A Savior's Worth (Book #3)

Chapter Forty-Three

Elouise giggled as Eldon pressed light kisses to her cheek and down to the side of her neck. He carefully moved more of her hair over her shoulder when the front door suddenly opened. He jerked backwards and gaped at Davidson entering the cottage. Davidson noticed them and nodded.

"Mary told me you two were in here," he said, oblivious to what'd been going on.

Eldon exhaled in relief, and the heat on his face cooled.

Elouise stood and hastily straightened out her skirt. She turned to Eldon like she hoped he would take the lead here. He smiled at her and got up as well, addressing Davidson who checked on Olivia.

"Since yer here, Davidson, there's somethin' I wanted to ask you."

Davidson glanced over at him. "Sure."

Eldon excused himself from them, hurrying into his old room to retrieve Ashton's sword. He returned, pointing it down as he stopped beside Davidson. Davidson pulled away from the bassinet and took the rapier sword from him. The crease between his brows hardened.

"Rusted, but it sure is fancy," he said, twirling it around slowly.

"We found it on our way here," Eldon explained. "It don't look like it belong to anyone anymore. Think you can fix it for us?"

Davidson pointed to the initials. "Got no idea who this A.W. could be?"

"No." Eldon could see Elouise fidgeting in her spot, and he did his best to ignore her.

"This should be simple to fix," Davidson told him. "I'll get it done for ya. I can even start now. I ain't much for celebratin' anymore." He flashed them a weary smile as if to emphasize his point.

"Thanks, Davidson." Eldon heard someone else's footsteps approaching and glanced at the door. Leanne came in seconds later, frazzled and out of breath.

She pointed at him and Elouise, then signaled for them to follow.

"What's goin' on?" questioned Davidson.

"It's Henry," Leanne answered.

Eldon's stomach turned. He fled before Elouise could gather herself. He didn't know what he'd expected to find, but he would've never imagined seeing Henry fast asleep on the bridge. Quiet and peaceful snores were even coming from him.

"What happened?" Elouise asked, kneeling beside Henry.

"He had a little too much," said Leanne, making a gesture of drinking with her hand. "I found him fallin' asleep against a tree. So, I got him up, figurin' a walk would do him well. But we didn't make it far." She gestured to him. "Clearly."

"Oh, Henry."

"Does he do this a lot?"

"No. This is the first time I have seen him like this, and I've known him my entire life."

"Well, he did mention he controlled himself from doin' worse. So, he must do this a lot. Maybe back in Caelum?"

"No..." Elouise trailed off, defeat overtaking her features and lowering her shoulders.

Eldon took a deep breath. He thought back to the scars and to Victor, and he knew Leanne had to be right. If Henry had a reason for doing this, it would be because of his brother. Eldon had stupidly reopened those wounds by hassling him about those scars.

"Let's get him inside," Leanne suggested, stepping over Henry. She crouched down and carefully lifted him into a seated position. Remaining unconscious, Henry's body slumped onto her.

Elouise rose to her feet and moved out of the way, allowing Eldon to take her place. Eldon threw Henry's right arm around his neck. Leanne did the same with his left. Then they slowly stood together. Henry briefly opened his eyes and grumbled something nobody could understand.