Page 35 of The Very Virile Viking

"I said that I took a vow, m'lady. I did not say that my man part fell off." He gave her a haughty stare, then turned the tables on her. "How about you? Why is there no husband?"

"There was, but we got divorced seven years ago."

"Did you divorce him?" He was probably envisioning his own ignominious public divorce.

She nodded. "The Creep was cheating on me… a lot. Couldn't keep his pants on for the life of him."

"The creep?"

"Creep, jerk, whatever word you want to use to describe a most detestable fellow."

"Aaah," he said. "We call such a man a nithing in my country. A man of no honor."

"Sounds good to me."

"I mislike divorce very much, but I must admit to being pleased that you are unencumbered. It makes things so much easier for us."

"Us? Us ?" Angela was spared an explanation of that outrageous statement by the shrill blast of the

lifeguard's whistle. Before she could locate the source of the problem, Magnus was already on his feet and running toward the water. He dove under a large wave, then began swimming steadily after he emerged on the other side. Two lifeguards with yellow bullet-shaped buoys slung over their shoulders were following in his wake. In the distance—the far distance—she could see Hamr and Njal, sitting big as you please on their boogie boards. They didn't appear to be in distress, but there were rules on this beach that limited how far out swimmers could go. The boys had exceeded that distance, by a lot.

Soon they all returned safe and sound to shore, where the two lifeguards were now talking and gesticulating wildly to Magnus and his sons. Magnus was nodding his agreement with whatever they were saying, while Hamr and Njal hung their heads. Torolf and the rest of the children walked up to join the group. Angela stayed on the blanket with Lida.

Finally Magnus returned to the blanket, towing Hamr and Njal behind him. "Sit," he ordered, "and do not move."

She saw equal parts anger and concern on his handsome face. It must be hard being a parent, she thought, balancing discipline with love.

He turned to her then and said, "I think we have had enough beach playing for one day. Shall we go back to your keep?"

She nodded.

"Mayhap we could stop at that Scotsman's place on the way… to break our fast."

"Scotsman's?"

"McDonald's. I saw a picture of his food on the tell-a-vision. Methinks we could all do with a few Big Macs and Frankish fries."

"I found a piece of driftwood. Can I bring it back with me to carve?" Storvald was holding a hunk of wood the size of a small telephone pole.

"If Stor is bringing wood, then I'm bringing my crabs," Jogeir said. He was holding a plastic bucket loaded with sand crabs.

"I want some dome-nose," Kolbein said softly.

"Njal pissed in the ocean," Dagny informed everyone, as if anyone needed to know that.

"I saw your teeny, tiny tits when a wave pulled your bathing suit down. So, hah!" Njal countered, sticking out his tongue for good measure.

"Njal, you are still in trouble, you know. I would not push too far," Magnus told his son.

"Kirsten has a suitor. He kept splashing her, and she kept giggling. Just like this. Tee, hee, hee, hee. His name is George, and, whooee, does he have pimples!" Hamr piped up.

Kirsten smacked her brother on the shoulder and started to sob with embarrassment.

Truly, the little imp had a death wish, if his father's growl was any indication.

All his brothers and Dagny glared at Hamr, and the rascal asked with exaggerated innocence, "What?

What did I do? I was only telling the truth."