Catherine Bybee [MacCoinnich 01] Binding Vows (pdf)

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Duncan glanced her way, looked around her,
and smiled. Ahh...Lancaster. Boring you to tears is
he?
It s Myra I worry about. If she could, she would
spike his drink with arsenic just to shut him up.
Duncan choked on the ale he placed to his lips,
drawing concern from those around him.
Tara hid a smile behind a napkin. Sorry!
You are not! He wiped liquid off his shirt.
Okay, you re right. I m not sorry. She waited
until he brought food to his mouth. Guess what I am
wearing underneath my dress.
His eyes darted across the table. What?
Nothing at all.
Again, Duncan had difficulty with the food he
tried to eat.
No one noticed when Duncan and Tara stopped
engaging in conversation with anyone at the table.
Except for Ian and Lora, who engaged in a full
discussion as they speculated about what was going
on between their son and daughter-in-law.
Once the meal was finished, and at the first
opportunity, Tara begged Myra for assistance to get
away from the others.
They both fell into chairs in the solar after
closing and locking the door. He s worse than you
said.
I told you. And did you see Regina? She was
196
Binding Vows
falling all over Fin.
Do you think the two of them have ever... Tara
let Myra finish her sentence.
Nay. Even Finlay has better sense than that.
The Lancaster s may not be the brightest in the
bunch, but even they would see that as a strike
against their honor and force a marriage between
the two of them.
For his sake, I hope he keeps it in his pants.
Myra s laughter bubbled out. You say the
funniest things. How are you and Duncan handling
sleeping separately?
It s awful, Tara sighed. I thought it would be
easy. I did sleep alone for the last twenty-five years,
how hard can five days be? She shook her head.
They feel like five hundred.
I would guess they are even more difficult for
him. Myra took lightly to her feet and poured them
both some wine.
Don t kid yourself. It isn t easier for me because
I m a woman.
Myra sipped. I wouldn t know.
Someday you will. Tara set her glass down,
slipped her shoes off and crossed her legs under her.
I didn t think it was possible to love a man so much.
I ve tried telling him, but I can t get the words out.
That you love him? Why?
She shrugged her shoulders. Fear, I guess. Fear
he doesn t feel the same way. What if I tell him, and
he chokes on a reply?
He calls you love all the time. Myra defended.
He says the same to every child and woman in
the village. She shifted in her chair. I know he
cares, and I think he loves me. But until he says
those three small words, I will simply have to guess.
And worry.
Ludicrous. I ve never seen my brother so
enthralled with anyone until you. He loves you
197
Catherine Bybee
beyond measure.
You think so?
I know so! Myra took her hand in assurance.
You have nothing to fear.
I hope you re right. I would hate to think he s
doing all of this because his father forced him.
Duncan would never allow that. He does
nothing he s not in agreement with, no matter what
the consequences.
Tara measured her words and found the truth in
them. I have been meaning to ask you something.
Suddenly serious Myra gave her a puzzled look.
What is it?
Will you stand up with me, during the
ceremony?
Moisture sprang up in Myra s eyes. Oh, Tara, I
would be honored. I know how you wish your own
sister were here to stand with you. The women
embraced, both brushing fallen tears from their
cheeks.
Lizzy would approve. Besides, you will be my
sister after the ceremony.
True, but blood is thicker. I m sorry she can t be
here.
Me, too. Tara wished, knowing it was
impossible.
Hey, you know what? I have a way for us to be
blood sisters. It was corny, Tara knew. But a sister
held secrets, and this was one she wanted to share
with Myra. When Lizzy and I were ten and twelve,
we were jealous of our girlfriends friendships. As
sisters, we were always close. It was almost
unnatural how we never really fought or disagreed.
Anyway, one night we sat up late gossiping about
the mean girls we went to school with. Then we
made up a special spell.
Tara moved to the sewing basket and took out a
pair of scissors. We had been reading books on
198
Binding Vows
witches, powers, and such.
You mean a real spell? Myra sat up in her
chair, riveted.
I don t know how real it was, but it made us
feel better.
What was it?
It s kind of corny, completely juvenile.
Great! What is it?
All right. Tara nicked her index finger with
the scissors drawing a small amount of blood. First
we did this. Neither of us could bear more than a
prick. Tara handed over the scissors.
Myra followed her lead.
Then we became blood sisters. Tara placed her
finger with Myra s.
But, you were already blood sisters.
I told you it was corny, besides we didn t choose
to be born sisters, but we did choose to do this.
Then what? Myra sat palm-to-palm, fingers
touching Tara s. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Linki