Borderland Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

his head again.
    “Jake,” Dominic warned.
    Jake ignored him, the red mist of anger blocking all other sights and sounds. The image of the peasant kicking at Isabel churned in his mind and he saw himself crushing the man with his bare hands.
    “Jake!” Dominic snapped sharply. “Put the man down or we will not be able to find out where his friends are.”
    He snapped his head around to Dominic and recognised the warning in his eyes. He could not disobey his brother, not in front of his household. Jake reluctantly lowered the man to the ground. He was right, of course, but it still didn’t stop the anger swirling through his body.
    The peasant coughed and gagged as he collapsed to the floor.
    Jake glowered and spat on the floor next to him. “You are lucky the lord has more foresight. I would have torn you to pieces on sight were it not for him.”
    Stomping back around the table, Jake slumped down on his chair. He couldn’t decide if he was more annoyed at Dominic or at himself for letting his temper take hold. It was rare he lost his temper but when he did, there were few who were brave enough to take him on. Only Dominic had the ability to work through his anger.
    “What is your name?” Dominic asked the man.
    “Peter, milord.”
    “Take Peter to the donjon,” Dominic instructed James. “Find out all you can. I would see the rest of these swines captured and brought to justice.” He turned his gaze on the cowering man. “Tell him all you know or I shall not stand in the way of my brother again.”
    “Aye, milord,” Peter stammered.
    Jake considered Peter though narrowed eyes as James dragged him away, his anger still un-tempered. He shoved his platter away from him, his appetite gone.
    Dominic noticed his brother’s manner and leaned over. “I could not allow you to kill him.”
    “I know. That, dear brother, is why you are lord of Thornewall and I am not.”
    Dominic chuckled. “Nay, I am lord because our mother married my father. You are a fine leader, Jake.”
    Irritation pricked at him and he tamped it down. Dominic never intended to seem condescending. There was no jealousy between the pair. Jake’s father had died when he was but a boy and his mother had remarried, bringing forth a young brother for Jake. He had enjoyed being an older brother and the two men had always remained close. Usually he did not envy his brother for much but he wished he had Dominic’s ability to control his emotions.
    And he may well have been able to, had the outlaw not lied. Jake could not stomach mistruths. He had seen all too well how lies could tear lives apart and he had little ability to suffer them from others.
    “Were you able to find out anything about the lass?”
    “Her name is Isabel.”
    “Anything else?” Dominic’s mouth split into a teasing grin.
    “Nay,” Jake mumbled.
    He had been so grateful to know her name that he had given little thought to discovering anything else. She had given him no other information on how she came to be in Thornewall and he felt foolish for not pressing the matter. It was likely she had family who were worried for her.
    “Well, no matter. Mayhap you can find out more on the morrow. You will be visiting her in on the morrow, will you not?”
    Jake narrowed his eyes at him, wondering what his brother was playing at. “Aye, I told her as much.”
    “Good. Now let us eat, Brother, for we have had enough disturbances this day and you’ll be no good to your fair maiden on an empty stomach.”
    Jake was about to protest until he realised, for whatever reason, Dominic was trying to get a rise out of him. He didn’t think of her as his maiden…did he?
    ~* * *~
    The following morning, a cheery Winnie roused Isabel. If she had been able to, she probably would have grumbled at the rude awakening but the scent of herbs and vegetables caught her attention and her stomach growled, having not eaten for nigh on two days.
    She peered blearily at the bright light that shimmered