Rogan snatched the basket out of her hands. “I’m confident that I can convince you to stay.”
They hurried to the kitchen, Aliss aware that her heart beat much too fast for her hurried pace and aware that she would need to remain vigilant this time. She might be the Wolf’s prey but this time she wouldn’t be caught.
A deep cut that refused to stop bleeding had everyone frantic and the injured young woman crying in fear of losing her arm.
Anna showed up shortly after Aliss, and while they worked on Teresa, Rogan calmed everyone down and herded them outside to wait.
The wound would require several stitches and there was fever to worry about, but Aliss was sure that Teresa would be fine and continued to tell the young woman so.
What concerned her more was Anna’s pale complexion. It had started when Aliss had begun to tend the wound and had grown worse by the minute.
“Are you all right?” Aliss asked, as she prepared the arm for stitching.
“My stomach is upset.”
“Something you ate?”
Anna shook her head. “I don’t know. I have been feeling this way since traveling on the ship.”
Aliss frowned. “It cannot still be seasickness.”
“The illness has not returned, has it?” Teresa asked anxiously.
“No,” Aliss assured her. “We got rid of that for good.”
The young girl sighed with relief then smiled. “Perhaps you are with babe.”
Anna’s hand rushed to her stomach. “I never thought of that.”
Aliss smiled. “Could it be so?”
Anna laughed with glee. “Yes. Yes, it could be so. Actually, now that I think about it, it most definitely could be so.”
“How wonderful!” Teresa said. “You will have the first babe to be born in our new home.”
Chapter 25
Rogan sat under the shade of a large oak tree watching his wife chat with two other women. Once they had learned that Anna was with child it was all the entire village could talk about.
Two days later and the gossip continued; most claimed the impending birth was a blessing from heaven, a sign that assured them this was the perfect place to settle and call home.
Kendra and he had hoped for a slew of children, since both were only children while most families had more than they could feed. Fate, however, had different plans for them, but Kendra wanted him happy and, before she died, had insisted that he find love again.
She had taught him how unselfish true love was and only recently had he begun to realize the wisdom of her legacy.
“Admiring your wife from afar?” Derek asked, joining him under the shade of the tree.
“She is a beauty,” Rogan said with a smile.
“You are a lucky man.”
“So you’re the one who was elected to speak with me?”
Derek looked affronted.
“Do not bother to deny it. I know the clan has gotten together with the intention of trying to keep Aliss and me together.”
“Good, then I can speak my mind.”
Rogan coughed though it sounded like a laugh.
“All right, so I always speak my mind,” Derek said. “You are an idiot.”
Rogan grabbed his shoulder. “That was a hit.”
“It is your heart that is going to suffer the damage.”
“It already has,” Rogan admitted reluctantly.
“Then do something.”
“I intend to.”
“The clan is content here and—” Derek shook his head. “You do?”
“A plan has bubbled and stewed in my head since we’ve landed here.”
Derek rubbed his hands together. “Has it finished brewing?”
“Just about.”
“Tell me,” Derek urged in a whisper.
“No!”
Derek fell back, affronted. “Why not?”
“Because you will tell another then he will tell another and another until—” He threw his hands up. “It will be common knowledge to the whole clan.”
“You accuse me of gossiping?”
“I most certainly do,” Rogan said with a laugh.
“At least you intend to take care of it or else I would have to—” Derek smiled and shook a fist at him.
“Is that a threat?” Rogan asked.
“You threaten your chieftain, Derek?”
Derek spun around and Rogan jumped to his feet. Neither man had heard Aliss approach.
“He needs it now and again.” Derek grinned.
“Perhaps he does,” Aliss said.
“A woman who knows her husband. You would do well to remember that, Rogan.” Derek grinned again and with a nod bade them good day.
“Why do you rub your shoulder?” Aliss asked as Derek drifted off.
“Is that what brought you over here? Concern for my shoulder?”