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Leora ignored the pain in her shoulder, but kept her hand gripped to her husband’s arm so he would not let go of her, though with the strength in which he held her, she didn’t believe he had any intentions of doing so and that was fine with her.

“I would never let another suffer injury that was meant for me,” Leora said, then looked to her husband. “My husband knows me well enough to know that.”

There was no point in arguing with her when she was right. When he yelled at her, he knew she would not leave the two women vulnerable, which did not allow for the stone to completely miss her, though it did allow for it to only graze her shoulder than to suffer a strike to her head that could have left her with a severe wound.

“My wife is right, though she will refuse to admit that her shoulder pains her from the stone striking her there,” Noble said, the stern look he settled on her challenging her to deny it.

“Oh, mistress, please let us see to your care,” the other woman, who was now steady on her feet said.

“Aye, mistress, Brenda is learning the healing ways from the nuns at Whitehall Abbey. She can help you and I can assist her,” Glenna said.

“That is very kind of you both, but it is nothing more than a sore shoulder. It will heal fast enough,” Leora said. “Brenda should see to you, Glenna. You are close to delivering your bairn and a fall cannot be good for you.”

Her words had Glenna’s husband nodding. “Mistress Leora is right. You need to let Brenda look after you.”

“Your husband is right, Glenna,” Noble said. “Rob, go along with your wife and Brenda and see for yourself that all is well.”

“I am most grateful, sir,” Rob said with a bob of his head. “Most grateful and pleased to call you our new chieftain.”

The three turned toward Brenda’s cottage and while Noble wanted to make sure his wife suffered nothing more than a sore shoulder, he spotted Bew waiting impatiently nearby, and so did his wife.

“Your tracker is impatient to speak with you. It must be important news. You also have the fool who threw the stone to confront.”

“Both can wait. It is more important I know the truth about your injury.”

“It pains me some. Now let’s talk with your tracker and then with the stone thrower,” Leora said, fighting to hide the cringe that surfaced far too quickly when she turned. The chunk of stone had hit harder than she had realized.

Noble leaned his head down toward her face. “I can feel you tense with pain.”

Leora sighed, frustrated. “Truthfully, my shoulder pains me, but it will pain me more if I do not hear what your tracker has to say especially since it might pertain to me and to know why the man would take such a foolish chance to wound me when he was aware he would suffer greatly for it, and will other prisoners follow suit? Did we bring danger into the clan?”

It continued to amaze him that her mind worked much like his, more like a warrior bent on victory than a woman set upon and injured.

Leora continued talking. “It is something that must be determined immediately so that no one suffers that which is meant for me.”

“You have already suffered more than I—”

“Minor wounds,” she said, interrupting him. “You have done exactly what my da wanted of you when he arranged our marriage. You have protected me and saved me from far worse injuries and possibly death. My da would be pleased,” —she hesitated before continuing— “and so am I.”

A slight smile tempted the corners of his mouth as he lowered his voice to ask, “Are you saying you are pleased that I am your husband?”

“At the moment,” she said and smiled.

Bloody hell, if her smile didn’t jab at his heart, not to mention the punch to his gut, but it was her quick responses that always seemed to challenge him that he truly enjoyed.

“Now we must not waste any more time. We need to speak to your tracker then to the stone-thrower.”

His arm, firm around her waist, stopped her from taking another step.

“What now?” she asked, impatiently.

“You will tell me if you are in too much pain?”

“That sounds like a command.”

“Does it need to be?” Noble asked.

“Nay, husband, since we have no time to argue over it,” she said, and her smile brightened. “And you knew that when you commanded it. You are far too predictable, husband.”