Read Wanted by the Viking for Free Online

accept this child as payment."
                  He nodded eagerly.
                  "Fine fine. You take it. Be gone with you."
                  Kendra took the child and walked to her donkey. Marshmallow greeted her with a soft nudge to her side. Kendra took one last look at the two slaves who had spent the night with her tending Carina. She waved to them sadly, wishing she could help somehow.
                  She rode off, leaving the festival far behind.
     
     
     
     
     
    **********
     
     
     
     
                  Grayson stood by the fire, holding the slave peddler high in the air.
                  "Did you touch her?"
                  "No! No! I let her take the child and she went on her way!"
                  "When was this?"
                  "A day ago- no- less!"
                  "If you touched her in any way I will kill you! And it will not be quick!"
                  He glanced around the sad faces of the slaves who huddled together fearfully. He frowned. He'd never seen this side of slavery. Vikings used their captives for labor or pleasure, but they were well tended to and clean. This was an affront to his senses!
                  The decision made, he went about snuffing out this wormy little man quickly. Grayson used his knife to slice open the man's gut. He dropped him and turned to the stunned looking slaves.
                  "Did any of you see which way she went?"
                  They looked at him fearfully. Dirty and half starved, they were a pitiful looking lot to be sure. One of them stood up, clearly braver than the rest.
                  "She was kind. We won't help you find her."
                  He rolled his eyes.
                  "I won't hurt her. She's my woman. She needs protection on the road."
                  The little slave seemed to think this over before nodding.
                  "Alright. She took the road that way."
                  He smiled at her and glanced at the sad looking group of women and children. Then he did something unexpected. He tossed them some coin.
                  "You're free now. Make your way from here, and quickly."
                  The young woman picked up the pouch and rewarded him with an incredulous smile. Behind him he heard his warriors groan. They were still grumbling about the lack of marauding they were doing as Grayson led them to the road.
                  "Come on then, we must find her before it gets too dark."

Eight
     
     
     
     
                  Kendra held the infant close against her chest as she continued down the road. The child let out a loud squeal.
                  "Hush now sweeting. Hmmmm… we must think of a name for you."
                  The baby quieted. She smelled so sweet that Kendra could not resist kissing her downy head over and over. A name… her mother's name had been Rowena after her fair hair. The child's hair appeared to be a bright copper color. Perhaps that would suit…
                  "Rowena… Weena… do you like that sweeting?"
                  Kendra had a skin full of goat’s milk but that wouldn't last more than a few days. She needed to find a place to take the child. Willa would tend to it, she knew. The woman had been unable to have children of her own. But for some reason, Kendra was loath to let the baby out of her sight.
                  Never mind that Grayson Hendrick and his men were back that way.
                  She felt a small tinge of regret when she thought of him, but she brushed it aside. Surely he'd given up by now. After all, she'd given him what he was after and then some.
                  He had certainly cured her of her curiosity. Strangely