Free Love Across Time by B. J. McMinn

tale?
    When he’d mentioned her family, her eyes had glittered with happiness then faded to disappointment and tears. Her shoulder-racking sobs had nearly unmanned him. Powerless to comfort her, he’d pushed aside the heaviness that constricted his chest and raced from the room to saddle his horse.
    Wind loosened the ribbon holding his hair clubbed at his nape and strands whipped around his face. This is what he needed to clear his mind and rethink Margaret’s accident. He’d often wondered why she’d been in that part of the castle. When he’d rushed to her side, he’d glanced up the dark stairs and noticed that someone had extinguished the lanterns that usually lit the hallway. But in his concern for his wife’s recovery, he hadn’t had time to look into the matter.
    The thunder of horse hooves pounded the ground behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Conner gaining on him. He had been ready to mount when Liam had shot passed him, galloped across the bailey, and dashed toward the trail that lead into the woods.
    He urged his mount faster. Connor would want to discuss how Margaret fared, and with his mind in such a jumble, he doubted he could make sense if he attempted to explain her condition.
    Something whizzed past his back. His horse whinnied as if in pain and broke gait. Raven stumbled and struggled to regain his footing but fell to his knees. Liam yanked his boots from the stirrups to roll clear of his falling horse. Raven toppled sideways, and Liam sailed through the air to land several feet away.
    “Liam! Stay down,” Conner shouted.
    An arrow struck the ground not far from Liam’s extended leg. He jerked his knee up toward his body and rolled over onto his belly. He scrambled to crawl behind his mount and grabbed the reins to hold his horse to the ground for protection. He peered over the edge of the saddle to see Connor disappear into the woods.
    After several seconds had passed, and no more arrows flew at him, he urged Raven back to his feet but still used him for cover. The horse snorted and his body quivered. Liam ran his hand down his forelegs to check for injuries. When he saw none he moved toward the horses flank. A bloody groove creased the top of the stallion’s hips.
    Conner galloped up and kept his mount between Liam the woods. “Are ye hurt?”
    “I be fine. Did ye see anyone?”
    “Nae. I heard someone crashing through the woods and gave chase but ne’er caught a glimpse of the bloody bastard.”
    “I best get Raven home so the stable master can see to his injury.”
    Conner stood up in his stirrups and leaned forward to study the narrow gash two inches behind the saddle. “If the arrow had been a wee dab faster or ye a wee bit slower that very long feathered-splinter would be buried in yer side.” His gaze strayed to the wooded area where he’d searched for the bowman.
    Liam squatted, plucked the arrow from the ground, and stood. Twirling the shaft around in his fingers, he studied the markings and the fletching. The cock feather appeared familiar, but he couldn’t place where he’d seen it before. Perhaps his uncle would recognize it.
    He applied pressure around the horse’s scored flesh to test the seriousness of the injury. When Raven didn’t flinch, Liam mounted, careful not to scrape his boot across the wound. He reined his mount toward home and eased him into a gallop. It wouldn’t be safe to tarry here in case the huntsman returned, and his aim proved more accurate.
    Conner rode between Liam and the dense forest. When they reached an open field that offered no cover for an attacker, he slowed his mount to a more sedate pace.
    “Liam, ye’ve had a muckle lot of accidents and near misses of late. Have ye nae given any thought to who might be wanting ye dead.”
    “The only one to gain from me death would be ye or yer father.” A frown of outrage scrunched Conner’s eyebrows lower on his forehead. “Nae, look so grieved, cousin. I ken neither of ye would see