Dylan was still dragging the sack across the courtyard. Lost to her own thoughts, it suddenly occurred to Elizabeau that she should probably help the boy. Bending down, she took the end of the sack and lifted. It was heavy, but manageable.
Dylan looked surprised that she would take the initiative to help but she encouraged him onward. “Keep walking,” she commanded gently. “If we don’t hurry, your sister’s fate will be sealed in a mass of goose feathers and beaks.”
Dylan grinned, walking backwards while carrying the sack. “Aw, she can fight like a boy. She’ll not go down without a struggle.”
“And how would you know this?”
“Because she beats on me all of the time.”
“Clearly, you must deserve it.”
Dylan looked at her with surprise but she was laughing at him. His cheeks flushed violently and he grinned as they turned the corner of the manse and began heading towards the rear kitchen yard. They could hear chickens cackling and geese squawking as they drew close. True to Dylan’s word, Carys was surrounded by demanding fowl. Elizabeau and Dylan set the sack down and Dylan ripped open the top.
“Here!” he began throwing out grain. “Come and get it!”
The throng of birds shifted their attention from Carys to Dylan in an instant and, suddenly, Elizabeau found herself surrounded by pushy geese. Truth was, she’d never been exposed to them before. Living a relatively sheltered life in London, her mother hadn’t kept farm animals at their townhome. When the birds began nipping at her surcoat, she panicked and climbed up on top of the stone wall.
Dylan and Carys alternately fed the birds and tried to coax her down, but no amount of pleading could coerce her to climb back into the writhing mass of ravenous fowl. Even when they led the throng away from the wall, Elizabeau remained on top of it as if terrified the birds would suddenly rush back at her again. In fact, the entire yard was populated with animals and she was very intimidated by them. Just when she summoned the courage to climb from the wall, a white billy goat boldly hustled up to her and began nipping at her hands. It was enough to send her scurrying back up the wall.
And there she stayed until Rhys returned. A very panicked Dylan had been waiting for his brother in the courtyard and, upon spilling his tale, took Maddoc from his brother while Rhys went around the back of the manse. But Rhys had to make sure his grin was gone by the time he reached the yard or he was sure there would be hell to pay.
Elizabeau was sitting on top of the five-foot stone wall that sectioned off the kitchen yard from the north side of the manse. She was perched with her knees drawn up, her arms wrapped around them. She seemed to be watching the activity in the yard intently, giving him time to gaze at her a moment. Rhys paused, watching her fine features in the morning light; he realized he was glad to see her. There was something about the sight of her that lightened his heart. Furthermore, he was very amused by her behavior. He wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes.
“What, may I ask,” he moved towards her with his hands on his hips, “are you doing up there?”
She jumped at the sound of his voice, the deep green eyes finding him as he stalked her. “I… I was….”
He came to rest next to the wall. “You were… what?”
Her cheeks flushed and she struggled for an explanation that didn’t sound too humiliating. “I… I was just watching the geese. And the goats. And that sheep over there with the very big horns.”
“And?”
He had the most annoying twinkle in his eye, giving Elizabeau a hint that he might know exactly why she was seated on the wall. She let out a blustery grunt.
“Oh, very well,” she snapped without force. “They were trying to eat me, so I climbed up here.”
Rhys was struggling very hard not to smile. “They do not eat meat, not even your tender white flesh. Now come down from there.”
She shook her head. “The moment I do, they will run over here and bite me.”
He lifted a black eyebrow. “My lady, I swear that they will not,” he held out a hand to her. “They’re just birds and a few other beasts. They do not care about you in the least.”
“And I am telling you, they have tried before. I’ll be missing fingers if I come off of this wall.”
“I can promise you that you will not. Come down from there before you ruin your new coat.”
She shook her head, hard. It was clear she would not leave the safety of the wall without assistance. With a sigh, he reached out and scooped her off of the mossy stones. He expected her to put her arm around his shoulders for support; what he did not expect was for her to throw both arms around his neck and hold him tightly. It was surprising, and enticing, leaving him struggling to orient himself. He suddenly wasn’t laughing anymore.