Read Online Branded by a Warrior by Andrea Thorne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrea Thorne
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tartan closer aroun d her. His smell was comforting. S itting before the fi re she watched the flames dance as Broderick sat with his head resting back in the chair with his eyes closed.
Sleep claimed her within the hour; the warmth of the fire and full belly had put her back to sleep easily. Still extremely weak from the blood loss, Broderick knew it would take her a while to build her strength back up. He was simply delighted to see the young woman awake and coherent once again.
Several hours slipped passed; he had enjoyed sitting in peace beside her. Resting his eyes and enjoying the warmth, he’d open his eyes long enough to cast his gaze over to her ensuring she slept comfortably in his large chair throughout the night as he sat next to her in his chair . Hearing her shift in the chair he e ventually he stood up and gently lifted her up with ease. He walked softly across the room towards his bed; he didn’t want to wake the sleeping beauty in his arms. Setting her down, he pulled the two tartans over her slim figure , followed by his warm covers. Conn and Isla had chosen a spot at the end of the bed on the floor, curled together the two great shaggy hounds settled in for the night.
She had impressed him tonight; she was no t demanding, nor vain. She did not order nor complain. She was humble and curious, w ell spoken and obviously intelligent. He could see her pain, physica lly and emotionally in her face , yet she never complained once . Either she had a hard time masking her emotions or she simply let her guard down and showed him who she truly was.
He almost expected her to act like royalty, to be snobbish and demanding. Inste ad, she was the exact opposite. Granted, she was weak as a wee kitten, but she had not acted like what he expected. For a woman known to be hell on the battlefield, he expected her to act like she was in charge , like a spoiled royal.
He knew she would continue to push to join his army when they went south to wage war; he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Time would tell if she could regain strength enough to hold a weapon again , if she couldn’t, there would be no way he could let her join. It would be a death sentence.
Even without the pea ce treaty between the MacMillan and the Drummond clan, he would have still sought out justice for the fallen clan. It was his d uty to ensure justice was dealt. Broderick and Kendrix, along with their elders agreed to wage war once the frost thawed.
Walking back to his leather chair he had occupied only moment ago, he sunk down and sighed . Now that she had awoken, he felt somewhat uncomfortable crawling into bed with her. Although she had not protested his protection, he figured it was best to keep his distance. Protecting her was quite different than sharing a bed with an unwed maiden.
Crossing his arms he closed his eyes and allowed the crackling fireplace to lull him to sleep, he was exhausted, mentally and physically.
Hours later the shuffling of his dogs awoke him from his restless slumber, looking across the room he saw both of his wolfhounds standing up with their heads lying o n the bed next to Elisabeth. His dogs heard his movement and swung their heads to look at him before turning back to Elisabeth, once again laying their heads next to her.
Concerned, Broderick slowly stood up and quietly walked over to the bed. He saw her shedding tears in her sleep, lost in a nother nightmare. His heart ached for the lass; he knew she dreamt of the massacre of her family and people again . It would stay with her soul forever. Over the past week she had suffered though endless nightmares, screaming for her pare nts and Duncan, for her people, tonight was no different. He silently wondered if she would be haunted for the rest of her life.
Pushing away his dogs gently , he sat down on the side of the bed and pulled off his huntsman kneeboots . Standing back up he pulled off his linen shirt , tossing it aside on the floor beside his boots .
Sleep claimed her within the hour; the warmth of the fire and full belly had put her back to sleep easily. Still extremely weak from the blood loss, Broderick knew it would take her a while to build her strength back up. He was simply delighted to see the young woman awake and coherent once again.
Several hours slipped passed; he had enjoyed sitting in peace beside her. Resting his eyes and enjoying the warmth, he’d open his eyes long enough to cast his gaze over to her ensuring she slept comfortably in his large chair throughout the night as he sat next to her in his chair . Hearing her shift in the chair he e ventually he stood up and gently lifted her up with ease. He walked softly across the room towards his bed; he didn’t want to wake the sleeping beauty in his arms. Setting her down, he pulled the two tartans over her slim figure , followed by his warm covers. Conn and Isla had chosen a spot at the end of the bed on the floor, curled together the two great shaggy hounds settled in for the night.
She had impressed him tonight; she was no t demanding, nor vain. She did not order nor complain. She was humble and curious, w ell spoken and obviously intelligent. He could see her pain, physica lly and emotionally in her face , yet she never complained once . Either she had a hard time masking her emotions or she simply let her guard down and showed him who she truly was.
He almost expected her to act like royalty, to be snobbish and demanding. Inste ad, she was the exact opposite. Granted, she was weak as a wee kitten, but she had not acted like what he expected. For a woman known to be hell on the battlefield, he expected her to act like she was in charge , like a spoiled royal.
He knew she would continue to push to join his army when they went south to wage war; he wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Time would tell if she could regain strength enough to hold a weapon again , if she couldn’t, there would be no way he could let her join. It would be a death sentence.
Even without the pea ce treaty between the MacMillan and the Drummond clan, he would have still sought out justice for the fallen clan. It was his d uty to ensure justice was dealt. Broderick and Kendrix, along with their elders agreed to wage war once the frost thawed.
Walking back to his leather chair he had occupied only moment ago, he sunk down and sighed . Now that she had awoken, he felt somewhat uncomfortable crawling into bed with her. Although she had not protested his protection, he figured it was best to keep his distance. Protecting her was quite different than sharing a bed with an unwed maiden.
Crossing his arms he closed his eyes and allowed the crackling fireplace to lull him to sleep, he was exhausted, mentally and physically.
Hours later the shuffling of his dogs awoke him from his restless slumber, looking across the room he saw both of his wolfhounds standing up with their heads lying o n the bed next to Elisabeth. His dogs heard his movement and swung their heads to look at him before turning back to Elisabeth, once again laying their heads next to her.
Concerned, Broderick slowly stood up and quietly walked over to the bed. He saw her shedding tears in her sleep, lost in a nother nightmare. His heart ached for the lass; he knew she dreamt of the massacre of her family and people again . It would stay with her soul forever. Over the past week she had suffered though endless nightmares, screaming for her pare nts and Duncan, for her people, tonight was no different. He silently wondered if she would be haunted for the rest of her life.
Pushing away his dogs gently , he sat down on the side of the bed and pulled off his huntsman kneeboots . Standing back up he pulled off his linen shirt , tossing it aside on the floor beside his boots .
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