“Is that how you got the gash on your head?” John asked.
Peter grimaced when he touched it lightly, and nodded. “She wasn’t paying attention like she usually does. She seemed far away like something was bothering her and it gave me the opportunity to creep up on her. I tripped when I went to throw the first punch, falling into her and sending her tumbling. She went down and hit her forehead on a rock.” He shook his head. “She used that rock. He pointed to his two bottom front missing teeth. “Then she got hold of another rock.” He pointed to the gash on his head, then stuck out his bruised leg. “Then she kicked me a couple of times. How does a wee woman like her have such a hard kick?”
John was glad that she did and after hearing what Sorrell had done to the lad, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. No lad or man wanted to admit that he got beaten by a woman, and a petite one at that, and certainly not as badly as Sorrell had beaten Peter.
“I intended to give you a good beaten myself for what you did to Sorrell, but after seeing you, I think you got what you deserved and then some.”
“I would have rather taken the beating from you. At least then my da would have been proud of me for going up against a giant of a man.”
That gave John a thought. “I tell you what, Peter, you give me your word that you will never bother Sorrell or her sisters again and I’ll let people know that even though you lost to me, you fought like a brave warrior.”
“I fought you?” he asked with excitement, then shook his head. “Sorrell will never agree.”
“She will when she learns that you won’t bother Snow again, and I don’t need to remind you that if you give me your word and break it, I will break you in two,” John said and gave Peter a friendly, though firm slap on the back.
Peter didn’t hesitate. “You have my word. I’ll never bother any of the Macardle sisters again. I’ve lost enough teeth to Sorrell already.” He spit out another tooth, confirming it.
John was a few steps from the cottage when he caught movement to one side, where the small garden sat. The size and shape of the figure, what he could make out in the dark, gave him an idea of who it might be and also that he hadn’t sensed any imminent danger.
“Time to talk,” came the strong whisper.
“Aye, Erland, it’s time to talk,” John agreed and disappeared into the shadows.
John draped Sorrell’s cloak over the end of the bed and took the chair and placed it against the wall to the side of the hearth and sat. He hadn’t talked long with Erland, since a long conversation was not necessary. He knew what he needed to do and he would do it. Like Sorrell, he had little choice.
He looked over at her and was glad to see she still slept. He would leave her sleep a while longer before he woke her to return to the keep.
Her wounds did not look that bad, though she would certainly be questioned about them. He would tell her about his talk with Peter. He had no doubt she would agree with it, since it would protect Snow.
Sorrell gave a soft moan as she turned on her side and pulled the blanket up to tuck under her chin.
She was still cold and he wished he could warm her. It would be easy. All he had to do was wrap his big body around her tiny one. His warmth would seep into her and chase her chills away. But he’d want to do more than wrap himself around her, and he’d more than warm her… he’d set her passion burning.
He rested his head back against the wall, though he should have pounded it against the wall for thinking that way. Things were complicated enough for the both of them. Falling in love hadn’t been in his plans. It had been the furthest thing from his mind and he was still struggling with it. He wanted to deny it, kept trying to, but he hadn’t had much luck. But whether it was love or not, neither of them were free to find out.
Solitude was what he had searched for and what he needed. He found people lied far too fast and far too often, to trust anyone. In solitude, he could dig deep, recall, and discover who had torn his life apart. Then he would find him and have his revenge.
That had been his thoughts for several months. Now his thoughts centered on Sorrell. He found himself smiling more, laughing, looking forward to what the day would bring, since with Sorrell one never knew what might happen, and less about his troubles.