Free Blessing The Highlander by J. Lee Coulter Page B

himself, his face all but bursting to say something he knew he would regret.
                 “Seonaid!” he cried out as he hurried to her side. Kneeling next to her, he examined her injuries. She jerked back vibrating with fear not identifying him at first. “Shhh, mo gradh, tis Garrick,” he crooned tenderly.
                 As her vision cleared, she propelled herself into his arms... immense sobs wracking her tiny frame. “Did he injure ye, mo cridhe?” he whispered in her ear. She shook her head. He procured her chin gently in his hand raising her gaze to his. “I ask again… wife,” more sternly this time. “Did he harm ye?”
                 Seonaid’s tearful eyes widened as she realized what he was asking. “Nay, husband. He but struck me and added to my bruises. He did nae have time for more.”
                 With a brisk nod he believed what she said as true. He cleared his throat as he drew her against him and kissed the top of her head. He was still very angry. With her for going about unescorted, with her attacker for assaulting her and for what he had said, and utmost of all, with himself for not safeguarding her.
                  He rose, cradling her in his arms and strode toward the semi-conscious bloody heap on the floor. He kicked the man’s leg to get his attention and growled, “Ye live, thanks ta me lady’s accounting of your misdeeds. Ye will now apologize ta her and thank her for your insignificant life.” The man did so quickly and profusely. Garrick’s eyes narrowed on the man warning him, “Most significant of all, remember this...if ye ever, so much as gaze upon me countess again… I will have ye drawn and quartered after the aforementioned retribution I cited is carried out. Do nae doubt this!”
                 With that threat he spun around bearing Seonaid back to their room.

 
    Chapter V
     
     
     
                Garrick was fuming. She required no gift to see that it was true. What she did not seem to fathom was why he was angry at her. His cobalt eyes glared at her as he growled to himself, ran his hand through his hair, and spun around walking ten paces. Then he repeated the same ritual again. He had been doing it ever since they returned to their room. He had spoken not one word to her. All he did was scowl.
                 Seonaid decided it would be wiser to stay silent while he gathered his thoughts and calmed himself. She had tried to read his thoughts once but he had shot her such a furious look that she backed off.
                 Finally, he turned to her saying sternly, “Stay here. I will be back presently.” She opened her mouth to inquire where he was going but the look he gave her stopped her cold. Then he was gone.
                 Her stomach rumbled in protest as their food seemed to have been forgotten in the chaos below. She wrung her hands as her thoughts ran rampant. He will nae want me now. I can see his regrets about wedding me. I am too much trouble. There was a wrenching pain in her chest at the thought of losing Garrick. He must be kenning that he has made a poor bargain indeed. If only I kenned of my clansmen...then I might have some value in his eyes. But I remember naught. Tearfully she lay down on the bed and curled up in a ball…crying herself to sleep.
                 Garrick was frustrated. He proceeded to the stables in search of Angus. Mayhap he had found the man that was spoken of by his wife’s attacker. He was fearful of losing Seonaid if her clansmen appeared. His scowl darkened. That he would not allow! He came upon William first and elected to send him on to Castle Brodie to apprise them that they would be delayed. He had noticed a storm rolling in and he did not want Seonaid to become ill. They would wait a day or two for it to pass. As William readied his horse to leave Garrick added, “Send out twenty men on the morrow