“She no longer comes with a dowry.” Niall faced the man and spoke in a strong voice. “My father was ostracized from our clan. He lost everything.”
Angus’ eyes narrowed. “What are ye saying?”
“Those are the coins to pay off my father’s debt to ye.”
“To hell with ye, boy! That’s her dowry. Just as I said.” Their father’s brows slashed down in anger, his fist curling at his side. “Dunna be telling lies about us.”
When their father moved to grab Thomasina’s arm, Niall shoved him away.
“Ye’re not touching her.” He faced Angus’ angry expression. “Nor are ye. She’s betrothed to another.”
“There’s been no such agreement.” Their father, barely able to keep from falling at his son’s push, puffed his chest out and turned to the other man. “The boy’s daft.”
“’Tis a done deed,” Niall said.
Silence fell over them like a blanket. Thomasina held her breath feeling as if she were facing a pack of wolves. One false move and they’d be jumping on her, ripping her apart. She glanced between the two of them and waited. More shouting outside. Her father scrunched up his face, looking to be rummaging through his sodden brain to pick up any trace of the event actually happening. A long few minutes passed before he finally spoke.
“Ye’ve given up yer innocence then?”
“’Tis rightfully due her husband and no one else.” Niall intercepted her having to answer. His avoidance of the question caused Thomasina’s heart to soar. “Ye dunna debate the truth of that, do ye, father?”
Angus’ face darkened with his fury. He stepped closer to Niall and when he would have grabbed at Thomasina, her brother stopped his hand short. He gripped the older man’s wrist. His lips disappeared into a tight, thin line.
“Dunna be touching what’s not yers.” Niall’s expression curled in a scornful scowl.
The man didn’t speak at first. He looked to be measuring Niall’s mettle. As if he could see inside his soul and learn if he was telling the truth. Thomasina prayed with all her might that he could not.
Angus glanced where Niall’s hand held his arm. He ripped it from Niall’s grip. Despite his advanced years, this man was quite strong. If he ever took hold of her in anger, there was no telling how she would survive.
“If ye’re lying to me,boy, I’ll find out. And I’ll have her myself—once and for all.”
Angus turned to Thomasina, leering at every inch of her most intimately before smiling. A wide smile that spoke of his long held desire to take her.
Her stomach clenched.
He turned back to Niall. “And I’ll slice yer throat just for the hell of it.”
The man snorted and turned toward their father. “Ye’ve not paid enough. Not nearly enough.”
He stomped toward Daisy. The blacksmith backed away, allowing the other man to mount unassisted. Without a backward glance, Angus rode away.
Their father scratched his head. “Guess that’s done with.”
Niall was beside himself with anger. “What are ye playing at? Ye’d give him Thomasina? He’s a defiler of women and children.”
Their father’s eyes seemed to focus on Niall. Intently. An expression Thomasina hadn’t seen on him for quite some time. He stepped closer and tipped his head before he spoke. “Wereye lying?”
Nae!” Niall answered without hesitation, his tone adamant.
Their father’s eyes held his. She couldn’t be certain but he looked as if he’d noticed something in Niall’s tone. Niall had sounded a bit too… forceful. Thomasina swallowed. For the smallest second, she feared he was about to call Angus back and tell him it was all a lie. Then their father stepped back, his hands dropping to his sides.
Niall kneeled down and picked up something from the ground. He took Thomasina’s hand and led her out to his horse around back. Their father watched but said nothing.
Once mounted, they headed away from the village, following the narrow path that led to the top of the rise where the cave was. Neither spoke.
Chapter 12
The pain in Sean’s side finally lessened and he had slept on and off for a short while. His limbs were stiff and painful when he tried to move them.
