Page 33 of Robin and Marian
“That’s your statement?” The sheriff looked disappointed, but vaguely so as he dropped his buddy-buddy veneer and stretched back to his feet, his knees cracking. “Rest easy,” he said in his low, monotonous voice. “I’ll look into this.”
Chapter 9
Robin’s brace was now replaced by a cast covered with olive green bandages. It covered his forearm and ran between his thumb and index finger. The distal radius hairline fracture from before was broken as well as five other bones in his wrist, and he’d eventually need surgery on the torn ligament, but he was a hero.
Watching him defy death to pluck his uncle from its jaws had almost given Marian a heart attack. When they’d both come through it alive, she could’ve kissed Robin just to feel his rough skin beneath her lips and prove that he was really there. It was probably for the best that they had been interrupted by the sheriff. She didn’t need any more complications between them. Already he was the leading man in her thoughts and dreams.
The morning was breezy with a bright sun shining down on the houseguests who had gathered on the plush lawn near the mouth of Sherwood Forest. It was custom for Richard to hide the mayday pole in Sherwood Forest for his children, grandchildren, and friends to find. This played on the tradition where laughing couples used to run through the woods to cut down the perfect tree, but in this case, Richard had already done the honors. He’d decorated the nine-foot pole with ribbons and bright, colored streamers so that it would be relatively easy to find, so she’d been told.
Marian had donned hybrid boot-sandals for the hike and paired them with gray floral pants and a loose, white V-neck. They showed off her latest pedicure, but they might’ve been the wrong choice for riding out into the woods. Her fears prickled to the surface as she watched Guy lead her horse to her. His hair blew freely around his strong jaw as he walked alongside the beautiful chestnut with its flashy black mane. The King protégé might have grown up riding, but she had no idea what she was doing.
Guy laughed at her dour expression as he neared. He made a fine figure in black suede pants and a charcoal gray sweater with a wide collar. “Take her.” He held the reins to Marian, the black hair at the back of his strong forearms brushing against her hands as she took the horse.
As if sensing her incompetence, the mare pawed against the ground. Guy calmed it with a single order, his gaze dark on Marian. He hadn’t been sleeping well. She noticed the heavy circles under his somber eyes and the shadow of a beard. “How is myfriend?” he asked her. “I feel like I haven’t gotten you to myself at all lately.”
She smiled, feeling uneasy. “We spent all yesterday afternoon together.”
His dark brows lifted at her. “I don’t think that’s enough for your article. I’m not sure your editor would take kindly to lazy writing.”
That irritated her. “Oh, I put everything into my writing.”
“Good. I have some time tonight I could spare. We should take advantage of it. I’ll be a very busy man soon.”
With a start, she realized he fully expected to be Richard’s replacement. “What if you don’t inherit the business?”
“You think Robin will?” He laughed with a hurt expression, and his voice thickened. “Scarlett has no head for business. If she hadn’t been so bad at numbers, Robin never would’ve gotten away with what he did for so long.”
Marian jolted at the reminder. Why did she keep forgetting what Robin had done? Maybe because it seemed so out of character.
“I know,” he said, as if sensing he’d gone too far. “It’s unpleasant to talk so frankly. It shouldn’t concern you… except, I won’t allow my cousin to take advantage of anyone on my watch; not you, not anybody.” His voice lowered when he spied his grandfather. Richard strolled past in a powder blue suit with a matching blue tie lodged into a tight collar. He waved at his guests, stopping to make light conversation. Guy’s hungry eyes rested on the old man. “Excuse me,” he told Marian. He abruptly left her side to make pretty with the one who held his future in his grip. “Richard,” he said brightly. “We need to catch up.”
It was almost the same thing that he’d said to her. Marian patted the neck of her horse, still not sure how well she’d handle the mare. It terrified her that she’d eventually have to ride it in search of this elusive maypole.
Robin’s hand joined hers on the mare’s neck, startling her with his sudden appearance. As if unaware of capturing her undivided attention, he smoothed down the mane before turning to her. “How’s my damsel in distress?”
She fought with her smile and when it won, she teased him back. “Looking for my knight in shining armor.” She hadn’t noticed him approach, but she took him in now, appreciating that he cut a rather dashing figure, even with his cast. His white shirt was tucked into low-belted dark jeans. He’d worn short sleeves for once, giving her a good view of his muscular biceps. His oversized watch slid over the tip of that strange ace of spades tattoo he’d gotten in prison. He caught her looking at it and she flushed. Now she’d have to give him some excuse for staring. “You like hepatitis C?”
“Oh, this?” He looked embarrassed. “They call it a rite of passage, but when the heaviest bully in prison is sitting on your arm, you don’t have much of a choice. Guess the other inmates wanted everyone to know that I was a trickster—that’s what it means, you know.”
A sudden burst of wind tugged at her hair as she winced at the cruelty. And yet, had his inmates gotten it right? He had a way of gaining trust then tricking everyone. She’d never sensed he was a criminal, even after his confession. It was what made him so scary.
A dimple showed in his cheek. “Quit feeling sorry for me. I didn’t actually fight them too hard.”
Robin was such a contradiction—a man who would steal the town’s riches, then risk his life for others. Marian had caught whispers of Robin’s latest heroics in hushed voices. It was dawning on everyone that if he’d saved Midge then he could actually have done the same thing for the literacy teacher too.
Richard peered at them through aviators from the 70’s that were accidentally stylish. “Robin!” He left Guy and ambled over to his other grandson to pat him on the shoulder. “You did all right, boy. You saved my Midge. I can’t thank you enough for that.” Pulling off his shades, he revealed red eyes and rubbed at them. He cleared his throat in his attempt to hide that he was choked up. “You think you can ride this morning?”
Robin looked surprised, but his eyes twinkled. Of course he could. He’d been doing it since he could walk. He nodded. “I don’t need my wrist to ride.”
“Good,” Richard said. He turned to the group, pushing his hands deep into his pockets. “Children! Friends! Everyone! I’ve added a little incentive to our game. Whoever brings back the GPS coordinates of my maypole, and unties a ribbon from it to prove that they’ve been there, will be granted all of Sherwood Forest!”
A gasp followed that. It was unbelievable! The one place that Guy didn’t own, and Richard would just give it away? Marian noticed Richard’s eyes go to Robin and she knew who he was rooting for. The others were already doing so well, it was Robin’s turn.
“Also, let’s put a time limit on this thing,” Richard said. He dug into his pocket for his watch and slipped it out to stare at it. “Let’s finish this off before lunch…” He looked over at one of his assistants. “When should we hold lunch?” After a whispered discussion, he raised his voice. “Very good. 2:30. You don’t bring proof that you’ve found it before then, you’re out of luck.”
Midge dashed forward in excitement. “Can I play too?”
“No, not in the least.” Richard pushed his hand fondly through the boy’s curly hair. “You’re staying here with me. I’ve neglected you far too long.”
