Chapter 24 #2
“I’ve come to make a special delivery to the lassie I love,” he said.
When she didn’t answer, he entered the room and closed the door behind him.
On the tray was a covered bowl that smelled like herbs and garlic.
Next to it was a flagon of wine and two goblets.
In the middle of the tray was a jar of water with fresh-cut flowers.
“What is all that for?” she asked, curiously.
“I thought since ye missed the meal, ye’d be hungry.”
“Well, I’m no’.” She turned and looked out the window, not wanting anyone trying to make her happy right now.
“Just look at this,” he said, taking the lid off the dish. “Smell it,” he said, taking a big whiff and letting out a breath.
It did smell good. Not to mention, she was starving. “What is it?” She turned back to look.
“It is some of Colina’s delicious mushroom soup.”
“Oh,” she moaned, sinking atop a chair. Why did it have to be mushroom soup? It only made her feel worse. It was something she’d managed to mess up and she didn’t want to be reminded of her failure. “I dinna care for any soup.”
“Then how about some fresh white bread?” He put down the tray and picked up a small hunk of bread and handed it to her. She reluctantly took it since her stomach was growling. She bit off a piece and chewed.
“How do ye like it?” he asked.
She was used to only brown bread and this tasted foreign. “It’s odd.”
“Odd?” he asked with a chuckle. “How about some wine with it?” He poured two goblets of wine and handed one to her.
“Dinna ye have any of that Mountain Magic?”
“Mountain Magic?” He scowled at her. “That is too strong and I’m sure it wouldna be good for our baby.”
“This will be fine, then.” He took the flowers next and held them out to her.
She didn’t know the first thing about flowers, nor did she care.
They were pretty, but the scent of them was powerful and it made her feel nauseated since she was pregnant.
“Please, no more,” she said, pushing his hand away.
She put down the bread and wine and got to her feet.
She heard him release a deep breath and then felt his arms close around her from behind.
“Sweetheart, I am tryin’ my best to woo ye, but ye are no’ makin’ it easy.”
“Woo me?” She turned and faced him, finding the notion amusing. “Whatever for? We’re already married. Have ye gone mad?”
“Ye dinna want to be wooed?”
“Nay, I dinna,” she said.
“Oh, good.” He let out a breath of relief and walked over and picked up the other goblet of wine. “Nairnie said lassies liked these things, but I’m so out of practice, that I was feelin’ less than confident about all of it.”
She smiled slightly as he drank his wine. “Shaw? Did ye think I was actin’ this way because ye were no’ payin’ me enough attention?”
He stopped drinking and his eyes opened wide. They moved back and forth across the room before he answered. “Yes?” he answered as if he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to say.
That struck her as funny and she burst out laughing. It made him laugh, too.
“Why are we laughin’?” he finally asked.
“Because ye are such a simpleton sometimes, I find it amusin’.”
“Simpleton?” His eyes narrowed and he put down the wine. “I’m no’ sure I like that.”
“I dinna mean it in a bad way.” She walked over, put her arms around his waist and kissed him on the lips. His arms encircled her in return. The warmth of his body felt comforting.
“Is there any other way to take that comment?”
“I only meant that ye make me smile, tryin’ to please me when ye probably dinna even ken what is botherin’ me.”
“Oh.” He remained silent.
“Shaw, dinna ye want to ken what’s botherin’ me?”
“Ye asked me to leave ye alone, so I did. I figure ye’ll tell me when ye are good and ready.”
“Thank ye. But I think I am ready now.”
“Sit down, Spring.” He pulled out a chair anxiously.
“I’d prefer to stand.”
“Of course.” He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. “Go ahead.” Then his hand shot up in the air. “Only if ye want to, that is.”
She smiled at her amusing husband. “Everythin’ about my life has been a lie,” she told him.
“No’ everythin’.” He picked up her goblet and sat on the chair since she didn’t want to use it. “I said I love ye and that was no’ a lie.” He looked up over the rim of the goblet as he drank the wine. He seemed like he was waiting for her to return the endearment and it was past time that she did.
“Shaw, give me that.” She took the goblet from him, placing it on the table. Then she sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around him. “I havena been good at expressin’ my emotions lately or tellin’ anyone how I feel.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Ye need to realize; I grew up believin’ that to show any kind of emotion other than hatred or anger made a person weak.”
“That is no’ true.”
“I ken. See what I mean? It’s a lie told to me by my faither. I mean . . . Cromwell. I thought I was descended from a long line of strong Viking warriors, but now I’m no’ sure who I am.”
“Ye need to talk to Ross.”
“I’m talkin’ to ye right now. I’m tryin’ to tell ye I love ye!”
“Ye are?” He looked up and smiled, and his whole face glowed. “I didna think I’d ever hear ye say those words to me.”
“I didna think I’d ever say them to any man. I used to think love made a person weak, but I’ve discovered lately that, perhaps, it makes a person strong instead.”
“I believe that’s the truth.”
“Well, if so, it’s the first thing that hasna been a lie in my life. Bein’ married to ye and spendin’ time with ye and yer children has made me feel different.”
“How so?” He ran his hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture. It helped her to relax.
“I used to live only to please my faither. I learned to be a warrior and cold-hearted at a young age because I wanted to make him proud of me.”
“Oh, Spring. That is no’ the way to make someone proud of ye.”
“Then tell me, Shaw. What is?”
“Ye make me proud with just the simple things ye do.”
“Like what?”
“I dinna ken.” He thought about it. “Just anythin’. Like . . . makin’ me soup.”
“How can ye say that? It was a total failure!”
“I dinna care. I loved that ye wanted to make my favorite dish and now I’m sorry that I didna eat it.”
“No one could eat that vile concoction!” She shook her head in disappointment.
“Reed ate it. He couldna get enough of it,” said Shaw with a chuckle.
“Reed would eat just about anythin’ that didna move I’ll bet.”