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)
Harcus laughed and drew his sword. “She dies first.”
Elsie rushed back away from the sword and into the raging stream.
“I didn’t even need a sword to kill her.” Harcus laughed again and charged his brother.
Cavell had to get to his wife fast, having seen how she barely kept herself on her feet. She would not last long in the water and he could not let her be swept too far away from him, which meant he had to kill his brother fast. He ran at him.
Elsie did her best to keep her head above the water, but she had little strength and her garments felt far too heavy. She feared she did not have the strength to swim to the bank and pull herself out.
Fight. Cavell will come for me.
She recalled something Leora had once told her. If you fall in angry water and grow too tired to swim, grab onto the nearest branch to help keep you afloat until you reach calm waters. She gave a quick glance around but didn’t spot anything she could grab onto. She was about to go under, too exhausted to keep her head above water, when she saw a branch land in the water not far in front of her. With what little strength she had left, she swam for it and latched her arms over it, relieved for the reprieve. But with her strength waning, she would not be able to hold on long.
She thought she heard a splash and the next thing she knew someone grabbed hold of her.
“I’ve got you.”
Cavell realized soon enough that his brother avoided close battle with him so that he wouldn’t have enough time to save his wife.
“I learned to dodge Da’s quick hand better than you and the skill has served me well,” his brother taunted. “This ends only one way, brother… one of us dies and it is not going to be me.”
“You’re right,” Cavell said. “Only one of us dies today.
Harcus gasped and his eyes shot wide, staring his brother in his face that was so close that he could feel his breath on his cheek.
“That is a dagger you felt shoved into your gut,” Cavell said.
Harcus’s mouth hung open, but no words fell out.
“I dodged Da’s hand with far more speed than you, something he never expected, and he missed me every time, never having seen me coming just as I’ve done now with you.” Cavell twisted the dagger deeper before yanking the blade out of him, then shoved his lifeless body to the ground.
He didn’t give his brother a second glance as he mounted his horse and took off, keeping close to the bank of the stream, ready to rush off his horse and into the water to save his wife.
He grew anxious when he didn’t see her and feared the worst. Then he spotted something on the bank ahead. He urged his horse on and nearly flew off it when he spotted a body on the grassy bank.
He stood staring at his wife, lying on her back, her arm stretched out, and her hand clasped in the woman, lying on her back, a short distance from her… her sister Leora.
“It was Leora? I wasn’t dreaming?” Elsie asked wrapped in a cloak and snug in her husband’s arm as they rode toward home.
“You weren’t dreaming,” Cavell assured her. “It was Leora who saved you. I sent her ahead with Melvin since she would not stop instructing me how to tend you.”
“That’s my sister,” Elsie said with a soft smile. “I am so relieved she is home and safe.”
“And I am relieved that you are in my arms and safe.” He kissed her brow.
“As am I,” she said, tightening her arm around his waist. “I knew you would come for me.”
“Always, wife,” he said and lowered his lips to hers.
Elsie greeted his lips eagerly, ever so grateful she was safe in her husband’s arms and that the day would end well.
“I love you, Elsie,” he whispered after his lips left hers.
“And I am grateful you do love me, for it was your love that kept me strong, kept me fighting to survive, kept me confident I would come home to you.”
“I had no intentions of returning home without you no matter how long it might take to find you.”
“I am glad it did not take long, for I prefer to sleep in our bed tonight.” She grinned. “Well, maybe not sleep.”
“You need to rest,” he chastised, though he welcomed her playfulness. It meant she was feeling well.
“I can sleep later,” she said relieved she had survived and wanting to celebrate it in the best way possible… making love with her husband.
“We shall see,” he said, not having as much confidence in his words as he should.
Her response overflowed with confidence. “Aye, that we will.”