Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“I agree and we will, but there is something I need to discover right now.”
“What is it? How can I help?’ Leora asked eagerly.
“You can tell me where you drifted off to when we were in the barn. You were seeing someone else when you gazed at Adele on the ground, and it has caused even more upset for you.”
She turned her head away from him.
Noble eased her head around, with his finger to her chin, to look at him. “Share what troubled you, wife, and free yourself of the disturbing memory.”
Leora gripped his forearm, eager to rid herself of the upsetting memory that returned too often. “On my journey home after my escape, not only from the abbey but from the performers as well, I came across three men dead in the woods. They were torn apart and there was blood everywhere. I stood frozen, staring at limbs strewn about. I couldn’t tell what happened to them. Had men done such horrible things to the three or had it been wild animals or a combination of both? I never felt so vulnerable, so frightened, so alone. I hid for almost a whole day fearing I would cross paths with the savages that had done that to those men, frightened to death of what my fate might be at their hands. It made me realize the evil that lives among us, and I was determined more than ever to return to the safety of my home. But seeing Adele like that and in her own home made me think that there is no place that is completely safe from evil. That if it wishes to touch you, it will find a way.”
“I give you my word that I will never let evil touch you, that I will see you kept safe,” Noble said, feeling her fear and knowing its strength since he had put such fear himself into men and women during and after battle.
“I have no doubt you will try, but you cannot be with me all the time and the attacks that have happened, and not just today, prove that.” She silenced him before he could speak with a gentle kiss. “I trust completely that you would rescue me if ever necessary. It is my fear that I would not be strong enough to survive until you reach me.”
He chuckled. “I believe it would take little time for anyone who abducted you to return you since they would quickly grow tired of your endless questions, arguments, and challenges.” He was glad his attempt at humor brought a slight smile to his wife’s face. “But seriously, Leora, if I had to go to hell to rescue you, I would go without hesitation. So, know I will always, without a doubt, rescue you and you will remain strong until I do.”
“Is that an order?” she asked, the promise she saw in the depths of his blue eyes soothing her soul.
His tone turned commanding. “Aye, it is, wife, and you will obey it without question.”
“As will you, if it is ever necessary that I need to rescue you,” she said.
That she was serious was obvious and his gut twisted. “Never. Not ever will you jeopardize your life for mine.”
He kissed her to diffuse the argument and lingered in it to please them both.
Leora pressed her brow to his when the kiss ended much too quickly for her, and her heart fluttered much too rapidly. She drew her brow off his and stared silently into his deep blue eyes, trying to look deep inside him and see if it was possible to see what was in his heart, for she was sure her heart was filled with love for him.
“Be careful, Leora,” Noble warned. “There is a fierceness inside of me you do not want to see.”
Leora could not stop herself from asking, “Is there room in there for love?”
His wife’s unexpected response had him at a loss for words. Did she wonder if he was capable of loving her, or was she asking if he had room for the love she felt for him?
“Sir!”
Penn’s shout had them both turning to see the warrior rushing toward them.
“A young man, Wendell, has arrived and is asking for Adele.”
CHAPTER 18
Noble grabbed Wendell by the arm when his legs looked about to fail him, after being told that Adele was badly wounded. He hurried the young man to sit on the bench at the table where Leora sat.
Wendell shook his head, repeating. “She can’t die. She can’t die.” His words faded and he stopped shaking his head. “We are going to get married and have lots of bairns—” He didn’t stop his tears from falling, he let himself cry. “I love Adele so much.”
Leora choked back her tears, feeling his pain and realizing the horrible pain she would suffer if she thought Noble was close to death, and it made her think that only love for another could have someone suffer so much.