Chapter Twenty-Nine
Three months later…
The warm summer sun heated Liam’s back as he craned his neck, searching amid the throngs of beaming faces gathered around the stream outside the village. Men, women and children had assembled to witness the newly-constructed grain mill and attached water wheel in motion for the first time since Domnall and several of the clan’s men erected the structure a fortnight before.
The carpenter stepped outside of the mill and waved his arm high in the air, capturing Liam’s attention. With a nod and lift of his meaty thumb, Domnall signaled the mill’s readiness.
Liam raised a finger in return, urging the ox of a man to wait a moment longer. He weaved through the crowd and approached his mother and Fraser, who stood hand in hand as usual.
He placed a quick kiss on his mother’s cheek and tipped his head at Fraser. “Have you two seen Nora anywhere?”
The older couple shared a quick look before shaking their heads. The pair could barely contain their foolish grins which immediately drew Liam’s suspicions.
He narrowed his eyes a fraction. “What’s amiss?”
Elena Fraser patted his cheek. “You shall learn soon enough, my dear lad.”
What the devil did that mean?
Rolling his eyes, he pivoted away to search in the opposite direction. Though the past few months together had been naught short of sheer marital bliss, Liam could not help but worry for his lass. Especially since she’d awakened each morn ailing for the past sennight.
He spotted his commander, John, and his wife, Sarah, among the clan gathered around the village stream. When Fraser formally stood aside passing the lairdship over to Liam, he’d wasted no time approaching the warrior with his request, and John had gladly accepted the position as Liam’s commander.
Fastening on a smile he scarcely felt, he nodded at the pair. “John, Sarah. Have either of you seen Nora?”
’Twas in the same instant a finger tapped his shoulder.
Sarah stifled her giggle and pointed behind him.
Without another thought, Liam spun around and immediately wrapped an arm around Nora’s waist. A spike of alarm rose in his chest as he searched her pale features. He frowned at her in concern. “Are you well, Wife?”
Nora beamed a bright smile that reached her beautiful, sparkling eyes. “I could not be better.” She lifted a hand to brush a finger over his furrowed brow. “Stop frowning so, Husband.”
“’Tis just that I worry for you,” he admitted. “I loathe seeing you ill.”
Her grin deepened. She stretched her arms around his neck. “I am—”
A roar of deafening cheers pierced his ears and drowned out the rest of his wife’s words. Liam jerked his head upward in time to catch sight of the large, paddled trundle turn its first rotation, grabbing water from the stream in long, wooden troughs Domnall affixed to the ends. Amazed the blasted thing worked, Liam grinned with the rest of his applauding clan.
Without a word, Nora tugged his face to hers and sealed their lips, thoroughly capturing his undivided attention with the fervor in her kiss. Enfolding her in his arms, he adored the feel of her against his frame. ’Twas a sensation that would never cease to please him.
She released his mouth and trailed kisses along his jaw, pausing just below his ear to whisper. “I am carrying, Liam.”
Her words sent a jolt through him. He pulled back, grasping hold of the sides of her waist. She could not mean…? “A bairn?”
Her fingers twirled the hair at his nape. Beaming a brilliant smile, she nodded her confirmation.
Joy ripped through his surprise, flooding him with excitement. An exulted shout of glee tore from his throat, blending with the clan’s excited chatter. Gripped with happiness and gratitude for his wife, he bent his knees and picked her up in his arms while she clung to his neck.
Heedless of the Frasers’ teasing grins, he carried his wife toward the front gate, eager to get her alone in their bedchamber.
“I thought you wished to see the water wheel in motion,” she said.
He had far more important matters to attend. “I can see it on the morrow.”
Undeterred from his course, he marched through the gate, heading for the keep.
“Where are you taking me?” She glanced around the nearly empty courtyard.
He cast her a quick glance before growling, “To bed.”
“What?” Alarmed, she stiffened in his arms. “I’m well. I do not need rest.”
“I have no intentions of you resting, Wife.” Liam quirked a revealing brow at his lass which easily relayed his lecherous intent.
“Oh.” Understanding dawned in her gaze, and her comely features lit with a wide grin. “Then by all means, pray continue, Husband.”
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