He pulled her closer and bent his head to hers, aiming for a chaste kiss on her ruby lips…
Rosalie couldn't help but laugh at the disaster struck right before his lips met hers. Emmett's pucker was but a breath away when Esme Alice vomited down the front of his plaid. His colorful curses were still echoing in her ears as she laughed at how quickly he'd fled to change his clothing. She hadn't laughed that hard in close to two years. And even longer before she'd met Ewan, her late husband. He'd been quite the jester, but he'd loved her with a vengeance. Not caring that he had to be oh-so-careful with her battered emotions.
Emmett and Ewan were night and day in differences. Emmett blunt and Ewan tactful. Emmett is built like a mountain and Ewan was barely taller than she and lanky. Emmett was black curls and blue eyes, Ewan had blonde hair and brown eyes. Emmett was the laird's brother and rich, Ewan was but a poor farmer. The differences were endless, but they had one good thing in common. They both made her smile again.
Rosalie was searching for Jessica, she needed her to care for Esme Alice so that she could check in to see how Bella was. Rose also planned on tracking down Emmett to see if he'd heard any news from Jacob. She was ready to put Victoria behind them and get Bella well.
Rounding a corner, she crashed into none other than iniquitous woman. Eyes flashing fire, the two women stared at each other maliciously before Victoria began cursing Rosalie to the fiery pits of hell. Rose managed to smile and laugh in Victoria's face, making the latter's ire rise even higher. The healer knew some very interesting ways to curse a person… "May ye're arse ever be covered with boils that weep daily. May ye fall out the window and break ye're bones into shattered little pieces. I hope ye're hair turns to ash and falls out and ye're teeth rot like Ole Man Cameron's!"
Rosalie continued laughing at her until her eye's flashed black and she raised her fist to punch Rose. Rosalie's hand reached out to catch the clenched hand in flight. Raising an eyebrow and smirking, she told her, "I would nae do that, if I were ye. Ye're but a small lass, barely bigger than a bairn, and I ken I am more evil than ye could dream to be."
Victoria's face drained of color and she jerked her hand from Rosalie's and fled before she gave away just how terrified she was of the other woman.
Victoria had just fled up the stairs when Emmett came around the corner holding Esme Alice. "Rosie, I can nae keep her all day. Find Jessica so's we can talk and can get back to drills. I've a slew of new bairns to train. They just turned old enough to join, and so…"
His words trailed off as Rosalie stuck her finger to his lips, "Shhh," she whispered, "I am still looking for the lass. She can nae just have disappeared. Look with me and tell me what ye've heard from Jacob."
"That will be a short discussion, Rosie. Jacob has nae said anything yet, and I dinnae suspicion he will until he has solid news."
"I understand that. I am just anxious to be rid of the crazy loon! She is nae sane. Did ye hear her cursing me?" Rosalie asked as they rounded the corner to the kitchen.
"Aye, how could I nay? She was screaming them was she nae?" He chuckled as he remembered, "I think I shall have to take lessons how to curse a body without actually cursing."
"Dinnae waste ye're time! Ye ken-" Rosalie stopped short when they found Jessica in the pantry with one of the stable hands, Michel, the French cousin of Jacob the Black.
The couple sprang apart and straightened the clothes that had been mussed as they mauled each other. Jessica's muddy hair was falling out of the tight bun at the base of her skull and Michel's was sticking up- perhaps crazier than Edward's!
Emmett and Rosalie laughed at the blushes on their faces and their kiss swollen lips.
Rosalie began to speak as soon as her laughter was under control, "Jessica, I need ye to keep Esme Alice for a wee while, whilst I help the Lady Bella. I need to keep a close watch on her."
Jessica reached for Esme Alice who was clinging to Rosalie, but didn't fuss overlong when Rosie and Em quickly left the room.
They made their way quickly to the laird's chamber, where Bella was still unconscious. Victoria was there already, smoothing a thick paste over Bella's head. Rosalie muttered a curse as she marched to the bed and grabbed Victoria's arm. She forced the caterwauling woman out the door and bade Emmett to stand guard.
Luckily, there was a ewer full of steaming hot water that Rose was able to use to clean the nasty mess from Bella's head. As she leaned over to wipe more of it away, a memory was triggered. The smell of the fresh poultice had the same scent of the liquid that Victoria said would rid the hair of lice. Rose's brow puckered in frustration. Why would the crazy lady use lice removal for a healing poultice? It does nae make any sense!
Emmett quickly entered the room at her summons. She explained her thoughts and he sniffed at the goo. "I think ye're right, Rosie. That does smell the same. But Bella does nae have any bugs in her hair, so why…?" his voice trailed off as he thought of the ramifications of this. That she-devil would probably end up banished because Edward couldn't bare to punish her with a traitor's death. Even though that's exactly what she is. A traitor.
He laid a gentle kiss on Rosalie's cheek and strode purposefully from the chamber in search of Jacob and Edward. They had to stop this madwoman before Bella ended up in a cold grave.
Rosalie continued to cleanse away the poison. Bella's wound was healing nicely and the infection was gone. The swelling in her head was almost gone as well. As she continued the ablutions, Rosalie stopped cold in her movements.
Bella had moaned.
"Mmmmmmm…." Came the repeated sound. Rosalie tossed down the rag, and gripped Bella's shoulders.
"Bella?" she questioned. "Can ye hear my lady? Ye must wake up. The laird has been beside himself with worry o'er ye. Wake up. Wake Up!"
Bella's eyes blinked a few times and she tried to swallow, but her tongue was too thick in her throat from lack of eating and drinking. Rosalie poured her a glass of water. Slipping her arm beneath Bella's shoulders, Rose helped lift her to drink. Once she'd swallowed enough to wet her throat, she began to question Rosalie, "What happened?"
"Ye fell and struck ye're head on the stone of the floor."
"Oh…" she drifted among her thoughts, "How long have I been asleep?"
"Four days, my lady."
"Four days?" her voice rasped out. "Saints alive! I've missed four whole days?"
"Aye, Bella, ye have," Rosalie squeezed her Bella's hand before continuing. "I should get the laird. He'll want to ken ye're awake. He's been so anxious for ye to wake up." Rosalie sped over to the door, and yanked it up. Stepping into the hallway, she lifted her voice to yell, "Edward! Bella is awake!"
The sound of feet rushing up the stairs showed Edward, Emmett, Jacob the Black, and Jessica toting a sleepy Esme Alice rushing to get to her. The reunions were sweet. Each person fawned over Bella until she set eyes on Esme Alice. She swept her baby out of Jessica's arms and cuddled her close.
After Emmett had kissed Bella's cheek and welcomed her back from death's door, in a way that only Emmett could, he caught Rosalie's eye and nodded to the hallway.
"I thought ye might like to ken that Edward will be sending Victoria away verra soon. Jacob said that she has nae gone anywhere but to visit patients, although she did stop at the crofter's hut, but she did nae stay long enough to share information or the like. So, my question, lass, is… Do we continue to watch her after she's gone? Jacob is willing to take on that task. He loves Bella like a sister as weel."
"Alright. I believe that's what we should do as weel, Emmett. Thank ye for helping me save her. She's my best friend."
Emmett gripped at his chest humorously, shouting, "How ye wound me Rosie Posie!"
Rose's reply was to giggle again.
*~HR~*
A/N: Sorry for the delay! Once again, I had a short bout of writer's block. I think I'm going to stop promising weekly, lol! I will have Chapter five up in the next two weeks, but I will for sure aim for sooner! Make sure if you want to get the updates that you follow the story. Also, I'd really like to know what you think! Is it too predictable? What are your suggestions? I totally take them into account if you have them! And I always respond to them. Thanks for reading and see you soon!
Oh! One last thing! I've been working on a O/S for the Show Me Your Patriotism Contest. Make sure you check it out! :-)