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“I’m starving,” she said, feeling ravenous.
“I’ve been remembering that black bread of yours”—he licked his lips—“and I was wondering if—”
“I baked several loaves yesterday, and as long as your brothers haven’t found them ...” She shook her head and laughed.
“We better hurry,” he said, hastening their pace. “They will be up and about soon, and I don’t want to have to lay a beating on them before I eat.”
Tara chuckled.
“I fight for what is mine.” He grinned. “And that bread is mine.”
Reeve had half the loaf eaten and the other half sat in front of Tara for safekeeping, as he had adamantly insisted. It turned out to be a wise move on his part, for as soon as his brothers joined them, they berated him for not sharing. Reeve just grinned and kept eating the bread.
Tara still found it hard to believe her good fortune. Sitting here with this loving family was like a dream to her, and each day, she feared she would wake from it and be plunged back into her nightmare.
“Will you stitch with me while the men talk?” Mercy asked, as the meal ended.
“I look forward to it,” Tara said eagerly. “I think I will be able to finish the baby shirt I’ve been working on.”
“Perhaps you should rest,” Duncan said, looking to his wife with concern.
“Something wrong?” Mara was quick to ask.
“Nothing,” Mercy insisted. “I simply had a restless night.”
“She barely slept all night,” Duncan said, worry etched in the scar at the corner of his mouth.
“An uneasy stomach, that is all,” Mercy insisted. “And besides, stitching is like rest to me.”
“You’ll keep a watch on her?” Duncan asked of Tara.
“Of course, I will keep a good watch on her and tend to her needs.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“It is,” Duncan said with a finality that left no room for debate.
Mercy rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“I’m sure you’ll do the same for Tara one day,” Mara said. “It is the way with women.”
“Listen to mum, she’s right,” Duncan said.
“I’m always right,” Mara said with a sharp nod.
Bryce cocked his head to Tara sitting to his right, and whispered, “See who Reeve takes after.”
“I heard that,” Mara said, shaking her finger at Bryce.
Reeve laughed. “Forgot about her magical hearing, didn’t you?”
“It’s a mother’s hearing. Your wives will have it soon enough,” Mara said, her smile smug.
Carmag sent a conspiratorial glance to each of his sons before he said, “Husbands have no need to fear magical hearing since they confide all to their wives as their wives do to them.”
Mara chortled. “Oh, you don’t know the half of it, dear.”
That brought the men to full attention.
