Three days passed. I was just finishing giving Braden and Brielle their lessons when the front door opened and Col. Tavington stepped into the house.
"Father!" Cried Braden excitedly running into the colonel's open arms.
Col. Tavington scooped Braden up, wrapping his arms around him and kissed his cheek, spinning him in his arms.
"How has my boy been?"
"I've been well Father." Replied Braden with a smile.
"You've been behaving yourself for you mother and uncle?"
"Yes."
"And you, angel, have you been behaving yourself?"
Brielle giggled and replied, "Yes Papa!"
"That's what I thought; I shouldn't have to think anything else."
Col. Tavington set Braden down and he and Brielle ran up the stairs, giggling to each other.
"Do be quiet you two. Your mother is asleep." I said.
Brielle gave a quick nod and then continued up the stairs with her brother.
After they disappeared up the stairs, Col. Tavington turned to me and said, "They have been well behaved, haven't they?"
"Yes, just as you said, there's no reason to suspect otherwise. How was the trip?"
"It went well, actually. I sold two mares, one colt, and bought another stallion. He's not as big as Belial, but he's young; he'll do for breeding."
"But you're still going to breed Belial."
"Oh of course. With the amount that I make from his foals, not to mention his stud prices, there's no reason why I wouldn't; he's a strong, healthy stallion. But there's only so much he can do."
I smirked at the colonel, who returned it with his own trademark smirk.
"How is Mary?"
"Not well, I'm afraid. She's been ill for the past three days, with a pretty high temperature that only just began to go down earlier this morning. She didn't want me to leave her alone at night because of the fever dreams, so I slept in the armchair; she woke up screaming twice last night."
"Oh God…"
"I know… She hasn't been eating much, and it was getting harder to get liquids down her; Mary simply just has no appetite right now."
"I see… I'm going to go upstairs."
I nodded.
"Oh, Colonel, before you go, Alastor can stay at my house for a while if you like; it might be easier for you."
"Bordon I don't want to pull you into this."
"Colonel, with all due respect, Mary is very uncomfortable with your father being here."
"I know that"
"Sir she was screaming his name in terror while she was sleeping! I had to wake her up so she wouldn't wake the children; and Braden and Brielle aren't light sleepers."
Col. Tavington sighed, closing his eyes.
"Stay here and I'll be with you as soon as I'm finished checking on my wife."
"Very well; I'll see you then."
