“He will suffer the consequences of his crimes,” Tarass said as if declaring it already done.

“Prove he committed the crimes,” Snow challenged.

Willow reached out and squeezed her hand grateful for her sister’s support.

“I leave this in your hands for now, James,” Tarass said. “Find out the truth and if Slatter isn’t responsible, then I care not about him, but if he is, I will see him punished. You have until the end of winter. If nothing has changed by then, he will be returned to me for punishment,” —he held up his hand when James went to protest— “and I have no doubt Lord Ruddock will agree with me on this.”

“I have your word on that?” James asked.

“You do,” Tarass said.

James nodded, wearing his worry for all to see.

The door burst open. “Lord Tarass! Lord Tarass! Rhodes is dead, a stab wound to the chest.”

Chapter 15

Willow gripped her husband’s hand tightly as she, James, and Tarass stood looking down at Rhodes. The warrior was dead, blood covering his chest from what looked to Willow to be two stab wounds. He lay inside the woods, not far from where Clan Macardle land met Clan MacLoon land.

Fear ran through Willow. Her husband would be blamed for this. Too many had seen the animosity Rhodes and Slatter had for each other. And there were those who had heard Slatter threaten to kill Rhodes. This did not bode well for her husband at all and she did her best to calm her fears and think sensibly. Not an easy task with the fire she saw blazing in Tarass’s eyes. And when he turned his eyes on Slatter, Willow’s stomach twisted with such fear that she thought her legs would fail her.

“Slatter killed him! He killed him!”

They all turned to see Owen, another of Tarass’s warriors and one who rode with Rhodes, rushing toward them.

Pain and fury mixed in the warrior’s dark eyes when his glance landed on Rhodes. He turned his anger on Slatter.

“Slatter killed him,” Owen said, his curt remark leaving no room for doubt. “Rhodes told me that Slatter asked to meet with him at sunrise, that there was something of great importance he needed to tell him and only him. I wanted to go with him but he ordered me to remain at camp with the men.”

Tarass turned heated eyes on Slatter. “You’ll hang for this.”

Willow went to step in front of her husband, but he pushed her behind him. “Do you want the truth of what happened to Rhodes or would you hang an innocent man and let the one who took Rhodes’s life walk free?”

“You lie, you coward,” Owen yelled. “You set a trap, lured him here, and killed him.”

“I never asked to meet Rhodes, and watch who you call coward,” Slatter threatened with a snarl.

“Liar,” Owen yelled and took quick steps toward Slatter.

Slatter didn’t hesitate, his hand went to the hilt of his dagger.