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)
“He has two older brothers, as brave as he is, and a younger sister no more than five years. Hurry and help them,” Elsie urged, even though she feared for his safety.
Cavell grabbed her around the waist and lifted her to plant a firm, quick kiss on her lips, then ordered, “Stay safe and wise, wife.”
“You as well,” she said as he placed her back on her feet, then watched him hurry off.
Elsie was grateful to be kept busy, her mind constantly on her husband and his safety. Melvin reassured her each time their paths crossed that she need not worry that her husband was skilled enough to fight five mercenaries on his own without so much as a minor wound.
Elsie wanted to believe Melvin, but fear kept her doubtful, though not about leaving Melvin in charge while her husband was gone. He had the men and women organized with weapons within a short time and he even devised a plan if an attack should happen. The pregnant women were instructed to take the children to the keep and barricade themselves there until the fighting was done. When a woman asked what would happen if the clan was defeated, Melvin had turned a serious snarl on her and said, “Clan Murdock will never lose a battle!” A cheer followed and confidence of victory soared.
It wasn’t until near evening that she had a chance to stop at May’s cottage and speak with her.
“Your da does well,” May said and pushed herself up off the bench to stand as Elsie approached her cottage.”
“Sit. Sit,” Elsie urged. “I will join you.”
May dropped down on the bench and rested her head back against the cottage.
“I know my da does well. I spoke with Ann earlier. I am not here to discuss him, and you look absolutely exhausted.”
She lifted her head. “It is the dead man. I have never seen anything as brutal as that. Either the stab wounds or the sliced throat would have killed him, yet he suffered both where only one was necessary. That speaks of rage or revenge.”
May’s words followed her to the keep long after they had discussed other things. She wondered if someone wanted revenge against Clyde personally. The Gallowglass? Slayer?
Little sleep last night and worry for her husband exhausted her even more and had her skipping supper and going straight to her bedchamber. She had hoped her husband would return tonight but the length of battle could not be predicted nor could casualties and the injured. It could be days before he returned.
She made use of the fresh bucket of water left by the hearth and washed herself, and as she did so, a brief conversation she had had with Alda popped into her head. She had asked Alda if she had heard anything discussed with Warrand or Lord Bannaty when they visited with her da. Alda told her that she found it strange that no servant was allowed in Norris’s solar when he talked with the men and that not a peep was heard from either man on their separate visits when they took their leave. Usually, visitors talked freely in front of the servants as they exited the keep, thinking all servants were deaf. Not so with either visit, both men spoke not a word. It made Elsie think that whatever was discussed was not meant for anyone to hear or know about. But why?
She slipped into a clean sleeveless shift and freed her hair of the braid to run the comb through it several times, praying for the safety of her husband and the men who were with him as she did.
She was about to get into bed when she heard footfalls rushing up the stone stairs and she feared she was about to receive terrible news. She approached the door slowly and it was flung open before she reached it.
Her husband stood in the doorway shirtless, his arms and chest damp and his hair wet, as if he had washed but had not fully dried himself. His eyes settled on her, staring with an intensity she had never seen before now, and she shuddered.
He stepped into the room, swinging the door shut behind him and his hand went to his belt to untie it. “Take that shift off, wife, and come here to me… now!”
CHAPTER 17
Elsie shed her shift, a slight tremor to her hands as she did, eager to make love with her husband but anxious, seeing the fiery passion flaming in his eyes. And when his plaid fell to his feet, she saw just how passion-filled his need was for her.
She stood frozen, the room bathed in a soft, ethereal glow that allowed her to admire every inch of him, the width of his shoulders, the scope of his muscled chest, his thick muscled arms, his slender waist, and the power of his protruding manhood. Her own passion quickly responded to her unhasty perusal, further firing her desire.