Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 111362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Blodwen, take Lady Sorrell and tend to her,” Ruddock ordered and the woman stepped from behind Ruddock.
Sorrell went to protest, wanting to stay with him.
“Not a word, wife. You’ll go inside and stay there,” Ruddock ordered with such an icy resolve that Sorrell shivered and left his arms without protest as he eased her away.
“Come, my lady, you’re wet and need to get warm,” Blodwen said and after walking through the open door, six warriors filed through it behind her to fan out on either side of Ruddock.
Sorrell halted her steps, forcing Blodwen to do the same.
“My lady, Lord Ruddock ordered you inside,” Blodwen said.
“You need to know that I don’t take well to orders,” Sorrell said and went back to peer past the frame of the door and watch.
Coyle wisely dropped to his knees. “Forgive me, my lord, I beg you.”
“Did my wife beg you to stop,” Ruddock demanded.
“Not once, my lord, not once.”
Ruddock stepped in front of him. “Well, I’m going to make you beg.”
The first blow lifted Coyle right off his knees and before he hit the ground the second knocked a couple of more teeth out of his mouth and the third blow knocked him unconscious.
Ruddock dragged him by the back of the shirt to the stream and grabbed him by the throat and held his head under until he woke. Then shoved it in the water again and again and again.
“How many times?” he roared at Coyle. “How many times did you push her head under?”
Coyle coughed and sputtered. “Once. Only once.”
Ruddock shoved his head under again, Coyle staring up at him through the water, his hands grabbing frantically at Ruddock’s hand that squeezed at his throat, begging him to let him go.
He yanked Coyle out of the water and threw him to the ground, then turned his eyes on the open door and called out, “Sorrell get in the keep now.”
Sorrell jumped, wondering how he saw her. Her head was barely visible from that distance. She didn’t move even with Blodwen’s urgings, until she saw her husband grab Coyle by the shirt and give him a kick to the backside.
“Start walking,” Ruddock ordered. “It’s the stocks for you.”
Sorrell hurried away from the door and up a few steps of the keep, Blodwen following.
When Ruddock passed close by the side of the steps, he called out, “I mean it. Sorrell, get in the keep and stay there.”
When Sorrell didn’t budge, Blodwen pleaded with her, “Please, my lady, I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“I want to see what my husband does,” Sorrell said.
“He will be angry and punish you,” Blodwen said teary-eyed.
Sorrell stared agape at her. “You think my husband would hurt me?”
Blodwen nodded.
“Ruddock would never hurt me, not ever,” Sorrell said. “He is a good man.”
Blodwen bit at her lower lip as if to keep herself from speaking.
Sorrell didn’t notice, she was too busy stretching her small neck past the steps to the left of the keep where she had spotted the stocks upon their arrival here.
People started gathering as the warriors placed Coyle in the stocks, while Ruddock stood and watched. A sizeable crowd had formed by the time the warrior finished securing Coyle.
Ruddock stepped forward and raised his voice for all to hear. “This man will remain in the stocks until I decide whether he lives or dies. He dared to take a hand to my wife. Anyone who dares such a thing or even speaks disparagingly to or of her will suffer the same fate. I do not care what you think of me, but you will treat my wife with respect.”
Sorrell couldn’t take her eyes off the peoples’ faces. They feared her husband even more now. She watched them gather in groups and whisper, many shaking their heads. She was so engrossed that she didn’t see her husband had neared the steps.
“Hurry, my lady, Lord Ruddock draws near,” Blodwen whispered.
Sorrell looked to see her husband nearly on top of her and she didn’t hesitate. She ran to him.
Ruddock scooped her up in his arms when she reached him and hugged her tight against him. “What am I going to do with you, wife?”
Sorrell lifted her head off his chest and smiled. “Love me.”
Chapter 23
“Have a hot bath prepared for my wife, Blodwen,” Ruddock ordered, the servant remaining on his heels as he carried his wife through the keep.
“Aye, my lord,” she said and hurried off.
“Do you fear anything, wife?” Ruddock asked.
She tapped his chest. “Losing you.”
“And I fear losing you, so you will take pity on your husband and not take such chances with your life ever again.”
“Is that a command?” she asked as they were about to leave the Great Hall.
“Must I make it one?” he asked, a slight warning in his tone.
“Lord Ruddock, a matter that needs your immediate attention,” Erland called out as he entered the room.