The Promise of Peace by Carol Umberger Page A

sense.”
    â€œMaybe to you. But you won’t be the one tied to Will Macpherson the rest of your life!”
    â€œAnd I ask you again, what is wrong with the boy?”
    Gwenyth feared that the honest answer to this question was that he wasn’t Keifer.
    â€œI suppose nothing is wrong with him if you don’t mind a man who has no desire to leave the glen. He’s content to stay here.”
    Adam shook his head. “And what is wrong with that? Being at home in the glen is an attribute, something of which a man— or woman—can be proud.”
    Nola stared at Adam as if he had an extra head. “What’s wrong with wanting to travel?”
    Gwenyth hid her smile behind her hand. These two would never agree on this, she feared.
    â€œBesides, Will takes for granted that I will agree to a betrothal when we are of age. If I foster with them, he will be encouraged beyond bearing.”
    â€œWould such a betrothal be so awful?” Gwenyth asked.
    â€œIt wouldn’t be if my heart didn’t belong elsewhere.”
    â€œI see.”
    Adam huffed out his breath. “There is no need to decide on your wedding plans tonight. I can accept that you don’t see Will as a potential husband, Nola. But I ask that you give him a chance.”
    Nola looked at her father. She straightened her spine and held her chin out in that stubborn way she’d done since the cradle. “And I will accept this fostering with grace if you will but grant me one boon.”
    Gwenyth felt her eyes grow larger. What would the girl demand?
    â€œWhat is that?” Adam asked, his expression wary.
    â€œAllow me to accompany you and Keifer when he leaves for training. ’Tis likely to be the only time in my life when I can leave this glen.”
    With an audible sigh of relief, Adam said, “Very well. You may go with us.”
    Nola spun on her heel and left the room.
    Adam looked at Gwenyth. “That went well, don’t you think?”
    AFTER THE SPRING THAW Adam and Nola accompanied Keifer on the journey to Homelea. Keifer could hardly wait to get there. The horses walked too slow, Nola talked too much, and Adam insisted on resting the horses too often.
    By the fifth day, Keifer had tired of even Nola’s company. They rode side by side with Adam in the lead.
    â€œ. . . don’t you agree, Keifer?” Nola asked.
    â€œAgree?”
    â€œYou weren’t listening.”
    â€œYou talk all the time. How’s a man to know when you have something important to say?”
    â€œBy listening, you great dolt.”
    Adam turned in the saddle. “Nola, that’s no way to speak to Keifer.”
    â€œHe wasn’t paying any attention—’tis rude—”
    â€œEnough. Give us some peace, Nola.” Adam turned around.
    Nola stuck her tongue out at Keifer. Why he, a nearly grown man, must put up with a child of twelve, he didn’t know.
    In the absence of Nola’s chatter, he heard birds singing and the whisper of the breeze through the trees. But he couldn’t enjoy it when Nola was so obviously unhappy.
    Nola was no more a child than he was, if he would but admit it. She’d grown two inches in the past few months, and though he tried not to stare, he could not help but notice that the bodice on her tunic needed to be let out to accommodate . . . Keifer drew a deep breath and let it out. Aye, Nola was no longer a child. By the time he saw her next, she would be a woman in every way. He grinned at the thought.
    â€œWhat is so funny?” she demanded.
    â€œYou.”
    â€œYou think I’m a child, a pest. Well, I’m not.”
    â€œNot a pest or not a child?”
    He could see her struggling to be angry; saw her lose the battle when she smiled.
    â€œTruce?” she said.
    â€œAye. But a few more minutes of quiet wouldn’t do me any harm.”
    She laughed, and all was right with Keifer’s world.
    Later that day they