Page 73 of Ella’s Desire

Before the women could rush across the room to put a stop to it, the man punched Bronson so hard in the face that he sagged back into the arms of the men holding him in place.

Ella jerked her battle axe free. “Cease this at once, or you’ll feel my blade in your skull.”

The men didn’t so much as acknowledge her.

“And ye’ll no’ get another drop of ale from me.” The barmaid crossed her arms over her chest.

That got their attention. The men grumbled and let Bronson go. He sat down hard on the bench and gingerly touched a hand to his cheek. The man on the floor groaned. Alive, at least.

The barmaid nodded to the rear of the room. “Take him in the back. Tell anyone who questions ye that Ceirs sent ye. I’ll be there in a moment.”

Ella gave her a grateful nod. Bronson, however, continued to sit. She grabbed his hand and hauled him to his feet. He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. “Ceirs is willing to help us if you’re done making an arse of yourself.”

His strong jaw clenched. “You didn’t hear the things they said about you.”

Ella scoffed. He was protecting her. Again. Even though it was she who had gone to his aid with her battle axe at the ready, even though it was she who had enlisted assistance in locating the Armstrongs.

She stalked away toward the door Ceirs had indicated. If Bronson wanted to stay and be beaten for his heroism, Ella wouldn’t stop him. Still, when she pushed through the door and he followed behind her, she found herself relieved.

She hadn’t wanted him beaten, of course. Although God’s teeth, how she craved to be free of him for a moment. His nearness seemed to cast a thinness to the air, which made it hard for her to breathe. It was the costly spices of his expensive scented oils; it was the way her heartbeat continued to trip over itself when he was around; it was how her legs nearly gave out every time she recalled what they had shared in the cave. It had been so fast, so explosively vibrant with passion and raw need.

The room was hot and humid with the savory scents of roasting meat and baking bread. A large man glowered up at them and lifted the cleaver he’d been using to hack at what appeared to be a pig. “Who are ye?”

Bronson squared his shoulders and shifted to stand in front of Ella. Ever the ready hero.

Ceirs pushed through the door. “Calm yerself, Hamish. I told them to come back here.” She waved them deeper into the cramped kitchen. Once they were near the back wall, she stopped and held up a wet cloth. “For his face.”

Bronson took the wadded linen with thanks and squinted his eye as he pressed it to his reddening cheek.

Ceirs studied them in contemplation. “The Armstrongs have yer sisters?”

An image flashed in Ella’s mind, one of Leila and Lark huddled together, frightened, waiting to be set free. Ella closed her eyes against the pain of it. “The ransom request will deplete the coin needed to get our people through the winter.”

Ceirs’s mouth turned down in a frown. “The Armstrongs are a rough lot. Cruel too.” She spoke softly, as though she hadn’t wanted to say as much aloud. “They’ve attacked our village often. If ye go to rescue yer sisters, ye may no’ come back alive.”

Ella clenched her fists against the sliver of fear that nudged into her heart.

“It’s worth the risk,” Bronson said with finality, speaking the words Ella had planned to.

Ceirs’s expression did not appear to be one of great confidence. “Ye’ll find them past the Liddes River in the valley. There are pele towers all about, heavily fortified with reivers from what I’m told. If an alarm is raised, ye could be facing countless men.” Ceirs fingered a small shell hanging from a string on her neck. “It will be verra dangerous.” The graveness of her tone told Ella exactly what she feared the most for them.

Death.

But if they could save Lark and Leila first…

“Thank you for your help.” Ella pulled several coins from her pocket and handed them to the woman. “If you could point us in the direction of the Liddes River.”

The woman accepted the payment, then nudged through a door that opened to the rear of the tavern. The rain had begun again, falling in a steady drizzle from a gray sky. She pointed in the distance. “Ye need only go that direction for some time, ye’ll find it. Ye should arrive before the sun goes down.”

Ella nodded and tried to still the thudding of her pulse. She’d known it would be dangerous, but the woman’s reaction had struck a new chord of terror within her. And yet, all she had to do was imagine sweet Leila and little Lark frightened and alone, hoping to be rescued or freed. Ella squared her shoulders, nodded her thanks to the woman and strode into the rain with Bronson to collect their horses.

“We ought to wait for the sun to go down so we can search for them,” Bronson said when they were out of earshot.

It was a good plan. Especially in a place so dangerous. “They will have men on guard throughout the valley regardless of the time.”

“Aye, but at least we’ll be under the cover of darkness.”

Ella hummed in agreement. Her mind spun with possibilities, ways they could try to outsmart the Armstrongs. The reivers had forces and the familiarity of the land, so Ella and Bronson would need to be cunning. But first, they would need to find somewhere to await the onset of night. Somewhere they could hide the horses, since they’d be stealthier on foot.