and across the room before she even realized she’d moved.
“Ewan!” she snapped at him. “Put him down.”
“Nay, not until I kill him.”
Lysander appeared at her side to help her separate them. Nora forced Ewan back while Lysander escorted the other man toward the door.
“Calm down,” she said as she met his blazing eyes.
Graham turned at the door and called out one last parting word. “You never answered my question, MacAllister. Who did you steal her from?”
Ewan took a step, but Nora stopped him. “What are you doing?”
She saw the pain on his face, the torment. She reached up to touch the cut on his lip, but he dodged her hand.
“Don’t touch me.”
He turned about and left her there to stare after him.
Nora followed after him. He was already to the wagon.
“Ewan MacAllister,” she said sharply, “stop right where you are.”
“Go away, Nora. I’m in no mood for you.”
“Why? Because of what that fool said?”
He clenched his teeth and looked away.
She reached up and cupped his face in her hands, then forced him to look at her. “You didn’t steal me from anyone.”
“Think you Ryan will feel that way? You don’t belong to me, Nora. I had no right to you.”