Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
May stopped him. “The wound needs wrapping, and I will be keeping an eye on it. Do not go anywhere,” she ordered. “I need to get salve and cloths, so stay put.”
“She dictates too much,” Melvin complained as he watched her leave the room.
“May is an excellent healer, you should pay mind to what she advises,” Elsie said.
“Tell me, will Slayer collect the information you gather for him the usual way?” Cavell asked.
“Aye, he will send someone,” Melvin nodded and said no more.
“We can get word to Slayer then about my sister,” Elsie said eagerly. “And maybe he will know where Noble can be reached.”
May returned, her face pale. “Word has just arrived. The body of a woman has been found by a crofter at the far end of the clan border. She drowned and she has reddish blonde hair like Leora.”
CHAPTER 14
“How many times must I tell you that you are not coming with me?” Cavell asked, shaking his head in frustration. “I have twelve clansmen going with me who can say with certainty whether it is Leora or not.”
“Bodies pulled from the water after substantial time are often bloated behind recognition. I would know at first glance, while the others will not,” Elsie said, annoyed she would be left behind.
“I will not risk your safety with an unruly bunch of renegades roaming the forest, and I can travel faster without you along, which means I can return by this evening.” He gestured with his hand to stop her from speaking. “If necessary, I will bring the woman here so that you can see for yourself if she is your sister.” He raised his hand for a second time to stop her once again from speaking. “I do what is best and you will adhere to my command, wife.”
“Your word on that?”
Cavell scowled, annoyed. “I would not say it if I did not mean it.” He saw the worry in her eyes and cupped her chin. “You have my word, Elsie. I will bring the woman here, if necessary.”
“I am grateful,” she said and turned her face to brush a light kiss on his palm.
The brief, intimate gesture shot a wave of passion through him, and he silently cursed the unexpected reaction. Not that he didn’t enjoy it, but he would rather have had time to do something about it since his wife no longer avoided his touch. It was time for them to talk and settle what would come of their marriage.
“If all proves well, we talk when I return home, wife,” he said, hoping the drowned woman was not Leora, for he knew the pain she would suffer and that did not set well with him.
“I will be waiting—with hope.”
Cavell gave her a quick kiss and mounted his horse.
“One more thing, husband,” Elsie said, looking up at her husband. “Leora can swim.”
Elsie kept busy, seeing what needed her attention since her absence. Kara joined her at one point, and she taught the little lass more about numbers as they looked over the planting fields and Elsie took stock in her head of how much would need to be planted for a sufficient harvest that would easily feed the clan.
She was not surprised when people offered encouragement that it could not be Leora who had been found. Someone had commented on Leora being a good swimmer, but Elsie knew that didn’t matter. A good swimmer could still drown. She knew the clan worried along with her since Leora was beloved by many.
However, she was surprised that people continued to tell her how grateful they were that she had agreed to wed the Gallowglass warrior. They felt much safer with him now being chieftain. No one made a remark about his scars, not even the little lass Kara. They all appreciated him as did Elsie and she hoped he realized how much he was valued and how no one would want to see him leave. She certainly did not want him to. Where once duty had taken priority when it came to marriage, that was no longer so. She found her husband a good fit and believed they would work well together. Given a choice, now that she knew him, she would agree to wed her husband most willingly.
“Mistress Elsie.”
Elsie shook off her thoughts and turned a smile on Ann walking toward her. “Is everything all right with my da, Ann?”
“Your da improves little by little each day which is good. His new son-in-law protects the clan, and he believes all his daughters are safe.” Sorrow showed in her aging eyes. “I pray along with the clan that Leora is not the woman found drowned.”
“She is a good swimmer,” Elsie said, knowing it did not matter but it gave her hope saying it.
“I have heard from many that she can talk any man into anything, and I saw it with my own eyes,” Ann said with a chuckle. “She had the one young monk so besotted that he forgot to lock her cell one night. That was how she managed to escape.” Her voice lost its humorous lilt. “My heart broke hearing her tell Sky to stay strong that either she or you or you both would return for her. It had to have taken all her strength to leave poor Sky there alone.”