The Bard (Highland Heroes #5) - Maeve Greyson Page 0,69

a wee one. Yer mother always scolded me something fierce.” He chuckled again as he shook a finger at her. “I’ll be doin’ the same for the grandbabies ye bring me!”

“I love ye, Da.” She blinked hard against the sting of tears. She was so blessed. “I’ll send word to let ye know we’re safe and settled.”

“And expecting a bairn!” her father added as he stepped back and lifted a hand in farewell.

“And expecting a bairn,” she agreed as she spurred her mount forward, drawing up even with Sutherland. “Did ye hear him? Ye have work to do, husband.”

“I gladly accept such a chore.” Sutherland waved back at the chief, then gave her a smile. “Let us go home, mo ghràdh.”

“Aye.” She spurred her horse forward, needing the wind in her face to blow away her uncertainties. All would be well. Da would adjust, and so would she. Before either of them knew it, they’d each be settled in their new routines and cherishing the lives they’d been given.

Up ahead was a narrow stream trailing away from the river. She and Mama had jumped it many times, laughing as their horses soared over the water. What a fitting way to leap into her new life. She leaned forward as her beast gained speed, sensing what she wished. Just as the horse made the jump, her saddle shifted to the left, then broke free, throwing her into the air. She screamed as she hurtled to the ground, knowing all would go dark.

Chapter Twelve

“Sorcha!” Sutherland roared, leaping from his horse and hitting the ground running. He thundered down the embankment and carefully lifted her from the shallow stream. If crashing against the riverbed stones hadn’t killed her, he feared the swiftly running water had surely filled her lungs. Once on the bank, he draped her across his lap and held her close, sending panicked prayers to any deity that might be listening. Whether it be pagan or Christian, he didn’t care. All he asked was that his precious lady love be spared and allowed to remain with him.

Alexander, Catriona, and Jenny ran to him while the others halted the wagons and stayed with the horses. “Sutherland, is she?” Alexander didn’t say the word, but his concerned scowl finished the question.

Sutherland wiped her wet hair away from her face. The coolness of her flesh sent chills through his own. He bent and pressed an ear to her chest. The sweetest sound he had ever heard made him close his eyes. “Thank God Almighty,” he whispered as relief flooded through him. He lifted his head and shouted, “Her heart beats strong and steady!”

“Praise God,” Catriona and Jenny said in unison.

“Get her to the wagon,” Alexander ordered. “We’ll return to the keep and send for their healer.”

“I shall ride and fetch Aderyn now.” Jenny jumped to her mount and took off before any could stop her.

“How could this have happened?” Catriona knelt beside him. “She told us tales of riding with her mother since she was a wee little thing. Said they’d race across the glens. That wasna a fierce jump at all.”

Sutherland turned and looked farther down the bank. Sorcha’s horse waited peacefully beside the stream, its saddle missing. “Find her saddle and check the straps.”

“No need,” Graham said with a grim set to his jaw. “I already checked yers, and I’d lay odds hers are the same. The leather was sliced most of the way through. Whoever did it planned for ye to be a ways from the keep before their vile intentions threw ye to the ground.” He squatted down beside Catriona, his worried look locked on Sorcha. “When her mount jumped, it snapped hers free quicker than they intended.” His gaze lifted. “We have to find this bastard and finish this. Now. Before one of ye ends up dead.”

“I willna rest until I snap that whoreson’s neck with my own two hands.” Sutherland gathered Sorcha up and carried her to the wagon.

With Alexander and Graham’s help, he settled her as comfortably as he could. Her left arm dangled away from her side at an odd angle. It had surely been knocked from its socket at her shoulder. Who knew what other injuries his poor dear one had sustained? Her color remained good. That gave him some hope. But he prayed she wasn’t bleeding somewhere they couldn’t see. A horrifying thought occurred to him. What if she carried the tiniest of bairns inside her? Might such a fall knock the possibility of