When they reached the steps of the Keep, he stopped. "Anna, I will not force you to tell me. But know this, Thomas or I will always be nearby should your burden become too great."

She wanted to tell him and wondered why she hesitated. She couldn't remember her father saying not to tell him. Kevin was being very kind. Even so, her mother said her father was kind in the beginning too. For all she knew, she'd stepped out of the pot and into the fire. She didn't trust him, needed more time to think and something greatly bothered her -- why does a man marry a woman he has not seen? Is it for land, for power, to repay a debt…what?

Perhaps she should ask him. "What is a laird precisely?"

"All people must have a leader who can command order. Without it, the clan would be in chaos."

"How much land do you have?"

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"Enough."

"Do you wish for more?"

He smiled, leaned against the wall and folded his arms. "We have ample water, trees, meadows and plenty of animals to hunt. Some of our numbers outside the wall raise sheep and cattle. Behind the cottages, our women tend gardens and grow vegetables. We do not need more land."

"What do you need?"

"I have everything I want."

This was getting her nowhere.

*

She rested all afternoon and felt able to take her evening meal with Katie and Kevin downstairs. Kevin was careful to choose a chair for her without a back, and then sat a little closer than he normally would have, just in case she started to fall. When she noticed, she put her hands on her hips. "You are worse than the women."

He chuckled and Katie was so amused, she nearly choked on her wine.

One of the serving women set a goblet of wine on the table for her and Anna took a sip, but the inside of her cheek stung and she grimaced. Katie and Kevin looked as though they hadn't noticed, but she knew they had. Now she understood why they hadn't offered her any wine to help her sleep the night before. She disagreed. A little pain in her mouth was well worth easing the pain in her face and back. She gathered her courage, took a longer drink, and swallowed. Then she took another drink. Some of the wine dribbled down her chin and she quickly dabbed it away with a cloth.

"Does it hurt to talk still?" Katie asked.

She took a longer drink, closed her eyes, felt the wine beginning to work and finally answered, "A little." In truth, she was starting not to care if it hurt to talk. "However, you might want to cherish this time. Once I get started, you will likely pray for peace and quiet."




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