The Bard (Highland Heroes #5) - Maeve Greyson Page 0,32

restraint, in sickness and health, in plenty and poverty, in this life and beyond, where we shall reunite and claim our love again.” No one else in the room existed for him other than Sorcha. He lost himself in the depths of her gaze, in the soft weight of her hands in his. “Ye are mine Sorcha Elaine Greyloch, as I am yers, until the end of time.”

Sorcha came to life, appearing pleased and relaxed for the first time since they had emerged from the secluded alcove. “Ye do have a way with words, Sutherland Islay Fenn MacCoinnich. Aye, I will be yers ’til the end of time, just as ye will be mine.”

“Well done. That’s settled then.” Father Stephen snapped his Bible shut and tucked it back inside his robes. Lifting both hands high, his voice rang out loud and strong. “I pronounce thee man and wife until death shall part thee. Let no man put asunder what God hath joined this day.” He turned and pointed at the crowd. “And upon their binding, all God’s people said?”

“Amen!”

The holy man faced them again and smiled. “Get on with sealin’ this union with a kiss, aye? ’Tis time we set to eatin’.”

When Sorcha wrapped her arms around his neck, it nearly undid him. He’d expected a shy, hasty kiss from her in front of her clan, but he should’ve known better. There was nothing shy nor hasty about his woman, and he loved her all the more for it. Arms tightening, he pulled her velvety softness close and bent to the task. He’d ensure this kiss told all and sundry this woman was his and his alone.

All in the great meeting hall roared, Sorcha’s father being one of the loudest. Sorcha gave him a shy smile as she slipped free of the embrace and took his arm. “I suppose we should sit so Father Stephen might eat.”

“Heaven help us both if we keep the holy man from his meal.” Sutherland clapped a hand to Magnus’s shoulder as the three of them made their way back to the head table. “Thank ye for standing at my side, friend.”

Magnus thumped a fist to his chest. “It was my honor.” With a bow, he smiled at Sorcha. “May God bless ye both with many years of happiness and a keep filled with strong, healthy bairns.”

“Thank ye, Master de Gray.” With a sweet smile barely hidden behind her glass of wine, Sorcha lifted a brow. “Maybe we should set to finding a helpmate for yerself now that the last MacCoinnich brother has been tethered.”

Sutherland nearly choked on his drink. Setting his glass to the table, he leaned back in his chair and smiled at Magnus. “Aye, man. Perhaps the time has come for the wildest stallion of the woods to take his place in the stable.”

Magnus responded with an icy look, his customary pallor flushing to a bright red to the roots of his startling silver-blonde hair. “And may yer bairns be just as wicked as yerself to repay ye both for all yer jesting,” he swore into his cup as he emptied it of its contents.

Sutherland’s amusement was cut short as a man burst into the room shouting, “Fire in the calving house! Hie to the stables! Hie to the wells!”

Chapter Six

“My Peigi and her calf!” Sorcha jumped to her feet and struggled to maneuver her voluminous skirts and petticoats out from between the closely spaced chairs. Her poor sweet cow. And the new wee one. Both had to be terrified. She had to save them. “Damn this dress!”

Sutherland latched hold of her right arm, and Da grabbed her left. Twisting to free herself from both, she yanked to no avail. How dare they slow her even more! “I have to get to Peigi and her baby. I have to get them safe. Let me go!”

“Nay!” Both men barked in unison.

Da suddenly released her arm as though the touch of it burned him. He took a step back, shaking a finger as he rounded the table. “Ye will listen to yer husband, daughter. Stay here where ye belong!” Without another word nor a look back, he charged out of the hall.

Sutherland spun her around to face him. “As yer father said, stay here. I shall see that both yer cow and calf are safe. I swear it.”

She tried to pull loose. “She doesna know ye well enough. She’ll do naught but fight ye.” The harder she jerked to be free, the tighter his