Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(4)

Taking a deep breath, she continued to remove any harmful debris from his path, as the horse dragged him up the last step of the hill.

The rain had let up to Claira’s relief, and she gave a brief smile, but the rain started up again to Claira’s great frustration. When she made it to the top of the hill, she stopped to suck in some much needed air. What she and her horse had just completed was no small feat, by any means.

At least, the horse only had to drag him across flat land to her cottage now. They were so close to warmth and comfort.

Another groan slipped out from between his lips, and her heart broke. At least, he wasn't dead yet, but she was unsure whether or not that was a blessing. They would both have quite the challenge in the upcoming days. He would have to be strong to beat the wound he’d been dealt by his opponent.

Once to the wooden door of her small cottage, she stopped her horse and looked down at the giant’s broad frame. Would the rain never relent? She was trying to do a good deed here and the rain was just drenching her to the core.

As a healer, she needed to remain healthy or she wouldn't be able to assist the ill. Right now she was shaking because of the piercing cold drops of water that kept hitting her.

After yanking open her door, she untied the ropes, put her hands under the rock giant’s armpits, and drug him into the cottage. They both would be much better off, once inside the warm dry walls of her cottage.

She lugged his huge muscled body over to her bed. The one room cottage didn’t allow for her to have more than one bed. So she’d have to sacrifice it to the rock giant.

Now the struggle would come when she tried to put him onto her bed. Thankfully, her bed was close to the ground. With a groan, she struggled to get his torso lifted onto her bed. Once she managed to heave his body onto her bed, she turned her attention to his legs. They weighed almost as much as his torso. She grabbed his legs by the ankles and pulled him fully onto the bed.

She stared down at him, his breathing was labored, and his fever was still raging, yet, she was frozen in place. It all came crashing down on her. What had she been thinking?

She had an injured rock giant in her home, the home of a healer, a place where villagers would come to seek her help. And now she had a huge secret she would have to be extremely careful with.

Claira shook her head. Now that she had accomplished what she’d set out to do, she was doubting her sanity. Healing might be her life, but saving a rock giant could cut her life short. The villagers wouldn’t understand her reasoning. They had too much hatred built up, here on the borders.

Claira just stared at him for a few moments, letting her mind run away with her. It was true, she would have to be careful, not only for her life, but for his. She’d hate to see him killed, after all the effort she’d gone through to save his life.

Looking around her cottage she noticed she’d left the door open. Quickly she darted over and peered outside. It would be just her luck, if someone saw her lugging a rock giant into her cottage.

After putting her horse back in the barn, she closed the door to her cottage and noticed all the mud and blood she’d dragged in. It was time to get things cleaned up, just in case someone came to her door. She didn't want the evidence smeared across her floor. No need to get anyone too curious about the mess.

Grabbing a few rags, she cleaned the floor vigorously. Claira didn’t stop until she had every speck of mud and every drop of blood wiped from her floorboards. Her mattress was a different story. She would have to get rid of the mattress altogether.

Claira knew she couldn't have him waking up. First, she had no idea what his reaction would be towards her and second, she didn't need him trying to escape. He would only end up harming himself further, and she wasn’t about to let that happen.

Stoking the fire, she grabbed a pot of water to boil for tea. Making her way over to the chest of herbs she kept handy, she dug through them to find the right leaves.

“Where are you?” She whispered down at the chest. “Found it!” She held it up high into the air.

Taking a mortar and pestle she ground the leaf into a pulp with a few drops of water, then wrapped it in a cloth. Once ready Claira grabbed a cup and placed the cloth inside. Now she just had to wait for the water to boil.

She took a seat on a chair across from her bed, so she could watch the rock giant slumber.

He hadn't made a sound, since she’d brought him inside. She was able to hear his heavy breathing, so she knew he was still alive. He was just fast asleep, which was what he needed. That wound needed energy to heal.

Some part of her hoped he could sense he was somewhere safe, and that was why he was sleeping so soundly. Yet, she knew deep down he just had no energy to wake.

Claira frowned, as the water started to boil. She was so comfortable, now that she was off her feet. Moving up the hill had sucked her spirit away. Getting up with a sigh she spooned the hot water into the cup and stirred the cloth tea bag around.

She waited until the tea was cool enough to drink. Then she warily approached the bed. Claira wanted to make sure he wasn't pretending to sleep so he could take her by surprise. Of course, she doubted he would or was capable of doing anything, at the moment. But she still approached slowly, ready to jump away at a moment's notice.

After she stood by the bed for a few moments, she bent down next to him. Gently, she put one of her arms under his head and tilted his head back slightly. Claira brought the tea to his lips and poured a trickle into his mouth.