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.processtext.com/abclit.htmlAfterward, Galen carried her back to the beach and chopped to sit on the sand.He arranged hersideways in his lap before leaning his head on her shoulder as he waited to regain his breath.Slightly winded herself, Kyla leaned her head against his and sat still for a moment or so, her handmoving absently up and down his back.Once her breathing and heartbeat had returned to normal, shesighed and slid the hand on his back up into his hair."Husband?""Hmm?" he murmured, not raising his head."I think I am hungry now."A laugh slipping from his lips, Galen briefly hugged her close, then lifted his head with a sigh."Ye will bethe death of me, wife.Where do ye find the strength?"Kyla raised her eyebrows at that."It takes little strength to be hungry.""I would disagree with ye bitterly at this moment, woman." When Kyla remained silent at that, he sighedwith resignation, then urged her to her feet."Damn me, me legs are shaking with weakness," heexclaimed, following her up.Lips splitting into a wide grin at that, Kyla moved to their small pile of clothes to retrieve her tunic."Mayhap you are coming down with something, husband.I feel rather energetic myself."" 'Tis the curse."Tugging her under-tunic on, Kyla turned to glance at him."Curse?""Aye," he muttered, moving to her side to retrieve his shirt from the sand.Shaking it out quickly, hetugged it on."The curse of women.Every time a man spills his seed inside a woman, he is pouring a bit ofhis strength with it.She is stronger and he feels as limp as a damp plaid.""Ahh," Kyla murmured, then shook her head with a laugh at his foolishness, and bent to retrieve the plaidshe had been wearing.Shaking it out, she spread it open on the sand and knelt to fold the pleats.Moments later, she was standing beside him again, adjusting the pleats to her satisfaction."Ye've grown quite handy with that," Galen complimented."Thank you, my lord." Kyla murmured, then stilled when he suddenly caught her by the chin and tuggedher face up to his."I ken ye like the beach, but ye must promise ye'll no' slip yer guard again."Tilting her head, she considered the request briefly."May I come to the beach if I bring my guard withme?""Nay.But " He added swiftly when she opened her mouth on a protest."Ye may come here with me ifI have the time to bring ye.""But ""'Tisn't safe," Galen told her firmly."The MacGregor hasn't sought retribution yet.I'll no' have himstealing ye away.Marrying ye makes ye less likely a target, but I won't feel safe for ye until he has sought Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlrevenge in some other way.Promise ye'll no' come to the beach without me and ye'll no' slip yer guardagain."Sighing, Kyla tugged her face away."It matters little, I suppose.Aelfread promised to come up to thekeep on the morrow and help me take over the handling of the servants.I shall be too busy to comedown here for awhile."Relaxing, Galen nodded his head."I'm sorry I didn't officially turn the castle servants over to ye ere this.But I'm glad to see ye interested in tending to them.It has been a strain at times, chasing after them aswell as me soldiers.""I am glad to be of help," Kyla told him honestly, a wide smile splitting her face as she leaned up to kisshim quickly.Caressing her cheek briefly when she chew back after the kiss, Galen smiled at her softly, then took herhand in his and led her up the path.His mind was so full of the lecture he would give the servants on themorrow to ensure they followed Kyla's orders to the letter, that he was completely oblivious to the factthat she hadn't given any true promise not to return to the beach.Chapter Thirteen«^»Kyla moved her king's pawn forward one square, then waited for Aelfread to make her next move.Butafter several moments had passed, she glanced up to see what the delay was.The delay was thatAelfread was not paying attention.Her gaze was turned toward the men still seated at the trestle tables,talking and laughing over their mugs of ale: Galen, Robbie, Gavin, Angus, and Tommy.They weresupposedly discussing the next day's plans and scheduling who was to do what, but the repeated burstsof laughter belied that.Kyla sincerely doubted that deciding who was to train the men, who was tooversee the watch, and who was to trail her around would be that amusing.They were gossiping andfrom their amusement, it was good gossip.Though of course, they would deny it to the death."Men don'tgossip, don't ye ken?" they would say.Smiling slightly, she glanced to her friend, her brows drawing together as the other woman sighed."Whatis it, Aelfread?""What? Oh, nothing." Forcing a smile, she quickly took her turn.Kyla was silent for a moment, apparently contemplating the board, then she reached out to make hermove, idly commenting, "Tilings are running rather well now.There was not a hitch today!"It had been a week since their last sojourn to the beach.As promised, Aelfread had shown up at thekeep the morning following their swim to help her take the servants in hand.Kyla had been prepared tobattle for the respect that was rightfully hers.Instead, she had found the servants all pleasant andattentive, even eager to do her bidding.Unaware that Galen had spoken to them, she could only think thedrastic change in behavior mostly due to Aelfread's presence and support."Aye," Aelfread agreed now, taking her turn as well."I could not have gained the servants' respect without you," she added, sliding her bishop out from its Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlspot.'Thank you."Aelfread shrugged." 'Twas not a difficult task to aid ye.""Mayhap not, but it has taken you away from your own tasks and even your daily walks," she pointedout gently, finally getting to what she thought might be the heart of her friend's discontent.Kyla wasgrateful for her assistance, but suspected Aelfread was missing the fresh air and peace she was used to.She did not wish to see her friend unhappy."There is no need for you to come tomorrow if you wish todo something else.I realize 'tis boring to be stuck indoors all day."Her hand on her queen, Aelfread glanced up with surprise."I haven't been bored," she assured herquickly."I enjoy yer company, me lady.""Kyla," she collected quietly."We are friends." Aelfread smiled slightly."Aye, we are.""Anyway, bored or not, I noticed today that you were restless and while I enjoy your company, I knowyou are used to wandering the beach for a bit every day.I never intended for you to have to give that up.I would join you myself in a walk, were it not for my guards." Her gaze slid resentfully to the men at thetable.While Galen had said he would accompany her to the beach, he had not yet found the time to takeher.Between managing the men and his occasional trips to check on the mainlanders, he had very littletime for anything.He was generally up and gone ere her rising and returned just in time for sup whichhe often seemed to sit through in an exhausted daze.No matter how exhausted he was, however, healways found the energy to make love to her once they were alone in their room.Afterward, he always chopped off into a dead sleep, though, leaving Kyla to frown and sigh at him
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