A Family For Christmas Read Online Free

sit
up.
    ‘Welcome back to the world, little
one.’ The giant, seemingly appearing from nowhere, grinned down at her, his voice soft and
reassuring. Then she heard the crackling.
    ‘The witch,’ she croaked.
    ‘Hush, there’s no witch here. Fever
probably gave you strange dreams.’
    ‘I think she means me,’ the woman
grunted, bending over her again. ‘Here, have a drink.’ She held a mug to
Eliza’s lips, snorting when she recoiled. ‘It’s only boiled water.’
Tentatively Eliza took a sip then, realizing how thirsty she was, gulped greedily.
    ‘Gently does it, little un,’ the
giant urged. ‘You’ll be sick if you drink too much.’
    Hearing another crackle, Eliza looked round and
saw she was lying in front of a roaring fire. For a few moments, she lay watching the flames
shooting up the chimney like orange rockets. Then the wood spat, giving a loud crack that made
her jump. Another memory surfaced and she turned back to face the woman.
    ‘You shot me,’ she exclaimed.
    The giant laughed. ‘Believe you me, if Fay
had, you’d be dead meat. She’s a crack shot; never missed a rabbit or pigeon in her
life.’
    ‘But you pointed your gun at me,’ she
insisted.
    ‘Indeed I did,’ the woman nodded. ‘I thought you
were an intruder, prowling around my homestead like that. I didn’t need to shoot; you
fainted clean away in the snow.’
    ‘Oh,’ Eliza muttered, sinking weakly
back onto the mattress.
    ‘Oh? Is that all you can say after I let
you sleep in my bed?’ the woman retorted.
    ‘Now then, Fay, don’t torment the
girl. She’s frail as a feather. Give her some of your beef tea. I’ll be back to see
how you are tomorrow, little un,’ the giant said, leaning closer. Eliza noticed he had
kind eyes, the colour of ripe chestnuts, and realized the halo she had seen was the riot of dark
curls tumbling around his head. Reassured, she smiled back at him, but even that effort was too
much and her eyelids fluttered closed. She barely registered the door shutting or the woman
moving around before sleep claimed her once more.
    Next time Eliza woke, her head felt clearer. She
tried to sit up, only to collapse again.
    ‘Steady, child, you’re feebler than a
runt. Hold onto me,’ the woman urged, helping her into a sitting position then propping
her up with soft sheepskins. ‘What’s your name?’
    ‘Eliza.’
    ‘Well, Eliza, people around these parts
call me Fay. Now we’ve been properly introduced, let’s see about getting you
something to eat.’ She lifted a blackened iron pot from the crook over the fire and deftly
poured liquid into a mug. As a savoury aroma wafted Eliza’s way, her stomach growled with
hunger.
    ‘Drink this,’ the woman ordered
before settling herself
onto the chair beside the
hearth. Eliza did as she’d been bid and before long she felt her strength returning.
    ‘I’m sorry for turning up like that
yesterday,’ she said, thinking an apology was in order.
    To her surprise Fay gave a harsh laugh.
‘Yesterday? Ten days ago, more like.’
    ‘Ten days!’ Eliza spluttered.
    ‘You’ve been really poorly, my girl.
In fact, on a couple of occasions, you very nearly went to join your Maker. The fever was so
high, even my curatives couldn’t contain it. Thank heaven for Duncan the Druid and his
greater knowledge or you wouldn’t be here.’
    ‘Duncan the Druid – he’s the
giant?’ Eliza asked.
    ‘He is tall, I grant you, but I can’t
say I’ve ever thought of him as a giant. Anyhow, you’ve much to thank him for, my
girl. He refused to leave your side until that fever finally broke. Satisfied you’re on
the mend, he’s finally gone to get some rest.’ Fay stifled a yawn and Eliza guessed
Duncan wasn’t the only one who’d gone without sleep.
    ‘I’m truly grateful for everything
you’ve done.’
    ‘Couldn’t leave you outside to
perish, could we?’ she said brusquely. ‘Now, if you’ve finished that broth,
I’ll take the mug and have some myself.