Had she told him about her job?He shifted in his seat, not liking to ask because the lack of answers battered his confidence.What if he never remembered?He ate a mouthful of egg and accepted a piece of toast from Kitto.
“I’ll also help Mama sell pottery at the market,” Sienna said.“Hopefully, I can take extra time for lunch.”
“Can I help?”Liam asked.“I could go with you another time.”He glanced at Jago and caught the tension in the male’s shoulders.“If that’s all right.”
Hedrek gave a decisive nod.“An excellent idea.That way, Sienna won’t have to ask for time off—her boss isn’t always the most understanding.Later tonight, we could use your help to transport our finished products back here.”
“Of course,” Liam said.
“As long as Liam’s headaches don’t worsen,” Sienna countered.“He’s still healing.”
“Perfect.”Hedrek rose.“Come on, boys.Let’s start early on glazing the pots we baked overnight.”
The kitchen became a mass of activity—plates scraped, cutlery stacked in the sink, and water running as Jago and Cadan began the dishes.Kitto started clearing the table.Liam finished eating and stood to do his part.
“Tamsin, a word,” Hedrek said.
She nodded and followed him outside.
“Thank you for offering to help Mama, but are you well enough?”Sienna asked while wiping the table.
“Stop babying the man,” Kitto chided, waggling his brows at his sister.“He’s old enough and ugly enough to pace himself.It’s not like he’s heading off for days of hard physical slog.”
“Yeah.”Cadan slung his arm around Liam’s shoulders.“Your sharp tongue will send him fleeing.”
Sienna paled.
“Sorry.Liam is a smart man to choose our favorite sister.He has superior taste.”
“I’m your only sister,” Sienna said dryly.“Stop making trouble.Honestly, you open your mouth, and crap comes out.”
Liam watched the siblings bicker, envious of their close relationship.They stood up for one another, and that was a good thing.Sienna, particularly, was protective of her brothers.Liam tucked the bit of information away to add to his jigsaw puzzle of knowledge.
Later that morning, Liam joined Tamsin for the walk to the market.When they arrived, he helped unload cups, saucers, and platters from the handcart they’d pushed from the cottage.
“Please don’t over-exert yourself,” she begged.“I don’t need another lecture from my daughter.”
“She stands up for those she loves,” Liam said.
Tamsin hesitated, her gaze searching his.“The locals don’t respect Hedrek and my boys.Sienna—well, let’s say the local lads saw one thing in her, never a partner.They were terrified a Teague would pollute their bloodlines.”Her eyes shone with emotion.“I’m thankful she met someone like you who sees her as a treasure.”
“Tamsin!”a sharp voice interrupted.“You’re here.I gave your regular position to Alfred.”
“But we’re only five minutes late.We come to the market every week.”
The woman shrugged helplessly, but her expression told Liam she wouldn’t budge.She didn’t care what Tamsin said or how much she protested.
“Where have you put us?”Liam asked.
“Over by the car park.”
Tamsin bristled.“I paid for my spot last week before I packed up and left.”
The woman made a tsking sound and pulled a ten-pound note from her pocket, offering it to Tamsin.
“I paid twenty-five pounds.You can’t shove us to the back of the market and charge us fifteen pounds.”Tamsin stuck out her chin, reminding Liam of Sienna.His mate had inherited her mother’s feistiness.
“Give us a full refund, and we’ll go quietly,” Liam said.
