those he cares about.”
Hunter laughed. “The Dark Dragon care? Do you truly believe that a man who could do the horrendous things that has been said about him... would care?”
A knot twisted tight in Patience’s stomach. “If I do not believe that, then there is no hope for my sister.”
Hunter felt a punch to his gut and quickly reached out to her, laying is hand on her arm and giving it a gentle squeeze. “My tongue can be foolish at times. There is hope for your sister as long as you keep it strong in your heart. We will find her and all will be well.”
His touch was not only comforting, but so were his words. That he made it known that he would join her in the search for her sister restored some hope in her. How was it that this man, a relative stranger, affected her so? She was never one to lose her thoughts over a man, but then perhaps she had never had one she wished to lose her thoughts over.
“We will see this done, Patience, you have my word on it.”
One’s word was not given lightly, at least not by an honorable man. Some men gave their word without ever having any intention of keeping it. And while she did not know Hunter well, the way he protected and cared for his mum said much about him.
He gave her arm another reassuring squeeze before removing his hand, and she caught a flare of determination in his blue eyes.
Patience sent him a nod. “That is most kind of you.” She took firmer hold of her reins. “I need to go speak with Edward.”
“I will be here waiting impatiently for you,” he said with a flash of lust in his eyes and a brash grin.
Patience had to smile at his audacious manner, the man could titillate, charm, and coax. It was no wonder women were drawn to him. Still, she could not help but wonder if there was much more to her husband than he allowed others to see.
She was about to guide her horse away from his when she turned and said, “While your tongue can be foolish, it is also quite talented.”
Hunter’s grin grew. “Oh, mo chridhe , you have yet to taste its many talents.”
Patience shook her head and rode off, though could not stop the images that flooded her mind of just what those other talents could be.
Chapter Ten
The sky had turned golden, the sun near to setting when they crested a small hill and spotted the McCuil farm. From the distance, Patience could see a small cottage, two pens, and fields that appeared ready for planting. There was nothing that distinguished it from any other farm, except that the inhabitants were protected by the Dark Dragon.
Patience was pulled out of her thoughts by Hunter’s blatant reminder that she now had a husband.
“I am looking forward to bedding down with you tonight, wife,” Hunter said, easing his horse alongside hers.
Patience wagged her finger at the farm in the distance. “I see no place for a private liaison tonight.”
“A secluded spot can always be found.”
“Impatient to have your way with me, are you?” she asked, tossing him a smile.
“Ever since I caught first sight of you.”
“So you have said and now remind me yet again. It is whether I truly believe you or not.”
“You wound me, wife,” he said, slamming his hand against his chest.
“Your heart wounds so easily?” she teased.
“A man is no man, nor does he ever truly live if he refuses to open his heart and take the chance of having it broken or torn to pieces. And that goes for women as well.”
“And have you ever had your heart broken or torn to pieces?” she asked.
He laughed. “Broken hearts are common, especially among the very young. I was but six years when I suffered my first.”
“Six years? First?”
“I found women intriguing from an early age, but Liza wanted no part of me. She was, after all, an older woman of eight years.”
Patience laughed.
“I was nothing more than an annoying little pest to her and she told me so, thus breaking my heart. But surely you have suffered a broken heart or two when you
Hunter laughed. “The Dark Dragon care? Do you truly believe that a man who could do the horrendous things that has been said about him... would care?”
A knot twisted tight in Patience’s stomach. “If I do not believe that, then there is no hope for my sister.”
Hunter felt a punch to his gut and quickly reached out to her, laying is hand on her arm and giving it a gentle squeeze. “My tongue can be foolish at times. There is hope for your sister as long as you keep it strong in your heart. We will find her and all will be well.”
His touch was not only comforting, but so were his words. That he made it known that he would join her in the search for her sister restored some hope in her. How was it that this man, a relative stranger, affected her so? She was never one to lose her thoughts over a man, but then perhaps she had never had one she wished to lose her thoughts over.
“We will see this done, Patience, you have my word on it.”
One’s word was not given lightly, at least not by an honorable man. Some men gave their word without ever having any intention of keeping it. And while she did not know Hunter well, the way he protected and cared for his mum said much about him.
He gave her arm another reassuring squeeze before removing his hand, and she caught a flare of determination in his blue eyes.
Patience sent him a nod. “That is most kind of you.” She took firmer hold of her reins. “I need to go speak with Edward.”
“I will be here waiting impatiently for you,” he said with a flash of lust in his eyes and a brash grin.
Patience had to smile at his audacious manner, the man could titillate, charm, and coax. It was no wonder women were drawn to him. Still, she could not help but wonder if there was much more to her husband than he allowed others to see.
She was about to guide her horse away from his when she turned and said, “While your tongue can be foolish, it is also quite talented.”
Hunter’s grin grew. “Oh, mo chridhe , you have yet to taste its many talents.”
Patience shook her head and rode off, though could not stop the images that flooded her mind of just what those other talents could be.
Chapter Ten
The sky had turned golden, the sun near to setting when they crested a small hill and spotted the McCuil farm. From the distance, Patience could see a small cottage, two pens, and fields that appeared ready for planting. There was nothing that distinguished it from any other farm, except that the inhabitants were protected by the Dark Dragon.
Patience was pulled out of her thoughts by Hunter’s blatant reminder that she now had a husband.
“I am looking forward to bedding down with you tonight, wife,” Hunter said, easing his horse alongside hers.
Patience wagged her finger at the farm in the distance. “I see no place for a private liaison tonight.”
“A secluded spot can always be found.”
“Impatient to have your way with me, are you?” she asked, tossing him a smile.
“Ever since I caught first sight of you.”
“So you have said and now remind me yet again. It is whether I truly believe you or not.”
“You wound me, wife,” he said, slamming his hand against his chest.
“Your heart wounds so easily?” she teased.
“A man is no man, nor does he ever truly live if he refuses to open his heart and take the chance of having it broken or torn to pieces. And that goes for women as well.”
“And have you ever had your heart broken or torn to pieces?” she asked.
He laughed. “Broken hearts are common, especially among the very young. I was but six years when I suffered my first.”
“Six years? First?”
“I found women intriguing from an early age, but Liza wanted no part of me. She was, after all, an older woman of eight years.”
Patience laughed.
“I was nothing more than an annoying little pest to her and she told me so, thus breaking my heart. But surely you have suffered a broken heart or two when you