Page 13 of The Wolf Laird's Obsession
“It’s all right,” she said gently. “Ye’re safe now.”
She moved to unfasten her plaid and wrap it around his shoulders.
“What happened to ye? Are ye lost?”
The boy sniffed loudly, wiping his nose with the back of his sleeve. His eyes were wide, darting around.
“M-me da… he went to fetch the cart,” he stammered. “He told me to stay here.”
Sorcha glanced toward the road, but there was no cart, only Rowan a few paces away on his horse, watching them. A shiver racked her body as a cold breeze gusted between them.
She looked up at the sky. The sun was going down quickly.
Who would abandon their child like this?
“And how long have ye been waitin’?”
The boy shook his head. “I daenae ken.”
She sighed, standing up and brushing the dirt off her dress. “All is well, wee one. Ye can come with us. Daenae want ye freezin’ out here. We’ll come search for yer da in the mornin’.”
She turned to find Rowan still on his horse, watching them.
He’s probably angry. Well, so am I. Why did he nae listen?
She lifted her hand, about to wave for him to approach, but his expression stopped her. His eyes went wide, before he charged toward her with his horse, yelling, “Run!”
Sorcha turned around quickly to grab the boy, afraid of the danger Rowan had seen. But the boy was not there. Instead, there was a man holding up his sword to strike her.
She staggered backward and fell on her bottom, barely missing the blade. He did not waste time, lifting his sword again. She tried to crawl to her feet, but the pain made it hard to stand.
Damn it!
She rolled to her right, dirt flying as his sword missed her again.
Another shadow emerged from the trees, a second man running in her direction with a mace. The shadow of a sword across her face drew her attention back to her attacker.
Her eyes caught Rowan, coming at full speed.
I daenae think he can make it.
She looked up at her attacker, taking a breath. Her hands were trembling, but she did not dare look away.
“Brave one, are ye?” the attacker sneered, going in for the kill.
But just as he struck down, another sword blocked him, the resounding clash of metal echoing in the air.
Rowan stood there, holding back the attacker with no effort at all. He pushed against him, making him stagger. As he lifted his sword to strike, the second attacker blocked him.
“Sorcha!” Rowan yelled, the anger in his voice making her heart lurch. “Run to the horse!”
Sorcha stumbled as she got up and ran toward his horse. Through sheer willpower, she was able to hoist herself onto the large steed.
She looked back at Rowan to find him fighting left and right. Blocking one way, attacking the other. He was much larger than they were, and yet more agile. She was in awe of him, watching him hold his own.
He glanced at her, just for a moment. And in that split second, the first man swung at him. He dodged the attack but stumbled.
The second man lifted his sword.
