Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
“Ayyyyye,” she said, it being drawn out with another yawn and fell asleep giving no thought on who would greet her in the morning.
They had been traveling since just after sunrise, not that the sun rose today. The skies were cloudy, though it didn’t look like rain nor did the chilly air smell of rain, but the Highland weather was too unpredictable to be certain. It was now midday, and they had yet to stop. She had dozed off not long after they left, the warmth of her husband’s body, the strength of his arms, and the sway of the horse lulling her into a light sleep. She woke a little while ago, exchanged a few words with him and realized he had no interest in conversing just like this morning when they woke. Quint looked the same to her, but she felt there was something different about him. He was more intense and his body taut.
It was with a heavy heart that earlier she had closed the cottage door and rested her head against it in silent prayer, then whispered, “We will return.”
Quint had come up behind her and pressed himself against her, his arm going around the front of her waist to give her a gentle squeeze. He leaned his head down and whispered in her ear, “Aye, we will. You are all I need.”
At that precise moment, she knew nothing would stop her from fighting for Quint, her husband. The Monk could not have him. Revenge could not have him. He belonged to her, and she refused to let go of him.
She turned around in his arms and kissed his cheek. “I love you.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“That is not an answer,” he admonished, needing to hear more, to understand how she could love him.
“Why isn’t it? Why can’t I simply love you without thought or reason?”
“There has to be a reason,” he insisted.
Laughter marked her words. “Love is unreasonable, unexplainable, and undeniable, or so said my grandmother. I believe I finally understand what she meant. Nothing makes sense, you can’t explain it to yourself or anyone else, yet you cannot deny it. It is impossible to deny it since it takes tight hold and refuses to let go.” She pressed her cheek to his and whispered, “I won’t let go.”
He brushed his lips over hers. “You may not have a choice.”
The memory of this morning’s departure was interrupted by her husband’s abrupt remark.
“We stop briefly.”
Shade was relieved, needing to stretch the aches out of her body and that was exactly what she did as soon as her husband lifted her off the horse and her feet touched the ground. She walked to the nearby stream needing a cool drink. His horse, Gillie, felt the same, already at the stream. She was surprised that he didn’t order her to stay close by, but he said nothing. All he did was stand rigidly still, staring in the distance.
She drank several handfuls of water, then splashed some on her face to refresh herself and dried it with the hem of her cloak. She turned her head thinking she heard something and was surprised when it turned out to be someone singing. It grew louder, bursts of laughter mixing with a raucous tune.
“Stay behind me,” Quint ordered when she walked over to him, “and do not hesitate when I give you an order.”
“Aye,” she said, knowing he was being cautious for many reasons.
“Ahh, fair travelers like me,” a man called out as he rolled toward them atop the seat of the cart he drove.
“What are you doing in these parts?” Quint demanded, taking stock of the man with a quick glance. He was short and slim and quick on his feet from the way he easily jumped down off the cart.
“I’m Burgess, a traveling merchant and I am hastily departing the area. It’s not safe with Lord Torrance’s warriors hunting down MacLeish warriors who managed to get away. You have heard, haven’t you? Lord Torrance is the victor in the battle between his clan and Clan MacLeish. And, Lord, help us, if that isn’t bad enough,” —he hurried to bless himself— “Tongues spread the word… The Monk is in the area. You should be careful. He’s a nasty one. He’s left his mark already, he has.” He blessed himself again.
“Left his mark, how so?” Shade asked, stepping from behind her husband to stand beside him.
Burgess lowered his voice as if afraid to be heard. “He killed a small troop of warriors who had taken shelter at Coggshall Abbey. Slaughtered every one of them just like he did to the monks who once lived there.”
Shade continued to question him. “You saw this for yourself?”
Burgess shook his head,“Nay, mistress, two monks are alerting the people, praying someone has the courage to end The Monk’s madness. One of the monks said he had corrupted a woman and made her his wife, but the other monk disputed it, saying the woman was of an age enough to know better and would not allow herself to be so foolish. I had best hurry and scoop up some water for me and my horse and be on my way. I hope to be well away from this area by nightfall. I have some fine wares if you’d like to have a look in the cart, mistress.”