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)
“I intended to,” Brother Emanual said, “but I spent time in prayer hoping the good Lord would send Leora back to us.”
Elsie was about to rush at the monk once again, angry that he had delayed in getting her sister help. But her husband turned to her, a warning look in his eyes as he stretched his hand out to her, and she stilled. That he warned her yet offered his hand to her made her see that he showed the monk that he stood with her.
She went to him and took his hand, and it closed around hers and kept firm hold of it.
“Where is Brother Kendrick? I want to speak with him.” Cavell said.
Brother Emanual appeared a bit perplexed.
Seeing his confused look, Cavell asked, “Did he perish in the fire?”
“Nay,” Brother Emanual said, and shook his head. “I was sent here when Brother Kendrick took ill many months ago to take charge and remained here upon his passing. Brother Kendrick’s health had been failing for years, along with it the abbey itself. I was fortunate that my superiors believed in my ability to restore the abbey to its glory.” He shook his head again. “My superiors will not be pleased that the abbey has been destroyed.”
“I imagine not since they have also lost the stipend that supported this place,” Cavell said.
“I have no doubt the stipends will follow wherever I go as I continue to care and treat the insane and others will show their generosity, eager to help their loved ones overcome their madness. You may consider it yourself once your wife becomes unbearable.”
Elsie looked up at her husband, fearful he might contemplate the idea. He was chieftain of the clan now and it was an easy way for him to get rid of her. She almost pulled away from him, his face contorted in such anger that she barely recognized him, but he tugged her hard against him, refusing to let her go.
Brother Emanual must have thought the same, for Elsie watched him cross himself for the third time since their arrival.
“Listen well, Brother Emanual,” Cavell said, fighting to keep control of his anger. “Never will my wife or her sisters ever reside in such a hell hole again. And those who you claim insane who have survived the fire will be free to go their own way today.”
Brother Emanual gasped. “Only one survived and I cannot free her. She must remain in my care until her dying day as I gave my word that she would.”
Cavell and Elsie turned upon hearing a frightened gasp to see Edith making her way slowly toward them.
“Please, sir, please. Your wife said I would go with her,” Edith said, teary-eyed.
Elsie pushed against her husband to free herself to go help the elderly woman, but he refused to release her. She looked up at him and whispered, “Please.”
The worry and caring in her soft blue eyes simply would not let him deny her and he reluctantly released her.
Elsie hurried to the woman, slipping her arm around her. “Do not worry, Edith, you will come with us, and my husband will see you kept safe.”
When Edith turned her tear-filled eyes on Cavell, he knew she needed to hear it from him.
“Your home will be with Clan Murdock from this day on, Edith.”
Tears began to roll down her face, leaving pathways through the grime. “Bless you, sir, bless you.”
Brother Emanual stepped forward. “I forbid—”
Gasps filled the smokey air when suddenly Cavell was holding a dagger to the monk’s throat. He had moved so fast no one had seen him draw the weapon.
“Have you not learned the consequences of angering a Gallowglass warrior?” Cavell asked, keeping the dagger’s blade at his throat.
Brother Emanual trembled. “I do not mean to anger you, sir, but Edith suffers from madness and is not to be trusted and could cause harm. She was caught too late snuffing the life out of bairns after they barely took a breath.”
“Lies! I did no such thing. I would never do such a horrible thing,” Edith said, anger in her weak voice as she wiped at her tears.
“I beg you, sir, do not listen to her lies. She will bring harm to your clan,” Brother Emanual pleaded.
“I bring harm on no one and never have, sir,” Edith said. “Please give me a chance and I will prove what a good and trustworthy person I am.”
Cavell was unsure who to believe or who to trust and as chieftain of the clan he had to make sure he kept the clan safe. And knowing old or young alike could cause harm, it was not an easy decision to make.
“She is old and useless to you. Let the monk have her,” Melvin whispered behind him.
That would be the way a Gallowglass warrior would think, and Cavell did not hesitate to say, “The old woman belongs to Clan Murdock now.”