It was a long night. My husband never warmed to me and I am pretty sure that his tired body finally gave up with fighting me at the end. But I won’t say that I wasn’t glad of the wall on his side. He couldn’t get any further away. Why did it bother me anyway? I decide to think about this more, later.

I have a feeling Toad is going to be the only one who will have a conversation with me this day. I didn’t plan for the girls to barge in on us, but I found it so humorous at the time. Having most of the night to think about it, I am finally realizing that it should have been much more special for him. I thought it was what he wanted? He came to me, never voicing…Yes, he did not voice to me what he wanted. Wrinkling up my nose, I think I have found my folly.

Sean shifts and I can tell he’s waking and trying to be quiet about it, but I’ve been up. I greet him with a small smile, but I can see he hasn’t forgiven me. It wasn’t my fault! I don’t feel that it is. Or am I kidding myself? His kiss is quick with a half smile. He moves to put his clothes back on. I don’t bother to cover up, he’s not looking my way anyway. The man is paying far too much attention to getting himself dressed.

I begin to wonder if I smell or if my nose bled during the few fleeting moments of rest I got. I sneak a whiff of myself and decide I don’t smell any worse than before, leathery, horsey and some sweat and smoke. Wiping my nose I don’t knock any flakes of blood away. Did my moon blood come early? I lift up my cloak and peer down below as I sit up. No, I’m not leaking one way or another. I look back at Sean and that’s when I see his pale backside branded with raised red welts. Ouch.

He walks away with my mouth twisted unhappily following him out the door. Not a word my way? I’m kind of hurt about that. Angrily I flop down staring at the ceiling with my arms crossed. I’ll just lie here a few moments longer. I need to fix this. But how am I supposed to go about this? Any other male could have been pinned down and…

I can’t take him like, he’s too sweet, when he isn’t sputtering unintelligible curses. Partly growling and groaning I ball up my cloak to stifle the noise of my malcontent. My stomach seems to answer the call with a growl of its’ own. The roasted meat does smell awfully good. I am hungry as all I had the night before was some tea.

The walls keep the night chill I fling my cloak out over myself and curl over to my stomach. I spy Toad in his little hole, even with his back to me. So this was how the day was going to go. I should bury myself and not get up. Groaning I decide it’s about time to make my appearance. Sluggishly and without any enthusiasm I start to bind my breasts down. For someone as slim as I one would not think I’d have been cursed with an ample chest, not that they weren’t appreciated though. I stop in the middle of what I’m doing. An idea has struck me.

Smiling to myself I toss my top over my head it barely covers my bottom. I muss my hair a little differently and gather up my other articles of clothing. With them in arm I scoop Toad from his little cubby. He squirms like I feel. I can hear quiet conversation, not much. On the balls of my bare feet I saunter out with a swaying of my hips. Let Sean’s kinfolk see the strength and shape of my legs. The years of riding have been good to me and I know it. Slowly eyes turn my way and it feels strange as I am usually trying to avoid this.

I scan the surroundings of my peripheral. The children are gone my extra clothes sort of folded in a pile. Nion looks like death warmed over. Mór Lámh is squatted down by the breakfast fire, while the other couple is having an intense conversation about a sword? Ahhh, there is Sean, leaning against the wall trying too cool off a leg of sorts. Perfect. Finally he notices me and tries to keep composed.

I approach him with a soft smile on my lips and my eyes coyly downcast, slightly cocking my head to the side as I pluck the hare’s leg from Sean’s hand. “I’ll need that after last night,” I purr loud enough for all to hear as I reach up on my tiptoes to kiss the tip of his nose. I’m gone from his presence as fast as I entered it going out the entrance. “I’ll water the horses. I need to wash up anyhow,” I call out without a look over my shoulder munching on the leg. I hear Hadaig’s low chuckle follow me out. I can only hope that I stroked Sean’s ego a bit with a little white lie.

They didn’t need to know and I’ll take the time. He’ll be worth it. I have a little grin on my face as I lead horses to the river. It’ll be nice to wash off a bit, even without soap or a herbal packet. Even Toad gets a bath and some breakfast. The horses are glad for their drink and I feel better, even if my clothes still smell smoky. I re-braid my hair tightly back. My bay is teasing one of the other mounts, which means she didn’t take at the fair. Sighing I start the walk back horses in tow, feet picked. Toad stowed in a pocket again.

More riders? Squinting I see another band of dark riders in the not so far distant. I do not know who they are. I pick up the pace and let the rest of my party know what I saw.