“I’ve never known you to care for any woman. Why her?” Devin asked, hanging his cloak on a peg and going to take a seat at the table. “And don’t bother to deny it. I’ve never seen you reluctant to leave a woman’s side. And there have been plenty who would have gladly have you remain with them. So, again, why Willow?”
“I don’t know,” Slatter said annoyed and joined his friend at the table. “I feel protective toward her and worry over her when she’s not close to me.” He shook his head. “I can’t explain it or make sense of it.”
“Damn, you’re falling in love,” Devin said with a grin so wide it looked like it would split his face in two.
“Don’t be absurd. I barely know her.”
“That means nothing, that you married her means something.”
“I married her to save her,” Slatter reminded.
Devin laughed. “You keep telling yourself that.”
The door opened and Slatter hurried to stand, then sat when he saw it was Walcott.
“I figured you’d want this,” Walcott said and placed a jug on the table.
“Good man, Walcott,” Devin said and had two tankards filled with ale before Walcott closed the door behind him.
Slatter took a hefty swig as soon as he took the tankard from Devin. “Even if I did care for her, there’s no point to it. Our marriage must end, she to return to her life and me to mine.”
“Are you going to confide everything to her?”
“That’s a good question and one I don’t have the answer to yet.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Roanna said, looking from Willow to her daughter sleeping peacefully, her arm in a sling.
“She’s a brave one. She suffered through the pain with courage and not a complaint,” Willow said, having been impressed with the young lass’s strength.
“She’s like her da. He was a strong and brave one,” Roanna said, a tear slipping from her eye. “She won’t die, will she?”
Willow did her best to calm the woman’s fear. “Fever is always a cause for concern, but we’ll keep a watch and make sure she heals well.”
“I’ll do whatever you say,” Roanna said. “As soon as I saw it, I thought death stalked her just like her da when he broke his leg. I couldn’t bear losing my daughter like I did my husband. After he died, I couldn’t keep up the farm on my own. My husband’s brother came to help and not long after he found a woman for himself and kicked me and Erna out, saying the place was his. If Slatter hadn’t found us half-starved and brought us here, I don’t know what we would have done. It’s been so difficult. I think that’s why I got upset when hearing you were Slatter’s wife. I think we all fear that you’ll take him from us and we’ll once again have nothing, no protection, no help, no family. And while we may not have much here, at least it’s something.”
“Mum,” Erna called out softly and Roanna hurried to her.
She felt the lass’ head and her sigh of relief let Willow know she’d felt no warmth.
“Thirsty,” Erna said.
Willow went and got the chamomile brew she had made for Roanna to give her daughter and handed the tankard to the woman.
“Fetch me if needed,” she said and left mum and daughter alone.
Snow was falling when Willow stepped out of the cottage. It had to have been falling for a while, since a fresh blanket of snow covered nearly everything. She looked around as she stepped away from the door. She saw a man missing the lower half of his left leg and using a sturdy branch limb to get around. A woman whose neck showed signs of what was left of a severe burn ran after two small bairns who laughed with glee. And an old woman who could barely shuffle along on her feet, held tight to a young lad of about twelve years who held her arm and helped her along with a smile.
Had Slatter provided a home for those who found themselves unable to provide for themselves? Had he no home as well? But what of Devin? He was a longtime friend of Slatter’s, which meant they had to have reached maturity together, yet he didn’t make his home here.
“You shouldn’t be out in the cold and snow.”
Willow jumped and when she turned, she found herself in her husband’s arms, a place she found herself enjoying more and more.
“I was just headed to your cottage,” she said. “All is well with Erna so far and I pray it stays that way.”
“Let’s get you inside, I have a question to ask of you.” With his arm firm around her, he headed to his cottage.”
“I have one myself,” she said, though didn’t wait until they reached the cottage. “What were you doing sneaking off with a woman at the market and kissing her?”