relief, he guided the horse out of the darkened woods and onto the main road where the light of the moon and stars lit their path. Blane once more increased their pace. Her bottom bounced painfully against the horse, and her already protesting muscles screeched. Fear of those who followed won out and she squeezed her arms around Blane’s middle, and pressed her face to his broad, warm back—so much different from Liam’s. Her heart surged as she watched one of Blane’s men gather Frosty up onto his mount. She laughed a little at the sight of the enormous dog draped over the knight’s lap, nearly dwarfing the man.
“There are only a few types of people who travel before the light of dawn ,” he called to her, the wind making his voice sound as though it were far away. “Those who might have an emergency. Those who run. And those who give chase. The whistle from my man meant it was a group of the latter, which makes us the runners.”
Once again.
How did Arbella ever make it to Scotland and to her husband unscathed? Well, she supposed her sister had been in the midst of a battle. Dear God, Aliah didn’t want to be in a battle!
They raced at a grueling pace until dawn breached the darkness with purplish pink light on the horizon and then the sun became blinding . The horses were covered in thick lather, and foam formed at their mouths.
“We will stop now,” Blane said, his voice a low rumble that tickled her cheek resting against his back.
A short whistle had her jerking her head around to see who’d issued it.
“Why is Liam whistling?” she asked.
“He must have found a place for us to rest.” Blane urged his horse along a thin path off the main road, leading over a field of abandoned crops.
The path was made of worn down vegetation by horses or feet, and Aliah wondered when the last person had crossed over it. She peeked around his side to see they were headed toward a cottage.
“Is it safe to stay with someone?” she asked, worry lacing her tone.
“Looks abandoned,” he answered.
That would explain the untamed crops and gardens. The thatched roof was caving in the middle and the entire place looked sad and forlorn. But that didn’t mean it was abandoned. Perhaps the inhabitants were too ill to tend the fields or too old. Or perhaps they’d been called away somewhere and would return soon.
“Sir Blane,” she said quietly. “I don’t know…”
“I will keep you safe from harm.”
But could she keep him safe from herself?
They came to stop in front of the cottage, several of his men were already inside. One of those tending the horses offered her a hand down but Blane shook his head, taking her down himself. She didn’t even bother to think on what that could mean. The knight smirked, then took Gunnar to join the other horses in a small roofed, wall-less shed , with several posts and hooks. Mayhap the previous home of the farmer ’ s own mount or mule.
“Come inside,” Blane said, holding her elbow.
They entered into a small main room with a dirt-packed floor , another room fanned off to the side and a ladder le d up to a loft straight ahead. ’Twas quaint and cozy.
The main room was furnished with a table and several stools and even a cauldron sat in the hearth. A taller table held a few bowls and spoons. Cobwebs laced the ceiling and every nook and cranny—including the stools and handle of the cauldron. The cottage was truly abandoned. What had happened to the inhabitants to make them up and leave all their possessions behind ?
Blane climbed the ladder , peeking into the loft. “There’s a mattress up here, my lady. Seems fairly clean, if not a bit dusty. You shall sleep comfortably.”
The thought of sleeping on a mattress excited her. Although she’d not been traveling long, the way her muscles ached, she was sure if she spent another day of rest on the ground, she wouldn’t be able to move.
Frosty sidled up beside her, rubbing his ribs over her legs. She bent down
“There are only a few types of people who travel before the light of dawn ,” he called to her, the wind making his voice sound as though it were far away. “Those who might have an emergency. Those who run. And those who give chase. The whistle from my man meant it was a group of the latter, which makes us the runners.”
Once again.
How did Arbella ever make it to Scotland and to her husband unscathed? Well, she supposed her sister had been in the midst of a battle. Dear God, Aliah didn’t want to be in a battle!
They raced at a grueling pace until dawn breached the darkness with purplish pink light on the horizon and then the sun became blinding . The horses were covered in thick lather, and foam formed at their mouths.
“We will stop now,” Blane said, his voice a low rumble that tickled her cheek resting against his back.
A short whistle had her jerking her head around to see who’d issued it.
“Why is Liam whistling?” she asked.
“He must have found a place for us to rest.” Blane urged his horse along a thin path off the main road, leading over a field of abandoned crops.
The path was made of worn down vegetation by horses or feet, and Aliah wondered when the last person had crossed over it. She peeked around his side to see they were headed toward a cottage.
“Is it safe to stay with someone?” she asked, worry lacing her tone.
“Looks abandoned,” he answered.
That would explain the untamed crops and gardens. The thatched roof was caving in the middle and the entire place looked sad and forlorn. But that didn’t mean it was abandoned. Perhaps the inhabitants were too ill to tend the fields or too old. Or perhaps they’d been called away somewhere and would return soon.
“Sir Blane,” she said quietly. “I don’t know…”
“I will keep you safe from harm.”
But could she keep him safe from herself?
They came to stop in front of the cottage, several of his men were already inside. One of those tending the horses offered her a hand down but Blane shook his head, taking her down himself. She didn’t even bother to think on what that could mean. The knight smirked, then took Gunnar to join the other horses in a small roofed, wall-less shed , with several posts and hooks. Mayhap the previous home of the farmer ’ s own mount or mule.
“Come inside,” Blane said, holding her elbow.
They entered into a small main room with a dirt-packed floor , another room fanned off to the side and a ladder le d up to a loft straight ahead. ’Twas quaint and cozy.
The main room was furnished with a table and several stools and even a cauldron sat in the hearth. A taller table held a few bowls and spoons. Cobwebs laced the ceiling and every nook and cranny—including the stools and handle of the cauldron. The cottage was truly abandoned. What had happened to the inhabitants to make them up and leave all their possessions behind ?
Blane climbed the ladder , peeking into the loft. “There’s a mattress up here, my lady. Seems fairly clean, if not a bit dusty. You shall sleep comfortably.”
The thought of sleeping on a mattress excited her. Although she’d not been traveling long, the way her muscles ached, she was sure if she spent another day of rest on the ground, she wouldn’t be able to move.
Frosty sidled up beside her, rubbing his ribs over her legs. She bent down
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