Summer Of The Viking. Michelle Styles

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      There was something about the storm-tossed man’s gaze which reassured her that he had no intention of harming them. But whatever the risk, she had to take it. Leaving someone to die on this beach made every fibre in her body revolt, no matter what Lord Edwin had ordered.

      Time to stop obeying people blindly and take charge of her life.

      She’d made that vow on the day she discovered her late husband’s debts and she intended to keep it. This was the first test of her resolve. She no longer blindly followed the rules.

      ‘Here you were saying how strong you were,’ she said briskly. ‘You wanted to take over the feeding of Purebright. Are you saying you aren’t strong enough to manage the pony now?’

      ‘If I don’t complain, does that mean...?’ Merri’s eyes gleamed.

      Alwynn shook her head slightly. Only Merri could think looking after that cantankerous pony was a privilege, rather than a chore. Merri was ready for added responsibility. She’d shown that over the past few turbulent months. ‘I was going to tell you when we arrived home after collecting the sea coal. But, yes, provided you help me now, you may look after Purebright.’

      The man mumbled something incoherent, plucking at her sleeve. Alwynn cocked her head to one side, listening.

      The sound of rough voices travelled on the wind.

      ‘Shall we move forward? One step at a time? We are nearly in the tussocks of grass. We can stop there and rest out of sight. Wait until everyone has gone.’

      Merri squared her too-thin shoulders. ‘I believe I can make that. Purebright would want me to.’

      They reached the cover of the grass-topped dunes just as several people arrived at the beach. They were armed with a variety of cudgels, sticks and a pitchfork as well as baskets for gathering sea coal.

      Alwynn’s heart knocked against her chest. It pained her that this place had come to this. Before the Northmen attacked Lindisfarne, they had welcomed seafarers and looked after anyone who might be stranded. Not now. They had lost too much.

      The men started laughing and joking about the dead and what treasure they might find on the beach. Silently Alwynn wished them to hell along with the Northmen who had caused this change. Her Northumbria was hospitable rather than murderous.

      ‘Alwynn?’ Merri whispered. ‘This feels wrong. We are going to get in trouble. Big trouble. Can we go?’

      ‘Keep down, Merri. Keep quiet.’ Alwynn forced Merri’s head down lower and put her hand over the girl’s mouth.

      ‘Should we get help?’ Merri whispered against the barrier. ‘Maybe I could get Oswy. He has a strong back from lifting grain sacks.’

      Alwynn put her fingers to her lips and shook her head. Merri’s off-and-on friendship with the miller’s son was going to have to end soon. ‘We shall manage, you and I. In a little while. Right now, he must rest. Understand?’

      Merri gave a slight nod and Alwynn removed her hand.

      ‘And once we start again?’ Merri asked in an urgent whisper. ‘Carrying him all the way to the hall will be impossible.’

      ‘As I said, we’re going to Gode’s. That isn’t far. Think about Purebright and how much he loves your grooming. That fat pony has a lot to answer for. I should have kept a carthorse.’

      ‘But...’ Merri’s forehead wrinkled. ‘Father always said...’

      ‘The area around here was very different when your father was in charge.’

      ‘I suppose so.’

      ‘We’re doing nothing wrong.’ Alwynn made a fist. ‘Finders of flotsam on the beach have the first say as to the disposal. Custom from a time beyond our minds. And he did wash up on the beach, our beach. You remember what your father used to say. The beach has always belonged to your family.’

      Merri nodded, accepting her word.

      ‘And the mint tea?’ Merri’s brow knitted. ‘Does he need more? Can we get it without...?’

      ‘When we can...’ Alwynn gauged the distance from where they lay to the small stream. The lack of cover was too great to risk any movement. ‘It will not take them long to strip the beach of anything valuable. Once they have what they want, they will go. Your warrior will survive until then.’

      Merri’s eyes widened. ‘My warrior?’

      ‘You were the one who saw him first.’

      Alwynn refused to think about the warrior’s eyes and how they had held her. That connection to him she’d felt deep within her gut was nothing. She could not afford to be attracted to any man. And yet... She shook her head. Truly she was becoming worse than Merri for wool-gathering.

      ‘But...but...but...’

      ‘He can hardly be mine. Your father has not been dead that long. We shouldn’t have come in any case. Collecting sea coal was a poor idea.’

      Merri curled her fingers about Alwynn’s. ‘I don’t blame you. I thought it exciting.’

      She snuggled up next to Alwynn and lay very still.

      Alwynn lay listening to the man’s steady breathing and the banter between the reeve’s men who seemed to stay at the other end of the beach. Apparently they’d found nothing of interest.

      ‘Almost gone,’ she muttered.

      ‘Oh, no,’ Merri cried and darted forward.

      ‘Merri, where are you going?’

      Merri grabbed the basket with sea coal and returned, dropping to the ground. ‘I couldn’t allow them to take that! It belongs to us. We collected it. We need it for our fire.’

      ‘Next time leave it.’ Alwynn patted the sand next to her. ‘Over here and stay by my side until I tell you otherwise. Do you want everyone to know where we are?’

      Merri hung her head. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think... We need the sea coal, though. No one saw me.’

      ‘Tempting fate is never a good idea. How many times, Merri?’

      ‘But I’m quick,’ Merri muttered. ‘Quicker than you.’

      ‘Hush now. Lord Edwin’s steward is headed towards us.’

      Alwynn glanced at the warrior. Thankfully he appeared to understand the situation and had gone completely still. She moved closer to him to give Merri some space. Her breast hit his chest as Merri wriggled in.

      The steward stooped down and picked something up from the beach. He looked directly at them. Alwynn sank further down in the hollow, half-covering the man with her cloak.

      As the steward’s gaze intensified, she lowered her head and breathed in the warrior’s salty scent.

      Footsteps seemed to come closer. The sound of heavy breathing hung in the air.

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