Chapter Seventeen
Heartfire
It was full sunrise by the time Loughlin and Meris made it back to the cabin in the glen. Despite their exhaustion, they lay awake a long time, Meris nestled close under Loughlin’s protective arm, watching the world outside come to life with the new day.
“You know, you could use horses for the hauling,” Meris said, her voice still somewhat raspy.
“No. We couldn’t.”
“Then, surely it would be smarter to use men. Men are stronger.”
“That would make it an all male outfit,” Loughlin said. “It wouldn’t be healthy. Men need women around.”
“They could get married.”
“They’re already married – to the forest.”
“The Devotion.”
“That’s it. Wives would worry.”
“And you think we don’t?”
A blue jay landed on the porch railing, seemed to look in on them through the w
