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 reached out to rest her hand gently on his arm. “I am most grateful, husband, for your help.”
The sincerity in her voice, the gentleness in her soft blue eyes, and the tenderness of her touch hit him like a punch to his gut. A punch, as insane as it may seem, he favored.
“We need to be on our way,” he said, shoving the remainder of the food back in the sack, then standing. “Go drink your fill from the stream before we go.”
He turned away from her, troubled by his thoughts.
Elsie got to her feet and went to the stream, wondering why her gratefulness seemed to annoy her husband. Perhaps referring to him as her husband caused him to get upset and she should refrain from doing so. After all, he did not wish to be married to her, but she needed him to remain married to her. Fear and worry that she would fail her da and sisters churned her stomach, but she could not let either slow her down or stop her from doing what must be done.
She lowered herself by the edge of the stream and scooped up handfuls of water to quench her thirst. She took one last handful, after several, and brought it to her mouth when something had her glance across the stream.
A man stood there staring at her and in his hand was gripped a battle axe.
Instinct had her scrambling to her feet and shouting, “CAVELL!”
He caught her with one firm grip around her waist as she stumbled toward him.
“A man with a weapon across the stream staring at me.”
He held her close as his eyes hurried a glance that way. He saw no man, though he could easily have taken refuge in the forest that was lush with trees and foliage.
“What did this man look like?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the opposite bank while also keeping a firm hold of his wife.
She shook her head. “I’m not sure. It happened so fast and the weapon he carried is what got my attention.”
“What was the weapon he carried?”
“A sizeable battle axe with a long handle,” she said and shuddered, fright welling in her eyes. “He may not be alone. There could be a whole group of them.”
“Or he could be a single warrior waiting to see if the pretty woman drinking from the stream was alone.”
Pretty. He called her pretty. Had he meant it or was he trying to distract and ease her worry? If so, it worked since she focused on that rather than anything else.
“It is best we leave and get on with our journey,” he said and hurried her to the horse.
They were soon on their way, Elsie keeping herself snug against her husband and her eyes alert to her surroundings.
Cavell did the same, though it was possible she had seen a Gallowglass warrior, a long-handled battle axe, a weapon of choice for many of the Gallowglass who learned to wield it with skill. But he could not be sure since a rare, few renegade warriors had taken to using it as well, though not as skillfully as Gallowglass warriors. He would keep a watchful eye and be ready to fight if necessary.
“We can finish the food you brought with you tonight,” Elsie said, gathering sticks and broken branches for firewood shortly after they had found a place to stop for the night. “Tomorrow when we reach the shelter is time enough for you to hunt.”
She hoped she didn’t sound fearful or desperate, but she rather not be left alone after seeing the warrior with the battle axe as if ready to attack. She had managed to avoid people on her quest to find her husband and when it hadn’t been possible, the monk’s disguise served her well. Few if anyone troubled a monk. She also now had her husband to rely on and she had no doubt of his ability to protect her. The Gallowglass reputation alone would keep people at bay, but only if he was in close proximity. Otherwise, she would need to rely on herself.
“I will see you kept safe,” Cavell said, realizing that the battle axe wielding warrior had left her feeling uneasy.
A soft smile touched her lips. “I appreciate that, husband.” She tilted her head and turned a questioning eye on him. “Do you mind if I call you husband?”
“Though a shock to hear, it is an accurate description,” he said with a smile that meant to tease, then realized his scars might signal differently.
That her smile widened meant she understood that his response was meant to be humorous but more importantly, she had not cringed at the change in his scars his smile produced. They made no difference to her, and he felt the tautness that constantly pervaded his muscles begin to ease.