Page 71 of Bride Takes a Charmer

“Shhh, sweetheart, say naught more.” Shaw caressed her hair and smiled lightly. “God answered our prayers…well,myprayers. I thought ye were dead and it crushed me.”

“How did you get to me? When I was lying there, I looked around to see if there was a way to make it back up the rise but I couldn’t see any.”

He sighed deeply. “Henny tied a rope around himself but it unraveled and he fell too. Only he did not make it. His injuries took him. We buried him as soon as we returned.”

“Oh, Shaw, this distresses me. He died trying to save me.” Sorsha pressed her hand on his leg. “I am sorry because ’tis my fault.”

“Nay, it was no fault of yours but another’s. The rope gave way and Henny fell but Walen was able to make it down the cliff. He stayed with ye whilst we sent for help.” He leaned forward and set his head next to hers. “I thought I lost ye.”

“Where is Corliss? Did she confess?” Sorsha needed to know where the horrid woman was.

“Corliss is being held by the clan until I have time to deal with her.” Shaw pressed his hand on the side of her neck, fondling the curve of her shoulder. “I held such guilt for what happened to ye. I trusted Corliss and did not suspect any discord between us. How wrong I was.”

“She is your sister, and of course, you would not think such things. Why would she want to hurt me? What do you think she meant when she said that I was in her way?” Sorsha couldn’t reason the woman’s motives for wanting to harm her.

“That morn, when I left the tent, we were asked by Cadger to find a missing ox. Most of us went to help the man except for Walen who I left to look after ye and Idris who was eating his morning fare by the fire. I never suspected Idris would try to kill me.”

Sorsha gasped at his admission. “What! Idris tried to kill you? When?”

“When I got back to the camp, Walen told me that ye and Corliss went to the river. I bade all to stay there whilst I went to fetch ye. On the way, Idris stabbed me in the back. Henny followed me and he attacked Idris and slew him.”

“Oh, gracious, Shaw. How badly were you wounded? Have you mended?” Sorsha took his face in her hands and held him. She peered into his eyes and when he closed them, she sighed.

“’Tis naught to worry over. Louis mended me. I hardly feel it at all now.”

“Promise me that you are healed.” She implored him with a deep gaze.

“Almost, sweetheart, but soon enough I shall be good. ’Tis beginning to heal. That is why I have waited to meet with Corliss. There is something else I must tell ye and ye might be daunted by it.”

She raised his face, feeling the tickle of his whiskers on her palms. “What is it?”

“I must meet with my allies soon…and vowed to at the end of October. ’Tis a matter of importance which is the only reason that I would leave ye now, especially with ye ailing.”

Sorsha patted the bedside on the opposite side of her hurt leg. “Come and lie with me.” Shaw rounded the bedside and with care, he shifted to position his body as close to hers as he could. She shimmied her bottom so that she lay more on her side and flung her arm over his hard torso.

“Shaw, there is naught you can do to help me improve. But I worry about this so-called meeting you are having with your allies. It will not be dangerous, will it?”

“I will not tell ye a falsehood. It could become dangerous, och I will have many allies with me and my soldiers protecting me. There is no turning back. We must go forth and—”

“Are you warring with another clan?” She pressed herself upward a little to better see his face but he avoided looking at her.

With his eyes lowered, Shaw was quiet for a long moment. “Aye, sweetheart, we are. We war with the Chattans.”

Before she could voice her displeasure at hearing his retort, the children ran into the chamber. Shaw reached for Gillian and set her daughter beside her. Luthor stood beside the bed until Shaw too hoisted him onto the bedding. Just seeing the children lightened her mood.

“Mama, are you well now?”

She smiled to appease her sweet lass. “I am well enough but I shall be stuck in this bed for a time. I am in no danger.” At least, she hoped that was the truth. Until Louis returned to check her over again, she was uncertain about her condition.

Shaw gently yanked one of her daughter’s tresses. “Gilly lass, ye know your mama is going to need tending to and I must leave. Will ye and Luthor make sure your mama has company whilst she convalesces?”

Both children nodded.

Sorsha grabbed Gillian’s hand and then Luthor’s. “I shall be quite content if you come and join me during the day.”

“Will you tell us more stories?” Luthor asked.

“Of course, I shall. Now, go and find Enid for the midday meal.”