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“What would they do?” I asked, overwhelm filling me.
“Stay and fight,” Matthew said. “They stay and fight, Sophie.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Lachlan
I’d never seen a more terrifying sight than Sophie facing down the Kelpies while I tried to swim one-handed through the ice-cold water. I’d never been a strong swimmer, always refusing to go in the loch, and had only learned my skills in the small burn on our property. But she’d come back…and with a vengeance.
My warrior goddess, in all her astounding beauty, calmly ordering the Kelpies back as though they couldn’t drown us all in a second.
It was at that moment that I’d had a startling and heartbreaking moment of clarity.
If I didn’t let myself love this woman out of fear of losing her, then I’d already lost everything.
My mother would never have wanted me to close myself off from love, or to live in fear. She’d been a woman who’d embraced life fully, she’d loved largely, and taking risks were as normal to her as breathing. It didn’t matter anymore if the Kelpies had taken her or if she’d drowned, either way she was gone.
But never forgotten.
Her light shone on, as much a presence in my life as when she had been here, and I was the one who was now dimming her memory by refusing to practice what she’d always tried to instill in me.
I was mad at Sophie for leaving. For thinking the worst of me. But I also couldn’t blame her. She’d been dealt a raw hand and had her own demons to battle. But when I needed her? She’d come back. Even thinking that I was using her for money, she’d still come back.
My warrior goddess.
My Knight.
My woman.
Now, I just had to convince her to stay.
I was still at the vet’s clinic with Sir Buster while he recovered from a near-brush with hypothermia, and he was receiving an IV bag full of warming fluids. I stayed by his side and, for once, he offered no complaints as I stroked his fur, wanting him to know I’d always be there for him.
Just like I planned to be for Sophie.
I stilled at the thought, surprised how quickly I’d moved from being afraid of commitment to wanting to marry her. First, I needed to convince her that I loved her for her.
The vet came in, interrupting my thoughts, and checked Sir Buster’s vital signs. When the dog bared his teeth at the vet, I couldn’t help but smile. We were back to normal, it seemed.
“He’s doing great. Just easy on the food for tonight and keep him cozy. He’s a lucky dog. I called Hilda at the castle to tell her he was safe.” The vet glanced around and then back to me and lowered his voice. “That was really scary today, wasn’t it? I don’t even know what to think. Is that…what’s normal here?” The vet had only just moved to town six months ago, and we’d greatly needed his assistance. Now, I hoped seeing the Kelpies wouldn’t send him screaming for the hills.
“It’s not, no. But I think we’ll have that under control moving forward.” I cleared my throat. “At least we’re working on it.”
“Good to hear. No charge today. What with taking care of…that.” The vet nodded his head at the door while he smoothly removed the tube from Sir Buster’s leg and wrapped it quickly with some gauze. “There now, wee man. You live to fight another day.”
Sir Buster growled at him, and I laughed, scooping him gently into my arms. Only then did I realize that I’d been sitting there in my dripping wet clothes and had left a puddle all over the examining room.
“Och, I’m sorry,” I said, glancing down at myself.
“No bother. It’s not the worst fluids we’ve had to clean up here. Unless you’ve pissed yourself?” The vet laughed at my look and waved me on.
I left the office, my eyes going to where the truck had been and finding it gone. I hoped that Sophie had returned to the castle, but I’d have to track her down after I found a change of clothes.
And a new mobile phone, I realized, patting my pockets. I’d jumped into the water without hesitating, which meant my mobile phone was well and truly saturated.
I’d deal with that later. First, I needed dry clothes and to find Sophie.
The castle was empty on my arrival back, which was odd, until I saw a note on the table that Graham had taken everyone to the pub to hunker down. It made sense, as the pub was a central spot in town where people would gather in times of good and bad. And, well, with Kelpies raging across the loch, I could see why the people would want to get together. Bringing Sir Buster with me to my room, I placed him on the bed and wrapped him in a fleece blanket before having a quick shower and changing into a clean pair of jeans, a thick flannel shirt, and my other pair of boots. Once done, I tugged a soft knit cap over my still-wet hair and went to check on Sir Buster. Kneeling by the bed, I whispered to where he snored softly.
