“Come, Thaw, it’s time for supper,” Snow called out and the pup got up with a stretch from where he slept by the hearth, gave a quick bark, and hurried to Snow’s side.
Alone, Willow went and sat by Sara, her legs and feet far too tired to remain on them. Sara rested comfortable. Willow had redressed her wounds with clean cloths and had washed her and got her into a soft wool nightdress. Eleanor had helped, combing and plaiting Sara’s hair. She had sipped a good portion of the brew Willow had ordered prepared, and thankfully her fever hadn’t returned. Slatter had been right about his grandmother. She was a strong, stubborn woman.
She wondered about the conversation that had taken placed in James’s solar. What had James said to Slatter and Slatter to him? And what nonsense had Rhodes spouted?
“Slatter.”
The soft whisper had Willow moving from the chair beside the bed to the bed itself. She sat beside the old woman and gently took her hand. She was about to let Sara know that her grandson would be there soon and that she was Slatter’s wife when words rushed out of the old woman’s mouth.
“Not safe,” she said, squeezing Willow’s hand. “Not safe.”
“You’re safe now, Sara. There is nothing to fear,” Willow said, trying to reassure and calm her.
Sara shook her head and grew more agitated. “Not safe. Not safe.”
Willow stroked Sara’s arm. “It is safe, worry not. Rest and grow strong.”
Sara’s restless stirrings eased and once again she fell into a peaceful slumber.
Willow returned to the chair and sat. The warmth of the fire soothed and the crackling and spitting of the logs was like a comforting melody that lolled her, and she soon found her head bobbing as she dozed on and off.
A gentle hand on her shoulder had Willow turning her head.
“Your husband is finished and a bath awaits you,” Eleanor said. “I will sit with Sara until Slatter arrives.”
Willow didn’t argue. She longed for the hot water to soak away her aches and wash away the dirt of her journey. She thanked Eleanor and hurried up the curving staircase to her parents’ bedchamber.
The door opened as she reached for it and she almost fell into her husband’s arms, but righted herself before she did. His appearance stunned her speechless. She didn’t think he could look more handsome than he already was, but he did. He was dressed in a Macardle plaid, a tan shirt beneath and his dark hair was damp from its recent washing, the shoulder-length strands curling some at the edges.
“Your turn,” he said, drawing her out of her musings and he stepped aside for her to enter.
A round wooden tub sat near the hearth and Willow almost ran to it.
“I will return after spending some time with my grandmother,” Slatter said. “She does well?”
“She does. Her fever hasn’t returned and she rests comfortably. Though, she did speak, repeatedly saying, ‘not safe, not safe’. I assured her she was, but you might want to reassure her yourself.”
Slatter reached out, his arm circling her waist. “There are no words to let you know how much I appreciate what you’ve done for my grandmother. She has been a vital force in my life and continues to be. I don’t want to lose her.”
“I understand and I’ll do all I can to make sure that you don’t lose her.” Willow couldn’t stop the yawn that slipped out.
“You need to rest. You’ve done enough,” he said, seeing the exhaustion in her eyes that appeared to fight to remain open. “I will see you later.” He released her and stepped past her out the door.
Willow shook her head, fatigue fogging it, but recalling what she wanted to ask him. “What did you say to James?”
Slatter turned, a grin surfacing. “It’s not what I said but what your brother asked of me.”
“And what was that?”
“He asked if there was a strong possibility that you were with child.”
Shock turned her eyes wide. “What did you say?”
His grin grew. “I told him there was a very strong possibility.”
Willow’s response stole his grin. “Then you best get started to make it so.”
Chapter 14
Slatter stood, staring at the door his wife shut in his face, and mumbled several oaths. What game did she play with him? He shook his head. Willow didn’t play games.
He’s my husband and he’ll stay my husband.
Did she mean that? Or had she said it to protect him until they could absolve their marriage? What difference did it make? He couldn’t remain wed to her. Could he? He was better off asking… could he let her go?
He shook his head as he took the stairs down. It was as if she had become part of him and there was no existing without her.
He stopped abruptly on the stairs.
Damn, could it be possible? Did he even dare admit it? Had he actually fallen in love with her?