Ten – 03

There was no sense in delaying further, he realized as he held his wife, cheek against her hair.

It’s a short trip. Won’t be gone for long. Remember that.

He sighed. Marin smiled up at him.

“It’s time,” she said.

Thom nodded. “Yeah. It’s time.”

He let go of her with no small measure of reluctance, heading for his horse. Marin caught the pack horse’s lead rope and trailed behind him.

Cameron tore his gaze away from Neve, noticing as Thom hauled himself up into the saddle. “That’s it, then?”

“We’re wasting daylight,” Thom said as he took the pack horse’s lead from Marin. He caught her fingers and squeezed before releasing them. “If we leave now, we’ll make good progress before we have to find a likely place to camp.”

Cameron nodded slightly and turned to steal another kiss from Neve. Thom couldn’t hear what they said to each other, but one last kiss was sounding like a very good idea.

He leaned down as Marin stood on tip-toe, their lips meeting for an all-too-brief moment. Marin’s fingers brushed his cheek.

“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

Throat too tight to speak, Thom straightened in his saddle and nodded.

“We’ll take good care of each other, fear fiach,” Phelan said, drawing Thom’s attention. The Taliesin stood a few yards away, hands shoved deep into the pockets of a battered leather jacket. He gave Thom a weak smile.

When did he get here? It didn’t matter, of course, though his presence was something of a comfort.

Cameron was mounting up, now. J.T. was already in the saddle, and Seamus was whispering something into Leinth’s ear, one hand on his saddle and the other entwined with hers. Thom exhaled. It had been a good gamble, that.

At least we hope so.

“I promise, Thom,” Phelan said.

“I know,” Thom murmured, smiling back. “We’ll see you in a couple weeks.”

Phelan nodded. “Yeah. You will.”

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