Song of Rhanna (The Rhanna series) by Christine Marion Fraser

Author:Christine Marion Fraser [Fraser, Christine Marion]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Published: 2013-02-27T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Ruth came home, thinner but otherwise well and in high spirits. Her delight at being back with her children and husband made Lorn cringe with self-hatred. He had betrayed her trust and felt no satisfaction in knowing that he had cut off his relationship with Rachel. It would have complicated things too much if he had allowed it to carry on. His mouth twisted bitterly at this. What kind of fool was he? Things were complicated. What had been done could never be undone. He had spent sleepless nights and days in torment, wondering how he could face Ruth and behave normally. And now she was here, her sweet face breaking into smiles as she came over the threshold to cuddle the children to her breast.

Plunking herself down on a chair she said with a sigh, ‘Oh, it’s so good to be home. I just want to sit here forever and take it all in. I loved it before but now I really appreciate all the lovely things I have in my life.’ She looked at her husband. He seemed thinner, anxious looking. She threw him a half-shy smile and held out her arms. ‘Come here, Lorn, I’ve missed you, darling, more than you’ll ever know.’

He went to her and buried his face in the warm hollow of her neck, his heart too full for words. Taking his head between her hands she kissed his mouth and laughed.

‘What’s wrong, Lorn? Don’t tell me you’re too shy to speak to your very own wife?’

He shook his head, his face serious. ‘Not shy, just glad to see you back, Ruthie.’

The children were watching, so overcome with shyness they hadn’t uttered a single word since their mother came through the door. She laughed gaily, a musical sound that tore Lorn’s heart in two. ‘What on earth is wrong with everyone? My husband is lost for words and my children have lost their tongues! What kind of welcome home is that?’

A slow smile spread over Lorna’s face. Going to the hearth she retrieved the slippers warming there and kneeling by her mother she took off her shoes, replacing them with the slippers.

‘That’s better.’ Ruth kissed her daughter’s upturned face. ‘Now I feel I’m really back – except—’ she looked round – ‘where are the animals? I thought I would be eaten alive the minute I came in.’

‘That’s why I put them in the parlour – I didn’t want them hurting you. Lachlan says you’ll be sore for a whily.’

‘Och, to hell with my sore belly!’ Ruth was in an abandoned mood. Her cheeks had turned pink, her eyes sparkled. ‘Let them through. I don’t care if they eat me alive.’

Lorn opened a door and a pile of hairy bodies descended, Ben to sweep a cup off the table with his tail, to howl with pleasure and place his paws on Ruth’s shoulders and lick her ears resoundingly, the cats to purr and mince round her legs, thereafter to arrange themselves decoratively about her person.

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