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“We will also need to go get Rona and Darren, Corwin’s family,” Peter said. “I gave my word.”
“And I shall help you keep it,” Trey said.
Bliss joined them. “We must hurry and bury him; the soldiers hunt the woods.”
Peter looked at her a moment, his eyes turning wide when he saw the markings at her wrists. “You’re a—”
“Healer and my wife,” Trey said.
Peter bobbed his head respectfully. “My wife will be grateful for any help you can give her.”
“I’d be pleased to help her,” Bliss said. “Now let me see to your wounds while Trey sees to Corwin.
Trey was again impressed with the lad when he left his da’s side and went straight to work helping Trey with Corwin. He knew it couldn’t be easy for him, but he found the strength anyway and helped Trey lay the man to rest.
Bliss let him know that Peter’s injuries were minor and he was fit to travel. She was concerned with their swift pace, but Trey wasn’t, and he was right. Peter wanted to get home to his wife, and, injured or not, nothing would stop him.
Ian remained close to his da’s side as they continued, their pace a bit swifter than before. Dusk was fast settling, and they were still a distance away, but none suggested they stop and continue in the morning.
With darkness near, Trey made them all travel closer together, and they had no choice but to slow their pace. He had made certain to keep a firm hold of Bliss’s hand. He would not see her separated from him, and so they traveled in pairs, father and son and husband and wife, until finally Peter hurried up ahead of Trey.
“My farm is just over the rise,” he said with relief.
They all were pleased to see smoke pouring from the chimney, and father and son broke into a run.
Bliss squeezed Trey’s hand. “We must hurry.”
He didn’t question why, he ran along with her.
As they all drew near the cottage, a shrieking scream pierced the night air.
Peter and his son stopped dead for a moment, then ran, Peter screaming, “Emma!”
Chapter 23
Bliss laid the freshly scrubbed little girl in her mother’s arms.
Emma cradled her close and reached out and grabbed Bliss by the wrist. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
Bliss smiled. “You did all the work and suffered much of the labor while alone.”
“But if you hadn’t arrived when you did, I would not have had the strength to—” Tears choked off her words.
“Fate had other plans,” Bliss said.
Emma smiled and wrapped her arms around her daughter.
“I’m sure that your husband and son are anxious to see you and the babe. I’ll go fetch them and give you some time alone.”
Emma nodded once again, choking back tears.
Bliss left the cottage to find Ian and Peter waiting right outside the door. She smiled and stepped aside, and the two rushed in.
Trey walked over to her. “Are you all right?”
His concern for her above anyone else amazed her, not that he didn’t care how mother and child fared. He simply wanted to know first how she was. It was so very nice to know how important she was to him.
She drifted closer to him, and his arms instinctively wound around her. “I am fine, and mother and daughter are doing well.”
