Thank God ye’re alive. I daenae ken what I would do without ye in me life.
Jude curled his arms around his son’s tiny body and held him close, rocking back and forth as he fought back the tears.
“Faither?” Hugh looked up through his father’s arms.
“Hugh, love,” Cleo pressed her hand on Jude’s shoulder. “Tell your father what you told me.”
Jude instantly pulled back from Hugh and looked him square in the eye. Fear gripped his heart as his son’s eyes dropped to the ground.
“Out with it, boy,” Jude growled. “What is it ye ken?”
“Jude,” Cleo’s soft voice broke through Jude’s rage. Realizing the anger that he felt was not meant for his son, he exhaled slowly before pulling in another long deep breath.
“Forgive me,” Jude said regaining his composure. “Please, son tell me what happened to Adam.”
Hugh glanced over to Cleo and swallowed hard. “We were goin’ around the bend and spotted the doe. She was magnificent, really, she was. Adam was showin’ me how to aim the bow, usin’ me knuckles and nae the point,” Hugh said in such a hushed voice that Jude had to lean in to hear him.
“In the distance, we saw a shadow and called out thinkin’ it was Felix, or Ronan, but they dinnae call back. I turned to look at Adam, and before I could take another step, he was pushin’ me down to the ground. And then…” Hugh broke off, his eyes filled with tears as his lower lip quivered.
Jude glanced over to Cleo as she opened up her arms to the boy. Immediately, he rushed to her for comfort. Cleo patted Hugh’s back trying to calm him down as the boy wept in her arms.
“Hugh, love,” Cleo said as she dropped to her knees. Hugh raked the back of his hand across his nose as he pulled away. “Did you happen to see who shot the arrow? Maybe tell us how big the stranger was, or if he was skinny?”
“Aye, he was stout. Nae like Ronan, but thick,” Hugh said. Jude watched as Cleo’s eyes widened.
“May I speak with you?” Cleo asked Jude as she hugged Hugh.
“What are yer thoughts?” Jude asked.
“Not here, not with Hugh like this. He’s been through too much,” Cleo said. “Hugh,” Cleo turned to look at the boy and brushed her fingertips over Hugh’s cheeks. “I need you to go see Felix while I talk with your father. Can you do that for me?”
Hugh nodded as he glanced over his shoulder to steal a glimpse at Jude. “Go on.”
Jude and Cleo watched Hugh stumble to Felix as he tried not to look at Adam’s lifeless body. The moment Hugh was out of earshot, Jude moved to Cleo and grabbed her by the arm.
“What do ye ken about this?” Jude asked.
“What if this was my father’s doing?” Cleo suggested. “After all, he is not a man who forgets easily or just lets people go. The fact that he released your son so quickly and let you leave the manor unscathed doesn’t make any sense to me. My father is a harsh man.”
“Ye’re forgettin’ I spoke with yer faither, he showed nay malice with me when I was there. In fact, he seemed pleased I had come for me son.”
“Then who could have done this? And why would they want to? It makes no sense,” Cleo said shaking her head.
“Death never makes any sense,” Jude said. “It could have been as simple as us bein’ in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“But you heard Adam,” Cleo said. “He was desperate to know if Hugh was safe. Perhaps the shooter was tryin’ to kill the boy?”
Panic and alarm shot through Jude’s body. His eyes widened as he tried to push away the thought. Yet there was something in Cleo’s words that struck him to the core of his being. He shifted his attention to Hugh and lifted his chin to the sky.
“Felix,” Jude glared at his right-hand man. “Daenae leave Hugh unattended for any reason. Guard him with yer life, do ye understand?”
Felix puffed his chest out and snatched Hugh, drawing the boy to him like a wounded bird. Jude turned to Ronan and sighed deeply.
“Ronan, I’ll need yer help to bury Adam. I will nae have the birds peckin’ at him and he will slow us down if we take him. I want everyone ready to go once Adam is laid to rest. We will nae stop till we get to the castle. I will nae have anyone else dyin’ today, is that clear?”
The men grunted and slammed their hands to their chests to give their solemn oath to Jude. Slowly, he turned to Cleo. His heart ached as she stared at him.
“And me?” she asked stepping to him. Her fingers curled around Jude’s arm as she waited instruction.
“I need ye to help with Hugh. The more eyes on him the better, at least until we lay Adam down.”
Cleo nodded as she squeezed his arm. Jude didn’t need to tell her anything more. She released him and moved to Hugh and Felix.
“Come,” she said pulling Hugh away from the fire. “Let us see if we can catch us some critters. Perhaps a few rabbits?”
“Stay close,” Jude ordered as pain ripped through him.
“Of course,” Cleo said with a hint of a smile.
Jude and Ronan moved to Adam and stared at him for a moment. Ronan’s lip twitched as he swallowed hard.
“Adam gave his life for me son,” Jude said. “I only wish we had more time, but we must make haste. There is nay tellin’ who is out there watchin’ us now.”
“Ye think the culprit is still lingerin’ about?” Ronan asked as he scanned the open area.
“Aye. I daenae think he’ll be attackin’ us out in the open. We will stick to the clearin’. Now help me fetch stones. I daenae want to have his body ravaged by the beasts in these parts.”
Ronan and Jude
