[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Finally the other woman smiled, clearly reading her anxiety. Albert is fine. As I said,
everything will be explained later. She leveled a steely glare at Barbara. After
breakfast.
Biting back the rest of her questions Barbara helped Martha set up the table in the
corner of the kitchen to eat at, plates, silverware, glasses and cups, place settings for
three. Clearly someone else was expected to join them for breakfast.
Al, she hoped.
The food was put in place and Martha was indicating a chair for her to sit in when
the third member of their breakfast clutch wandered down the stairs. It was Al, of
course, looking like he was awake under protest. He was unshaven and wearing a plain
white t-shirt and worn-through-the-knees sweatpants that appeared a size smaller than
they should have been. Barbara looked for signs that he d been injured the night before.
The only signs that something was amiss were the scowl on his face and the dark bags
under his eyes, denoting his lack of sleep.
When he saw Barbara he walked faster into the room and pulled her into his arms.
For a long time he just held her and Barbara relaxed into his hold, finding comfort in
being held.
I m so glad you re all right, he whispered into her hair.
Thanks to Martha, I guess, she murmured back. Somehow she healed me.
From where she was seated at the table Martha clapped her hands, regaining their
attention. As I said earlier, breakfast is ready. No discussion until after we eat.
72
Bad Dog and the Babe
With a slightly crooked grin, Al released Barbara and led her to the table, seating
her opposite Martha then taking the seat between them. The older woman took Al s
hand and reached across the table for Barbara s.
Over this food we meet in peace. Blessings be.
Blessings be, Al responded and Barbara echoed him. The words came easily from
him, as if he d frequently said blessings over his meals, although this was the first time
she d seen him do so.
Perhaps it was only when he was in Martha s house. Obviously from the blessing
and the way she d healed Barbara, the woman was some kind of spellcaster.
Barbara watched Al and Martha s easy camaraderie, curious and more than a little
envious of this woman and the mysterious relationship she had with her Al. After all,
the man was her mate, temporary as the position was.
Barbara wasn t jealous, exactly. She didn t think that Al had a physical relationship
with Martha.
It wasn t just the age difference. She figured Martha was close to middle age for a
human although she was well-preserved if she were that old. The other woman was
very attractive and many men would find her so. But Al didn t behave like Martha was
an ex-lover of any sort.
He did act like he cared for her and Barbara could see that Martha cared for him.
That was very clear.
Barbara gave an inward sigh and pushed her attention onto the plate of pancakes,
syrup and bacon in front of her. Martha had said there d be no explanations until after
breakfast and Barbara knew the woman meant it.
Besides, she was hungry. Being in heat and injured as well had put a strain on her
body. She needed the extra calories to make up for those that had been used in healing.
Martha encouraged the both of them to dig in and, given the pile of food on the
table, there was no reason for either Al or Barbara to be shy. They ate close to two
normal people s daily intake of calories in bacon, pancakes, butter and syrup before
each of them were sated.
Meanwhile the cook sipped her tea and watched them with quiet satisfaction,
helping herself to only a couple pancakes and one piece of bacon.
Barbara leaned back in her chair away from the table. That was good, Martha.
Yes, Al hastily interjected. Thank you.
Martha waved her hands. I love cooking for healthy appetites, she said. As you
well know, she said to Al.
He said nothing, and again Barbara wondered about Al s relationship with Martha.
She swirled the remains of coffee in her cup, wondering how to ask about it.
Meanwhile Martha was giving them both a long hard look.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]