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Dru squared her shoulders and snapped, “Aye, sir!” Then she ran off laughing.

By the end of the day, Quint was furious. Nothing and no one could be found. There was no explanation as to what happened. Thankfully, the young warrior had woken and was doing well. The only thing he could tell them was that he heard what he thought were footfalls and went to see. That was when he was hit from behind unable to see the culprit. Quint could only surmise what had occurred and he shared it with Nug in the solar.

“I assume someone left the village to deliver or receive a message. The sentinel heard the person retreating and went after him and fearing the fellow might be caught and all revealed, the person who was returning to the village hit the sentinel with a rock.”

“It can’t be any of the clan members. They have been through too much together. They would never harm one of their own. That leaves four possibilities. Witley, Monty, Brother Peter, and Dru.”

Quint looked ready to explode, he got so angry. “You truly believe Dru would have anything to do with this?”

“She is not part of the clan and when you sent word for me to go with Dru when she searched the hiding spots she knew of, she wasn’t to be found. She didn’t want me to go with her. Why if she had nothing to hide?”

“She is faster on her feet than you and it is no wonder she doesn’t seek a permanent home here. It is obvious she is not welcome to do so.”

“I say what I must to keep my clan safe. You may trust Dru, but she presents too many problems for me to trust her,” Nug argued.

“Or is it that she gets the best of you more often than not,” Quint accused.

“It is a thought we must consider like it or not,” Nug continued to argue. “It is unlikely it is Brother Peter since he is a man of God and has administered endlessly to the people while here.”

“Not all men of God are Godly, Nug.”

“Still, the likely culprit is either Witley or Monty since they are mercenaries and work for whoever will pay them the most.”

“Witley has found himself a woman and has been spending more time with her than doing anything else. She confirmed he was with her last night. And Monty is not the brightest warrior and since being here, he has been helping tend to the animals. He spent last night seeing to a sick horse, which a clam member confirmed. Monty also asked my wife if there was any help she could offer the animal. She examined the animal explained what to do and advised them both to stay the night and keep watch over the horse.”

“I know you don’t want to believe it, but after eliminating all those who possibly could be at fault, it leaves Dru. And with her being the only one who investigated the hiding spots or even knows they exist, then I’d say she is the guilty one. For the clan’s sake, at least consider it.”

“Leave me,” Quint ordered and Nug left.

He grabbed his tankard of ale and went to the chair in front of the hearth to sit. He couldn’t say he had known Dru for very long, but he felt he knew her well. She had spoken about wintering here and how Chieftain Ryland treated her well, but he could tell from her own lack of words that Clan MacLeish was not home to her, and now he understood why. She might laugh off Nug’s insults, but they had hurt and had made her feel that she wasn’t welcome.

He heard the door open. “Unless you are my wife, go away,” Quint ordered.

“Then it is good I am your wife,” Shade said as she rested her hand on his shoulder.

Quint placed his tankard on the table beside the chair and reached around to grab his wife by the waist and place her on his lap. “You, in my arms, is exactly what I need right now.”

“No luck in finding the culprit?” Shade asked, settling herself comfortably in his embrace.

“Nug believes it is Dru.”

Shade laughed. “That’s nonsense.”

“He insists all evidence points to her.”

“Nug is wrong and please do not let him make you doubt Dru for a minute.”

“I don’t. I know Dru better than Nug.”

“Then maybe it’s Nug who is at fault. Maybe he wanted to meet with someone, and he didn’t want you to know about it. Maybe he’s worried you might try and rule the clan permanently.”

“You are a wise woman. I never thought of that,” Quint admitted.

She caressed the wrinkles between his eyes caused by his scowl. “This is not going to be settled tonight. Come to bed and think on it tomorrow.”

He brushed his lips over hers. “Will you help me forget it for the rest of the evening?”

“I will do my best,” she said and kissed him with a hunger that soon had his manhood rising and poking at her.