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)
“Food and drink to all who want it,” Cavell called out and when Blaine’s mum came to get her from Cavell, the little lass smiled and kissed him on the cheek before going into her mum’s arms.
Cavell slipped his arm around his wife.
“Looks like I have some competition for your heart,” Elsie said teasingly.
“She is a pretty, little thing, and she doesn’t mind my scars,” Cavell said and cast a quick glance at the lass. “I wouldn’t mind us having a daughter. Though, I would not let a man get near her and I would make sure she married a good man.”
That he spoke of future children with her touched her heart.
They went to the dais Cavell had ordered made for them with a table large enough to seat four and looked out on the small room. It was a matter of respect, he had explained, for the chieftain and his wife to have a place of honor to sit. He had then whispered it was also because he wanted her to himself, the two other chairs for those he would invite to join them, when necessary.
“Maybe two or three sons first, so they can help me protect a daughter or two,” Cavell said, after thinking about it and assisted her to sit before sitting himself.
Five bairns. She smiled, having often thought of having several children. Her heart swelled with happiness. She would have what she once thought only a dream, a loving husband and family.
Cavell reached for a quail egg from the bowl on the table that held several and began to peel it as he spoke. “Blaine was nowhere in sight when I got to the croft and I had no time to search for her, the situation needing my immediate attention. I was relieved to see her mum fetch her from a hiding spot once the fighting was done. Her da and mum had wisely taught her what to do if the croft came under attack.” He handed her the peeled quail egg and reached for one for himself. “Her brothers, though young, fought to protect their home. They have minor wounds and their da fought bravely, even with a more serious wound to his arm. May assures me that he will heal nicely.”
Elsie finished the last bite of the egg before asking, “Did you learn why the men attacked the croft?”
“They were fierce fighters with no intentions of surrendering or being taken prisoner.”
“What are you saying?” she asked, thinking she understood but also thinking it made no sense.
“Your husband killed every one of them from the tale that’s being told,” Melvin said, with pride as he came to a stop in front of the dais. “They were ready to kill Pell and his family when Cavell arrived. He disposed of them fast enough.”
Elsie’s eyes turned wide on her husband. “Is that true?”
“The men I brought with me from Clan Murdock helped,” Cavell said.
Melvin snorted. “Barely.” He raised his tankard. “Now that rogue bunch of mercenaries know who they are up against… the Gallowglass.”
“I am no longer Gallowglass,” Cavell said.
Elsie was glad to hear that, worried that he might somehow be pulled back into the group.
“Once a Gallowglass warrior always a Gallowglass warrior,” Melvin said and raised his tankard when Alda walked by. “More ale, Alda.”
“It is morning and you have already had your share of drink for the day,” May said, coming up behind him.
Melvin rolled his eyes before turning to face her. “You are not my wife and—”
“Thank the good Lord for that,” May said.
“Amen to that,” Melvin agreed, “so off with you.”
“You told me you were a man of your word,” May said.
“I am an honorable man, and an honorable man always keeps his word.”
May snatched the tankard from his hand so fast Melvin had no time to stop her. “Good. You gave me your word that you would help me settle Pell and his family in one of the cottages so he can heal. We do that now.”
“Bloody hell, I did give you my word,” Melvin said, glancing longingly at his tankard May placed on the dais’s table. “But I get to drink once we’re done. We always celebrate a victory with ale and food.”
“Melvin’s right about that,” Cavell said amused that May took charge of Melvin so easily.
“Celebrate later, work now,” May said and hooked her arm around his, not letting him get away and hurried him out of the room.
“I think they favor each other,” Elsie said.
Cavell laughed. “I doubt that, wife. They are always at odds with each other and look ready to battle after a few words.”
“Similar in some ways to how we were when we first met,” she reminded with a smile.
He shook his head. “Vastly different. We were wed, connected whether we liked it or not. Melvin has claimed repeatedly that he has no wont to settle down and raise a brood of children. His life consists of battle as will his death or so he claims.”