With Will and Maggie’s wedding just a week away, the last thing they
need to stumble upon is Johnnie Hetherington’s dead body tied to a tree,
especially one that’s so close to their cottage. Recognizing it as a sure sign
that Johnnie has betrayed the family once too often, Sergeant Richie Carnaby
gathers Will and his family together for questioning, though it seems obvious
only a fool would kill a man on his own land. Then who did murder the rogue,
and why?
Feeling confident it wasn’t any of the Fosters, Richie allows Will and Maggie’s wedding to proceed, but the couple has barely exchanged vows when the Armstrongs attack in force. Geordie is determined to rescue his niece from the clutches of Will Foster, whether she wants to go or not. And if he happens to make her a widow in the process, so be it. Will senses the danger and implores Dylan to get Maggie away to safety, no matter where — or when — that may be.
Though Maggie protests, Will assures her he will follow as soon as he is able. Yet how can that be possible when Dylan whisks her back to the twentieth century? Sharing her fears about Will, and unable to forget his own love, Annie, Dylan attempts to return to the past one last time despite his growing concerns over the disintegrating amulet stone. But will he make it in time to rescue Will, or will the villainous Ian Rutherford, who has already killed in cold blood once, win the ultimate battle and see Will and Maggie separated forever?
Trigger Warnings:
Sex and violence
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EXCERPT
Father Michael smiled
cautiously as he gazed out to the congregation. “If there be anyone here
knowing of just cause or impediment why these two shouldna be joined together,
speak now or forever hold thy peace.” All eyes searched the horizon while the
Foster men and their kin gripped the hilts of their weapons. What if Johnnie
Hetherington had gotten word to her family? They could ambush with hardly any
warning, and the Fosters’ with nothing more than their swords by their sides.
Maggie’s heart pounded as
she scanned the crests of the gentle fells. How peaceful they looked, and yet .
. . Will could die there in her arms. She could be a widow before she ever
really became a bride. Still, all seemed quiet.
“So be it, then.” Father Michael leaned over and kissed Will on the cheek.
Maggie thought that a bit odd. Wasn’t Will supposed to kiss her? Will must have seen a look of confusion on her face, for he bent toward her and whispered. “’Tis a sign that he’s blessed our union and declared us husband and wife.”
“Well, go on, then, lad,”
the priest said. Will didn’t hesitate. He took her in his arms, and at long
last, their lips touched once more.
Maggie clasped her arms
tightly around his soft collar, never wanting to let him go, but a horde of
young men who had been standing off to the side snatched her from his embrace.
They pushed and shoved one another, plucking at her garters and ribbons and
ripping them from her body. Maggie screamed, her temper flaring. Though she
tried to shove them away, she was nearly knocked to the ground. Two rowdy boys
reached up her skirts, triumphantly capturing blue garters, while three others
tore the ribbons from her arms.
Terrified about what they
might try to take next, she looked to Will, but he didn’t seem in the least bit
bothered. He just stood there, watching it happen, and that made her even more
furious. If they ripped her dress, she’d have them drawn and quartered, each
and every one of them. She kicked wildly as one young man even had the nerve to
run his hand along her thigh.
At long last, Will and
Betty came to her rescue, shooing the boys away. Taking her hand, Will led her
into the church, where they would attend Mass for the first time as husband and
wife. Maggie could barely control her anger. It must have showed, for Annie
took her aside to help straighten her clothing.
“What is it that’s upsetting ye so, Maggie?”
“What is it? I was just accosted by those little reprobates, and nobody seemed to care, not even Will! Do you know where one of them put their hand?”
“He only wanted a garter, Sister. Do they no’ do that where ye come from?”
Maggie could feel the heat rising in her cheeks, but this time it was from embarrassment. Of course, it was just another silly custom, and like it or not, if she was going to live in the sixteenth century, she had better get used to them.
Andrea Matthews is the pseudonym for Inez Foster, a historian, and librarian who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogical speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. She is the author of the Thunder on the Moor series set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Border, and the Cross of Ciaran series, where a fifteen hundred-year-old Celt finds himself in the twentieth century. Andrea is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Long Island Romance Writers, and the Historical Novel Society.
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Thank you so much for hosting the blog tour for Shake Loose the Border.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Mary Anne
The Coffee Pot Book Club
My pleasure.
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