hadn’t Cearnach called? Trouble was all that came to mind. His
brother was in trouble.
“Send six men to the church and scout around.”
Duncan arched an eyebrow. The order was clear. Ian didn’t want Duncan to lead them.
Ian folded his arms. He’d already tried to convince Cearnach not to go to the wedding.
He wasn’t about to explain himself to each of his other brothers concerning this matter.
Then he shook his head. Hell . When had he become such a softy? When a little red she-wolf had turned his world
upside down, that’s when.
“I need you here. If the men report that nothing is the matter, then we have no cause
for concern. If there’s trouble, I’ll need you to take care of the matter.”
Armed with his sword sheathed at his back and a dirk in his boot, Duncan didn’t respond,
his expression one of battle readiness. Ian didn’t want Duncan killing someone before
he knew all the facts. That was one of the reasons Ian led the pack, not Duncan. That
plus the fact that Ian was the eldest and Duncan the youngest by several minutes.
“Duncan?”
“Aye, Ian, but if anything’s happened to Cearnach…” He let his words trail away.
Flynn withdrew his ghostly sword and sliced through the air as if he would take on
the men who dared harm Cearnach himself.
“Aye, Duncan. We will deal with it,” Ian said.
“In the harshest manner possible,” Duncan said, as if seeking clarification.
Duncan had to know that if any harm came to their brother, Ian would stop at nothing
to pursue those responsible. “Aye.”
Bowing his head in deference to his brother’s leadership and position, Duncan turned
around to give the word.
“Duncan, let your mate’s Uncle Ethan go with them.”
Duncan stopped in the doorway and offered a small smile over his shoulder.
The American had been giving Ian trouble ever since he’d arrived with Shelley’s family,
but only because the Scots-born, transplanted Texan was a born leader of men. “He
won’t be in charge.”
“Aye, one of our cousins will be.”
“Better make it Oran, then. He’s about the only one who can butt heads with Ethan
and still remain on top.” Besides Ian and his brothers, that was, and Oran could barely
keep the lead over Ethan.
Oran had a ready sword hand and a temper to match his red hair. Muscular and ready
for a fight, he would face any foe. He had a steady head also, and he was perfect
for the job.
“Shelley’s uncle will be grateful for the opportunity.” Then Duncan left the solar,
and Flynn scowled at Ian and took off after Duncan.
Julia, Ian’s lovely red-wolf mate, entered the solar, her expression shadowed with
worry. “Are you going after Cearnach?”
Ian gathered her up in his arms, kissed her lightly on the lips, then hugged her tight.
“He’ll be all right. He’s a warrior at heart. He’ll be all right.” He repeated the
words as if by doing so, he could make them true. But he wasn’t sure.
Cearnach should have called him.
Chapter 8
Cearnach dove after Elaine into the icy water, his heart skipping beats as he saw
her lose her footing and the force of the river carry her away. He followed after
her, paddling as fast as his legs could go to catch up. She looked worn out, trying
to keep her head above water, dipping her nose in, then lifting it and sneezing. She
was unable to keep her footing on the slippery rocks and pull herself out of the river.
In their favor, the sunlight was quickly fading. The farmers who had been shooting
at them could no longer get close enough to the river while driving the truck, and
Cearnach doubted they could see the wolves swimming in the dark water.
The roar in the distance warned Cearnach that the waterfall was coming up. The currents
quickened, pulling them faster toward the sound of the falls.
All in a rush, the memories of the panic he’d felt when he’d been showing off to Calla
as a young lad came back to him.
brother was in trouble.
“Send six men to the church and scout around.”
Duncan arched an eyebrow. The order was clear. Ian didn’t want Duncan to lead them.
Ian folded his arms. He’d already tried to convince Cearnach not to go to the wedding.
He wasn’t about to explain himself to each of his other brothers concerning this matter.
Then he shook his head. Hell . When had he become such a softy? When a little red she-wolf had turned his world
upside down, that’s when.
“I need you here. If the men report that nothing is the matter, then we have no cause
for concern. If there’s trouble, I’ll need you to take care of the matter.”
Armed with his sword sheathed at his back and a dirk in his boot, Duncan didn’t respond,
his expression one of battle readiness. Ian didn’t want Duncan killing someone before
he knew all the facts. That was one of the reasons Ian led the pack, not Duncan. That
plus the fact that Ian was the eldest and Duncan the youngest by several minutes.
“Duncan?”
“Aye, Ian, but if anything’s happened to Cearnach…” He let his words trail away.
Flynn withdrew his ghostly sword and sliced through the air as if he would take on
the men who dared harm Cearnach himself.
“Aye, Duncan. We will deal with it,” Ian said.
“In the harshest manner possible,” Duncan said, as if seeking clarification.
Duncan had to know that if any harm came to their brother, Ian would stop at nothing
to pursue those responsible. “Aye.”
Bowing his head in deference to his brother’s leadership and position, Duncan turned
around to give the word.
“Duncan, let your mate’s Uncle Ethan go with them.”
Duncan stopped in the doorway and offered a small smile over his shoulder.
The American had been giving Ian trouble ever since he’d arrived with Shelley’s family,
but only because the Scots-born, transplanted Texan was a born leader of men. “He
won’t be in charge.”
“Aye, one of our cousins will be.”
“Better make it Oran, then. He’s about the only one who can butt heads with Ethan
and still remain on top.” Besides Ian and his brothers, that was, and Oran could barely
keep the lead over Ethan.
Oran had a ready sword hand and a temper to match his red hair. Muscular and ready
for a fight, he would face any foe. He had a steady head also, and he was perfect
for the job.
“Shelley’s uncle will be grateful for the opportunity.” Then Duncan left the solar,
and Flynn scowled at Ian and took off after Duncan.
Julia, Ian’s lovely red-wolf mate, entered the solar, her expression shadowed with
worry. “Are you going after Cearnach?”
Ian gathered her up in his arms, kissed her lightly on the lips, then hugged her tight.
“He’ll be all right. He’s a warrior at heart. He’ll be all right.” He repeated the
words as if by doing so, he could make them true. But he wasn’t sure.
Cearnach should have called him.
Chapter 8
Cearnach dove after Elaine into the icy water, his heart skipping beats as he saw
her lose her footing and the force of the river carry her away. He followed after
her, paddling as fast as his legs could go to catch up. She looked worn out, trying
to keep her head above water, dipping her nose in, then lifting it and sneezing. She
was unable to keep her footing on the slippery rocks and pull herself out of the river.
In their favor, the sunlight was quickly fading. The farmers who had been shooting
at them could no longer get close enough to the river while driving the truck, and
Cearnach doubted they could see the wolves swimming in the dark water.
The roar in the distance warned Cearnach that the waterfall was coming up. The currents
quickened, pulling them faster toward the sound of the falls.
All in a rush, the memories of the panic he’d felt when he’d been showing off to Calla
as a young lad came back to him.
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