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)
Elsie worried Leora would not accept the fierce Highlander as her husband, let alone get along with him. Leora did not do well being dictated to. She had a mind of her own, a strong one, and had often done as she pleased, to the worry of her da and mum, since she had been young.
Right now, Elsie only cared that her sister was found safe. What would become of the marriage she had no idea, and it was not for her to decide. Though presently, with her and her sisters’ lives being in possible danger, she hoped Leora would think wisely about the marriage.
She pushed the recurring thoughts from her head and continued keeping a fast pace through the village. Melvin was leaving today to go and speak with Slayer, and she wanted to make sure he remembered the message correctly she had told him to deliver to Sky.
Elsie smiled when she spotted her husband standing beside Melvin not far from the keep where the lad Rory waited with Melvin’s horse. That her husband was growing more handsome by the day was undeniable. The honey had worked well on his scars. In a few weeks many would fade away to be seen no more and the deeper ones would no longer look as angry, though some scars would remain but none that would rob him of his fine features.
Her smile grew when he spotted her and he stretched his arm out to her, and she hurried to him to be caught in a snug embrace.
She turned to Melvin, and he raised his hand. “You do not have to repeat the message to me for the hundredth time. I will make sure I deliver every word of it to your sister Sky and return with one from her.”
“Bless you, Melvin. I so appreciate it,” Elsie said.
“Have you the healing pouch I prepared for you if you should need it?” May asked as she hurried toward Melvin.
Melvin turned. “I do and you need not worry that I will need it.”
“Do not be stubborn,” she chided. “You never know what may happen.”
“I am a skilled warrior, I know what I do,” Melvin argued.
“It is better to be cautious than stubborn,” May snapped.
“At least I will not have to listen to your endless harping while I am gone.”
“And I will no longer waste time harping at you for being foolish,” May shot back and walked away.
Melvin turned, shaking his head as he gazed at the ground. “She is impossible so why am I going to miss her?”
“I am going to miss you too, you impossible fool,” May shouted.
Melvin’s head shot up. “How did she hear that?”
“You speak louder than you think, and I have exceptional hearing,” May called out as she kept walking.
“She drives me crazy,” Melvin said, looking to Cavell.
“Did you ever consider that you care for May, Melvin?”
“I am not sure what I feel for her,” Melvin said confused. “She frustrates me and yet I enjoy being with her, even arguing with her.”
“You said you will miss her. That tells you something,” Cavell said. “Go speak with her, for you leave shortly and your chance will be gone, and you may regret it.”
Melvin turned and rushed off. “May! Wait! I want to talk with you.”
Elsie was grinning when her husband’s glance fell on her, and he quickly pressed his finger to her lips.
“I do not want to hear you were right about them,” he ordered with a tap to her lips.
She chuckled. “There is no need for me to tell you what you already know.”
He squished her tightly against him and laughed. “That I have a brilliant wife.”
Shouts suddenly filled the air, people began grabbing weapons, and someone shouted, “A troop rides on the village.”
“Get in the keep!” Cavell ordered, pushing his wife toward it, and letting several oaths fly when he reached for his sword at his waist, and it wasn’t there.
“I will fetch your sword,” Elsie called out, knowing exactly where it was, and ran into the keep, her husband’s warning to once again remain in the keep barely reaching her ears.
She ran up the stairs, blaming herself for his lack of a weapon since she had kept him in bed extra long this morning with a need that required extra time, not that he complained about it. He was only too happy to satisfy her and himself. But then they hurried to dress, having taken too much time, and his sword had been forgotten. She grabbed the sword, struggling with its weight and hurried as best she could down the stairs.
Elsie’s heart pounded a furious beat when she saw women and children rushing into the Great Hall as she entered.
The young lass, Kara, was clinging to her mum crying and other bairns clung to their mums sobbing as well.