A Warrior's Promise by Donna Fletcher

sure.”
    â€œDon’t argue with me,” he said.
    â€œI will when it is a foolish thing you argue
over.”
    â€œYou are just as obstinate as the lad.”
    â€œYou expected me to be different?” She laughed. “I
am who I am.”
    Bryce grumbled beneath his breath before he turned
and walked toward the campfire, and Charlotte was almost certain she had seen
him smile.
    She did, however, have no trouble hearing him say,
“Take a knife to your hair, and it will be my hand you feel on your bare
bottom.”
    â€œNot likely,” she snapped back, which stopped him
dead.
    He turned and glared at her.
    â€œYou’ll not be intimidating me with that look,” she
said, and gave a defiant toss of her chin. “I’m not afraid of you.”
    He walked over to her, but she stood her ground.
His size alone could intimidate; add to that a knotted brow and piercing dark
eyes, and there wouldn’t be many who wouldn’t scurry away in fear.
    She wasn’t one of them. She had gotten to know him
over the last few days, and she knew that he would not hurt her. Threaten and
bluster, yes, but never would the mighty Highlander do her harm.
    He stopped right in front of her; another step, and
their bodies would be touching. He peered down at her. “You might want to
reconsider that.”
    Charlotte shook her head. “No, I won’t be changing
my mind. I’m not afraid of you.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI know you won’t hurt me.”
    â€œYou’re so sure?”
    â€œThat I am,” she said.
    He grabbed her so fast beneath the arms and swung
her up to dangle in front of his face that she got dizzy. Pain followed, her
head having snapped from the unexpected jolt, shooting a stabbing pain along her
bruise from jaw to cheek.
    It was intense, and she tried to fight against it
though doubted she would have any luck.
    â€œCharlotte,” Bryce said anxiously. “What’s
wrong?”
    â€œI think—” was all she got out before everything
turned dark and her body went limp.
    B ryce
cradled her wilted body in his arms and cursed himself for his foolish actions.
He should have never grabbed her the way he had. She had been through enough,
suffered enough, and here he was adding to her burden.
    Once again, like last evening, he went to the
stream and dipped his hand in the cool water, then sprinkled some on her pale
face, carefully avoiding the bruise that had darkened considerably overnight.
When she didn’t immediately respond, he silently cursed his stupidity once
again. It had disturbed him when he had seen the way she had sadly fingered her
hair. He could just imagine how glorious the three distinct shades had looked
when long and tumbling in waves down her back.
    He hadn’t wanted her to suffer the indignation of
chopping it short once again. Besides, he wanted to see her hair long, feel the
silky strands for himself and . . .
    He shook his head, letting his foolish musings
wander off. He had no cause to be thinking such thoughts. Charlotte and he were
on a mission together, and nothing else mattered but that.
    With Charlotte tucked safely in his arms, he
returned to the campfire, where he had fish cooking. He continued to cradle her
in his arms as he settled them near the fire. She roused not long after.
    â€œSomething smells good,” she said as soon as her
eyes fully opened.
    Bryce laughed. “Only you would think about food
instead of asking what happened.”
    â€œI know what happened,” she said. “I fainted yet
again.” She shook her head. “I only faint around you.”
    â€œI have that effect on you, do I?”
    Charlotte chuckled softly. “It would seem that
way.”
    â€œAre you all right?” Bryce asked with concern.
    â€œI am,” she said. “It was the jolt that set my
bruise to paining.”
    â€œI am sorry,” he apologized, feeling terrible for
being