Author's Note: Once again, Please disregard any spelling errors made in this story. This story is unedited and quite a few years old. Thank you much.

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How did he die?

It was late at night and Elizabeth couldn't get to sleep. She was laying across Keith's chest as was normal for them. But she just couldn't sleep. Elizabeth kept thinking of the early hours of the day when she had received that letter from her father. The letter that told her that she was in deep trouble for not being on her worst behaivior with Keith. The letter that told Elizabeth that she would be punished, that Anita would be punished for her not returning home.

Elizabeth paced the garden until dinner trying to think it out logically. Her father wouldn't be able to hurt her because Keith simply wouldn't let him. She had complete faith in her husband. Her father also wouldn't hurt Anita because she wouldn't keep quiet about it. No, Anita was quite safe from him. This letter was just a threat to scare her.

She didn't tell Keith and had also gained Jamie's promise that she wouldn't interfear. She didn't want her husband to worry, or get hurt.

Laying next to Elizabeth Keith was wondering why she was so distant towards him. She couldn't be ill, no that wasn't the problem. Maybe, because she had overheard his conversation with Gellion, she was worrying that he would get hurt.

Keith knew that Elizabeth was still awake, which was also unusual for her because she usually fell straight asleep after they made love. Not that Keith was complaining any. Elizabeth gave herself to him as she always did. She loved him in all the ways that he needed her love. But this time, was differant. There was a hint of something more in Elizabeth this time, like she wanted to hold something unpleasant at bay.

Keith didn't want her to hide anything from him. But he also decided that if he wanted her to be completely honest with him then he needed to be completely honest with her.

"Elizabeth, I love you. I just couldn't tell you. It is hard for me to express my feelings. Even if you never hear the words again just know that they're true every one of them."

Keith felt Elizabeth shaking against him and felt wetness start to spread on his chest.

"Elizabeth?" Keith pulled her up to look at him. She was crying. "Elizabeth, I didn't mean to make you cry baby, I'm sorry."

"Oh Keith don't be..." She grabbed him around the waist in a feirse hug and started laughing. Keith rubbed her back.

"I've been trying to tell you all day love. I am sorry you had to hear my conversation with Gellion earlyer. I am sorry you had to worry about me. I won't put myself in danger that I'm not sure I can come out of safe, okay?"

"Yes." Elizabeth whispered, her hazle eyes glittering up at him.

"I would like to tell you how my father died. I waited but you never asked."

"I wanted you to tell me when you were ready. I didn't want to push you."

"I'm ready now. I love you so much Elizabeth. I didn't think I could love this much. It hurts sometimes."

"Yes it does." Elizabeth agreed.

"Okay well, My father went out at night five days before I came to you. That was when he was tackled by a man in black and killed with a sword through his heart. Gellion heard a noise and went to investagate. He saw the man gain his horse and ride away. My father died the next day and I left the holding for the four day ride to your father's. Now that it has been four and a half weeks since his murder, and I have you at my side, I can finally concentrate on finding the man responsable.

"Oh Keith, I'm so sorry." Elizabeth was crying again. She was so emotional today. She burried her face in Keith's neck and told him that she didn't ever want him to kill anyone but she wanted to be by his side when he killed his father's murderer.

Her support made Keith want to cry too.

Elizabeth was in a state of nerves the next morning. She woke up with Keith's words floating in her head. All she could think about was how his father died and how she was blissfully sleeping the night of his murder. Then there was his declaration of love. That love was what kept her emotions grounded.

Elizabeth woke up alone. It was sunup and Keith was already working around the keep. Which was perfectly alright with her because she had woken up with a queazy feeling in her stomach and she couldn't get out of bed, not even to use the chamber pot.

Elizabeth had no idea why she was so neuseous this morning, so she just blamed it on nerves and that was that. Yet when she could finally control her nerves enough to climb out of bed and make her way to the pot she lost a great deal of her stomach and felt a lot better. Elizabeth was just thankful that her husband wasn't there to witness her disgrace. He surely would have kept her in bed for the remainder of the day. Keith was obsessed with her health. It touched Elizabeth how much he showed his love for her. Even when she was sick upon their arrival Elizabeth could recall Keith whispering to her that everything was going to be alright. But then she was stuck in bed for two weeks and she was having none of that.

Now as Elizabeth was heading for the stables to get a morning's ride in, just to calm her nerves, she realized how much she loved her husband. It would kill her to see Keith get hurt. But she knew that her father could be ruthless. Elizabeth just hoped that Keith would Kill her father before her father could blink twice.

Her father would come to them, she knew. Elizabeth thought, as she started out on her ride, racing the winds yet again. He would boast of his crime and Elizabeth could see no reason to tell Keith any sooner than he had to know. Elizabeth knew that when Keith found out he would feel great pain, just as she felt for her mother. Elizabeth didn't want Keith hurt any sooner than he had to be. No, she wouldn't tell him what she now knew.

A short distance later Elizabeth was wwaylaid by a man riding his horse a short distance behind her. "Lady McVere." He shouted. Elizabeth stopped Thunder so abruptly that she was amazed that she managed to stay on his back.

Bret pulled his horse right up next to hers. Panting he continued. "Do you always ride like the Devil's chasing you?"

"Yes, but only when it's the Devil himself doing the chasing." She barked.

"Well. What has gotten you so angry?"

"Laird Jo Hannon..." Elizabeth said quite impatiently.

"No, no. Not Laird yet." He smiled. "Bret." He offered as an alternative.

As Elizabeth could think of no other name to call him she obliged. "Bret. I don't care to see you ever again. How you can even think that my husband would kill his mother is unbelievable. I happen to know that Keith loved his mother very much. Arliss died when her body gave away it's strength, years ago. You were just boys then. How can you hold to something this obsurd for so long? Oh what am I saying. Your Uncle and my father have."

"You're digressing." Bret said with a wicked smile that destroyed his handsome features. For that second Elizabeth saw Bret's evil side as Keith described it.

"My point is that I don't ever want to see you on McVere land again. I will have that wall built and gladly stand by my husband's side all the while."

"Are quite finished?" Bret asked coolly. "Now, as I was going to say before you jumpd in with that puny defence of my cousin's sainthood. You are currantly on Jo Hannon land, and if you wish to remain safe with my then you best not rail my tamper, as you are doing now. We are going back to my home, and I want you to tell me exactly what Keith's doing to find my Uncle's murderer."

"I will go with you nowhere." Elizabeth reared her horse and dashed off before Bret could stop her.

Elizabeth was so upset by the time that she reached the stables that even the stable lad tried to console her." Just let me help you mistress. I would like to help you. Would you like me to get my Laird for you?"

"No. I would like to be left alone. You do not need to pester my husband about pultery worries. Now go, do as you were doing, I will take care of everything." Elizabeth rushed out of the stables and headed towards the gardens.

Father melton met her hlf way. "Ho mistress." He greated. "Have you a fullfiling ride? What's wrong?"

"Nothing Father, Could you please leave me alone for a while?"

"I think we need Laird McVere." He stated matter-of-factly. "Laird." Father Melton called out. "Something's the matter with milady."

Keith, being only a few feet away saw Father Melton huging Elizabeth around the shoulders and she, not so successfuly, trying to pull away. He also realized that his Lissy was crying again. Damn, what could have upset her now. She was doing so well since they arrived, up until last night, he qualified. She had not cried until last night when she had found out that he was investagating his father's murder. God's truth she was acting very much like the hellion he new her to be.

Keith rushed over to the pair. "What's wrong Elizabeth?"

"Could we please go where we can be alone?"

"Yes. Of course."

Keith led her to the garden, and as she stared blankly at the flowers she told him about Bret's threat and what he said to her. "And I think I made him angry too. He won't get my though. I know that with all my heart you will keep me safe from him."

"You're damn right I will protect you. Lizzy I don't want you to ride anymore." Elizabeth agreed with Keith's every order just to placate him for he was in a temper. Keith gave orders for about a half an hour that eventually concluded at him not wanting her outdoors unless he was by her side. When he finally decided that his orders were enough to keep her completely safe he pulled her trembling body into his arms and rubbed her back until her tremmers stopped. Eventually Keith carried her to bed, as she'd requested, to rid her of all remaining bad thoughts.

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Author's Note: Dear Reader,

I cannot remember the name of the book it was from. I only remember the story and characters. I'm sorry. If you find it let me know so I can buy it.