Incredulous, Deirdre was so tempted to glance over her shoulder to see who was hard upon her heels—and laughing!—though her instincts already screamed that Liam was threatening to overtake her.
“Would you prefer we reach the gate side by side so your kinsmen will believe it a tie?” came his teasing voice so close to her now, Deirdre stunned that he didn’t even sound winded.
Infuriated, she didn’t answer and she couldn’t have spoken anyway, she was breathing so hard, her leg muscles burning and her chest aching from the furious pace she had set for herself.
Instead, she leaned into the race with every last ounce of her stamina and ran for all she was worth…the cheers growing louder and the gate just up ahead?—
“Very well, how’s this instead?”
Deirdre gasped as she was suddenly swept up into Liam’s arms while still he ran as swiftly. Her outraged struggling and pounding upon his bare chest only making him laugh as if he was enjoying every moment, yet she could barely catch her breath, she was so incensed.
Too incensed to even notice that the cheering had ceased, her kinsmen staring in stunned silence as Liam came to a stop at the outer gate and lowered her to her feet right in front of her startled father.
“I caught up with her and decided to carry her the rest of the way—so I believe that makes me the winner of this race, aye?”
“Why…why you—” Deirdre could only sputter as she swung around to slap Liam in the face, only to have him catch her by the wrist and shake his head at her.
“Now, now, that’s hardly a gracious end to our race.”
“Gracious?” she fairly shrieked as Brendan and Darragh came to a stop a few feet away to lean hard upon their knees and catch their breath.
“Aye, it appears Liam O’Toole has won this round,” pronounced Ronan as he gestured for everyone to head back into the stronghold.
His scowl replaced by an amused expression that made Deirdre all the more outraged as Liam strode past her, not breathing hard and barely sweating, as if they had simply gone for a stroll.
He didn’t go far, either, before turning around and smiling at her. “What have you planned for us next, Deirdre O’Byrne? I would have caught up with you sooner if I hadn’t enjoyedthe view so much while I was running behind you. Mayhap something a wee bit more challenging this time?”
CHAPTER 4
Deirdre felt her mouth drop open for an instant at the bold teasing in Liam’s gaze before she found her voice to sputter, “I-I will for sure make it so challenging that you’ll look an utter fool when your arrows miss their mark, O’Toole!”
“Aye, then, archery it is, a skill in which I’ve always excelled. Shall I escort you back to the feasting-hall?”
“You will not!” Deirdre doubted she had ever felt more infuriated as she spun around so her back was to him and crossed her arms over her chest, her chin lifting as she saw Darragh and Brendan straighten from regaining their breath.
Both men were bared to the waist like Liam—and both were nearly as strapping, though the intensity of the race had clearly taxed them.
Brendan O’Neill dripping sweat and Darragh O’Sullivan’s face somewhat pale as he glanced with what appeared resentment at Liam, who hadn’t moved, as if he still awaited Deirdre to walk alongside him no matter her refusal.
That made her smile to herself and walk right up to the other two men, who appeared surprised at her attention since she had paid them so little heed at all—aye, something she fully intended to remedy.
“May I accompany you into the stronghold? You both ran such a fine race that I can’t wait to see your prowess with bow and arrows.”
Deirdre didn’t wait for an answer, but looped one arm through Brendan’s and another through Darragh’s, while Liam’s expression darkened so visibly that she felt a sweeping sense of satisfaction.
That would teach him, the arrogant spawn! Clearly he harbored some illusion that he had an advantage over the rest of her suitors, but she would show him that he had none at all.
Winning their footrace by such a despicable move had only made himlessworthy in her eyes, Deirdre gifting Darragh and Brendan with her most engaging smile as she sauntered with them past Liam.
His blue eyes darkened to a stormy hue and a tic worked along his jaw that was similar to her father when upset, which proved already that she had set Liam down a notch or two.
Meanwhile Brendan, with his russet-colored hair and hazel eyes, was grinning ear to ear and Darragh, who’d had a sullen demeanor about him since they had all sat down for breakfast, gave her a strangely uneven smile.
A low curse coming from right behind her as Liam strode past them through the outer gates, Deirdre unable to suppress a light laugh that made his broad shoulders stiffen.
Aye, more than a notch or two, and when this day was done, Liam and the rest of them would all be riding home without a bride and a dowry, if she had anything to say about it.
“Doyou think she’s accepted Father’s will for her?”
