Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Was Paul trying to convince her that Cree was a good man and she should not worry or was he trying to convince himself that she would be safe with Cree?
They entered the cottage to find Lila up and about, though moving slowly. Her cheeks glowed rosy red, her blue eyes sparkled with joy and her favorite green wool shawl was wrapped snug around her shoulders covering her warm wool night dress. The babe lay sleeping in the cradle that Paul had fashioned for him.
Paul went straight to her. “You should be abed resting.”
“I feel well enough and I cannot abide to lay abed too long. Besides it is time you rested. Your leg must be paining you something awful.” She hustled him over to the bed. “There is time for you to rest until supper.”
Paul grinned, sat on the bed and took his wife’s hand. “You want to talk with Dawn.”
Lila nodded and leaned down to give him a quick kiss. After which he stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. It wasn’t long before he was snoring lightly.
Lila went to Dawn and threw her arms around her and with tears in her eyes said, “I owe you our lives. If it hadn’t been for your courage Paul would not have survived and either would I or the babe. You are a true friend and I am grateful to have you in our lives.”
Tears tickled down Dawn’s eyes and any previous worry that she was being shut out of her friends lives faded. They sat at the table and Lila went to fix them a brew but Dawn stopped her and pointed to the chair for her to sit.
Dawn shook her head when Lila went to argue and pointed sternly to the chair.
Lila laughed softly. “Since you put it that way.” She sat and sighed gratefully.
Dawn appreciated the way she and Lila conversed so easily and no different from anyone else. They began talking about the babe, Lila’s delivery and how grateful she was that Elsa had been there. Dawn had agreed. The woman truly was a gifted healer and her friend had been lucky to have her birth Thomas.
When they were on their second brew Lila asked, “Tell me what Cree wanted with you.”
Dawn had not intended to speak about Cree even though she wished to share some of her apprehension with her friend. It was better left for another day.
“Do not think to keep it from me,” Lila warned in a whisper. “I know it concerns you; I see it on your face.”
Dawn playfully ran her hand over her face.
“You cannot rub it away that easily.”
No, that she could not and Lila would not let her. Dawn sighed, though no sound was heard and Lila reached out and took her hand.
“What does Cree want from you?”
Dawn gestured as if she held up a shield in front of her and a sword in her other hand.
“He wants nothing from you but he offers you protection.”
Dawn nodded slowly.
“You have your doubts though, don’t you?”
Dawn nodded again and shrugged.
“But you don’t know why.”
Another nod from Dawn turned Lila as silent as Dawn for a few minutes.
“There are women in the village who I am sure will keep Cree entertained, Dorrie being one of them.”
Dawn smiled and nodded vigorously.
“Ah, Dorrie has already made her intentions known. That is good, let her have the beast, she no doubt will service him well.”
Dawn barely nodded a vision of Cree rising naked over Dorrie invading her thoughts and unsettling her stomach
Lila grabbed her hand chasing the disturbing vision away. “Do not think on what happened between you and Cree. It is a new start for all of us. Perhaps there will be a warrior among Cree’s men who will fancy you and you will have a chance to love.”
Dawn forced a smile and was glad the babe started fussing, ending, before it could start, a discussion of how Lila just knew Dawn would find love one day. She was also glad that Lila asked her to fetch the babe for her. He calmed as soon as Dawn scooped him up and held him close. Once his eyes stayed open he would not take them off Dawn. He seemed pleased and content there in her arms and so she continued to stand in front of the hearth holding him.
A knock sounded at the door a few minutes later and Elsa entered with a large basket and a smile.
Dawn listened as the two women talked, happily holding Thomas. The delicious scents of the generous amount of food Elsa had spread on the table woke Paul.
He hobbled over to the table his eyes turning wide. “This is all for us?”
“Of course, you both need to regain your strength,” Elsa said.
“You will join us,” Lila said to Elsa.