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’ve changed your mind about him?’
“A little, just a little.”
Aliss sat beside her. “Why?”
“I didn’t realize until today how much you both loved each other.”
“What do you mean?” Aliss asked.
“When Rogan explained what this land meant to him and that he was willing to give it up for you, that spoke volumes. He would sacrifice all he had planned and held dear, for you.” She shook her head. “That takes real love. And the way you rushed after him, the hurt in your eyes over his suffering and wanting to comfort him—” She shook her head again and swatted away a fat teardrop. “You two love each other, plain and simple.”
Another pain attacked and had Fiona mumbling several oaths beneath her breath as she grabbed her stomach.
“How much longer?” she pleaded.
“A couple of hours at least.”
Fiona groaned and dropped her head back on the pillow. “Enough talk. Tell your husband you forgive him and love him and get it over with. I can guarantee it will be much less painful than what I am going through.”
“Did you hear that?” Tarr asked, springing away from the tree trunk he sat braced against.
The other two men cringed as they shook their heads.
“I don’t know how much more I can take,” Tarr admitted.
“I think it should be Fiona considering that,” Raynor said.
Tarr groaned and dropped back against the tree trunk.
That evening, as the sun set, Elizabeth entered the world, to her mother and father’s relief. The two very proud parents cuddled her close while the whole village celebrated the first birth of a child in their new home.
“Mother would be proud that her first grandchild was born on this land,” Rogan said, his arms around his wife’s waist, her head resting back against his chest.
“She was a loving and unselfish woman,” Tarr said.
“That she was,” Rogan agreed.
Aliss was pleased by the exchange for it signified a truce of sorts and the willingness of them both to eventually settle their differences.
“Then it is only fitting that you provide her with her first grandson on the Isle of Non,” Tarr said, touching his daughter’s wrinkled face. “After all, Elizabeth will need someone to protect her.”
“If she’s anything like her mother that won’t be necessary,” Raynor said, chuckling, and so did everyone else except Fiona. She glared at him.
Anna peeked her head in the door. “I don’t wish to interrupt, but there are many who would like to see the first babe born on the Isle of Non, if that is all right?”
“Your choice, Fiona,” Aliss said.
“Tarr and I would be honored.”
For the next couple of hours, villagers streamed in and out of the cottage, each one leaving a small token for the babe and for what her birth meant to them all, a new life.
It was well into the evening when Aliss settled mother, father, and babe for the night and took her leave.
She had sent Rogan home an hour ago under protest. He had wanted to wait for her, but she needed time with her thoughts. The walk to the keep would give her that time.
Her mind flooded with memories of the last few months and she allowed them to roll by, dismissing each one. It was easier to do that knowing the whole truth. Everything made much more sense, and she needed to finally let go of her doubts and fears. She now had all the facts. The decision was hers.
Actually, her abduction had proven beneficial to her. It had allowed her to discover her own strength, separate from that of her sister.
Aliss smiled. Giann had been right. She had been given a gift and she would treasure it forever. Now all that was left was to tell her husband how she felt.
She entered their bedchamber and immediately drifted into her husband’s arms. Aliss rested her head to his chest, grateful to hear the steady beating of his heart and to know his heart beat with love for her.
“Everyone is fine?”
“Yes.”
You must be tired,” he said.
“No,” she said, lifting her head and taking his hand to lead him to the bed. She nudged him to sit down. “I have something I must say.”
He reached out and rested his hands on her hips. “I am listening.”
Where should she start? It ought to be easy, and yet standing in front of him now, staring down at his handsome face, his wicked smile and heated eyes, she didn’t want to do anything but make love with him.
She shook her head.
“What is wrong?”
“You distract me.”
“How do I do that?” he asked innocently, while his hands urged her forward between his legs.
“Just like that,” she said, and squirmed away from him, holding out her hand when he stood so that he would not approach her. “I need to say this.”
“All right, you have my attention. I promise not to distract you.”