Page 128 of Once Upon A Haunted Castle
“How. Dare. You. Stop. Me.” She spat out each word. The men were silent, like reprimanded schoolboys. “I’ll make sure to tell my father how Lord Bryce takes liberties with Glen Kirk property or should I tell him a Ravencroft patrol lost their way in the forest and I needed to provide them with directions?”
Scarlet stains appeared on the leader’s cheek. Laura was aware of the enemy she’d made, but with good cause. The Mitchell men looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
Jamie and his men understood the situation. He pulled up beside her relaxed, touches of humor around his mouth and eyes. His men on either side of them.
The Ravencroft leader looked at Jamie.
“Don’t look to me for help.” Jamie nodded to Laura. “I’m sorry for it, but I can’t offer you any protection. You’ll have to deal with Lady Laura.”
Bryce’s man stared at her baffled.
“Forgive me, Lady Laura. We thought something improper—”
“Improper. How ridiculous.” Laura’s horse reacted to her shout. She took a strong hand and calmed him. “Lord James is my mother’s cousin. Not that I need to give you an explanation. But,” she pretended to be soothed, “I do thank you for your concern for my safety and assure you your assistance is not needed. I can certainly handle one Scot and four of his men.”
Jamie sat his mount, his hand casually on his sword hilt.
“Leave us now. I’ll let my father know what’s happened here and let him decide what to tell Lord Mitchell.”
“Yes, m’lady.” He dipped his head in a quick bow and signaled his men. They wheeled around and made a fast retreat.
Their small company didn’t move. They waited until Mitchell’s men were out of sight and hearing distance.
With speed, they moved across the field to the shore of Bells Burn. Jamie’s man, Sean, and eleven Collins men waited for them on the other side.
Their small caravan didn’t stop. The twelve riders pulled into line, the only acknowledgment, Jamie’s nod. They rode on through the forest for an hour before anyone spoke.
“We’ll rest the horses by the Liddel Water up ahead.” Jamie’s voice boomed in her head after the silence. She and Jamie rode out of the trees onto the narrow plain.
He helped her down from her saddle. She held on to him to steady herself. Several hours in the saddle stiffened her joints. He threaded her arm through his and walked with her.
“Next time we meet a group of soldiers—”
“Please, no lecture. I knew what was at stake. I’m not a child. Those men were ready for a fight whether they knew I was with you or not. I came out fighting and put them in their places.” Her breath came in spurts. His muscles tightened under her hand. She came to a halt and didn’t care that she vexed him. She wasn’t one of those senseless ninnies willing to jump and do as he commanded. She was more than capable of taking care of herself.
“I’m not your enemy. Perhaps you should let me finish my sentence if not my thoughts.” She stopped walking, he pulled her along.
“Mitchell is looking for a reason to come across the border and for a way to extend his holdings. Glen Kirk is in his sights.” Laura pulled her arm away from his. He grabbed it, re-threaded it through his and pulled her along, again.
“You can just as easily be an unfortunate accident. Those men do not care. Once they grasped you were there, I imagine they thought to rescue you from the grips of the likes of me and tell everyone you didn’t know any better. After all, you’re only a girl.”
“I can protect myself. Richard made sure of that.” Laura jerked her hand away from him and wound up her arm ready to let loose.
He easily caught her fist in his hand. He drew her close, capturing her arms at her side.
“Here, here. I only speak the truth and you know it.”
She didn’t struggle. Her heart sank to her toes one minute then rushed to her throat the next. Any time now, it may settle back in her chest. She refused to be another one of his conquests. But the closeness of him. He smelled… of leather and spice, a heady aroma. Her skin warmed where he touched her.
“You’ve been protected at Glen Kirk as you should be for a young girl, but these are dangerous times. For both of us. Don’t argue with me on this. You’re more than capable of taking care of yourself with words, but you still need me in a brawl. If I’m to fight, it will be on my terms, no one else’s.”
“Let me go.” They looked into each other’s eyes. “Please,” she dropped her gaze and added softly.
He dropped his arms and stepped back, a flash of red rushed up his neck.
“I understand.” As if she didn’t know these were dangerous times. Calling out Bryce’s men may have been reckless. Young girl. That galled her. She wasn’t a petulant child having a rant. To keep the words on the tip of her tongue behind her teeth, she bit the side of her mouth and was rewarded with the salty taste of blood. Didn’t he see that she saved them all from a massacre?
“We best get back to the men,” he said. “I’m sure the horses have been watered.”
