Enchanted Cottage (Avador Book 3, Books We Love Fantasy Romance)

by Martin, Shirley

  Leith’s weak voice broke through his musing. “Colin may surprise us and arrive home tomorrow.”

  “Ah, Talmora, let it be so. And when he does, he must marry, so that the estate stays in the family after he passes on.” He smiled. “Plenty of eligible ladies from other estates in Ulaidh. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. I pray that he returns home soon.”

  Chapter Eight

  As time passed, Colin felt a bit better every day. How he hated this enforced idleness; a grown man shouldn’t be so weak, shouldn’t lie in bed like a baby for so long. But he knew, and Alana reminded him, he’d already had a relapse after chopping wood and losing his poultice. As much as he hated this inactivity, he loathed taking advice from a woman. At the same time, he was grateful for all Alana had done for him. She had truly saved his arm and his life. He wanted to repay her, if only he knew how.

  Still a bit feverish, he hoped this would be his last day in bed. Time to get up and moving. Time to return home to his family.

  While Alana sat on the bed to apply a fresh poultice, he gazed up at her and saw her inner beauty, into her very soul. He could listen to her voice forever, loved watching her movements, those little mannerisms he had learned by heart. And oh, her glossy auburn hair. Tempted to run his fingers through the silky locks, he clenched his hands at his side.

  That she should suffer so from such an evil curse! If only he could help her. And if he could, he’d kill the evil sorceress who had brought her such misery. As soon as that thought emerged from his troubled musing, another thought suppressed it. She had never complained, never once mentioned the evil spell. Only after meeting the old man by the river had he learned of the curse.

  He cleared his throat. “You know I must return home soon, see my family—my father and older brother. My mother passed on to the Otherworld years ago.”

  “Yes, of course, I understand you must leave.” Finished applying the bandage, she turned her gaze on him, those blue eyes he’d never tire of seeing. “Naturally, you want to return home. I’m so sorry about your mother. I lost both of my parents not too long ago.” She remained sitting on the bed, as though reluctant to leave.

  “And you?” he asked. “Will you stay here?” He regretted the question immediately. Where else could she go?

  She smiled sadly. “It looks as if I’ll stay here for the rest of my life.” She sighed. “I’ll not lament my fate. Things could be worse. I could be a homeless person, begging for handouts.” She raised her hand to encompass the small cottage. “Here, I have food and all that I need. Oh, I’ll admit I’m a bit concerned about how I’ll manage when cold weather arrives. But I’ve done fairly well so far. I’m sure I’ll continue to do so.”

  Tired of lying down, he shifted his position on the bed. “Cold weather reminds me. You’ll need far more wood than I’ve provided. I’m going to Moytura soon to tend to some business. I’ll stop off at one of the neighboring villages, see if there is a young man eager for a few extra coins, to chop more wood for you. I’ll pay him—“

  ”No, you mustn’t spend your money for my sake.”

  “Alana, after all you’ve done for me, saving my arm and my life, this is the least I can do for you.”

  “Very well, then. You make a good point and I thank you.” She stood, and as on the first day he’d met her, he silently admired her trim figure, her every gesture that revealed a refinement often lacking in even wealthy women. He wished he could ask her about her family, about her life before she’d come to this cottage. But he said nothing. Perhaps she harbored painful memories.

  “Now, it’s about time I got up out of bed.” He sat up, but too quickly. The room spun around him, and he lay back down, defeated. “Tomorrow, I must get up. One reason I need to go to Moytura is to buy a horse.”

  She shook her head. “Better give yourself another day.” She paused. “Horse auctions are often held on the outskirts of Moytura. Perhaps you could purchase a horse there. I’ll give you directions before you leave.”

  * * *

  Two days later, sleeping on the floor again, Colin awoke and yawned while the cottage lay shrouded in darkness. He pushed himself up from the hard puncheon floor and rummaged in his knapsack for clean clothes. By now, he no longer needed a poultice; indeed, Alana had told him to let the sunlight complete the healing.

  After a swim in the river, he dressed in clean clothes, rolling his tunic sleeves up to his shoulders. First telling Alana he would return later, he set out after breakfast for Moytura. He worked his way along the forest path, through copses of maples and birches, here and there a willow. The forest was rich with springtime growth, the scent of flowers sweetening the air. He struggled up steep ascents, chiding himself for his weakness from lying in bed so long. Caracobs screeched from the trees, spreading their long wings as they dived to the forest floor and flew off with a rodent in their beaks.

  His every thought centered around Alana, a woman he couldn’t drive from his mind. She’d be so easy to love. And do you love her? his head asked his heart. Her voice, her every gesture came to mind, each trait that endeared her to him. And her face? He shook his head, ashamed of himself for his misgivings. Just suppose he married her—assuming she’d have him—and brought her home to his family. What would they say? How would they receive her? He kicked a rock out of the way, knowing too well what his family’s reaction would be.

  He stopped to rest for a while, aware that he hadn’t completely recovered from his illness. A few minutes later, he plodded on, his mind still on Alana. He knew a skilled doctor in Ulaidh and wondered if he could cure Alana of her blemished face. But no, not if an evil witch had put a curse on her. Dear Alana! Would any man ever love her, truly want to spend the rest of his life with her? For some inexplicable reason, a stab of jealousy turned him cold, the thought of another man holding her, kissing her, aye, and taking her to bed. Doubts churned in his mind, of how his father and Leith would welcome Alana, or if they would reject her. His face heated with shame.

  What made him think she might love him? Why would she want to spend the rest of her life with him, a mercenary soldier with no real prospect of wealth, or the ability to provide for a wife and children? He would seldom see her, fighting battles far from home.

  Reaching the outskirts of Moytura, he followed Alana’s directions and headed for the place where the horse auctions were held, a mile to the east of the city. Nearing the stable, he caught the smell of horses, a not unpleasant smell and one he was used to. There, he found the fenced area, the ground devoid of grass, worn and trampled by countless horses. The stable was closed, with definitely no sight of an auction. He walked past the stable, looking in all directions, hoping to find someone with information about the next auction.

  “Sir, can I help you?”

  Colin stopped and turned around to see a man of medium height, clad in a tan tunic and dark brown trousers.

  The man approached. “Desmond Feely. What can I do for you?”

  “Colin Duffrey. Can you tell me when you’ll have the next auction?”

  He shook his head. “I fear you’re out of luck, unless you’re willing to wait a few days. Just sold a few horses yesterday, so it will be eight days before we have another auction.”

  He frowned with disappointment. He needed a horse, dreaded the long journey to Ulaidh and the number of days he must travel without one.

  The man gave him a close look. “You need a horse right away?”

  “Aye.” He explained his need, the long journey north.

  “Very well, then. Let me think for a moment.” A short pause. “Ah, there’s a man who lives on the other side of Moytura, where all the rich people reside. He told me a few days ago that he wanted to sell one of his horses. Just between you and me, I think he needs the money—gambling debts, don’t you know. I can vouch for him, though. He’s honest, at least.”

  Colin thought quickly. A good judge of horseflesh and of men, he decided to take the chance. “Very well, then. Give me his dire
ctions, if you will, and I’ll go see him.”

  Two hours later and three gold coins poorer, Colin rode from the man’s house with a saddle, tack, and two saddle bags included in the sale. Walking the spotted horse, he entered the city of Moytura, its winding streets presenting a challenge to one unfamiliar with the capital. Having received directions to the city stable, he led the horse there and tossed a copper coin to the stable boy to feed and water the horse.

  Satisfied with his purchase of the animal, a feeling of vast relief came over him. Yet he had another aim, a gift for Alana, something meaningful that would express his gratitude for her, for all she had done for him. He wanted to buy a gift a woman would appreciate, perhaps a present of fine jewelry. For a moment, he feared she might misinterpret his intentions, yet only such a gift would reflect how very much he felt indebted to her.

  He strolled the streets of Talmora Square, studying the windows of the expensive shops, those that sold finer clothes and shoes. A jewelry store caught his eye, its window displaying a diamond necklace and gemstone rings. A glimmering gold bracelet captured his attention. Mesmerized, he stared at the bracelet, as if it had cast a spell on him. He smiled at his whimsical thought but couldn’t take his eyes from the lovely piece with its delicate etching. His mind made up, he entered the store. A bell announced his arrival.

  An older man clad in a black tunic and trousers stood behind the wooden counter. “Yes, sir, what can I do for you?”

  Colin pointed to the gold bracelet in the window. “How much are you asking for that bracelet?”

  The man stepped around the counter to retrieve the bracelet. “One gold, two silvers.” He frowned. ‘Strange that you would notice this piece. You’re the first person to ask about it. A young lady came into the store recently to sell it because she needed the money. I told her how finely crafted it was, the sort of workmanship you seldom see these days.” He nodded. “It’s a fine piece, worth every cent.”

  Colin smiled. “A fine piece for a fine lady. I’ll take it.” He dug into his coin purse and set the money on the counter.”

  “Very good, sir. I hope the lady enjoys her gift.”

  “I’m sure she will.” After the jeweler deposited the bracelet in a velvet bag with a drawstring, Colin left the store, certain that Alana would like her present.

  Hunger and thirst drove him to the Snow Leopard, one of the better inns in the city. Over a mug of ale and a bowl of mutton stew, he listened to the talk and gossip around him. Nostalgia hit him like a blow to the gut, a longing to be back in Ulaidh, among his family and friends. He sighed. In just a few days, he’d be home again.

  The sun was beginning its eastward trek across the sky as he neared the forest path to the cottage. About to turn off, he remembered his promise to Alana, to enlist the help of a young man who would chop wood for her. He turned the horse around and headed back to the nearest hamlet. After a few inquiries, he found a young man, sixteen or so, eager to earn a few extra coins.

  Returned to the path and mindful of its twists and turns, not to mention protruding rocks, he kept the mare at a slow trot. How good it was to ride a horse again, feel its muscles under his thighs, hear its neighing as it rode past strange animals.

  He wondered anew why a cottage was set here in the middle of a forest, amidst a clearing, both out of place in the dark woods. Shaking his head, he expunged the thought. Other concerns dominated his mind.

  Alana, he mused, finding himself thinking about her more and more every day. Only a few days since he’d first met her, yet in many ways, it felt like an eternity of contentment, of all the good things he’d ever wanted in life. Certainly, he felt that he knew her better than any of the ladies he’d known in his own city of Ulaidh. Alana … if only he could kiss away her blemishes and see her outer beauty, a visage that surely must reflect her inner loveliness.

  The cottage came in sight, and although anxious to see Alana again, he needed to take the horse down to the river and let the mare drink its fill. He led the horse down to the river, and while the horse drank gallons of water, Colin looked across the Nantosuelta and wondered if he’d see the old man again. Most likely not, for he’d leave for home tomorrow.

  Finished drinking, the horse munched on the grass. After a few minutes, he led the mare back up the path. Happy to be back with Alana again, he dismounted and tethered the mare to a branch of a mulberry tree, then walked toward the house.

  * * *

  Hearing the neighing of a horse, Alana opened the door and looked to see Colin tethering the animal. Mixed emotions unnerved her. Happy, so happy, to see him again, she pressed her hand to her heart, then dropped her hand to her side, afraid he’d sense her eagerness. She stood hesitant outside, then stepped back inside and closed the door. What’s the matter with you? Haven’t you ever seen a man before?

  Tomorrow would be the last day she’d see him. How it hurt; how she would miss him, this man who had become a part of her life in such a short time. Memories of Colin came in a rush, of the first day she’d met him, of taking care of him during his feverish illness, and the fear that he might lose his arm. She recalled his smile, his husky voice, everything about him that made her realize how much he meant to her.

  She held the door open for him, and he came inside, carrying the tack and saddle. “Soon we won’t have any room for us,” he said with a laugh, setting the saddle and tack by his knapsack.

  Determined to hide her joy, she fixed a neutral expression on her face. “I see you purchased a horse, what looks to me to be a fine animal.” What a brainless remark.

  “Aye, she should get me home within a few days.” He smiled then, that heartwarming smile that could win over the worst scoundrel. “That’s not all I bought. Recall I told you I wanted to repay you for all you’ve done for me.” From inside his coin purse, he drew out a velvet bag and handed it to her, an expectant look on his face.

  She pulled the drawstring apart and gasped. “My bracelet! My gold bracelet!”

  He frowned in puzzlement. “Yes, it’s yours. I bought it for you.”

  She shook her head. “No, you don’t understand. This was—is—my own bracelet. My mother gave it to me years ago.” She explained about selling the piece because she needed the money. “Oh, Colin, how could you have known…?

  He pulled out a chair and sat down. “That’s the strange thing about my purchase. Something drew me to this piece, almost like magic beckoning me.” He laughed. “Silly, I know. But something urged me to buy this bracelet for you.”

  Overcome with emotion, she fought the tears that threatened to spill. Despite her efforts, tears misted her eyes. So happy to have this cherished piece returned to her, she wanted to kiss him and hold him and tell him she never wanted him to leave. But she could neither do nor say what her heart wanted.

  Suddenly aware she would look even uglier than usual with her tear-stained face, she brushed her hand across her cheeks. “Thank you, Colin. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  He reached over and clasped her hand. “Something to remember me by. Tomorrow, I leave for home.”

  Chapter Nine

  The following day dawned cool and overcast with the threat of rain. Anxious to be gone but dreading to leave Alana, Colin studied her across the breakfast table. He noted her every movement, listened to each word she spoke, storing memories to last him for the rest of his life. He couldn’t bear to leave her, yet he knew he must. He wanted to see his family again and needed to return to the Elegian army.

  He drained his mug of sassafras tea, then eased his chair back. “Time to be on my way.” How inadequate. He wanted to tell her how much he’d miss her and how she’d taunted his thoughts night and day. She had saved his arm and no doubt his life. But gratitude didn’t begin to describe what he felt for her.

  He turned away from her, reluctant for her to see the raw emotion that surely must show on his face. He checked his knapsack to make sure he had all of his belongings and reached into his coin purse. He dropp
ed several coins on the table, two golds, a few silvers and a few more coppers. “For you to pay the boy who will cut wood for you and buy anything else for which you might need money.”

  She pushed her chair back and stood. “Ah, Colin. You are too generous. I don’t need all this money.”

  He held up a hand. “I want you to have it. No arguments.”

  She smiled, a smile he’d remember all his days. “Very well, then. Thank you.”

  He stood, too, and pushed his chair in. “One more thing. Just in case you need to contact this young boy—if you need him for any other reason—his name is Eshyn McGill, and he lives in Domhnann. Do you know where that is?”

  “I know every village and hamlet around here.”

  “Good. He lives at the third house down from the blacksmith’s, to the east.” He realized he was rambling but couldn’t bring himself to say ‘goodbye’.

  “Alana.” At a loss for further words, he drew her into his arms and kissed her long and hard. He found himself reacting to her soft, feminine curves and breathed in deeply of her lilac fragrance. He ran his fingers through her satiny hair, something he’d wanted to do for the longest time. The kiss ended, and he drew back, his throat choking.