Chapter Nine
Bouncy Carriages Make for Lousy Road Trips
“It’s official. We’ve run out of cookies.”
“You’re breaking my heart with those words, Ev.” Callum slid from the saddle of his horse and groaned. Whined, really. “The thought of them is what’s kept me going for the past several miles.”
Duke faced in the opposite direction and tried to, ever so subtly, dust crumbs from the corner of his lips. “Such a shame.”
Callum glared at him. “You ate the last one.”
“Can ya prove it?”
“The proof is on that big mouth of yours. You’re smiling at my pain.”
I rifled around in the sack and handed both of them an apple and a turkey-and-tomato sandwich. “Maybe now you know how Maddox feels when you eat the last muffin.”
My cinnamon roll grinned at that.
Food supplies were dwindling. And by dwindling, I meant they’d be totally wiped out after this meal break. I’d have to restock once we reached our next stop. Until then, I handed out the last of the fruit and sandwiches to the coachman, whose name was Hershel, and the three guards. I’d learned that the third one was named Ban. He still hadn’t said a word to me.
“The bread better not be stale,” August said, snatching the sandwich from my hand. He tore into it and glared before walking over to the stream we’d stopped beside.
Such a charmer. Truly.
Ban grunted as he accepted his food. The stone-faced guard had a buzz cut, gray eyes, and the build of a small mountain. How they found armor to fit his mega-broad shoulders was impressive.
“He says thank you,” Finnian told me. He was the oldest of the guards. Early forties, maybe.
“You understood that?” I asked.
Finnian smiled. “Ban is a man of few words. Has been for as long as I’ve known ’em. I’ve learned to interpret his grunts.”
“Oh.” I looked at Ban. “You’re welcome.”
Another grunt.
I withdrew the last carrot from the bag and approached Samson. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, Seabiscuit.” I broke off a piece and placed it on my flattened palm, offering it to him. His soft muzzle bumped me before he accepted. “I’m afraid this is all for now, but I’ll get you more later.”
After petting him for a few minutes, I lied and said I had to pee before dashing toward the woods to give Lake the remaining food: three slivers of meat.
“Gratitude,” Lake said before cupping my face. “You’ll eat as well?”
“Mhm.” Not a lie. Iwouldeat. Just not anytime soon.
We shared a short kiss before I returned to the group of men by the stream. I sipped from a flask of water and scanned the thick foliage and trees, sensing Lake’s attention on me. Our connection was so damn strong. His soul had imprinted on mine, binding us together as fated mates. My belly did somersaults at the thought.
A loud growl filled the air, and I rested a hand on my somersaulting belly. Guess it wasn’t just happy little flutters about Lake that had it stirring.
“Wait.” Callum stopped chewing. “Where’s your food?”
“I’m not hungry,” I said, closing the flap on the bag so he wouldn’t catch on. There’d only been enough food for them. If I’d eaten, one of them would’ve gone without. No one went hungry if I could help it.
“But you haven’t eaten since breakfast.” He frowned and snatched the bag from me, looking inside. “It’s empty. Why didn’t you say anything?”
I shrugged. “I’ll eat when we reach the next town. No biggie.”
Though nearly imperceptible, I caught a flash of silver from the woods. No doubt I’d get a grilling from Lake about this later.
