Part 8 (2/2)
For years, they would visit and stay at least a month at our castle in England.”
Now there was a p.r.i.c.kling of jealousy inside him. There were years of history between the two of them. He didn't know why that one fact bothered him, but it did. ”No wonder you know her well then.”
”Not as well as I think you mean. Cat has no interest in being tied to any man and she never has.
She values her freedom more than any person I've ever known.”
But the life of a gypsy was no life for a princess. Traveling with no real home and having been alienated from her father must have been hard on her and her mother. He couldn't imagine the hards.h.i.+ps they must have faced.
Bracken cleared his throat. ”I'm surprised you haven't asked me of my lands and t.i.tles.”
Lochlan gave him a sheepish glance. ”I thought it might be a sore spot best left undisturbed.”
”Aye, it is. Can you imagine losing everything in the blink of an eye?”
Lochlan looked over his shoulder at Bryce and Julia. In his opinion, Bracken hadn't lost everything--he still had quite a bit with him. ”Aye, I can. I've lost one of my brothers.”
Bracken crossed himself. ”Then you know what I mean. My deepest condolences.”
”And mine to you as well for your father.”
Bracken inclined his head to him in mutual respect before he let his horse drift behind so that he could ride abreast of his siblings. Lochlan looked down at Catarina, who had one hand tucked none too comfortably against his groin while the other rested in her own lap. Her perfect lips were parted and if they'd been alone, he wasn't too sure he wouldn't have sampled them.
But with the others nearby...It would only be a fantasy of his. Dear G.o.d, she was beautiful in his arms....
They rode in silence for the rest of the night. It wasn't until daybreak that they found themselves approaching a small farm.
Bracken came abreast of his horse again. ”Have you any more coin?”
”Aye.”
”Then let us see if the farmer would mind putting us up in his barn for a bit. What say you?”
Lochlan had to stifle a yawn. ”I couldn't agree more. Sleep would be most welcome at this point.”
He handed Bracken a few coins.
Bracken rode ahead while they stayed back so as not to frighten the farmer or his family.
Generally the sight of so many n.o.bles at a French peasant's home boded ill and they were ever on their guard against foul play.
After a few minutes, Bracken returned with a leg of salted lamb, a jug of mead, and two loaves of bread. ”We can sleep in the barn so long as we don't disturb their animals.”
Lochlan snorted. ”I don't plan to disturb anything more than the hay as I lay myself upon it.”
”I hear you.” Bracken pa.s.sed the meat and bread to his siblings.
Julia paused as she started to tear a piece. She held the loaf out toward him. ”Would you like a bit to eat, Lord Lochlan?”
”Just call me Lochlan, my lady, and I'll pa.s.s. You eat your fill.”
He saw the grat.i.tude in her eyes before she tore her loaf in half and gave it back to Bracken.
Lochlan watched as Bracken walked away from them to eat it, but he didn't miss the way the man tore into the bread like a starving beggar. He ate it so quickly that Lochlan was amazed he didn't chew his own fingers in the process.
Sympathy for them welled up inside him. No one deserved the misery that had been dealt to them. They appeared to be decent enough people. All they needed was a chance.
”You know, Bracken,” he said as he joined him, ”I can always use another trained knight in my company.”
Bracken scoffed as he remounted his horse and led them toward the barn. ”I have no sword or armor. I only have a horse because I stole mine back from the king's own company. What good would I be to you?”
”Retaking what belongs to you is no crime in my book. The offer stands. Armor and swords can be bought.”
Suspicion clouded Bracken's eyes. ”Why would you do such a thing?”
Lochlan met his gaze levelly as he struggled to keep the pain out of his voice and eyes.
”Because no son should be held accountable for the actions of his father. Nor should he be judged by them.”
Bracken gave him a hard stare and Lochlan was sure the man understood that he was talking about his own father as well as Bracken's. ”What of my siblings?”
”You'll need a squire. Bryce appears to be of age for such and my mother would be most delighted to have a young lady to train and dote upon.”
Bracken glanced to Julia and the love and relief in his eyes was almost tangible. It was obvious he'd been more than concerned about her welfare on the road. Even so, he wasn't about to subject them to complete charity. ”We will pay our way.”
”Of that I have no doubt.”
Bracken held his arm out to him. ”Then I'm your man.”
Keeping Catarina cradled against him, Lochlan shook his arm and nodded. ”Welcome to the MacAllister clan.”
Tears glistened in Julia's eyes. ”We have a home again? Truly?”
”Aye, love,” Bracken said, his voice breaking. ”It appears we do.”
She let out a squeal before she ran to Bryce and hugged him. ”Did you hear that, brother? We have a home!”
”I heard until you screamed in my ear. Now I fear I shall never hear again.”
She shoved playfully at him. ”Oh shush, Lord Grump. You're just as excited as I am and you know it.”
A small smile from the moody adolescent confirmed it before he mumbled under his breath and walked away.
Bracken held Lochlan's horse while he slid to the ground with Catarina in his arms. She didn't even stir. ”I swear this woman could sleep through most anything.”
”Aye. She'd be the perfect mate for a man who snores.”
<script>