She nibbled on the bread and cheese and after a few sips of cider drank no more, it being too sour for her taste. Several yawns and aching limbs reminded her how tired she was and she had always believed that a good night’s sleep would bring brighter perspectives on any problems one had.

She stood with a stretch, slipped her tunic off to drape over the back of the chair, and rested her boots by the hearth so they would be warm when she wore them next. She climbed into bed, the mattress lumpy, though it was far more comfortable than standing in a hole in the ground all night, and pulled the wool blanket up around her.

Whispered prayers fell from her lips as they did every night and before she finished, she was fast asleep.

Slatter stood over the bed, looking at his sleeping wife. It was late, only a few hours from morning. He had ridden all day and night to get home, to make sure his wife was safe. He had lost Tarass’s men easily, but he had wanted to make certain they couldn’t follow his tracks before he headed home.

His heart had slammed in his chest when he had seen his wife with Tarass’s warriors. Worse, he wasn’t sure what she would do. Would she go with them? Would she turn him over to them? Or would she foolishly think that they could return with the warriors and he would be safe because she was his wife?

He had just been about to close in on the man he was searching for when he spotted Willow with the warrior, Rhodes. He had been one of the warriors who had turned him over to the barbarians. Then the man called him a whoremonger and all hell had broken loose.

His greatest fear had been for his wife. All he could think about was that he had to get to her. He had to keep her safe. He had to make sure no one took her from him.

When he had seen the warriors leave her side, he’d seen his chance and taken it and was relieved when he had seen Willow run for the woods, trying to escape them.

He was also relieved she was there safely tucked in his bed and he wasted no time in shedding his garments and joining her. The bed wasn’t a good fit for two people, but that was an easy adjustment to make. He went to ease his wife on her side to wrap himself around her when she turned and snuggled against him.

“Slatter,” she whispered, a warm breath fanning his neck as her head rested on his shoulder.

“Aye, leannan,” he murmured and wrapped her in his arms, wondering if he had lost his mind caring for this woman, thinking she belonged to him, when he had no choice but to eventually let her go.