Madeleine bit her bottom lip. When it slid back out from between her teeth, it shone. After a seeming moment of deliberation, she touched Hæra’s face. “Sometimes, God puts things…or people…into our keeping. We might not know what to do with them, but they’re ours anyway. I’m learning that.”

On the surface, it sounded like Madeleine spoke of a burdensome obligation. The look in her eyes, thoughtful and sincere, made much more of it than that.

“I agree,” Hæra said. What else had she known all along, but that the Great Mare had put Madeleine into her path? “We belong to each other. It’s simple.”

“Simple?” Madeleine’s lips twitched. “Never change, Hæra.”

Too late for that. Hæra didn’t bother saying so as she bent down for another, sweeter kiss.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Normally, Madeleine slept well in Hæra’s arms. Tonight, although Hæra held her as securely as always, she couldn’t nod off. She’d lain awake for two hours. That wasn’t good, since the coming day would be another long, busy one. They all seemed to be.

She loved them, although her muscles ached at the end of each one. Even on rainy, cloudy days, there was immense satisfaction in working hard for a good purpose. It wasn’t like teaching, which, while rewarding and difficult, didn’t involve tractors, shovels, or sheep poop.

Admittedly, she could have done without the sheep poop.

Leaning into doubt and change seemed to be good for her. She was happier than she could ever remember being. Why ruin it by wishing for the impossible? Why look to the future?

She’d spent years thinking ahead to when she’d return to Orkney and find her angel. She’d found something else, and for once she was trying to live in the moment. The moment was wonderful. The future was bleak.

She groaned and sat up. She could embroider on the sofa until she got sleepy. Hæra loved the piece she was working on now, a seascape. She couldn’t fathom how Madeleine had the patience for all the tiny stitches and had been astonished when Madeleine said the little details were her favorite part.

Madeleine glanced back at Hæra, who lay breathing deeply and evenly. Her body was relaxed. You’d think she was asleep, except her eyes were open, if unseeing. She was “resting,” slowing her system down for the night. Hæra had told Madeleine she hadn’t slept since their first night together, when she’d had a nightmare she didn’t want to discuss.

Another way they weren’t alike.

They were alike in others, though.

My Hæra.

Madeleine slipped out of bed. Hæra inhaled and stirred, but she calmed and returned to rest when Madeleine said, “It’s all right, I’m just getting up for a minute.”