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She swerved around and his leg caught her in the knee and sent her tumbling to the ground with such force that her arm was ripped out of his hand.
Thaw immediately dropped down beside her, trying to get his nose under her face that was buried in the snow.
Fury and fear gripped Tarass and while he wanted to go after a fleeing Lord Polwarth, he was more desperate to see to his wife.
“Get him!” Tarass yelled, knowing Rannock and his warriors were coming up behind him.
They rushed past him as he dropped to the ground beside his wife and gently turned her over to lift in his arms. He was surprised and relieved when she started brushing away the snow that had stuck to her face, Thaw’s tongue helping her.
“I’m good, go after Polwarth,” she urged.
“No need, Rannock and my warriors will get him and the other two,” Tarass said. “Besides, if I leave you, you’ll just get yourself into more trouble.”
“If I did, you would rescue me like you always do,” Snow said with a tender hand to her husband’s cheek.
“Aye, wife, always,” Tarass said and turned so that his lips kissed the palm of her hand and Snow shivered.
“Let’s get you into the keep and get you warm,” Tarass said, standing and carrying her around to the front of the keep and groaned when he saw Abbot Bennett and his clerics shivering in the cold as six of his warriors stood guard over them. “Inside, you have much to explain. Your men as well, before they freeze to death,” Tarass said as he walked past them.
“Thank the Lord your unharmed, m’lady,” Nettle said when the couple entered the Great Hall.
“I suffered a bit of fright but no harm, Nettle,” Snow acknowledged, hearing the worry in her voice.
Tarass’s anger surged, learning she had been frightened and he hadn’t been there to prevent her terrifying ordeal.
Nettle looked to Lord Tarass as she spoke to Snow. “Has this ordeal worsened your churning stomach, m’lady?”
Tarass was pleased that Nettle alerted him to the matter and acknowledged her with a nod.
“I had no time to think about it, but now that you asked, it seems to have settled,” Snow said.
“Perhaps some food and a hot brew will keep it that way,” Nettle suggested.
“A good idea, Nettle, and tell Maude there are guests to be fed,” Tarass said and placed his wife on her feet.
“And please take Thaw with you and get him a treat,” Snow said and went to bend down to give Thaw a hug and kiss and let him know how brave he’d been. As soon as she moved, a pain shot through her knee and if Tarass hadn’t snatched her up in his arms, she would have tumbled to the floor.
Thaw whined and followed Tarass and waited while he lowered Snow to a bench at one of the tables in front of the fireplace, then the pup sat beside her and whined as if he shared Snow’s pain.
Nettle hurried around the table to the bench to see if she could help and gasped when Tarass lifted Snow’s tunic and shift and she saw the deep bruise covering her knee.
“That bad?” Snow asked.
“I’m going to kill him,” Tarass mumbled.
A cacophony of raised voices had Tarass and Snow’s heads turning as the door opened.
“We got them,” Rannock called out, escorting Lord Polwarth in with a firm hand to his arm.
“Shackle Lord Polwarth and the two men that helped him and have the warriors keep watch over Abbot Bennett and his men. I’ll let you know when I wish to speak with them,” Tarass said and once again lifted his wife in his arms.
“Nettle, fetch Runa and bring her to my solar. Thaw, follow me,” Tarass ordered.
Snow sighed with relief after her husband settled her in a chair near the hearth and placed her foot on a small stool to ease the pain in her knee. She wrapped the shawl around her, Tarass had ordered a servant to bring her, tucking it high around her neck.
“You’re chilled,” Tarass said, hunching down in front of her and draping a blanket over her legs and pushing it snug at her waist.
“A deep chill, I fear,” she admitted.
“I’ll warm you properly later, after this is all settled,” he said and kissed her softly, though ached for more than a tender kiss. He dropped his brow gently against hers. “I want to feel you naked against me and bury my manhood deep inside you right now and know that nothing or no one will ever tear us apart and that nothing or no one can ever stop us from loving each other.”
“Why do you wait,” she whispered. “Take me, for I want to feel you inside me and know I’m safe.”
“Your knee,” he reminded and shook his head. “And Nettle returns soon with Runa.”
