Page 52 of Married to her Kilted Enemy

“Och, I’ve felt better,” Tadgh replied. “If it wasnae fer all of ye, I’d likely be dead by now.”

“That was a damn fool thing ye did, takin’ that knife that was meant for me.”

“Nay, I only did what any friend would dae,” the warrior said modestly, shaking his head. “I’d dae it again in an instant.”

“He would as well, the dummart,” Alana put in, making them all laugh, though Tadgh winced and tried not to.

“I’ll never be able tae repay ye, Tadgh, but I suppose I’ll have tae think up some way tae thank ye properly for what ye did,” Odhrán told him.

“I’m sure I can come up with some suggestions for that,” Liam joked, waggling his eyebrows comically and eliciting more laughter. “Now, tell us, Odhrán, how did things go with the council. Did ye manage tae persuade them tae give us an army?” he asked, turning serious.

“Nay,” Odhrán said and briefly explained he was still at square one on that score. “We’ve nae prisoners tae interrogate. All the attackers who were nae dead or mortally wounded vanished intae the hills, and I’ve nae idea how else tae get this proof the council wants. Any ideas?”

“Naethin’ springs tae mind,” Liam said, turning serious. “If our scouts cannae come up with cheming’, and we cannae think of a way tae get Rollo tae show himself, I canna think of cheming’,” he admitted ruefully. “Tadgh?”

Tadgh shook his head. “Nay, nae unless ye can send someone tae find that fellow who I tracked down before and get more information out of him,” he said.

“I have a feelin’ we’re exactly where Rollo wants us tae be,” Odhrán admitted, hating the uncertainty. “It’s like we just have tae wait and see what the bastard does next and hope he’ll slip up.’”

“Aye. ’Tis nae a pleasant feelin’,” Liam agreed.

“Well, I’ve given the order for all the men on the borders tae come back in. I want all hands at the ready in case Rollo tries tae attack us again. That’s all I can think of fer now.”

Since Tadgh seemed to be tiring, Odhrán decided to leave them in peace. Before leaving, he said to Alana gratefully, “I cannae thank ye enough fer all ye’ve done fer Tadgh and for all the rest of the wounded, Alana. I truly dinnae ken what we’d dae without ye,” Odhrán told the healer, who was now sitting on the opposite side of the bed to Liam.

“Thank ye, me laird, but that’s me job,” she said, looking pleased, nonetheless. She jerked her thumb at Tadgh and added, “Besides, someone’s got tae save this fool from himself.” She took Tadgh’s hand, and Odhrán looked at him. The wounded warrior lifted an eyelid and surreptitiously winked at him. Odhrán grinned back, laughing inwardly at Tadgh’s cheek, while at the same time being pleased to see the pair so close. He hoped things would work out for them, as they seemed to be for him and Maddison.

“All right, we’ll leave ye in good hands then,” he said at last, taking Maddison’s hand and heading for the door.

“Aye, sleep well, Tadgh,” she said as they bid Alana and Liam goodbye for the moment and went out into the hall together.

Maddison wanted to change her dress, so they headed to their chambers, arm in arm. On the way, they compared notes on Tadgh’s progress and his and Alana’s growing closeness. They agreed it was a good thing. Odhrán was therefore surprised when Maddison suddenly changed the subject.

“Odhrán, d’ye think ye could teach me tae fight?” She looked up at him enquiringly.

“Are ye serious?” he asked, somewhat incredulous.

“Aye, of course. I wouldnae ask if I wasnae. Is it such a ridiculous notion?” She gave a small, charming pout of pretend umbrage that warmed his heart.

He laughed and shook his head. “Aye, it is a bit, although ye’re probably fierce enough tae make a good fighter.”

“Och, d’ye really think so?” she asked, apparently pleased by the comment.

“Well, ye certainly ken how tae hold yer own in an argument. Ye have a tongue as sharp as me dirk at times, I’ll give ye that much.”

She slapped him on the arm. “That’s nae gonnae save me if someone tries tae kidnap me, is it?”

“But Maddy, ye dinnae need tae learn how tae fight. Ye’ve got me tae dae that fer ye,” he assured her, his masculinity bristling a little.

“Aye, I ken that, but what if ye’re nae there? Like at the cottage yesterday. What if I’m alone and someone jumps me again? I’ve nay idea how tae defend mesel’,” she told him. “I dinnae want tae be a powerless victim of men all the time, nae in control of me own life. I cannae always depend on ye tae be there tae save me.”

Odhrán felt a twinge of guilt on that score as he thought about it—he was surely one of those men. But he considered her words carefully. On the one hand, it went against the grain of his manly protective instincts to think that he might not always be able to safeguard her. On the other, he intimately understood what she meant when she said she did not want to be a powerless victim of men. This was a chance to give her some power back. He figured he owed it to her.

“All right, I’ll teach ye,” he said at last, to be rewarded by a brilliant smile and a kiss on the cheek. To see her happy made him happy too.

“Thank ye. I’ll feel so much better. And I ken I’ll have the best teacher,” she told him as they went into their chambers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE