Page 26 of Ties of Legacy

The hope in Elliot’s expression flared brighter.

“Thank you,” he said, all his earlier anger and frustration utterly extinguished. “If you can find a way to free me from this tie, I’ll pay you every coin I have. Or I’ll repay the favor! Tell me your greatest desire, and I’ll help you find a way to fulfill it—however difficult or frivolous.”

Avery chuckled, his eagerness making it impossible to be offended by his talk of payment, even though she’d never asked for any.

“I didn’t offer because I want payment.” She stood. “I’m going to bed. I recommend you don’t come near the cart—unless you’d like a horse hoof to the chest.”

Elliot also scrambled up, wincing as his weight transferred to the bottom of his feet.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I only said it because I would be so grateful.”

Avery gave him a stern look. “Merchants take payments very seriously.”

“I’m sorry,” he repeated so meekly that she narrowed her eyes suspiciously at him. Was he laughing at her?

“I promise never to offer you coin again,” he said with a grin that confirmed it.

“Just go to sleep,” Avery grumbled. “We’ll be leaving early in the morning.” She patted Nutmeg’s neck on her way past, calling over the horse. “And don’t come near the cart!”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Elliot called back, and Avery smiled to herself.

Her uncle had recommended she travel with a large guard dog or two, but Nutmeg was as good as any dog. With the horse untethered beside her, her new traveling companion wouldn’t cause her any loss of sleep.

But as she lay in her bedroll, trying fruitlessly to drift off, it wasn’t concern about Elliot that kept her awake. It was concern for him. Had she promised more than she could deliver? She had liked seeing the hope in his eyes, and she didn’t want to see disappointment and betrayal take its place.

Chapter 10

Elliot

Even the throbbing in his feet wasn’t enough to keep Elliot from sleeping. Just thinking about a future where he wasn’t tied to the candelabra was enough to send him straight into slumber.

Except it wasn’t a candelabra anymore. He needed to start thinking of it as a lamp.

He woke to birdsong and morning light. Avery had woken before him, and she must have noted that he was sleeping deeply. He hadn’t moved from his bedroll all night.

She still seemed wary around him, however, and by the time he had gotten in her way for the fifth time, he could guess why. Avery worked smoothly, clearly used to the pack up procedure, and when Elliot tried to help, he only tripped over her efforts.

When he backed away from her only to step on a rock large enough to be felt by his tender feet even through his boot sole, he yelped, and she gave a huff of frustration.

“Just go sit on the cart and rest your feet. It will be easier for me to finish on my own anyway.”

Elliot wanted to protest, but his feet were hurting worse than they had the day before, and he couldn’t deny he was disrupting her rhythm. It still stung, however. He wasn’t new to travel anymore than she was. He had set up and packed down almost as many campsites in his life as she must have done.

He had never traveled with a cart, though, and he had limited experience with horses. He would have liked to ask Avery to teach him how to care for Nutmeg, but he didn’t dare. If he showed interest in the horse, she might suspect him of an ulterior motive. Yet another pitfall of having a guard horse.

The morning was still young when they got back on the road, munching on a cold breakfast as they traveled.

“This reminds me of a morning in Stonyfell,” Avery said, gazing up at the clear blue sky. “The sky was just like this, and I was sure it was the sort of day where nothing could go wrong.” She laughed. “I was seven, mind you. I know better now.”

Elliot narrowed his eyes. He hadn’t started traveling until well after seven, so she had him beaten there—as she must have known.

He kept his tone light, though, despite his disgruntlement. “I’m guessing everything didn’t go to plan?”

Avery laughed again. “Does it ever?”

“Rarely,” Elliot said. “Although it has been known to happen from time to time. Mostly to other people.”

Avery laughed for a third time, and Elliot glanced at her sideways. Maybe he’d been unfair, and she really was in a good mood. Maybe any sense of competition between them was only in his head.

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