Page 56 of The Speed of Lightning
She gave a triumphant laugh and reappeared above. “Does this mean he’s mine?”
He looked up at her radiant smile, knowing he would agree to anything she asked. “Aye.”
A yip of delight rang out as she hurried down the ladder, threw her arms around Bog, and kissed the newly groomed hound—his hair tied back with a neat pink ribbon.
Calum snorted.
“What is it?”
He gestured toward Bog. “The ribbon. The way he’s looking at you. I can see the love hearts rising off his big, dumb head.”
She covered Bog’s floppy ears. “Dinnae be mean to my baby—you’ll hurt his feelings.”
He rolled his eyes, feigning disbelief, though his heart squeezed at the joy lighting her face.
She pointed at the meat. “Go on, eat before it gets cold.”
“Aren’t you going to eat with me?”
She shook her head. “Bog and I ate an hour ago. I was about to take him for a walk so you’d no’ be disturbed.”
He frowned. “Sit. We need to talk.”
Biting her lip, she took the seat.
They spoke at once. “I’m sorry?—”
They stared. Then again, together: “Why are you sorry?”
Calum chuckled, reached across the table, and closed his hand over hers. “Before all that, perhaps we need to pray.”
Freya bit her lip. “All right.”
He bowed his head. “Bless us, Lord, and the food I’m about to take, through Your goodness. Bless the hands and heart of my wife who prepared it. Bless our marriage, and help her to forgive me. Amen.”
When he opened his eyes, Freya was watching him, one brow arched.
“What is it?”
She shook her head, blinking quickly. “Nothing.”
He took a bite, the tender meat and sauce filling his mouth with flavor, and grunted his approval. “This is good.”
One perfect gingery brow still arched. “It’s only rabbit.”
He frowned. “Who brought you rabbit?”
“I hunted it this morning by the river.”
His spoon stilled. “You hunted it?”
She nodded. Calum stared, dumbstruck. “That’s my responsibility.”
A glint of humor touched her eyes, her mouth quirking. “Is it?”
“How long did it take you to get the kill?”
She rose, poured him a cup of water, and set it beside his bowl. “About an hour sitting still. Then swift—he came to the burn for a drink.”
