Free The Shipwreck by Glynnis Campbell Page B

mama wants you to stay here, to stay quiet.  That’s why she closed the door.”
    Yet even as he said the words, he had to wonder at the woman’s judgment.  Why hadn’t she rushed inside as well and barred the door?  What made her think she could handle the threat?  The fool woman was going to get herself killed.
    Hell, he thought as he strained against the leather collar, he couldn’t stand the thought of a woman facing danger alone while he sat helpless.  If only he could get loose, he could chase the intruders off.
    He glanced at the little girl.  Maybe he could get loose.
    “Kimmie,” he said, “if you help me, I can help your mama.”
    She looked skeptically at him.
    “I need you to unbuckle my collar.  Do you think you can do that?  Do you think you can—“
    “Mama said I’m not supposed to go near you.”
    Brandr bit back an oath.  “But she needs my help.  I’m big and strong, and I can fight—“
    “ I’m strong,” she said.  “Mama said so.”
    He growled in frustration, frightening the little girl again.  She backed toward the door once more.
    His eyes widened.  “Nay, nay, nay, nay, nay.”  He had to keep her inside.  The last thing he needed was to have both women out of his sight.  “Kimmie, nay, Kimmie,” he said urgently as her small hand touched the latch.  “Come away from the door.  Please.  I’ll…”  He searched his memory.  What would have convinced his own daughter to stay?  “I’ll tell you another story.”
    She hesitated.
    “Aye, come sit by the fire, and I’ll tell you a story about…about Muspell, the land of the Fire Giants.”
    She pursed her lips.
    “And Niflheim, where the Frost Giants live,” he added.
    She lifted her brows.
    “And Audhumia, the giant cow.”
    “Giant cow?”
    “Aye.  The giant cow who licked the gods to life.”
    She let go of the latch and walked to the hearth, and he heaved a sigh of relief.  He might not be able to rescue Avril, but at least he could keep her daughter safe.
    Kimbery sat cross-legged with her sword across her lap, and he began a story he’d told often to his children—the story of the world’s creation.  Meanwhile, he strained to hear what was happening outside, to no avail.  The little girl, fascinated by the tale, edged closer and closer to him.  Eventually, despite her mother’s stern orders, she ended up half-draped across his lap.

CHAPTER 7
     
     
    A vril thought she must be mad, covering for the Northman.  Her neighbor said he’d found pieces of a Viking ship.  He’d come to warn her to be watchful, assuring her in manly tones that he was on the hunt for the vermin who belonged to it, hefting up his spade as proof.
    She should have turned the Viking over to him then and there.  It certainly would have made her life easier.  Brandr would have been out of her house, away from her daughter, off of her shoulders.
    But she couldn’t bear the thought of him being beaten to death with a spade, which was doubtless what her neighbor intended.
    So she told the man an outright lie, saying she’d seen no sign of Northmen, but she’d be sure to alert him if she did.  Thanking him for his concern, she smiled stiffly until he was out of sight.
    “Brilliant,” she muttered to herself.  “Now I’m harboring an outlaw.”
    She pushed open the cottage door, cursing herself for a fool, and froze when she saw the scene before her.
    She couldn’t draw breath.  Mother of God, she was a fool!  While she’d been lying to protect him, the crafty Viking had enticed her daughter onto his lap.  Kimbery was sprawled across his thighs like a lovesick pup.  Was this the thanks she got for saving Brandr’s worthless hide?
    “Mama!” Kimbery cried, jumping up and running to her, hugging her about the thighs.  “Da’s telling me…I mean, Brandr’s telling me a story about a giant cow and Frost Giants and the dwarves who hold up the sky!”
    “Is that so?” Avril bit out with a shaky