The crowds began to disperse and Llinos drew deep gulps of precious air. ‘We’re all right,’ she said, her voice little more than a croak. ‘We’re all going to be all right now.’
Eynon took her hand and kissed the back of it. ‘I don’t think I’ll be leaving here after all, do you?’ He stepped back and Llinos saw him go over to Saul’s inert body and cover it with his coat. Samuel was weeping for his son and Charlotte was comforting him.
‘He tried to kill you, Sam,’ she said softly. ‘Saul lived violently and he died violently, it was his fate.’ She smiled tremulously at her brother. ‘It seems some of your teachings have rubbed off on me, Joe. Go on now, take your wife inside, the danger is over.’
Llinos held out her arms to Joe. He lifted her and she clung to him, her face in the warmth of his neck. Tears trembled on her lashes as Joe carried her indoors and up the stairs to their bedroom. He kicked the door shut and looked down into her eyes.
‘You look like a heathen, Joe,’ she said softly. ‘With your hair tangled and your body naked. Have I told you that I love you? If it weren’t for you . . .’
He smiled, his eyes as blue as she had ever seen them. ‘Now, how could I let the mother of my son die?’ He spoke against her mouth and, as she kissed him, Llinos felt a warmth flow through her. He knew, Joe knew as he knew everything, that at last she was going to have his child.
‘How do you know it’s going to be a boy?’ she said. He set her gently on the bed and lay beside her, his arms around her.
‘I knew from the moment he was conceived. He will be strong and brave and handsome and clever like his mother.’ He sighed softly, his breath sweet against her cheek.
She closed her eyes then, hearing sounds from downstairs, familiar sounds, voices talking, the voices of loved ones and friends. Outside the birds were singing, the sun was shining, it was a new day, a new beginning, and she was here with Joe. She was safe in his arms. She pressed her face against his heart, listening to its beat, and within her womb beat the heart of the son who would one day be a great man just like his father.
THE END
About the Author
Iris Gower was born in Swansea, where she still lives. The mother of four grown-up children, she has written over twenty bestselling novels. She received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Wales Swansea in 1999 and was recently awarded an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Cardiff. Dream Catcher is the second novel in her Firebird series.
Also by Iris Gower
THE LOVES OF CATRIN
WHEN NIGHT CLOSES IN
COPPER KINGDOM
PROUD MARY
SPINNERS’ WHARF
MORGAN’S WOMAN
FIDDLER’S FERRY
BLACK GOLD
The Cordwainers Series
THE SHOEMAKER’S DAUGHTER
THE OYSTER CATCHERS
HONEY’S FARM
ARIAN
SEA MISTRESS
THE WILD SEED
The Firebird Series
DREAM CATCHER
SWEET ROSIE
DAUGHTERS OF REBECCA
KINGDOM’S DREAM
PARADISE PARK
The Drovers Series
THE ROWAN TREE
HALFPENNY FIELD
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DREAM CATCHER
A CORGI BOOK: 9780552165952
Originally published in Great Britain by Bantam Press 1988
Corgi edition published 1999
Copyright © Iris Gower 1998
The right of Iris Gower to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All the characters in this ebook are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
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