Loved By a Warrior (15 page)

“Don't be foolish,” Tara warned. “I once was, and it cost me dearly.”

“You were vulnerable and believed foolish mumblings.”

“No, you don't understand—”

“I do understand,” Reeve said. “Let the fear go, or it will keep you forever cursed.”

He didn't give Tara a chance. He took hold of her hand and rushed her down the stairs and into the great room.

Everyone was around a table, and Tara heard someone sobbing. Her heart lurched in her chest, and she feared, even though Reeve had warned her against it. She knew what was happening, someone had died, and Trey could very well follow.

Reeve pushed past those around the table, and when Willow saw him, she fell into his arms.

“He's dead. Jacob is dead.”

Reeve held her, and Tara looked at Jacob, who lay on the table. The same table where Trey had lain, and she had fought to save his life.

“What happened?” Reeve asked.

Willow moved away from him, wiping the tears from her eyes. “The old fool wanted to hunt even though he wasn't feeling well. I refused to let him go alone. On our return home, we heard raucous laughter, and so approached the farm cautiously.”

She stopped and walked over to Jacob, resting her hand on his shoulder. “The soldiers had returned.”

Tara saw that Reeve's hands tightened in fists at his sides. No doubt he blamed himself for the soldiers' return.

Willow continued. “Though I often called the old man a fool, he wasn't one. He hurried me away—”She shook her head. “He was forever protecting me.” She wiped away the tears that fell. “He told me it was time we came here, and so we began the long walk.” She grew quiet.

Mara went to her and slipped her arm around her shoulder.

Willow looked up at her with tearful eyes. “He spoke to me as if he knew death was imminent. He told me I was to stay here at the village, where I would be safe.” She glanced down at Jacob again with sorrowful eyes. “He forced himself to live until he knew I was here and safe. He had promised his son that he would take care of me, let no harm befall me, and he did; the old fool kept his promise.”

Willow broke down in tears, clinging to Mara. The older woman's arms wrapped around her, offering comfort.

“Jacob was a good man,” Carmag said. “He will be missed.”

Tara stood stock-still, listening to the chorus of accolades for the old man that circled the room, each more profound than the last. And try as she might, she could not shake the thought that she was responsible for Jacob's death. And then there was Trey.

An icy shudder racked her body and the hand of fear suddenly gripped her hard and strong. She dreaded the overwhelming feeling that something bad was about to happen again.

The door burst open, and Cora, the basket weaver, hurried in. “Please help me. Rand is lost in the storm, and Alida went in search of him.”

Chapter 17

R
eeve couldn't reach Tara before she fled the keep. He was grateful that she had the sense to grab her fur-lined cloak off the peg as she went. He knew she blamed herself for everything that was happening, and it would do him little good to say otherwise. The best thing he could do was let her seek the solitude she probably believed necessary while he helped find the children.

As for Jacob, he was an old man, older than most, and he had lived his life as he pleased and died the same way. Reeve was angry that the soldiers had returned to torment the old man, and he wondered if they were the ones who had attacked Trey, a cowardly bunch for sure. If so, he and his brothers would indeed see that they paid for their evil deeds.

None of what happened here was due to any curse. He didn't know how he was going to convince Tara of that, but he was damn well going to make her see reason.

He and his brothers were quick to organize men. Duncan would remain at the keep to help with Trey. Carmag would see to Jacob's body being stored until burial, after the ground thawed, and Reeve and Bryce would lead a group of warriors in search of the children.

Bailey, Kate's husband, was fast to volunteer since he had come upon one of Rand's hiding spots once before. Reeve wished there were time to go comfort Tara, but time was of the essence for the children. They wouldn't be able to last long in the snow. Even though the snowstorm had abated somewhat, snow was still falling, and the air was decidedly crisp.

Mara took charge of Willow, and Mercy went to stay with Trey. Duncan would join her as soon as he helped Carmag take care of Jacob.

Reeve did wonder over Trey's remark about Tara. Why would he point to her and say death? Had it been the fever talking, or had he learned something? Reeve didn't know what to think, and he wondered what Trey would say when he woke and turned clearheaded.

He refused to think anything other than that Trey would grow strong and survive. He had survived the loss of the woman he had loved beyond measure though it was obvious to Reeve and the others that Trey had never fully accepted her death, and it worried them.

It had been a year since Trey had lost Leora, and he continued to mourn her. And he continually blamed himself for her death. No one could convince him otherwise, and the family had stopped trying, knowing that only time would heal his suffering.

Would Trey wish to join his beloved? Would he surrender to death, feeling it was less painful than life? Reeve could only pray that such was not the case.

“Ready?” Bryce asked, handing him a torch as they made ready to leave.

“Ready and hopeful,” Reeve said, thinking not only of the children but Tara as well.

T
ara refused to feel helpless. She would not let this curse claim innocent children. She hurried to her cottage, relieved that the snowstorm had lost its force though snow continued to fall. At least visibility was better, and she found her way home without difficulty. Before she opened the door, she realized that she had walked the entire way, short as it was, barefooted. Annoyed at herself, she entered her cottage. There was no point in returning for her boots until she was dressed and ready to join the search.

She found her extra pair of wool stockings, which she had no intentions of putting on until she had her boots. She topped her linen blouse with a wool one and wrapped a wool scarf around her head and folded a blanket over her arm. Once done, she returned to the keep and found it nearly deserted.

She made a quick trip to Reeve's bedchamber and slipped her stockings on and then her boots, ignoring the slight swelling that remained but wasn't severe enough to prevent her from getting her boot on.

She hurried out of the room and straight to Trey's to check on him before she left.

Mercy was there alone, and she smiled when Tara entered.

“You go to find the children?” Mercy asked.

“I must,” Tara said.

Mercy nodded. “If I could, I would join you.”

“You are needed here.”

“I know,” Mercy said, “but let me tell you some of the places Rand likes to play and, in particular, hide.”

Tara listened, nodded, and went to leave. She stopped suddenly, and turned. “What of Bliss?”

“Roan was wise enough to send one of his men to fetch her once they had found Trey,” Mercy said, and shook her head. “Roan felt that Trey would not survive and hoped that perhaps Bliss could work a miracle.”

“Why would Roan believe that?'

“Bliss has had success in healing where others have not.”

Tara nodded and left, wondering if Bliss had any luck with removing curses.

H
ours later, the men returned, unsuccessful. They had no plans of stopping their search, they simply needed nourishment and warmth. Reeve had detoured to Tara's cottage, and when he didn't find her there, he went to the keep.

He downed a tankard of hot cider before going to look for her, assuming she was tending Trey, but Mercy was the only one there.

“Have you seen Tara?” he asked, entering and looking to see how his brother was doing. Trey appeared to sleep contentedly, and he was barely warm to the touch, a great relief to Reeve.

He realized that Mercy hadn't answered and he glanced over at her and repeated the question. “Have you seen Tara?'

Duncan entered as he asked, and when Mercy again hesitated, he said, “Did you not hear Reeve?”

“I did,” she admitted with a nod. “But I fear he will not like hearing what I know.”

Reeve stood tall and alert. “Where is she?”

This time Mercy's answer came quick. “She went to look for the children.”

Reeve was out the door so fast that the flames in the fireplace flickered as if a strong wind had brushed past them.

“Didn't you try to stop her?” Duncan asked

Mercy smiled. “Do you truly believe you can stop a woman intent on a mission?”

Duncan hunched down in front of her and rested his large hand lovingly over her rounded stomach. “I couldn't stop you.”

“Then you have your answer.”

Trey stirred then, and they both turned their attention to him.

They both were shocked when Trey's eyes sprung open.

“It's Duncan, Trey,” he said, grabbing hold of his flaying hand. “You're safe.”

“De—”Trey choked trying to speak.

Mercy was quick to get him water, and he took it like a man dying of thirst.

Trey tried again, but Duncan warned against it. “Don't speak. There's time for that later. You need to save your strength.”

Trey groaned and closed his eyes, sleep once again claiming him.

T
ara was lost, but at least she had found the children. They had been huddled against a towering pine in the opposite direction from where everyone had been searching. She didn't know what had made her turn that way, but at the last moment she had the overpowering urge to do just that, and so she had followed the urging and found them.

Unfortunately, the snow had begun falling heavier again, and she had lost her way home. She had wrapped the scarf she wore around Alida's head and then wrapped her shivering body in the blanket she had brought along. She carried Rand in her arms, her fur-lined cloak wrapped around them both. His little body shivered until her body heat and the warmth of the cloak finally penetrated his bone-aching chill, and he remained snuggled comfortably against her.

“There!” Alida shouted, pointing off to the right. “There's the path.”

After what seemed like hours, though wasn't, of senseless wandering, Tara tightened her hold on Alida's hand, and said, “Homeward bound.”

R
eeve was furious when night was near to falling, and they hadn't found Tara or the children. They had no choice but to return to the keep. All he could think about was Tara and those children out in the freezing cold all night. They would be lucky to survive, and that had his heart beating wildly, his stomach clenching, and his anger mounting.

“They're found. The children have been found.” Cries of joy rang in the air as Reeve and the men entered the village, and for a moment, he was relieved; that was until he realized no one had mentioned Tara.

He stomped up the steps to the keep and entered with a scowl on his face and an ache in his heart.

He heard her laughter before he saw her, and his heart soared with relief. Tara sat at the table in front of the hearth with the children, their parents and most of his family all smiling. Willow had even joined them, and she wore a smile as well. Everyone was obviously relieved and happy the children had been found.

However, while relieved, he was far from happy. Tara had caused fear to be his constant companion over the last few hours, and his heart to ache unbearably with the thought of losing her.

He marched over to the table, joyous smiles greeting him. He reached out so fast that he caused some to startle with gasps and others to jump out of his way. Their shocking reactions didn't stop him, he grabbed hold of Tara and in one swoop he swung her over his shoulder and stomped out of the hall and up the stairs to his bedchamber.

“Whatever is the matter with you?” she asked when he dropped her to her feet in the middle of his room and walked back to shut the door.

His hand rested on the latch for a moment before he turned and took a deep breath trying to calm his soaring anger. It didn't work. He turned and advanced on her. And when she scurried back away from him, eyes wide, hand out trying to ward him off, he knew his face burnt with a dark fury.

“I know I should not have gone out on my own,” she said hurriedly, trying to explain.

He stopped inches from her and ran his hand frantically through his long dark hair. “Can you even imagine the torment you put me through?”

“I didn't think.”

“A poor excuse,” he said, pinning his nose to hers. “I thought you trusted me.”

“I do. It's me I don't trust. I felt responsible.” She shook her head. “So many bad things have happened of late and—”

“You assumed they were your fault.”

“Didn't you?” she asked.

“Not for one moment,” he said bluntly.

“Not a sliver of doubt?”

“No,” he said firmly, and took a step away from her. “What is happening is part of life, not due to a curse.”

“You may believe that”—she thumped her chest—“but I don't.”

He wanted to cringe at his own selfishness. In his fear of losing her, he hadn't given enough thought to what had driven her to run blindly into a snowstorm in search of the children. One terrible thing on top of another had been happening, and each one only added to her fear that it was her fault.

He calmed. His concern now more for her fears than his own. “You should have come and talked with me. I am here for you as I believe you are for me, or haven't you noticed what a vital part we have become of each other?”

“I'm afraid to acknowledge it,” she admitted.

“Even now, after you've saved the children, while endangering your life and making me insane with fear of losing you?”

“You truly felt insane with fear?” she asked softly.

“I'm still quaking.”

“Now you tease,” she said. “You never quake. You are bold, brash, and brave.”

“Aye, I am all that, though when it comes to you, I am weak with the need of you and—I think I am in love with you.”

Her violet eyes widened. “Think?”

He nodded. “I believe it is love since I don't know how to define what I am feeling for you. I thought I would go mad not being able to find you. I wanted to roar with anger. Punch something, anything. But most of all, I wanted you safe in my arms, where you belong.”

He held his hand out to her, waiting for her to come to him and admit the same.

She turned away, and he felt a stab to his heart as if a sword had been thrust through it.

“I fear if we love—”

He rushed over to her, grabbed her around the waist, and swung her around to face him. “Let love rule instead of fear.”

“I lost when I allowed myself to love, and I don't want—” She shook her head, her eyes turning sad, the memories hurt. “I couldn't bear losing you.”

“You won't,” he insisted.

“Not if we remain
only
friends.”

He laughed loudly. “That's not going to happen.”

“Loving me will only cause you pain,” she pleaded.

“Not loving you would be like a living death to me.”

Tears pooled in her eyes.

“Tell me you don't feel some undeniable tug between us. Tell me that you aren't eager to see me. Tell me that you don't ache when we're apart. Tell me that you don't love me.”

She stared at him, and as a single tear ran down her cheek, she said, “I can't.”

Again he offered her his hand, and this time she took it.

He wrapped her in his arms and brought his lips down on hers. It didn't start out as a hungry kiss. It was simply a coming together of the obvious, the undeniable, the truth. But the need to draw closer grew and with it hungry passionate love.

The kiss turned into an erotic mating of tongues until Reeve broke away and rested his brow to hers.

Breathless, he said, “If we keep going like this I will not be able to stop from making love to you. Already I swell with the want of you. So tell me stay or go; the choice is yours.”