Ellen’s breathing was much calmer now that she’d fallen asleep. Laura leaned back in her chair in a dark corner and watched the flames flicker solemnly. They didn’t quite strike the same fear in her as they had only a week ago when she’d nearly died by them. Without fire though, she would have surely died when she’d made it to the hunting cabin. It was amazing how such a destructive force was also a protector. Like Donovan, she thought.
Rocking slightly she held the bundled baby in her arms. They had gotten her to drink some cows milk and the child was content and sleeping soundly. There was little that was more precious than a new life. She’d helped so many come into the world and yet, Laura never once took for granted the pure life force that sparkled in a child’s eyes, and the love that glistened in it’s mother’s tears. Someday she wanted to experience the joy of becoming a mother.
With a sigh she stood and tucked Ellen’s baby in the crook of Ellen’s arm. They should be together, supporting one another in such a difficult time. Ellen’s
She didn’t want to become a kept woman and there was no doubt that Donovan would want her that way...if he still wanted her at all. He’d reacted so strongly to her helping out in the kitchen that Laura doubted he would ever allow her to do anything but manage his people, and why he’d let her do that in the first place was beyond her.
Ellen turned her head toward her sleeping child and fell back asleep. Laura hoped the beautiful redhead would have enough strength in her to heal. Shifting forward, Laura went to place a hand on Ellen’s forehead to check on her fever, except her foot kicked the instruments under the bed.
She shook her head, why on earth would he have left all of his instruments and yet taken his bag? She remembered seeing the brownish tote in the man’s hands during the fire. It had been fairly large, larger than her own case she’d carried to births. Laura swallowed the lump in her throat. It was the perfect size for a baby.
No wonder he’d gotten the child out without anyone stopping him. They just saw the “good” physician taking his bag and heading home. If only they’d known. If only she hadn’t left. Dread seeped through her. In some small way she could have prevented this.
At the small desk she tore a piece of paper and scratched with the quill:
Donvan,
Look for the physician’s bag. He left his instruments here and it’s the perfect size for what you’re looking for.
Laura rolled it and tied it before quickly striding toward the door in the darkness. Only the flicker of the fireplace sent a soft glow in the room. Donovan and Marcus needed to know that the baby could be in the physician's bag. The only way she could get the info to them, wherever they were, was to get Sheera to bring it. That was how Ellen had gotten her distressed note to them before. How she was going to communicate to the wolf was beyond her but she’d seen how Donovan had done it, though she wasn’t sure exactly how his communication with them worked. She knew he used a series of whistles sometimes but he hadn’t when they’d last left.
Opening the door she moved to Donovan’s room next door. There was no sign of the wolf. She ran down the steps and searched the great hall but nothing. Finally she spotted a man with the magic bearer symbol tattooed on his neck.
“Excuse me,” she said.
“Yes?” The tall man turned to her, presumably on his way to his room.
“Where can I find Sheera?”
His gaze narrowed at her. No doubt unsure as to why she was back in the castle. “What do you want with milord’s wolf?”
