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)
She took a breath. Was she marching forward into the enemy camp? Or did she march into the arms of love?
“You search for me?” Rogan asked with a smile.
“I thought a stroll might do us good, though you might prefer a spot under a shady tree.”
“Do you mind?”
“Not at all.”
They made their way to a favorite spot under the large oak tree. Aliss crossed her legs beneath the deep blue skirt she wore and left the ties of her tan blouse open, needing a reprieve from the heat of the day.
“Everyone prospers here,” she said. “It is a good place.”
Rogan nodded and wiped again at his perspiring brow with his shirt. “That it is. It will provide abundantly for the clan.”
“How did you come to know the beauty and bounty of this land?”
Silence greeted her query but she waited with patience.
“My father brought me here as a lad.”
“He was familiar with the isle?”
“He knew the area well, because he was always searching for land that would provide adequately for his clan.”
A solid answer she could not dispute. Why then did she believe there was more to what he told her?
She decided bluntness was the best course of attack. “Is that why you wanted the land? Because your father made you familiar with it?”
“It is a good piece of land.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Why the curiosity?” he asked.
“I want to know the reason why you ransomed me for this land.”
“You weren’t curious before when I once intended to explain.”
“I am now,” she said.
He stood. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It does to me,” she said, jumping up.
He grabbed her chin. “What should matter to you is how much I love you.”
He kissed her then, hard and quick, a surprise attack that stunned and left her speechless. And with the desire to taste more of him. Why did she continue to desire him when she felt so betrayed? She should have more sense than that and keep her mind focused.
She watched him walk away, shirt in hand, the sweat on his back glistening in the sun, and admired his narrow waist and the confidence of his gait. Her fingers drifted to her pulsating lips and his kiss. It had left her—
“Damn,” she whispered. He had never answered her question.
Chapter 27
Aliss woke to the forlorn wailing of a horn. Shaking off sleep, she realized that the horn announced the arrival of a ship. She jumped out of bed and dressed quickly in a blue skirt and white blouse. She twisted her red hair into a knot and fastened it to the back of her head with two bone combs. Loose strands broke free at her neck as she rushed from the room, slipping on her sandals as she went.
Was it friend or foe arriving?
She had mentioned to Fiona that she preferred to have no visits from family for at least a couple of weeks. And since she had lost track of time, she imagined it had been that or possibly more since the Wolf clan had arrived on the Isle of Non.
Aliss looked around in search of her husband. Not finding him in the great hall, she hurried outside where several women were herding the children together.
“Are we in danger of attack?” she asked Tara, who balanced a smiling Daniel on her hip.
“No, we gather the children to see the arriving ship.”
“Who visits?” Aliss asked with relief.
“We think your family, since it is the ship that brought your sister to you.”
Aliss was not certain how she felt about her family’s arrival. She had wanted to handle this matter on her own. She had struck a bargain with Rogan, and it was between them. She needed no interference from anyone.
She marched through the woods, almost ready to tell whoever had arrived to turn around and go home. She exited the woods determined to do so, but then she saw her brother Raynor, so handsome, tall, and proud standing on the shore speaking with Rogan.
She recalled how serendipitous their first meeting had been. Then, she had not known he was her brother or that he searched for his twin sisters. She had healed him back to health after he had temporarily lost his sight during a battle with Tarr and his men.
Through his efforts everyone had been reunited and enemies had become friends. He was a good man and she had missed him.
Once past the rocky terrain, she ran full speed while yelling out his name.
He grinned wide and threw his arms out to welcome her.
He picked her up and swung her around before they hugged.
“I have missed you, Aliss,” Raynor said.
“And I you, brother.” She looked past his shoulder. “Who else has come with you?”
“No one.”
She wrinkled her brow. “Fiona? Mother?”
“They both would have joined me if—”
“Fiona is all right?”
“She is fine, just very large and very cranky. Mother is at her beck and call and refuses to leave her side, and—”