Part 10 (2/2)
Lochlan exchanged a suspicious look with Bracken. The man was right, the horse needed a good meal in its belly, but other than that, it appeared stout. ”What do you think?”
Bracken shrugged. ”Beggars can't be choosers.”
That was true enough. Lochlan pulled his purse out to pay the man. As he took the reins of his new acquisition, he noticed Bracken stepping back into the shadows as horses approached.
The vendor cast a furtive look to the n.o.bleman who was riding toward them. He was a stout fellow who was at least five and twoscore years in age. It was obvious from the vendor's reaction that he'd had a run-in or two with the man and didn't care for him.
”Good day, my lord,” the vendor greeted, but the n.o.bleman merely sneered at the vendor and continued on his way.
”Thank G.o.d he didn't stop,” the old woman said under her breath. ”He took all our profits last week for taxes, he said. But I notice he's wearing new boots and a fur tunic while we're eating rotten cabbage.”
Lochlan didn't move until after the man and his escorts had ridden past without so much as glancing in their direction. As soon as he was gone, Bracken took the horse and started back toward the others.
”A friend?” Lochlan asked.
”More like...a well-deserved customer.”
Lochlan grinned. ”Last week's supper?”
”Two nights back, actually. Recent enough that I'm quite sure he remembers my face.”
”Am I asking for trouble by taking you to Rouen?”
”Most likely.”
Lochlan shook his head. Prudence would dictate he leave Bracken and his family to their own means, but he wasn't that type of man. Bracken needed his life back and that would never happen should the man be hanged for crimes he was forced to commit.
”We'd best keep to the woods.”
”I couldn't agree more. You never know when more of my clients might be lurking to snare me.”
There was no mistaking the gleeful light in his eyes.
”You're enjoying this way too much.”
”While bitterness can take the joy out of many things, it will also give you a sense of facetious humor. Since it's the source of most amus.e.m.e.nt these days, I tend to savor these moments.”
Lochlan supposed he couldn't blame him. He'd always been one to take humor wherever he could find it himself and he noticed that Bracken handed Lochlan's small purse of coins to the vendor.
Once they were finished, they found the women and Bryce sitting on the ground, playing a game of dice, waiting for them. Lochlan paused at the sight. He couldn't imagine a lady, never mind a princess, so comfortable with herself that she would deign to sit on the ground to play a common game. Yet there they were and they appeared as happy as they could be.
Bracken gave Catarina a slight bow. ”Your mount awaits you, my lady.”
Catarina smiled as she pushed herself up to inspect the horse. ”And a fine mount he is.” She patted the horse's head before rubbing its neck. The beast seemed completely content to be the source of her affection. Not that Lochlan blamed the horse. He'd love to have that particular woman stroke him a bit, too.
Lochlan pulled the feed sack from his saddlebags. ”We should probably let him eat a bit before we start.”
Bracken agreed. ”Aye, he won't be doing us any good if he collapses from hunger.”
”And it most certainly would ruin my day as well,” Catarina said playfully. ”I've no desire to kill a poor, defenseless animal, especially not one so beautiful.”
The horse preened as if it understood her.
Once it had eaten, they mounted and returned to their journey. Lochlan didn't say much as Bryce and Julia teased one another and Catarina, who took their words in stride.
Their comradery made him miss his own brothers greatly. He hadn't realized just how lonely he'd been on this trip until now. He'd spent weeks conversing with no one. Only himself for company--not that he'd minded, but this was infinitely better than talking to his horse.
”So tell us about Scotland, Lord Lochlan,” Julia said, pulling his thoughts to her. ”I've heard 'tis a wild place where the men barely dress as humans.”
Catarina laughed. ”Obviously the men dress as human. Look at Lochlan. He's not...well too strange.”
He smiled. ”Compared to what? From what I've seen of the likes of you, we Scots are the best dressed and mannered of the bunch.” He looked to Julia. ”It's G.o.d's country, la.s.s. You've never seen anything more beautiful. The hills and mountains rise up like the backs of giants reaching toward the clearest skies you'll ever see.”
”I can't wait to see it.”
Catarina gave a low laugh. ”You know I can almost taste the heather when you talk about Scotland.”
”I wouldn't advise tasting it though,” Lochlan teased. ”Your luck, you'd be poisoned by it.”
”Good point.”
They traveled through the day and didn't stop until dusk. Lochlan went hunting for food while the others made camp for the night. It didn't take long to find two hares. He strung them up and made his way back.
As he neared the stream by their camp so that he could wash up, he heard Catarina say his name.
”Lochlan is a bit stern.”
He knew he shouldn't be eavesdropping, but at the same time, the women shouldn't have been discussing him either. Deciding that two wrongs might make a right, he crept closer to see the two women at the edge of the water, was.h.i.+ng their faces.
”He seems very withdrawn,” Julia said. ”Like there's something inside him that's hurting.”
”He's worried over his missing brother and family, I think.”
”Perhaps, but I heard stories about his father. They say the MacAllister was insane. Do you think he might have pa.s.sed that on to his son?”
”Nay.” The sincerity in Catarina's face touched him. ”Lochlan's a good man. Look at how he offered all of you a home.”
”I know. 'Twas more than fair and decent of him. It's just...” Her voice trailed off.
”What?”
Julia swallowed before she continued. ”I heard that when the MacAllister was in England at court, they found a girl, ten-and-eight--my age, who'd been raped and beaten to death. The last person who'd seen her said that she'd been going to meet the MacAllister for a tryst. There were many who said he'd killed her during it.”
”But they didn't arrest him?”
”Nay they did not. Still...what if he had? Do you think Lord Loch--”
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