Page 22 of Secrets of Capell Manor
The storm’s going to be bad.
Alden and Devlin unsaddled the horses, and Ridley, now finished with the chickens and the goats, rushed to help the men. He wiped each horse down with soft cloths while Devlin saw to putting fresh hay in the mangers. Alden grabbed two buckets and filled them with fresh water from the well outside the stable.
“Glad you made it before the storm,” Ridley said. “I think it could be bad tonight.”
“Agreed,” Alden replied. “We’ve made it back just in time.”
“Supper is almost ready,” Ridley continued. “Marta was worried that you hadn’t eaten all day.”
Alden grinned at that. While hungry, Devlin also wanted to kick his feet up in front of the fire. The cold had penetrated his bones. A quiet evening with a warm meal and a hot fire beckoned him.
With the horses and the other livestock comfortable in the barn, the two men and Ridley hurried through the downpour of sleet along the path that led from the manor to the barn.
Devlin opened the door to the manor and was not met with the warmth and calm they desired but with shrieks from Luella. Both men tensed and grabbed their swords.
“No! No! No!” Marta screamed.
From the kitchen, Grim appeared, tail tucked between his back legs. He carried a large ham roast in his mouth, so large he could hardly see where he was going. Kaylyn chased the dog closely, yelling at him to “drop it,” which Grim had no intention of doing. Marta was not far behind, and she had a large rolling pin. Devlin was sure she would use it on his hound, and deservedly so. Little Luella chased all three, panicked that Grim was in trouble and would get hurt.
“Enough!” Devlin shouted in a menacing voice.
Everyone, including the dog, stopped.
“Grim! Drop that ham!” The dog instantly obeyed and everyone in the entire room stood frozen waiting for Devlin to speak again.
Devlin took a deep breath and pain shot through his temples. “Marta. Please accept my sincerest apologies. I assume that our supper is on the floor?”
Marta nodded, looking defeated. “I’ll see what I can salvage.” She gathered the ham in her apron and carried it back to the kitchen.
Devlin turned to Luella, who was still crying loudly. He scooped her up in his strong arms, and held her close. She began to calm almost instantly, but still hiccupped from her panicked crying.
Grim still sat on the floor, but only a smear of ham grease remained in front of him. He had the gall to lick it off the floor and look surprised at all the fuss.
“Please don’t hurt Grim, Mr. Devil,” Luella squeaked. “He didn’t mean it.”
“Well, young lady, I will need to disagree with you there. I believe that naughty hound seized that ham with no hesitation and without any thought of our hungry bellies. I can only hope that Marta will forgive him.”
Luella giggled and then sniffled.
“Grim!” Devlin barked. “Go lie down!”
The dog obeyed instantly and made his way to his blanket on the rug by the fire.
“Kaylyn, you and Luella see if Marta needs help in the kitchen. Luella, wash your face.”
The children trotted off to the kitchen. Devlin hadn’t noticed that Rosalind stood at the doorframe. He had no idea how long she had been there. Had she witnessed his ill-mannered dog trying to escape with the dinner ham?
“Please forgive the chaos Grim has caused you, milady. It seems the ham was too much of a temptation for him.”
“You won’t harm him, will you?” Rosalind asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
“I will certainly punish him if you want. Or at least kick him back out to the stalls.”
“No, I don’t want him punished. Look at him. I think he’s ashamed of his behavior.” Rosalind glanced over at the table.
Grim had now moved under the table and looked guilty and regretful. He refused to make eye contact when Devlin leaned over and looked at him.
Devlin snorted. “I don’t think it’s me he needs to concern himself with. Marta may bring out her skillet again.”
