Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“You wrinkle your brow. Troubled thoughts?” Rogan asked, squeezing her hand.
“I think of my sister. I wish she could have been here.”
“She is in your thoughts so therefore she is with you.”
“That is another thing I like about my husband. He is wise.”
“Shhh, do not tell anyone. Most think me fierce.”
“Wolves are both,” Aliss said.
“They are also fiercely loyal,” he whispered near her ear.
Gooseflesh caused her to shiver.
“You can always rely on me, Aliss. I will always be there by your side, holding you when necessary, freeing you when need be, and always supportive.”
Aliss did not know what to say. She had not expected or requested he give so much of himself. She merely wished for a husband to fulfill the prophecy and free her, or was she afraid to admit that she wanted more?
Rogan kissed her cheek. “We will do well together.”
“You are sure of this?” she asked, puzzled.
“I have not a doubt.”
Aliss beamed and her cheeks flushed red. “I knew I was making the right choice in marrying you.”
“That you did, my bewitching healer,” he whispered and kissed her gently.
They drifted apart to see Anna running toward them.
“Daniel has had an accident.”
Aliss scrambled off the bench. “Is he hurt badly?”
“I have not seen him. I was sent to fetch you.”
“Let me get my healing—”
“I have it,” Rogan interrupted from behind her, holding up her basket. “We best hurry.”
Aliss touched his arm. “Thank you.”
“I told you I would always be there for you.” He looked to Anna. “Where is he?”
“Derek carried him to their cottage.”
The child’s cries could be heard before they reached the cottage and they tore at Aliss’s heart and relieved her. At least he felt his pain and wasn’t unconscious. She hurried into the house and went directly to his bedside.
One glance at his skinny little leg told her it was serious. A wide gash ran from beneath his knee to an inch or so above his ankle. Blood was everywhere and that had to be her first line of defense. She needed to stop the steady flow of blood or he would not survive.
“Please, help him,” his mother, Tara, pleaded, kneeling beside the bed, holding his small hand and fighting tears.
Daniel cried louder when Aliss’s hands neared the wound.
“A warrior must be strong,” Rogan said, gently nudging the young mother out of his way to bend down by the side of the bed.
Daniel’s eyes widened in awe and Aliss assumed it was because of fear. Here was the mighty Wolf, the leader of his clan speaking.
“You are a strong warrior, are you not?” Rogan asked, taking hold of the lad’s hand.
The lad sniffled and nodded.
Aliss wanted to hug Rogan. Keeping Daniel occupied would allow her to determine her course of action. She set Anna to mixing herbs that would be needed and Tara to ripping cloths to bind the wound.
Aliss concluded fast enough that the leg would need stitching. She would worry about fever and festering later. Right now, she needed to get the wound closed.
If it were not for Rogan’s help, the ordeal could have turned into a nightmare. He held the lad and talked to him though he cried and screamed. Anna and Tara held his leg while Aliss stitched as fast as she could.
Aliss was grateful when Daniel had cried himself to sleep from exhaustion. After making certain the lad was settled, she left him to his mother’s care. Anna insisted on remaining to help, chasing the newlyweds out to continue their celebration.
“Will he be all right?” Rogan asked when they stepped outside the cottage.
“There is festering and fever to worry about. I cannot say for sure. Only time will tell.”
Rogan took her hand as they walked. “What made you become a healer?”
“I can’t say for sure. It seemed a natural thing for me to do. My mother taught me a little about healing, the things most instinctive to women. When she grew ill there was little I could do to help ease her pain and it upset me. I wanted to learn more, understand more about healing. The more knowledge I gained the more I hungered for even more, and I have never stopped wanting to learn.”
“You can keep on learning as much as you want. Perhaps one day you will teach our daughter.”
Aliss stopped and glared wide-eyed at him.
“You have not given our children thought?” he asked.
“I—I—” She shook her head.
He took both of her hands in his and smiled. “Have you not thought of the consequences of our making love?”
She sighed while continuing to shake her head. “This is why I will not make a good wife. I do not think as a wife should think. I think only of my work and myself.”
“You never think of yourself, though thinking of your husband now and again would be good.”
“I think of you all the time.” She cringed as soon as her secret slipped out.