Page 45 of The Orc's Stolen Shepherdess

“Your feet are perfect.”

Caivid’s low voice caught all my attention. He was still held firmly by his chief, though I doubted he needed to be. He wasn’t struggling.

I looked back at my father, who was sitting tightly on the rock. I sighed heavily. “All this time, I’ve never doubted your trust in me, Father. You still hold faith in me, don’t you?”

My father’s eyes widened a moment and then he swallowed hard. “I just. . . can’t lose you too, Susara.”

I reached out and took his bony hand in mine. They were chilled, and I swung off my cloak to give to him, settling it around his shoulders. “And you won’t. I know what I’m doing. Please trust me.”

He searched my face for a long moment, and I held my breath.

And then, finally, he gave my hand a tight squeeze and whispered. “I do trust you.”

All my tension left me in a rush, and I pulled him into a tight hug. Fades, when had he gotten so small? So weak.

When had our roles switched? He was no longer my caretaker. I was his.

And I knew what I needed to do.

I let him go and went to Caivid’s side. “You can let him go, Chief Brovdir. I’ve got it.”

The quiet male raised his brows at me but did not hesitate to releaseCaivid.

“You get away from him,” Jophel raged, trying to break free from Headman Gerald’s grip so he could get back to his feet. Caivid tensed, but I gripped his hand tight, rubbed my fingers over his knuckles.

“Calm down,” I ordered him.

And he did. He relaxed into my touch and his expression went soft.

My heart swelled for him.

“Blast it all, Jophel!” Headman Gerald gripped the obnoxious man by the collar, but Jophel still fought, using the crook to try to leverage himself up.Mycrook. “Stop being a fool!”

“She’sthe fool!” Jophel spat. “Thinking she can lead that flock on her own! A tiny, useless woman like that has no right to—”

Rage burst behind my eyes. I stepped forward and slapped him across the mouth so hard the crack of it echoed in the woods.

“That”—I snatched my crook out of his grubby hands and slammed it down between his legs, right in front of his groin—“is the reason that no woman would ever take you for a husband.”

Jophel was shaking and pale as he looked down at how close my crook had come to smashing his manhood. The silence of the group was almost tangible. Even Waston was stunned.

I took advantage of the moment and said loud and firm so all could hear.

“All this has been a misunderstanding, and it, truthfully, doesn’t involve any of you. My father was worried for my safety, so I found someone who was willing to protect me.” I went back to Caivid’s side and touched his arm. “Beyond that, there’s nothing more any of you needs to know.”

Jovi spoke up again. “You. . . really would rather be alone in the woods than be married?”

I could hear the confusion in his tone, could see it mirrored in many other faces. Oakwall Village was a peaceful place, set in its traditional ways, and fighting against them was often a headache.

But it was worth it. Because change was the only way we could grow.

“I would.” I turned to my father as I spoke. “I’velovedmy life. Out in the woods as a family, guiding the flock, making memories. That’s where I feel the most at home. The most atpeace. I know it’s strange fora woman to want to walk the woods all day, but I do. It should not be stolen from me because it’s not how things are traditionally done, and it certainly shouldn’t be out of fear.”

My father searched my face for a long moment, his eyes soft, posture loose, heart open.

And he nodded. “Yes, I agree. As long as you have protection, I will not force you to give up the flock.”

I wanted to collapse from relief, and instead, I rushed to my father and threw my arms around him. “Oh, thank you, thank you!”

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