For to make mead. Take 1 gallon of fine honey and to that 4 gallons of water and heat that water till it be as long. Then dissolve the honey in the water, then set them over the fire and let them boil and ever scum it as long as any filth rises thereon.
Then take it down off the fire and let it cool in another vessel till it be as cold as milk when it comes from the cow. Then take lees from the finest ale or else barm (yeast) and cast it into the water and honey and stir all well together, but first look before putting your yeast in that the water with the honey be put in a clean tub and then put in your yeast or else the lees for that is best and stir well together.
Lay straw or else cloths about the vessel and above if the weather is cold and so let it stand 3 days and 3 nights if the weather is cold. And if it is hot weather, 1 day and 1 night is enough at the full. But ever after 1 hour or 2 at the most assay thereof and if you will have it sweet take it the sooner from the lees and if you will have it sharp let it stand the longer therewith.
Then draw it from the lees as clear as you may into another vessel clean and let it stand 1 night or 2 and then draw it into another clean vessel and serve it forth.
ABOUT ANNA MARKLAND
Thank you for reading Sweet Taste of Love. If you’d like to leave a review where you purchased the book, and/or on Goodreads, I would appreciate it. Reviews contribute greatly to an author’s success.
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I was born and brought up in England, but I’ve lived most of my life in Canada. I was an elementary school teacher for 25 years, a job I loved.
After that I worked with my husband in the management of his businesses. He’s a born entrepreneur who likes to boast he’s never had a job.
My final “career” was as Director of Administration of a global disaster relief organization.
I then embarked on writing a romance, something I’d always wanted to do. I chose the medieval period because it’s my favorite to read.
I have a keen interest in genealogy. This hobby has had a tremendous influence on my stories. My medieval romances are tales of family honor, ancestry, and roots. As an amateur genealogist, I cherished a dream of tracing my own English roots back to the Norman Conquest...most likely impossible since I am not descended from nobility. So I made up a family and my stories follow its members through successive generations.
I want readers to feel happy that the heroes and heroines have found their soul mates and that the power of love has overcome every obstacle. For me, novels are an experience of another world and time. I lose myself in the characters’ lives, always knowing they will triumph in the end and find love. One of the things I enjoy most about writing historical romance is the in-depth research necessary to provide readers with an authentic medieval experience. I love ferreting out bits of historical trivia.
I hope you come to know and love my cast of characters as much as I do.
Escape with me to where romance began and get intimate with history.
Under a Silver Moon
USA Today Bestselling Author
Hildie McQueen
Copyright
Under a Silver Moon
USA Today Bestselling Author
Hildie McQueen
Pink Door Publishing
Cover Artist: Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs
Sr. Editor: Scott Moreland
© Hildie McQueen
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without written permission.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader
If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to your retailer and purchase your own copy.
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Other Works by Hildie McQueen
BRIDES FOR ALL SEASONS - MONTANA
Wilhelmina, A Winter Bride
Aurora, A Romantic Bride
Lucille, A Lucky Bride
Esther, An Easter Bride
Scarlett, A Summer Bride
Isabel, An Independent Bride
BRIDES FOR ALL SEASONS - WYOMING
Sarah, A Festive Bride
Christina, A Christmas Bride
Amelia, An Autumn Bride
SHADES OF BLUE SERIES
Big Sky Blue
A Different Shade of Blue
The Darkest Blue
Every Blue Moon
Blue Horizon
Montana Blue
Midnight Blue
Blue Montana Christmas
SINGLE TITLES
Where The Four Winds Collide
Westbound Awakening
Colter Valley
Patrick’s Proposal
Judith, Bride of Wyoming
Ruby: Angel Creek
Nellie’s Notions: American Mail Order Brides
Chapter One
Silver City, Idaho 1865
The bull kicked back with its hind legs as if preparing to charge the tree again, not a good thing at the moment since the branch Camille sat on cracked under her weight.
She wasn't sure what the best thing to do at the moment was. Should she shoo it away or play dead? Of course, if she played dead it meant movement, which in turn could cause the tree branch to break and then she'd not have to pretend.
Beneath her, the animal snorted and kicked at the herb basket she'd filled just moments earlier.
In the distance, a lone horseman appeared. Whoever it was rode at a lazy pace. Through squinted eyes, she could make out that he seemed to be looking up at the sky. Camille did not have the time or the inclination to admire the scenery at the moment.
Admittedly, the entire reason she'd come out for a walk had been the beautiful, warm day. Summer arrived in Silver City with bursts of color, clear, blue skies and an occasional light shower. Herbs of every kind sprouted around the base of trees and between thickets in the wooded area where she'd foraged.
The bull stomped on the ground. "Don't lose your temper with me or the tree," Camille told it in a quavering voice. "It’s not like I'm forcing you to be here. Why don't you go on back to whatever you were doing?"
The animal didn't listen. Instead, it charged the tree again with force. Its massive head collided with the trunk, shaking the entire thing. The branch she'd climbed up to cracked just a bit more and Camille screamed.
Any minute now, she'd be sprawled on the ground and gored to death if something wasn't done. But what could she do, the branch above her head was out of reach. The beast backed up and, once again, pawed at the ground. It was going to charge again and this time, she'd probably fall to her death.
The rider stopped and watched what transpired. He didn't move. Instead, he pushed his hat back and cocked his head to the side.
Lucas McKade. Silver City's new deputy and the one man she'd been avoiding now appeared as her savior. Or not, since he sat unmoving, taking in her predicament. Finally, he untied the bandana from around his neck.
"Whoa!" he screamed, waving the cloth to get the bull's attention. The hateful animal barely paid him any mind. Instead, it focused on the tree again.
Her branch creaked and she held her breath and reached for a thin branch overhead and pulled up as hard as she could in an effort to relieve her current perch of some weight. Her hands stung but she held on.
A loud whistle sounded and, t
his time, the bull turned toward the cowboy. Camille held her breath hoping the damn thing would chase after the deputy and forget about her.
The animal pawed the ground and snorted. Lucas waved his arms and turned his nervous horse sideways.
Finally, the bull took a couple steps away from her tree. Then, without warning, charged the rider who spurred his horse to a gallop.
Camille waited as long as she could before attempting to inch down from her precarious position. Each movement, no matter how careful, made the branch splinter from its hold on the trunk.
With a snap, the branch gave way and, once again, she grabbed the thinner one above her head. For a few moments, she hung from her arms and closed her eyes hoping the combination of branches would hold.
But the one she sat on was already cracked and the one she held on to would not hold.
She was much too high to hope for any kind of soft landing. Cursed bull and its temperament. Why didn't its owners make sure it was kept in a corral? Now, she was in danger of breaking her neck because of it.
Squeezing her eyes tight, she prepared for what followed. Her hands burned from the weight as the thin branch began its inevitable breaking.
"If I were you, I'd inch closer to the trunk. The branch is stronger there."
Camille refused to consider how silly she looked hanging from a tree while a man sat atop a horse looking up at her. Instead, she did as he said and moved closer to the tree.
"Now, find a foothold. There's a branch not too far from your right foot," he said next, not seeming in the least perturbed by the fact she could possibly die at any moment.
"I can't see it," she replied with impatience. "Help me down."
He frowned. "Feel around for it. There you go."
"I'm not here to perform for your entertainment. If you come closer I can lower to stand on your horse's rump."
The annoying man studied her for a moment. "Take a hold of the branch by your left hand and lower yourself to the one you're standing on."
There was no other choice than to follow his instructions, so she did as he said and, before long, sat on the steadier branch. She let out a breath and scowled at Lucas. "What now?"
The corner of his lips curved. The infuriating man found the situation comical. "You climbed up there, which means there's a way to climb down. Don't get mad at me because you riled a bull."
Instead of a reply, she studied the tree to figure out how to climb down without the man's help, since it was obvious he'd not help. In truth, she'd been too high to safely lower onto his horse. After several attempts, she found herself lower. Although her arms quivered from the effort, she refused to ask him for any more help.
Camille reached for another branch, her breathing now coming in pants, her arms burning, her fingernails torn.
She lost her foothold and grabbed for some sort of purchase, not ready to land in a heap on the ground in front of the deputy.
Just then, strong arms surrounded her and pulled her against him. "Relax, I have you."
Not able to do more than slump against him, too relieved to think of anything more than how safe she felt at the moment, Camille let out a shaky breath. "You would have let me fall."
The solid chest against her, coupled with his arms around her, became her shelter for the next few moments, as she was too tired and relieved to push away.
"I was here to catch you. You're safe. That's it, breathe." He soft words brought her out of the haze and Camille did as he instructed. "That's it."
Finally, she could muster the strength to straighten. "Thank you. If you'd please help me up, I'll be on my way."
"I'll take you back to town. We'll stop at Doc’s. You need to get those hands looked after."
He helped her onto his horse and lifted to sit behind her. For the next half hour, she reveled in the circle of his arms as they rode to town.
Later, she'd think of how, once again, to keep this man at arm's length and avoid him. The respite from having to do for herself was much too appealing. Later, she'd remind herself that allowing a strong man to take care of her without expecting anything in return was a foreign concept.
No doubt, once she was taken care of, he'd come for his payment. Tears stung at thinking what would have happened if Lucas McKade had not happened to come along. Sadness at the fact no one would miss her or ever look for her if she'd not come back to town.
Being alone was never easy, but times like this, with a man's arms around her, she realized how alone she truly was and would continue to be.
She refused to ponder on the future. Instead, she sagged against him and took what he gave at the moment. Shelter, safety and comfort were the three things that had always come with a price to her. Hopefully, she'd not pay too high a price for what Lucas McKade did at the moment.
She had little left to give, both her heart and soul were too hardened to be taken. No, the only thing she truly had to lose was her life and that, in her opinion, was far better than losing her heart.
The horse's steady trot should have settled Camille. But the fact that Lucas McKade didn't seem to be in any hurry to get to town made each passing moment more unbearable. It had been so long since she'd been this close to a man and her body instantly reacted to the sensations she'd worked so hard to forget. The fact the man was so handsome and virile did little to help the uneasy situation.
Once they arrived at the doctor's place, she'd insist he leave and then find her way home. Other than some scratches, she was fine. Admittedly, her hands stung like crazy and the side of her face throbbed, probably a scratch from a branch.
Lucas shifted, his large body pressed against her back dispelling all thoughts from her mind. "What were you doing out there, anyway?"
"Collecting herbs to make soaps and use for teas and such." It was then she remembered her basket. "I'll have to go back to collect my things."
"If you're referring to the basket, it’s been trampled beyond repair. I doubt anything inside it survived."
His deep voice vibrated from his chest into her back and she let out a breath, careful not to embarrass herself by sighing. It took some effort not to press back into the deputy. "I reckon you'll have to purchase a new one."
"I have another." Camille attempted to lean forward, but it did little good as his arms were around her handling the reins. "There really is no need to take me to Doctor Sutherland's. I am perfectly fine. Just scratched and a bit spooked."
"You haven't seen the gash on the side of your face."
Camille gasped and reached up to touch her temple, but Lucas stopped her by grabbing her hand. "Don't."
"What in the world happened?” Sarah, Doctor Sutherland's daughter, rushed to Camille when they entered the clinic. By the wide-eyed look on her friend's face, the gash must have been bad. Camille allowed Lucas to guide her to sit, mainly because she suddenly felt a bit dizzy.
Before she could speak, Lucas did for her. "A bull chased her up a tree. A branch caught her on the side of the face when she climbed down."
Camille slid him a sharp look. From the sound of his voice, he still found the thought of her up a tree comical. "I didn't provoke the damned thing. It just came after me."
"Of course you didn't," Sarah said and shot Lucas a warning look. "You poor thing, I hope it doesn't leave a scar."
Now, she was more than curious to see the cut. Not waiting for Sarah to stop her, she stumbled across the room to a looking glass. From her temple to the top of her right cheek was sliced open. Dirt and grime coated dried blood were streaked across her face. "Oh, my goodness." She wobbled a bit. "I didn't feel it."
The same could not be said for the next half hour as Sarah cleaned and stitched the wound. Tears slid down the sides of her face and plopped onto the pillow. As much of a brave front as she attempted to keep, a sniffle escaped every so often.
Through it all, Lucas remained holding her hand and reassuring her. Although she drew strength from the man, who was little more than a stranger, she wished he'd
leave and not witness the continuation of a most humiliating day.
Lucas strode from Doctor Sutherland's clinic to the jailhouse. He'd yet to bring the news of what he'd found out during his trek to the next town. The situation with Camille Johnston had distracted him from his work.
Once inside the dim interior, he waited a few moments for his eyes to adjust before looking for Brogan Hage, the sheriff and his friend.
"Hey Lucas, I was beginning to worry about you." Brogan emerged from where the cells were located. He held rags and a bucket. "Damned drunks always manage to get sick once they are settled in." He wrinkled his face in disgust.
"Anyone back there?" Lucas moved past Brogan to look for himself. The cells were empty. "You let Baxter go already?"
"Yep," Brogan replied after putting the articles outside. "His wife came for him. From the looks of it, he's going to suffer more at home than he would have if he'd remained here." Brogan settled behind the desk and pulled open a drawer. "Got a telegram from Casper. They've issued a warrant for the Carver brothers."
While Brogan spoke of the current situation with known outlaws in the area, Lucas couldn't shake the feeling something else was happening. There didn't seem to be a good reason for the men to gather nearby. There was nothing of interest in Silver City, Idaho to attract such a large gang. He studied Brogan and the large Scot scowled. "You're trying to figure it out too aren't you?"
Forbidden Kisses Page 30