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Deryn sniffled. “Promise?”
“I promise,” Bliss said.
Trey stepped forward. “And you have my word as a warrior.”
Philip eased his way past everyone and offered Deryn his wooden cow. “You can have this, and we can play together while you wait for your mum.”
Deryn smiled and took the cow.
Leave it to a child to make another child smile,Bliss thought.
Deryn and Philip played on the bed while the adults all gathered in the other room.
“We’ll get the last of your things packed on the cart along with the children and see you on your way,” Trey said. “Then Bliss and I will go see to Mary and her daughter.”
“What if Mary—”
Bliss stopped Teresa before she could finish. “Do not worry. We will bring them both to you in time.”
While Trey hurried them to finish, Teresa gave the last of the soup to the children, with a chunk of bread. She then saw to dousing the fire and making sure the last of what they would need was given to her husband and Trey to put in the cart.
With directions given to Mary’s farm and a route to MacAlpin village mapped out, one that would hopefully avoid any soldiers, Trey and Bliss waved good-bye, though not before the little girl had reminded Bliss of her promise.
“Tell me. Do you sense anything about Mary and her daughter,” Trey said, as they turned and walked in the opposite direction.
“They grow worse. We need to hurry.”
Chapter 16
It took them an hour to reach the farm, and, once Trey was certain no soldiers lurked about, he and Bliss approached the cottage. Trey insisted on entering first. An unpleasant odor gave him pause and as soon as he saw the two prone bodies on the bed, the mother’s arms around the small girl, he thought the worst.
Bliss pushed past him. “They’re not dead; they’re ill and need tending.”
Trey watched for a moment as Bliss went to work on the two. Then he said, “I’m going to scout the area and see if it is safe to stay here.”
“You don’t have to. There are none nearby and none expected just yet.”
No wonder she was able to keep herself from harm when alone. She knew when and where it was safe to travel. How remarkable to have such power ... and what a burden.
“Can you get a fire started and get me water from the rain barrel outside and set it to boil in the cauldron?” she asked, nodding at the large black pot hanging from a hook in the cold fireplace. “I need to set a broth to cooking while I clean and help heal them.”
Trey and Bliss both went to work.
While he got a fire going, Bliss filled two buckets with water. When she began to tend the woman and child, Trey stepped outside and told her to let him know if she needed help.
He spent the time looking around the farm. It was obvious after only a few glances that there was not enough food for the woman and two girls to survive on. The soldiers had stripped them of all animals and what food they had harvested. The few winter plants left untouched would never be enough to sustain them. And from the look of the woman in the bed, she was a petite thing without the strength to endure on her own.
Though Bliss had assured him that no soldiers were about, his warrior instincts warned him about always remaining alert. He dropped onto an old wooden bench he thought might collapse from his weight, but didn’t. It sat close to the door, and he wanted to be near if Bliss should call out for help.
She was an amazing woman, whose skills were sought after by many, and, when needed, she would go where necessary without question. Now, however, she was his wife, and he did not want a wife of his traipsing off wherever fate would send her.
How would he keep her safe? And he didn’t want her away from him for too long; he would miss her far too much.
Miss her?
The thought that he would miss her put a grin on his face. It was no chore spending every moment with Bliss. Whether they talked, kissed, touched, or were silent, he enjoyed it all.
Even more than I had with Leora.
