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“He is dead, Callie,” she said softly. “He canna hurt us again.”

William put his big body protectively between the women and the two dead men, shielding them from the unpleasantness. Pulling his wife against him and saying a silent prayer of thanks to God for her safety, he waited for his men to return. His thanks and his relief went beyond words.

Caladora studied William’s face intently as he held Jordan against him, and she was astonished at the depth of emotions she read. Without even knowing him, she could see that everything Jordan had told her was true. They were very much in love, and Caladora was thrilled and jealous at the same time. Would she ever be so lucky?

A short while later, Paris returned astride his destrier, leading William’s. William let go of Jordan long enough to take Caladora’s arm to lead her to Paris.

“You take Lady Caladora and guard her with your miserable life,” he told him, his humor and demeanor returning with the reclamation of his wife.

Paris flipped up his visor, his blue eyes soft on Caladora. “Without question, my lord.”

Jordan, standing next to William’s mount, smiled as her husband gently lifted her cousin into Paris’ waiting arms.

“Paris?” she called to him. “Ye must not call this cousin names as ye do the other. Promise to be nice to her or you will have to deal with me.”

He glanced over at her and smiled. “ ’Tis good to see you, too, Lady de Wolfe,” he said. “I expect a proper greeting when there is time.”

Jordan laughed. “Later,” she said as William came back over to her. “But first, I will introduce ye to my cousin so that she is not riding with a stranger. Caladora, the knight with his arm around ye is Sir Paris de Norville, Captain of Northwood.”

Caladora twisted about, meeting Paris’ incredible blue eyes. “Sir knight, ’tis an honor to meet ye.”

He nodded, closing his visor. He felt a little giddy. “Tell me, my lady, do you have a nickname?”

Jordan heard her cousin laughing as Sir Paris reined his horse back up the slopes of the gully.

The battle around McKenna Keep was still in full swing. Caladora and Jordan, protected behind shields and swords, were nonetheless terrified at the sounds of fighting around them, as the knights pushed through the melee in their attempt to reach the safety of the wagons.

At one point, Paris was the recipient of a barrage of sword chops, crashing down on the shield he held over Caladora. She screamed in fright, prompting William to spur his animal forward and help Paris fight off his attacker. Deinwald and Kieran rushed to their aid and provided effective protection all the way through the skirmish.

When they pushed through and finally reached the safety of the trees, Jordan’s head came up from her protective ball and she scanned her surroundings. The first thing she saw was Kieran’s smiling face.

“Kieran!” she exclaimed thankfully.

“Aye, my lady,” he nodded. “William, do I get to spank her now?”

“Spank me?” Jordan repeated in outrage, turning to look at her husband.

“I shall be the first, mind you,” William replied to his knight. “Then you may have a turn. Just as I get a turn at your wife.”

“Kieran?” Caladora’s head came up as well; she knew who Kieran was. “Jemma’s Kieran?”

“ ’Tis him!” Jordan called out in delight, forgetting about the spanking and pointing to the massive man astride the dancing red destrier.

Caladora’s pretty face brightened. “Jemma’s Kieran!” she said in delight.

Kieran smiled but looked puzzled until Jordan introduced him to her cousin. Then, he looked genuinely happy. “Lady Caladora,” he said. “My wife will be thrilled to see you.”

Jordan turned to her husband. “Where is Jemma, English?”

“In the wagons,” he replied.

“Ye brought her along?” Jordan asked in amazement.

He nodded. “Aye,” he said. “I could spare no one to take her back to Northwood. She is resting with your father.”

“Da,” Jordan murmured thankfully. “Take me to them, please? I would give my Da a hug.”

William urged his horse forward, through the trees. Here, away from the fighting and dying, the peace of dawn was evident. It was hard to believe such peacefulness existed so close to destruction, and Jordan inhaled the damp clean scent of the Scot pines deeply. She still found it difficult to believe she was actually free.