Read Online Donna Fletcher Short Story Collection by Donna Fletcher - Free Book Online Page A

you best hurry and solve the problem.”
With that Brianna turned and hurried out of the Great Hall.
    It wasn’t the mumbling oaths that frightened
the servants away but the furious scowl on Royce’s face. They
scurried out of the hall like mice being chased by a hungry
cat.
    He stormed over to a table near the large
stone fireplace, plunked himself down on the bench so hard that it
sounded as if it would split in two and poured himself a tankard of
ale some of it splashing over the sides.
    The Christmas ghost.
    That damn myth had haunted the castle for
years. He didn’t believe any such nonsense, though he did recall
his mother recounting the tale each year, no doubt fostering belief
in it. It seemed every Christmastime the ghost would haunt the
laird’s bedchamber. Some servants had claimed to have seen the
ghost, though Royce believed it was more their own hysteria that
caused the visions. But there were those who claimed to have seen
an apparition of a cloaked man.
    He took a generous swallow of ale. The myth
was utter nonsense and had grown over the years with the retelling
of the tale. It was no ghost responsible for the senseless antics
and he would just have to prove it and fast. There was no way that
Brianna and he would sleep in separate beds. The idea was absurd
and he would never allow it. He grew more annoyed just thinking
about it.
    A chatter of voices behind him drew his
attention and he swung around. Several servants had entered the
Great Hall and stopped abruptly frozen by his feral scowl.
    Royce grumbled, stood, and hurried out of the
hall, hearing sighs of relief from the servants as he went. He took
the stone steps two at a time and hastened down the hall to his
daughter Breda’s room. He entered quietly not wanting to disturb
her naptime. She lay on her stomach, her legs crunched beneath her
pushing her tiny bottom up. Her black hair stuck out of her head in
tufts of soft curls and though her eyes were closed the color was
vivid in his mind... a blue as beautiful and brilliant as the
morning sky. Even at only a few months it was easy to tell that she
was going to be a beauty just like her mother. He tucked the soft
wool blanket around her and patted her bottom. He then added
another log to the fire to make certain the small room stayed
warm.
    He eyed the narrow bed with disdain. His wife
would not be sleeping there. The small bed was for Sara, the
servant who tended Breda.
    “It will do until you chase the ghost.”
    Royce turned to see his wife standing in the
doorway. He went to her and slipping an arm round her waist scooped
her up, gently shut the door with his foot and carried her to the
bed. “Shall we see if it will do?”
    Before Brianna could protest he placed her on
the bed and followed her down. There was barely room for them to
move, Royce sprawled half around her, his feet hanging off the end.
She could not help it, she giggled.
    He squeezed her waist playfully. “You would
have me suffer to sleep here?”
    The bed protested with a squeak and a
crack.
    “It will not hold us both.”
    “And I will not be separated from you.” His
hand roamed intimately over her.
    Passion sparked in an instant and though she
should have objected she didn’t. She turned her head, her lips
finding his and was soon lost.
    Royce kissed her like a hungry man who could
not get enough, but that seemed to be the way of it with his wife.
No matter how much they loved, he wanted to love even more and she
felt the same.
    His hands were soon maneuvering her garments,
eager to touch her soft skin, eager to make love with her. She
tried to help him but their tight quarters and fumbling soon had
them laughing. They kissed in between laughs and their passion
grew. Soon their hands turned frantic as did their movements.
    One swift move and Royce was on top of her
and she welcomed him... the bed didn’t.
    It splintered in two and they both landed
with a thud on the floor.
    “Are you all right?” Royce asked