Page 52 of Bride Takes a Charmer
Shaw whittled a stick and tied a string to it. “I am going to see if I can catch a fish or two for supper. Luthor, stay here and protect our family. I will not be long.” He marched off toward the water and then continued down the bank.
As Sorsha sat with the children, she cleaned up the remnants of their meal and noticed Luthor’s small pout. He wasn’t pleased being left behind.
“Mama, will you tell us the story about the mountain and the bun?” Gillian asked. “You have not told it to me in a long time.”
“I would love to but how about a new story?”
The children nodded.
Sorsha leaned back with her hands behind her. “I shall tell you a tale that my da used to tell me when I was a young lass. One day, Ant was going to the river to drink. She fell in and was carried along in the stream’s current. In the tree nearby, Dove pitied Ant’s condition and threw a small bough into the river.”
“Oh, nay, does Ant drown?” Luthor asked with awe.
Gillian shushed him. “Don’t ask questions.”
He bristled. “I can ask questions!”
Sorsha bit back her smile and continued, “Ant swam to the bough and it floated to the shore. Later, Ant saw a man with a fowling piece on a string that he aimed at Dove. The man tried to trick Dove to catch him. To repay Dove for his kindness, Ant stung the man on his foot and he missed his aim. Ant saved his newfound friend Dove.”
The children clapped.
“Always remember, my children, that little friends might prove to be great friends,” Sorsha finished. She proceeded to tellanother story, and then another, making the tales less and less exciting as she saw the children settling down and their eyes growing heavy.
By the time she finished the last tale, Gillian’s and Luthor’s eyes were closed and they breathed easily. She rose from the cover, approached Shaw, and set her arm around his shoulder. “They are asleep.”
“Did ye hear Luthor? He called me papa…and Gilly lass, she called me the same.” He leaned his head against hers. “My family…I was blessed, Sorsha, when ye chose me for your husband.” He reached for her hair and tucked an errant strand behind her ear. “I never thought I would have wee ones or such a bonny wife.”
“It is I who is blessed, Shaw.” She lightly kissed his cheek. “There were years when I thought my existence was fated for misery. I always tried to be positive, but then all that happened with Rodick. Then you happened. You have made me so happy.”
Chapter Eighteen
As the daysof summer passed, peace had settled amongst his clan. Even his sister seemed more cordial and had befriended Sorsha. He kept busy and trained with his soldiers. Corliss’s husband likewise joined the men on the field in the afternoons and took to practice arms. Idris made no further disparaging remarks about their ability to protect the clan, and his clansmen didn’t much bother with his brother-in-law. Shaw enjoyed the recent days and spent time with the children and enjoyed the nights with Sorsha.
Soon the long days would grow shorter and the harvest would be upon them. It was a busy time of year with the reaping of the crops, the final shearing of sheep so their fleece would grow in before the cold season came upon them, and making preparations for the long winter.
Shaw stretched and leaned over Sorsha’s body. He set a light kiss on her lips and tried not to awaken her but her eyes fluttered open. “Good morn, my bonny wife.”
“’Tis morn already?” She moaned. “I am still tired.”
He chuckled at her sleepiness. “Ye should try to take more rest this day. Allow Enid to watch the children.”
“I shall,” she muttered and rolled to her side. She watched him as he readied for the day.
Shaw pulled a tunic over his head and tied the neckline closed. He then rolled the sleeves and wrapped a tartan aroundhis waist. As he pulled the belt around him, he fastened it and pulled his sword from the floorboard. Once he sheathed it in the belt, he took a deep breath.
“I should go. ’Tis likely Mamo is at the graves. I will fetch her and then I will meet with Trey to go over the day’s schedule. There are also the crofters that need to be visited. ’Tis a busy time.”
“I can go and get Mamo if you wish,” Sorsha said groggily.
“Nay, sweetheart, ye keep sleeping. I’ll fetch her. I thought to leave the keep this day because the sentry reported men riding through our northern land.”
Sorsha flung her arm out and grabbed hold of his hand. “You will not war, will you?”
He hastily shook his head. “I want to make certain that whoever they were left the area. ’Tis naught to worry about.” To reassure her, he pressed another kiss on her lips. “Now, sleep and dream of me.”
She closed her eyes and sighed. Shaw grinned to himself. His wife pleased him more than he deserved or ever thought was possible. With quick steps, he left the bedchamber and hurried outside. The air was warm and it hadn’t gotten too chilly overnight. Mamo wouldn’t need her shawl. As he passed his clansmen, he dipped his chin in greeting but continued.
At the gate, Clovis shouted a greeting. “Laird, fine day. Mistress Maven left a short time ago. She did not spend the night there.”