Free The Marriage Cure by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy Page A

ease.
    â€œWe’v e enjoyed your company this day, ” Sabetha said . “But it’s well past noon and ye have a long ride home . My man is weary still and we’ve more chores to tend.”
    He opened his eyes and grinned at her despite his pain . She walloped them in her soft voice, her polite words a fist to shake them loose . Her tactic worked, to his relief, as they began rising, stretching, and gathering up their odd bits . By the time they mounted and said a farewell, promising to visit again, he felt puny and glad to see the back of them.
    â€œ Imeacht gan teacht ort ,” h e called after them, with a wave of his hand.
    Sabetha laughed and he would have laughed as well but his head was pounding and when she saw that he was not feeling at all well, her laughter faded and she came to him.

Chapter Seven

    Sabetha Mahoney Devaney

    She did not like the Paytons , and she knew Johnny liked them even less . His wary expression warned her that they were trouble in the making and Sabetha was glad to see them leave, laughing as he called after them in Irish to leave without returning . Such fools would never know he insulted them as they waved farewell .
    Her focus now was Johnny . He ate very little and she could see the weariness in him as he slumped, his shoulders down . His nerves were as taut as bowstring and when he rubbed his forehead, she knew he felt ill . Pain reflected in his dark eyes and she moved to help him raise, her hand grasping his arm.
    â€œ Conas ata tu?”
    â€œ Ta me tinn , ” h e said . “ Ta tinneas cinn orm .”
    â€œYe’re tired too, ” Sabetha said . It was no wonder he had a headache . Working in the field as he did, even for such a short time, sapped his returning strength and worry over the Paytons was enough to make anyone’s head hurt . “If ye’d like to come rest, I’ll brew some willow bark for ye.”
    â€œAye, ” Johnny said, then spun away from her and bent over, retching up what little he had eaten . Then he put one hand over his stomach and groaned.
    â€œJohnny?” Vomiting worried her more . She expected the fatigue and headache but not this .
    â€œI’ll do,” h e told her . “The food didn’t sit well on my stomach, that’s all . Being in the cornfield was too much, too like last year and then to hear about the trouble at Gibson, it sickened me.”
    She had known the similarity of the riders coming to them in the field upset him but now she understood it was more . “Ye’re worried for yer brother.”
    â€œAye, I am, ” Johnny said .
    He would not lie down until he drank some water then sprawled across the bed . When she put a wet rag across his forehead, his lips flickered in a small smile . She touched him, afraid he might be feverish, but his skin felt cool . He dozed, a little, waiting for the tea to steep and then insisted on getting up to drink it, sitting afterward at the table.
    â€œI’ve had my fill of the bed,” h e said when she tried to coax him to lie down.
    When later, his color came back a bit and the tight line down his forehead eased, she stood behind him, hands on his shoulders.
    â€œDid ye mean it?” s he asked .
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œWhat ye said to them in the corn.”
    He called her his wife; words that resonated in her soul but she wanted to be certain he meant them.
    â€œAh, that, ” Johnny said . His tone was lighter now than any time since they heard the Payton men coming . “Aye, ye know I did, woman . Ta gra agam duit .”
    Her eyes moistened, her heart expanded, and she felt so happy that it almost hurt.
    â€œI love ye, too, Johnny dhu , mo anam cara .”
    Johnny turned to face her, the smile on his face lighting his eyes.
    â€œThen will ye live with me and be my wife? Nial a on leighea ar an ngra ach posadh . "
    â€œâ€™Tis true, ” Sabetha whispered. “So cure me with marriage,