Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Ivan grinned.
Aliss smiled. She couldn’t wait to tell Rogan.
“I heard a crack,” Margaret said. “His back, I think.”
“Let’s have a look,” Aliss said, and walked over to Ivan.
“I’m naked,” he warned.
“I tried to at least get his kilt on but—”
“It’s all right,” Aliss assured the couple. “I don’t need to remove the blanket.”
Ivan sighed with relief.
Margaret smiled. “Good. I don’t want another woman seeing how well endowed my man is. It might give her ideas.”
Ivan grinned again.
Aliss saved her laughter for when she spoke with Rogan.
After a thorough examination along his back, she explained, “I am going to blend a poultice that Margaret will apply to your back, Ivan. While the towels soak, I’m going to work on your back with my fingers. I think we can get you to where you will be able to move enough to lie flat and rest until it heals.”
By the time the sun had risen a good distance in the sky, Ivan was sitting on the edge of the bed, not completely pain free but feeling better.
“You won’t go telling anyone, will you?” Magaret asked.
“She’ll tell Rogan, you can count on it,” Ivan said.
“Well, of course, she loves him. I would tell you if it were them I saw.”
Ivan grinned. “That would be a sight.”
The two of them laughed.
Aliss shook her head. “I won’t say a word.”
“Except to Rogan,” Margaret corrected.
“Except to Rogan,” Aliss confirmed.
“Good,” Ivan said, with a pound of his fist to his thigh and a wince. “My chieftain will know that the old warrior still has stamina.”
Margaret sauntered over to him. “That you have, deary, that you have.”
“None of that for a while,” Aliss ordered.
They both looked devastated.
“How long?” Ivan asked. Margaret held his hand tightly.
“A week at least, then we’ll see how your back is.”
They both looked as if they’d been handed a death sentence.
“It’s either that or a month.”
“A week, a week,” they both said in unison.
Aliss left Margaret fussing over Ivan. She smiled on her way to the keep. They made a good couple. You could see how much they cared for each other by the way they looked at each other. It was there in their eyes; they sparkled.
Love seemed to be in the air along with autumn’s first crisp bite. Besides Ivan and Margaret, she spied Robert carefully placing a freshly picked bouquet of heather in front of Sheila’s door. To his surprise, she opened the door before he could make his escape.
She picked up the bouquet and smiled at him. He returned the smile and they were soon talking.
She even spied Derek chatting with Tara while little Daniel ran around his legs. Now there would be a good match. Tara had arrived at the Wolf clan seeking sanctuary from a brutal lord who had killed her husband.
Perhaps there would be a wedding or two, maybe three, this winter or spring. She couldn’t wait to tell Rogan. She hurried into the keep and spotted her husband sitting at a table by the fire’s hearth, the table prepared for breakfast.
“I waited,” he said, standing to greet her with a kiss.
“But I’ve been a while. You must be starving.”
“I nibbled,” he said, and demonstrated on her neck.
She giggled and hurried to sit. “I have gossip to share, though some of it you must not share with anyone.”
They were soon deep in laughter.
“Ivan’s right. I am proud of him,” Rogan said with a grin.
Raynor entered the hall and hesitated to join them, but a wave from both had him sitting down just in time to hear about Derek and Tara.
“I thought those two had eyes for each other,” Raynor said, piling his plate with food.
“What about you?” Rogan asked. “Aren’t you interested in finding a wife?”
The piece of thick bread stopped before entering Raynor’s mouth. “In due time I will find a suitable wife.”
“Suitable?” Aliss asked.
Rogan rolled his eyes.
Raynor shook his head. “I will not have you or Fiona interfering with my future plans.”
“You have plans?” Aliss asked accusingly. “And you haven’t shared them with us?”
“I have no plans yet,” Raynor said. “You and Fiona will be the first to know when I do.”
Suddenly the horn sounded throughout the village, the sorrowful wail penetrating the windows of the keep.
Rogan stood. “A ship approaches.”
“No reason for alarm,” Raynor said, and finished his piece of bread before he stood.
Aliss was already at her husband’s side. “You know who comes?”
Raynor nodded after taking a drink of ale.
Aliss glared at her brother. “Do not tell me that you sent a message to—”
Raynor shook his head. “She’s probably come searching for me.”
Chapter 36
Aliss watched Tarr and Fiona disembark. Her sister looked wonderful, round with child and a healthy glow to her cheeks. Her red hair was piled high on her head, but not all the fiery strands remained contained. Several fell free, framing her face.