Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90574 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Then why had she grown angry with him?
Because he spoke the truth?
Did she refuse to open her heart and take a chance?
Being a healer, she had always embraced sound reasoning. It allowed her to examine and dissect illnesses so that she could logically find a treatable solution. She had not reacted logically to Rogan’s remark, but why? Because she did not want to think that perhaps he was right and there was an issue she needed to explore. She had enough on her mind right now; she needed no more problems to ponder.
She sighed, feeling she owed him an apology. She needed more time to consider his words. She turned and hurried out of the cottage.
She stopped abruptly just outside the door, confronted by half a dozen warriors on horses. Rogan was in the middle of them atop his pure white mare. His intense features were in sharp contrast to how they had looked only moments before.
His green eyes looked ablaze with fury, his mouth closed tightly as if he forcibly kept his words from erupting, and every muscle in his chest and arms was taut as a fine-strung bow.
Rogan looked ready to do battle.
He turned his head her way and his eyes seared her like a fiery hot arrow. She placed her hand on her chest, covering her heart.
Rogan looked to John, who stood to the side. “Keep her in sight.”
With that, he took off, his men following.
Aliss turned her attention to John. “What is wrong?”
“I cannot say.” He turned away from her.
She stepped in front of him. “You must know something.”
“I know nothing.” John insisted.
“Should I be concerned?”
John shook his head vehemently. “Rogan would never let anything happen to you.”
“You must get tired of being the one who guards me.”
John’s youthful eyes turned wide. “No, no. It is an honor, Rogan choosing me to guard you.” He grinned. “Besides, this way I get to see Anna.”
“Then let us not keep her waiting,” Aliss said. “I only need to get my basket.”
“I will get it,” John said, and hurried into the cottage.
Aliss looked to the distance and sent a silent prayer for Rogan’s safe return. Suddenly the skin on the back of her neck prickled.
“Aliss, come to me.”
Aliss turned at the whispered summons of a woman.
Green eyes glared at her from the woods and the soft voice continued to summon her until finally she obeyed and walked into the woods.
“You were not to let her out of your sight,” Rogan said, having returned an hour later to find his village in uproar and a search for Aliss in progress.
John’s hands trembled as he offered an explanation. “A minute. I only left her a minute, to fetch her basket. I returned and she was gone. I searched and searched.” He shook his head. “I could not find her anywhere.”
Anna stilled his shivering hands with her confident ones. “We all began searching as soon as we realized she was missing. Anyone who was able helped.”
Rogan dismounted and threw his reins to a waiting young lad. Anna and John did not wait for their leader’s command and quickly left to rejoin the search.
Derek approached Rogan. “She could have attempted an escape.”
“Do you believe that?” Rogan snapped.
“No, Aliss would not leave the ill, but it was your first thought.”
“It crossed my mind,” Rogan said with a near growl.
“She will leave sooner or later, will she not?”
“Mind your business, Derek. It is safer for you that way.”
“I know you too well,” Derek said. “Be careful, my friend, do not let the misery of the past rob you of a happy future.”
“I can have no happy future until I have settled the past. Now do you help search for Aliss or stand here and lecture me?”
“We found her! We found her!”
Rogan turned in the direction of the shout and took off.
He stopped suddenly when he saw Aliss on the forest floor, green grass, rotted bark, and brush cushioning and partially covering her prone body. Nature had concealed her well in her bosom.
Anna and John kneeled beside her, Anna gently patting her pale cheeks in an attempt to wake her.
Rogan dropped to his knees beside her, leaned down near her ear, and whispered, “Wake up, Aliss.”
He locked his strong hand protectively around her chilled one and squeezed, letting her know that he was there with her and he would let nothing happen to her.
“You are safe.” The words reverberated in a whisper near her ear in hopes that they would penetrate her deep sleep and free her.
“What are you doing on your knees?”
His head snapped up and he stared into her shining green eyes that opened wide, closed, and fought to open again.
Aliss moved her head slowly from side to side. “I am on the ground.”
“That you are,” Rogan said with a wide smile, relieved that she had woken.