A/N: Sherry N Tiffany rock!

A HUGE thank you to all of you that have been patient with me, I truly appreciate it. I am slowly starting to feel more 'normal'.

I also want to thank you all for your reviews. I read and treasure every single one of them. I'm sorry that I cannot respond to them at this moment in time, but I will send out PMs when I am able. You guys pushed me over the 2000 mark and that is amazing! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. xx

Chapter 34

"Attacked," Edward mumbled, in shock and then immediately looked her over for injuries. He couldn't believe that Emmett had left his wife vulnerable enough to be attacked. It was his duty to protect her, with his life if need be. He planned on giving his captain a stern word or two, and maybe even a belt, just as soon as he made sure his wife was okay.

"I'm fine," Isabella assured him. "Though I feel that I must apologise for my careless behaviour, I went outside at dusk and the air was cold. Emmett offered to fetch me a cloak and rather than staying put I started to wander. I'm certain if I didn't wander then I wouldn't have been attacked," Isabella said, sighing. She was rambling now, but she didn't care. She knew her husband was going to take his anger out on his soldier and she felt guilty for that. She prayed, hoped that she could say something to change his mind, make him see that this was her mistake. She would take the brunt of his anger, if need be. "I walked past one of the buildings, the door was open, but I wasn't paying any attention. That was when the man grabbed me. He forced me into the building, up against the wall. He had his hand on my mouth, so that I couldn't scream. I'm not ashamed to say I was frightened, but I knew I needed to do something so I could call for help … I had a knife in my pocket."

"Why did ye hae a knife in yer pocket?" Edward asked, confused, though he was amused by his wife's ramblings.

Isabella was reluctant to tell her husband that she had stolen it from his kitchen, so she merely replied. "For protection."

Edward didn't know whether to take that comment as an insult or not. His wife carried a knife around with her to protect herself. Did that mean she didn't feel he could protect her adeptly? Well, apparently he couldn't because his captain had failed to keep her safe. "What happened after ye pulled the knife out?"

"I cut his wrist."

"I personally checked aw the guards fur a wound," Emmett said, appearing behind Isabella. He was flattered by his mistresses attempt to protect him, but felt it was time to face his Laird himself. "I then sent soldiers tae check every man in the keep. The drawbridge wiz closed immediately after the attack. No one was seen leaving beforehand, but still nae man matching the injury the mistress described could be found."

"Take several men and search the grounds again," Edward said, turning to Jasper. "I want this man found."

"But, it's the middle of the night," Jasper answered, unsure how the clan would react to being pulled out their beds.

"I don't care."

Jasper nodded and walked away, muttering to himself about cleaning up other's mistakes.

Edward carefully moved Isabella to the side, out the way, before he turned to Emmett and punched him square in the jaw. "That's fur failing to protect ma wife, yer lucky she wiz nae harmed."