He heard her whisper, “I--I don’t think I can stand a third lesson.”
Roderick chuckled, then rolled to his side and pulled his wife next to him, keeping her cradled in his arms. He was truly a satisfied man and he was happy for the first time in a long, long while.
“I think yer lessons are complete, lass.” He drew in another breath and said in a ragged voice, “Ye’re mine lass, completely.” When Siena didn’t respond, he tilted his head down to look at her and found she was fast asleep.
Roderick wasn’t too sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. At least she had a smile on her face.
Chapter 13
The next few months were the happiest that Siena could ever remember. She had brought color to the great hall with the many banners that she’d had hung on the walls. Now it didn’t look so drab and dull. She also kept busy helping the sick or those who would let her. Some were still very standoffish; however, she felt like she was making a difference.
Her husband was very loving at night, but he still had that haunted look in his eyes that she wished she could erase. She knew Michael was the reason, but so far, she couldn’t see anything about the child, making her doubt that she did have a special gift. She wanted to tell Roderick about seeing Michael in her vision at the church, but she still wasn’t sure of her abilities yet. She prayed that this would change. She definitely didn’t want to get Roderick’s hope up until she could tell him something firm.
The days had turned warmer or should she say the snow had melted and now it was cool but not freezing. Elen sent word to Siena that she needed to gather herbs and she’d like for Siena to go with her. Siena dressed in herarisaid,having learned how to wear the plaid, she’d gotten good about wearing it around her shoulders and tied at the waist with a belt to keep warm. However, she still wore her underskirt that she’d had a pouch sewn into the fabric for her precious stones.
Siena was more than ready to get outside now that the weather was nicer, and Agatha said she wanted to go along also. It seemed that everyone was ready for fresh air and sunshine.
They waited outside for Elen to join them, and together they made their way to the stables.
Garvin brought out the horses. “Do ye have the laird’s permission, I might ask?”
Siena looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Should we?”
“Aye, ye should. He is training down in the lower bailey. Be sure to stop by before ye leave so he dinna take off the top of me head.”
“Quit ye fussing and help me up,” Elen instructed.
“Can ye handle the horse?”
“I ain’t dead, lad,” Elen said.
Agatha laughed and so did Siena as they left with Garvin’s mouth hanging wide open.
Elen led the way down to the lower bailey, where Roderick was practicing with swords. It appeared he was training the younger soldiers.
He disarmed his opponent as they rode up, then he swung around so fast it startled Siena. She gasped. She could see the strength of a warrior in him. He jabbed the tip of his sword in the ground when he saw them. “Where are ye goin’?”
“We need to gather herbs,” Siena said.
“Ah, wull, I need to send someone with ye, and you still dinna answer my question as to where.” But before they could answer his question, he turned to Elen. “Are ye able to ride, Elen?”
“I’m hundred and three, lad and was sitting a saddle before ye could walk.”
Roderick smiled and held his hands up in defense. “I’ve no doubt, but do ye have a way of protecting yerselves? And where are ye goin’?”
Elen rolled her eyes before answering, “We’re going to the glen where the blueburnis located to see if the hawthorn tree is blooming.”
Siena was glad that Elen answered because she hadn’t bothered to ask where they were going. She was just glad to be outside and riding. “I have my bow and arrows,” Siena answered his other question. “I can protect us.”
She saw Roderick look at the bow she had slung around her body. “But can ye hit anything, lass?”
Siena took offense to Roderick assuming that she couldn’t hit her target or do anything because she was a woman, so she snapped her answer, “I believe I can.”
He didn’t appear to believe her as he stood hands on hips not saying a word. “There is a target on that tree.” He pointed to the end of the field. “Let me see you hit the center.”
“Would you like me to shoot from my horse or on the ground?”
He didn’t answer her barb, but he was gentleman enough to help her down from her mount.
