Page 130 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
The room quieted and Laura’s irritation turned into panic.
Jamie, his feet solidly planted and his hands on his hips, exploded in peals of laughter catching everyone off guard.
Laura thought he was a crazy man.
“And you believed her. I’ve been burdened with this woman for some time. I would gladly give her up, however I’ve just spent weeks looking for her. You see, she ran away from me and our four babies. Left us just like that,” he snapped his fingers, “the wee one so small, not even walking.”
That got her to her feet.
“Off to see the world she said. And fancy things she wanted. Look at her clothes. She stole what little money I saved and spent it all on fineries.” His outstretched hand pointed from her toes to the top of her gown. A vicious rumble went through the room.
How dare he say she would leave her babies? If she had any, she certainly wouldn’t leave them with him.
Her chest heaved and her hands crushed her skirt she grabbed it so hard. Unable to take another word, she took her bowl of stew and threw it at him. He ducked. The plate hit the innkeeper’s wife behind him.
The room went silent, the only noise from a patron who snored in his seat by the window. Mortified, Laura stood rooted to the spot. The woman slowly wiped limp pieces of onion and flecks of beef off her face with the dirty rag in her hand. The room burst into an uproar.
In two steps, he approached her and hoisted her over his shoulder. Shouts told him to punish the ungrateful woman. She could only guess at the meaning of some of the words they threw at her. Jamie took the steps two at a time. He entered their room, kicked the door closed then dumped her on the bed.
“You have ten minutes to undress and get under the covers before I come back.”
“But—”
“Not a word from you. You could have gotten us both killed. What were you thinking? Ten minutes.” He left the room. The sound of the tumbler falling into place was too much to tolerate.
A quick glance around the room and she took action. Rather than do his bidding, she dragged the heavy chest in front of the door. Let him try to get through that. She dusted off her hands and changed into her night clothes. In bed with the candle out, she waited for him to return.
Sitting in thetavern near a window with an ale, he watched the others in the room. Most were farmers, although he was sure four men at a nearby table were reivers. The men raided farms and stole from travelers that had no protector or connection to the raiders’ own kin. This time of year, the late fall, was best for raids, the nights were long and cattle and horses fat from grazing.
An hour later, Jamie went up the stairs. He hoped giving Laura more time would ease her temper. Never in his life had he wanted to strike a woman but she tried his patience. The faster he got her into Herbert’s care the better.
A thin layer of ice glazed the gallery walk. His breath turned to frost as he hurried to the room and turned the key in the lock. The door opened only an inch. He pushed on it, but it wouldn’t budge. It wasn’t stuck, something substantial blocked the other side. The chest.
Annoyed, tired and cold, he had no plans of staying outside in this weather, nor did he have any intention of staying downstairs and getting his coin lifted.
Jamie went down the outside steps and around the building to the oak tree. He climbed the oak and came through the broken window.
A moonbeam gave off enough light for him to see her wrapped in her bedroll. Her soft, even breath told him she slept soundly. He let out a deep sigh, took off his boots and coat and settled on the bed.
He looked over at her and adjusted her blanket. Satisfied, he wrapped his bedroll around himself, showed her his back and went to sleep.
Laura pulled theblanket around her and shuddered. The broken window left no way to stop the draft. Ripples of shivers ran up her back until her teeth chattered. She rearranged the blanket and again searched for a comfortable warmer spot.
“Hush, you sound like a bear plodding in the forest.” Jamie moved next to her and touched her hand that held the blanket to her throat.
“Faith, woman. You’re as cold as ice.” He cuddled her against his chest, pulled his blanket around them both.
“How did you—”
“Did you really think you could keep me out? Now hush.” She stiffened with apprehension, his rhythmic breathing soothed her. She sighed as her body thawed and she moved closer greedy for more of his heat.
Jamie snored.
A soft moan escaped her lips as she fell asleep.
The woman woulddrive him to drink. He continued to “snore”.
What had he gotten himself into? His chest burst with pride, and a bit of fear, when she stood against Bryce’s men. Smart. She read the situation well and quickly. Her swift actions surprised him and put those men on the defensive from the start. She was as fearless as a lioness protecting her cubs. Even downstairs, she’d held her own. He took a deep breath. Lavender and spice. She’d make a fine warrior’s wife.
Good thing he planned to be a farmer.
