Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Tarass watched the joy fade from his wife’s face and knew her thought. “Your da.”
She nodded. “I want to tell you without any doubt that my da had nothing to do with your parents’ death, and I can say without a doubt that the da I knew well would never have done that…”
Tarass heard another but without her saying it. He also heard the conflict in her voice, and he remained silent knowing it was difficult for her to continue.
“My da changed when his mind illness grew worse and he did things—” she paused, biting her lower lip to stop it from trembling. It didn’t help. “He did things I never expected him to do. So while I can say with certainty that when he was lucid he would never have done something so horrific, but when he was someone I don’t think even he, himself, knew,”—she shook her head—“I can’t be sure and that breaks my heart.” She buried her face against Tarass’s chest and let her tears fall.
It broke Tarass’s heart to see his wife cry and continue to suffer over her da’s illness that had left her with a father that had been barely recognizable to her.
He held her and spoke gently, though his words held weight. “Angus Macardle was a good, fair man. That was what my da had said often about your father. My da was good at determining a man’s nature and from what I recall about your da, I believe my father was right about him.”
Snow sniffled as her tears subsided. “Do you recall what my da and your da argued about?”
“I only recall that your da was agitated about something when he arrived and he demanded my da not do something. Before your da said anymore, my da sent me from the room and I hoped to listen from outside the door but my mum was there and she chased me away.”
“Maybe Willow would know something about it. She and my da talked often, and he relied on her after our mum died. Maybe we could visit them once the snow permits it.”
“We’ll see,” he said, concerned with all that was going on that it might not be wise to travel just yet.
A rap at the door had Tarass bidding Nettle to enter. He didn’t, however, expect Rannock to follow her in.
“What now, Rannock?” Tarass asked, annoyed at being disturbed.
“Abbot Bennett claims he’s isn’t feeling well enough to travel,” Rannock said. “He insists on shelter for the night.”
“That is not going to happen,” Tarass said and with a finger to his wife’s chin, gently turned her head to face him. “I will get rid of them and return here before you finish your brew.”
“Please be sure to make them leave. I fear their presence will only bring more problems,” Snow said, then kissed her husband’s lips lightly. An excited ripple raced through her when his lips suddenly were partially visible to her, fuzzy, but visible.
Once her husband was gone, Snow turned and was pleased to see Nettle had a more defined shape to her gray blur. Could her sight actually be improving? She felt such joy at the possibility, especially now with a chance of her being with child. She would be so grateful to be able to look upon her bairn’s face when he or she was born.
Nausea rose up to roil her stomach once again. Not as bad as before when she fainted, but enough to make her feel unwell.
“You pale, m’lady. Do you not feel well?” Nettle asked, concerned.
“My stomach churns again.”
“Perhaps it’s a bit of food you need.”
Snow’s stomach didn’t recoil at the thought of food. “It’s worth a try, Nettle.”
Nettle was barely out the door when Snow got out of bed. Thaw was quick to rush to her side, letting her know he was there to help.
She slipped on her shoes, she kept by the bed, and made her way to the chair near the hearth. She had no intention of staying in bed. She felt much too vulnerable there and she already felt vulnerable enough with the Abbot and Lord Polwarth still in the keep.
Thaw’s paws were suddenly on her thighs and she leaned over and gave him a kiss and a rub. She startled when his dark eyes came into focus.
Please. Please let it be so that my sight is returning.
She didn’t dare say it aloud for fear of somehow chasing it away. Instead, she gave Thaw another kiss and looked more closely at his face, blurry but visible to her.
“You’re a handsome one and you’re getting so big.” She smiled.
After she lavished him with kisses, rubs, and praise, Thaw curled up by her feet for a nap.
Snow hugged herself, not for warmth but out of sheer happiness. She never thought she’d be as happy as she was now. Even with all the problems facing her and Tarass, she still felt a sense of joy and most of all hope.