Katja’s chance to escape her father’s harsh treatment appears to be too good to be true. But becoming Lady of a clan that despises her because she’s a Sinclair, doesn’t make life any easier. When the attacks turn deadly, she fights her way out, making a dangerous passage to the Shetland Isles for refuge with her Viking family.
Calder and Katja’s marriage, built on mistrust, rushes quickly into disaster. As Calder seeks to repair the damage, Katja discovers not another enemy, but a husband who pledges a new beginning.
“With the storm’s approach, I haven’t a spare room to offer ye, but ye are welcome to spread yer plaide here with the others.” The innkeeper’s wife dropped heavily to the bench across from Calder. “Have a care for yer pocket, though. I cannae swear yer coin will remain if ye arenae careful.” She shrugged. “I cannae keep watch all night.”
“I thank ye for a moment of yer time,” Calder replied. “And I will sleep with one eye open.”
The woman snorted her short laughter and took a sip from her mug.
“Ye were right earlier—about being recently wed. My wife and I have been married only a few weeks. I have been too busy with clan business to spend the time with her a lass needs when she is newly away from family and friends.”
“Lost yer wife, have ye?” she asked shrewdly.
Air whooshed from Calder’s lungs. His stomach dropped. “Aye. I know where she’s headed. I’d like to know how far I am behind her.”
“Describe her,” the woman invited.
“Ye get many unchaperoned women at the Pig and Plough?” Calder countered.
She shrugged. “I dinnae care to help a man who cannae take care of a good lass. Mayhap ye are different?”
Calder sighed. “Ye are right. I havenae taken care of her. But I hope to convince her I can change.”
“Can ye?”
“I recognize I’ve neglected her, though readying the clan for winter is important.” He glanced at the woman for sympathy, but she merely raised a brow. “I have no wish to haul her home against her will. I do need to see to her safety.”
“Does yer wife have a wee dog?”
“Wee? Nay. My wife has a dog bigger than the horse I rode here on.”
The woman laughed. “Yer lady wife arrived three nights ago. She remained here unmolested, and departed the next morn. I have no idea where she traveled, save she continued north toward Thurso.”
“Aye. She has kin on the islands.”
“Then lad, ye may as well return home until spring. With the wind kicking up like a disgruntled bear, there will be no ships willing to make the crossing until the weather clears.” She rose tiredly to her feet. “Good luck and Godspeed, lad. If she is already on the islands, she is beyond yer reach.”
“I thank ye for a moment of yer time,” Calder replied. “And I will sleep with one eye open.”
The woman snorted her short laughter and took a sip from her mug.
“Ye were right earlier—about being recently wed. My wife and I have been married only a few weeks. I have been too busy with clan business to spend the time with her a lass needs when she is newly away from family and friends.”
“Lost yer wife, have ye?” she asked shrewdly.
Air whooshed from Calder’s lungs. His stomach dropped. “Aye. I know where she’s headed. I’d like to know how far I am behind her.”
“Describe her,” the woman invited.
“Ye get many unchaperoned women at the Pig and Plough?” Calder countered.
She shrugged. “I dinnae care to help a man who cannae take care of a good lass. Mayhap ye are different?”
Calder sighed. “Ye are right. I havenae taken care of her. But I hope to convince her I can change.”
“Can ye?”
“I recognize I’ve neglected her, though readying the clan for winter is important.” He glanced at the woman for sympathy, but she merely raised a brow. “I have no wish to haul her home against her will. I do need to see to her safety.”
“Does yer wife have a wee dog?”
“Wee? Nay. My wife has a dog bigger than the horse I rode here on.”
The woman laughed. “Yer lady wife arrived three nights ago. She remained here unmolested, and departed the next morn. I have no idea where she traveled, save she continued north toward Thurso.”
“Aye. She has kin on the islands.”
“Then lad, ye may as well return home until spring. With the wind kicking up like a disgruntled bear, there will be no ships willing to make the crossing until the weather clears.” She rose tiredly to her feet. “Good luck and Godspeed, lad. If she is already on the islands, she is beyond yer reach.”
You can visit with her on facebook, or read her blogs and learn about her books at www.cathymacraeauthor.com. Drop her a line—she loves to hear from readers!
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DD MacRae enjoys bringing history to life and considers research one of the best things about writing a story! With more than 35 years of martial arts training, DD also brings breath-taking action to the tales.
You can connect with DD through www.cathymacraeauthor.com. It’s always exciting to hear from readers!
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