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Reeve delivered a vicious blow to Allen’s jaw that had him stumbling backward. As Reeve advanced on the man and without a backward glance to his brother, he yelled, “I’m going to beatyouwhen I’m done withhim.”
Duncan and Bryce laughed, and Bryce grabbed one of the freshly baked loaves of bread and tore it in half to share with Duncan. They ate the bread while shouting encouragements to Reeve.
“You better hurry up and finish him off before we eat all this delicious bread your wife made,” Bryce called out.
Reeve’s head snapped around, his face in a feral snarl. Allen took advantage of the moment and landed a punch that sent Reeve stumbling back though he remained on his feet. The snarl returned as he said to his brothers, “Eat all my bread, and I’ll kill you both.”
“Then stop playing with the fool and finish it,” Bryce challenged, and took another bite of the bread.
Tara stood frozen with anger. How could they make light of the situation? Didn’t they realize their brother could die? Didn’t they know that the curse could rear its ugly head any moment, and Reeve would be dead? It didn’t matter that he had battled many men and had won. He hadn’t been cursed. It was different now. He was more vulnerable, and the two fool brothers simply stood there and did nothing to help him. Even Reeve didn’t take it seriously. He continued to think himself impervious. She wanted to pound on all of them for their stupidity.
It was only moments later that Tara was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. Reeve pounded the man so badly that Allen raised his hand in surrender. Reeve picked him up by the scruff of his shirt and dragged him to the door.
“If Carnoth dares send another, I’ll kill him,” Reeve said, and tossed the beaten man out the door, slamming it behind him.
He turned with a grin then winced, his lip split, bloody, and bruised. His right eye was darkening as well, and while Tara wanted to run and tend his wounds, she was so angry with him that she remained frozen where she stood, her hands fisted at her sides.
Reeve grabbed a loaf of bread and tore off a chunk.
“For a minute, I thought we were going to have to help you,” Bryce said with a smirk.
Another wince cut off Reeve’s laughter. “That will be the day, that I need help in defeating one lone fool.”
“It was two fools in that fight,” Tara shouted, and all three men turned wide eyes on her. “Go on with all of you and glare at me like the fools you are.”
“We better go,” Duncan said, and Bryce nodded.
“Don’t you dare move,” Tara ordered with a shake of her finger. “You’ll stay put until I have my say.”
The two men remained where they were.
Reeve unwisely opened his mouth. “There’s no reason to be upset. I saved you as I always do.”
Duncan cringed, and Bryce shook his head.
“Saved me and then fought with not an ounce of wit,” she snapped.
Reeve made another grave error by taking a step toward her.
“Stay right where you are,” she yelled, her hand going up to ward him off.
Duncan and Bryce tried to ease toward the door.
“If you two move again,I’llbeat you,” Tara threatened.
They stayed put.
She threw her hands up in the air when she looked at Reeve. “I can’t believe you took such a chance. Does your life mean so little to you? Do I mean so little to you?”
He looked stricken and tried advancing on her once more.
She wouldn’t have it. “Don’t you dare come near me until you take this curse seriously. Why do you think I threw myself in front of you? I would rather die than see the curse take you from me. I love you, damn it, I love you more than life itself.”
Tara stormed out of the room, tears falling as she went.
Reeve stood, staring after her, then turned to his brothers. “What do I do?”
“Give her what she wants,” Duncan said.
