Chapter 16
John caught Branwen as she collapsed, unable to do anything but stand there with her in his arms. His ears still rang from her screams, but distant pain where she’d hit him had barely started to filter through.
He nearly dropped her when someone knocked at the door. He lifted her enough to carry her into the bathroom and put her in the chair by the window as carefully as he could.
By the time he made it back the bedroom, Fiona opened the door.
“John? What’s happened? Someone up here heard a scream?”
She sounded almost as frightened as he felt, and his brain finally lurched back into gear.
“It’s nothing, mice in the firewood.” He hoped she wouldn’t catch the trembling in his voice. “I took care of the poor things. Branwen went in to take a bath. We’re both fine.”
“Oh, poor
