by Pandora Pine
“Carter and I do not need to know what you did. The damage is done,” Fionn said coldly. “This is the last straw, Donnall. I kept silent when you deflowered maid after maid, but I can keep quiet no longer.”
“Maid after maid?” Cadence asked no one in particular, wrapping the blanket more closely around herself.
“Who do you think you are, taking advantage of my sister like that?” Carter yelled, his hands balling into fists.
Cadence pulled herself up from the floor, the blanket wrapped around her body like a towel. “Carter, he didn’t.”
“I should kick you out of Moone on your ass,” Fionn added.
“Fionn, no!” Cadence moved forward to get between the three men who looked like they were about to come to blows. No one was listening to a word she was saying and she wasn’t going to stand by and watch three men she loved tear each other to pieces. There would be time to dissect her feelings for Donnall later, for now she needed to get Fionn and Carter to calm down.
“If you have any hope of remaining at Moone, you will marry the girl,” Fionn demanded.
“NO!” Cadence shrieked. She’d almost made that mistake once with a man she’d known for years, she wasn’t about to marry a man she’d only known for a week.
“I would marry you, my beauty, without Fionn requiring it of me.”
Cadence shot him a look of disbelief. This wasn’t happening.
“’Tis the truth.” Donnall turned around to face her, his hand on his heart.
“You’re not marrying my sister, barbarian!” Carter lunged forward grabbing for Donnall but Fionn pulled him back at the last minute.
“Carter, violence will not help the situation.” Fionn wrapped his arms around his lover.
The hell it wouldn’t. Cadence sighed. “Carter, stop.”
“I’m trying to help you here,” Carter fumed.
“Help me?” You’re the reason I’m in this mess!” she shrieked.
“I didn’t send you out riding with bad weather on the horizon. Donnall’s hormones robbed him of his common sense and you got caught in the rain.”
“I was handling things,” Donnall chimed in at Cadence’s back.
“We saw exactly how you were handling things.” Fionn deadpanned.
“Fionn, for fuck’s sake,” Donnall started.
“Don’t use language like that in front of my sister.” Carter tried to charge forward again, but didn’t get very far with Fionn still holding on to him.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Cadence bellowed, her voice breaking at the end. Her face was flushed and her chest heaving.
All three men took a hasty step back, but still looked ready to tear into each other.
“Carter, how dare you talk to Donnall like that? He’s never been anything but a perfect gentleman to me.”
Fionn bit his lip and took another step back.
“It was my fault we got caught in the rain. I was so excited to ride the beautiful horse Donnall gave me.”
“He should have been aware of the weather,” Carter growled.
“Donnall got us to the cottage when he realized the danger we were in.”
“He is the danger.”
“Oh really?” Cadence’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “And where were you with a warning like this while Liam was committing crimes instead of working to pay for the wedding? Huh? And where the hell have you and Fionn been for the last week? You’ve been fucking like bunnies while I’ve had to make my way at Moone alone.”
“We are getting married,” Fionn said in a small voice.
“You were fucking like bunnies before you proposed,” Donnall added, stepping back in front of Cadence.
“The point is that Donnall has been the only one who’s been here for me since I came here with you, at your urging.” Tears started forming in her eyes and she blinked furiously to keep them at bay. “You begged me to come here with you, Carter, and you’ve practically abandoned me since we arrived. I know you’re busy with Fionn and the kids, but I have no one here. I’m alone in a strange century with no friends and no skills to survive. I couldn’t even light a fire! All I hear everywhere I go is how wonderful you are and all I get are women sniping at me and accusing me of being a whore.”
“Maybe you should stop acting like one!” Carter challenged back.
Cadence gasped like she’d been slapped.
“Get out!” Donnall ordered, taking a menacing step forward. “We will dress and meet you outside. You had better think up one hell of an apology for your sister between now and then, Carter, or I swear to the gods I will…”
“Do not finish that thought, Donnall,” Fionn cautioned.
“Just go. There will plenty of time for the three of you to beat the stuffing out of each other later,” Cadence said, defeat etched in her tone, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Fionn nodded and started for the door, reaching for Carter’s arm and tugging him along.
When the door was closed, Donnall walked to the fireplace and picked up Cadence’s dress which was thankfully just about dry. “Here’s your dress.” When Cadence didn’t move to take it, he set it down near her and quickly got dressed. “I am sorry for everything, Cadence.” Donnall watched her for a moment before stepping outside.
Fionn and Carter were standing near the horses hugging each other. “Where is my sister?”
“She was trying not to let me see her cry, so I left her in peace.”
“I should go to her.” Carter moved to pull away from Fionn.
“No. Give her some time to compose herself.” Donnall’s voice was a near whisper.
“And I should listen to you because?” Carter demanded.
“Because Donnall is right, my heart. We have been awful hosts. When we arrived home, we sent your sister off with Donnall so we could make love in the meadow outside the castle walls. She’s had to fend for herself and make her own way. We should be thanking Donnall for taking care of her so well.”
“So well? They were in there…”
Fionn wrapped a hand around Carter’s mouth and turned to his oldest friend. “You were the one who gave Cadence a horse and taught her to ride, when I should have done that for my sister-to-be. You kept her safe and have been her friend while Carter and I have been wrapped up in our own selfish needs.”
Carter sighed, still visibly annoyed at Fionn and Donnall. “Thank you, Donnall. I’m just on edge with the battle coming.”
“We all are, which is why I taught Cadence to ride. She’s adamant about helping to defend Moone. I’ve also requested a dagger for her and am having a bow strung that she will be able to fire.”
Carter snorted. “She’ll like that.”
“I think so too and with your permission I would like to instruct her in how to use the weapons.”
Carter nodded.
“It might be a good idea to outfit all of the women with daggers so they can protect themselves when the time comes. Arming as many people as possible can only help our cause.”
The door to the cottage opened and Cadence walked out with her head held high.
Donnall watched with pride when she went to Starburst and checked on her welfare, patting her neck and whispering in her ear.
Fionn pulled away from Carter and joined her with the horse. Donnall could see them speaking quietly and wished he could hear what Fionn was saying. The discussion ended with Fionn pressing a kiss to her forehead and helping her into the saddle.
The ride back to the castle was silent. Even though Fionn and Carter had calmed down, no one had anything they were willing to say out loud. Cadence rode at the back of the group and seemed to be taking in the sights as she rode. Donnall knew she was still troubled but now wasn’t the time to try to soothe her. He kept turning back to make sure she wasn’t crying and hadn’t fallen behind. He missed her sunny smile and sarcastic wit.
Everything that happened today from the weather to his out of control cock was his fault. He would have to be the one to make things right.
12
Cadence headed straight up to her bedchamber when they arrived at the castle, leaving the men to tend the horses.
Before she changed out of her dress, she’d followed the steps Donnall showed her earlier to light a fire. After a few missteps, she got a spark to light the kindling. While the fire grew, she changed into her nightgown and turned down the bed. There were still a few hours until dinner and she planned to spend the rest of the evening in bed. It had been a long day and her head was pounding.
Gathering her voluminous gown around her, she laid down on the luxurious fur rug in front of the fire. Rolling to her side, she watched the as the flames grew and danced. It felt good knowing she’d done this for herself. In terms of gaining skills it had been a great day, but she was still a long way from being self-sufficient in the fifteenth century.
A knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. “Who is it?” The last thing she was in the mood for was company.
“It’s Aggie and Sorcha. We’ve brought a bath for you.”
Cadence scrambled to her feet and ran to open the door. Two beefy warriors carried in the large wooden tub and an army of women carried in pails of water. “I didn’t order a bath, Aggie.” Confusion was etched in her voice.
“Donnall asked if we would bring this up for you. He said you could use a long soak after your first day in the saddle. If you don’t mind me saying so, you look worn to the bone.”
After watching Donnall, Carter and Fionn about to rip each other apart, she was certain her friend was right. “That was very kind of him.”
“He also asked us to bring you dinner on a tray so you’d be early to bed.”
“I feel like I could drop to sleep now.”
“Just make sure you don’t fall asleep in the tub. I’ll be up in a bit with your dinner and an extra sweet for my best girl.” Aggie pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you,” Cadence said quietly, tears pricking her eyes. It was easy to see how much Aggie cared about her. She had no doubt she treated Jilly the same way when her little niece had been orphaned and stayed with the older woman.
Cadence dipped a finger into the water and found it was hot, but not overly so. Shedding her nightgown she slipped into the tub, sinking down until the water washed over her bare shoulders.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and visualized her mantra, which until recently had been the ruin of Moone Castle. Growing up hearing stories about Fionn and the people of Moone from her father, the castle always felt like home.
After losing her parents and the family home, Moone became even more important to her, becoming an anchor of sorts as she and Carter navigated the foster care system. Now, it was easier and homier to picture Moone the way it looked today.
The hot water was working its magic on her sore and tired muscles. She had a feeling her legs and butt would ache tomorrow thanks to her first time riding Starburst. Riding Donnall had inspired another sort of ache all together.
His hands had been hard and demanding as he touched her. She had no doubt things would have gone a lot further if Fionn and Carter hadn’t burst in when they had. She would have given herself to Donnall without question. She knew he held her heart in the palm of his hand.
She supposed the bigger question was did Donnall feel the same? True he had offered to marry her, but she was certain that was more from a sense of duty than of an abiding love. Fionn had mentioned countless women Donnall had taken to his bed. Was she just another notch to be carved into his bedpost or did she mean more to him?
Just before he’d left the cottage, Donnall had apologized for everything. She couldn’t help wondering if the sex was lumped in with getting caught first in the rain and then by Fionn and Carter.
She shivered in the water which had grown cold as she continued to ponder her situation. She climbed out of the tub and wrapped herself in a long drying cloth before sitting near the fireplace to dry her hair.
The one thing she didn’t have to worry about was Fionn’s demand she marry Donnall. He’d apologized for putting that requirement on her when he spoke to her after the fight and her meltdown. He’d also apologized for being so wrapped up in Carter and being a bad host as a result. Cadence, in return, had asked Fionn to go easy on Donnall. She could only hope Fionn would do as she asked.
Even though Donnall knew ahead of time Cadence was eating in her room, he still missed her lively presence at the table. Carter had gone to take Cadence her tray so they could talk, leaving him alone with Fionn.
They’d had many squabbles and disagreements over the years with a few coming to blows, but Donnall couldn’t remember Fionn ever being this angry at him. They hadn’t spoken since they’d all left to ride back to the castle. He reached for the pitcher and poured them each a tankard of ale. “I am an arsehole.”
“I know.” Fionn tried to hide his grin with his ale.
“You’re not supposed to agree with me. You’re supposed to say, ‘I’m an arsehole too.’”
“We already agreed you are an arsehole, so what is your point?” Fionn smiled broadly now.
“I fucked up with Cadence. I was too busy watching the joy on her face as she rode for the first time, not to mention the way her arse was slapping the saddle. It never occurred to me to look up at the skies, which has never happened to me before. When I finally noticed the weather rolling in, it was too late and we rode for the cottage. We were both soaked to the skin and her teeth were chattering.” Donnall took a long gulp from his tankard, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Did you know she didn’t even know how to start a fire?”
“Neither did Carter when he first arrived here, so I should have known. He said it is not a skill they need to survive in their world.” Fionn sighed. “I should have made sure it was a skill she learned, so the fault is not all yours, old friend.”
“But it is.” Donnall hung his head. “What you said about me and the other women was true. I fucked anyone I could get my cock into and now with Cadence, I…”
“What?” Fionn asked curiously
“I do not want to fuck her. I want to love her.” Donnall sounded miserable. This had never happened to him before. He’d always been perfectly happy to sow his oats in many fields but meeting Cadence changed that. He was done lying with other women. He only wanted Cadence.
Fionn nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “It was the same with me and Carter. I ceased looking at and fucking other men the moment we met, even though I thought he was a Scottish spy. I told Cadence I would not force you two into marriage, even though you agreed to do the honorable thing.”
“I don’t want her bound to me out of honor, but want her to love me enough to marry me willingly. I want to have a relationship with her like you and Carter.”
“I suspected as much. Are you willing to stop fucking around with Mallory and the others?”
“Yes. I have already. What do I do now? How do I win Cadence’s heart?”
“Stop being an arsehole for a start.”
13
Cadence was stirred from a light doze by a knock at her door. “Come in.” Figuring it was Aggie with her dinner, she was shocked when Carter walked in carrying a tray with enough food to feed all of South Boston.
“Did I wake you, Cookie?” Carter grinned and shut the door.
Cadence laughed. Carter only called her “Cookie” when he was in trouble. Cookie Monster had been her favorite when they were kids and Cadence would imitate his deep voice when she asked their parents for a cookie. Carter only used the name when she was in need of cheering up. “I was dozing off a little bit. The fire is so soothing. I built it myself.”
Carter reached a hand down to her and easily pulled her to her feet and into a warm hug. “I’m so sorry for begging you to come here with me and then abandoning you and for losing my mind with Donnall this afternoon. Can you forgive me?
“You know I can. I’d do anything to avoid wearing our ‘get along’ shirt.” The shirt was on
e of Carlyle’s old white tees that Brigid would make them wear at the same time. Both of their heads stuck out the head hole forcing them to get along and work together, before their mother would set them free.
“I used to hate that damned thing. I’d want to go left and you’d want to go right.” Carter grinned and hugged her tighter.
“Not much has changed.” Cadence hugged him closer.
“I didn’t mean to dump you here and spend all my time with Fionn and the kids.”
“Yes you did,” Cadence said with a smile. “You were coming home to the man of your dreams and an infant son. I didn’t mind making my own way here. I’ve made friends and the attention from Donnall is…flattering.” She was hesitant to tell her brother what she really felt about the irritating barbarian.
“But?”
“Today was just too much for me to handle. Learning how to ride the horse was wonderful, but there was this undercurrent of it not being solely for pleasure, but to assist in the defense of the castle. Add in getting caught in the rain and being unable to start a fire. If not for Donnall, I wouldn’t have been able to take care of myself. Then you and Fionn burst in like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid…”
“What happened with you and Donnall? Did he force you?”
“No! He’s not an actual barbarian, Carter. I just call him that to tease him. He’s a good and honorable man. He’s trustworthy and I’m pretty certain he’s not mobbed up like Liam.”
Carter burst out laughing. “You never know, Donnall could have been the one who started the Irish mob.”
Cadence shook her head sadly. “He’ll be dead in a few weeks, Carter, unless we can stop history from repeating itself. I don’t think it’s enough that we’re here, we need to take action.”
“I know, Cookie. We will take action. I have so much to fight for, but enough talk about that for now. Are you falling in love with Donnall?”
Cadence buried her face in Carter’s chest knowing he’d be able to see right through her. “Of course not.”
