Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Shade smiled. “I am so glad she made it safely.”
Quint’s glance lingered on her as if he found it difficult to leave her.
“I won’t be long now,” she said, preferring he stay but knowing it was best that he left.
Quint nodded, then closed the door.
“He is not afraid to show his love for you,” Ula said. “It shines in his eyes when he looks at you. I am glad you got such a brave and loving man.”
“He is a good man and husband and though I have not known him long I feel as though I do.” Shade smiled. “Loving him came easily.”
“Oh, Shade, I am so happy for you.”
A knock on the door had Ula hurrying to it while Shade blocked Caleb from view. Shade couldn’t hear the whispers at the door and worried what the message might be.
“Ena sent word asking for your help,” Ula said. “Word has spread that the healer I have talked so highly of is here and many plead for your help.”
“Then I will go to them,” Shade said. “I have done all I can for Caleb,” —she shook her head— “for the chieftain. I will go and help any others in need.”
“But you have not eaten or rested since your arrival,” Ula said, worried for her friend.
“There will be time for that later,” Shade insisted and hurried to the table to gather what she might need in her larger healing pouch.
“Your husband might not agree. He said you were to eat before helping others,” Ula reminded.
“He’ll understand,” Shade said, her husband knowing how important her healing was to her.
Unfortunately, he didn’t understand.
CHAPTER 15
“You will eat and rest for a bit before you do anything else,” Quint ordered after Shade informed him that she had no time to do either.
“If you were needed, you’d go do what you want without even giving your wife a thought,” Dru said.
“Stay out of it, Dru,” Nug warned.
“Why? Is the truth too difficult to hear?” Dru asked, sending a questioning look to Quint.
Quint wanted to strangle Dru for pointing out the truth.
“A wife obeys a husband, and a husband has a right to do as he pleases,” Nug said.
“Why should I obey a man when he can dismiss me so easily?” Dru argued.
“It is the way of things,” Nug said as if the matter was settled.
“And how would you like it if you had to obey me,” Dru challenged.
“Lord, help the man stuck marrying you,” Nug said, shaking his head.
Dru’s small fist pounded the table. “I will never let a man rule me.”
Nug laughed. “What man would want to?”
Dru turned angry eyes on Nug. “There is no man worthy of marrying me.” She grabbed an oat cake from the bowl on the table and shook it at Quint. “You’ve got a good woman. Don’t be a fool and treat her badly.” She hurried off the bench and out of the room.
“She’s a menace,” Nug said.
“Dru is a young woman with no one to protect her who is trying to survive on her own. I think she is brave and strong, and I agree with her. There isn’t a man worthy of a woman of such courage.”
Quint handed his wife an oat cake. “Eat it as we go to wherever it is you are needed.”
Shade smiled and placed a kiss on his cheek, then took a swallow of cider and grabbed another oat cake to take along with her before hurrying off.
Quint dropped a heavy hand on Nug’s shoulder after standing to follow his wife. “Next time don’t help. Dru’s tongue is quicker and sharper than yours.”
Shade had forgotten to grab her cloak, and she wished that she had when she stepped outside. The air was chillier since her arrival, reminding her that autumn was full upon them. She was about to turn to retrieve her cloak when a cloak was draped over her shoulders and arms circled her.
“What would you do without me?” Quint asked, hugging her and planting a kiss on her cheek.
His hug eased as she turned around in his arms. “I wouldn’t want to find out.” She kissed his lips, wondering how the man known as The Monk could be so thoughtful to her. She also wondered if love was as strong of a healing power as not only her grandmother claimed it to be but Brother Emmett as well. She was beginning to think they were both right.
“I wouldn’t either,” he said after a last brush of his lips across hers.
She stepped out of his embrace and hooked her arm around his to continue down the stairs. “I am so glad you paid heed to Dru’s wise words.”
“And what words of hers were wise?”
Shade chuckled. “All of them.”
Quint almost groaned aloud when they hadn’t gotten very far into the village before he spotted a line of men, bruised and with multiple bloody bandages covering them, had already formed and the end of it, or the beginning, led to a cottage.