Part 27 (1/2)
He strode out of the chamber without replying, fury twisting his stomach. It was madness to be angry with her, but he couldn't help it. He had this crazy fantasy that she'd have been grateful for what he'd done. He'd imagined her throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him. For what? Killing a man, even if the man had murdered her sister?
Outside, Sea Storm awaited them. They had ridden the horse to the ring that morning, and Namir had graciously volunteered to care for him during the games.
The slender slave smiled, his eyes gleaming, when he saw Lock.
I bet he'd have been appreciative, Lock thought. Too bad he ain't Sparrow.
”You won!” Namir said. ”I knew you would.”
”Yeah,” Lock muttered, his voice tinged with sarcasm. His ribs smarted, arms and scalp stung, and the rest of him felt like one big ache. ”I won.”
”Thank you, Namir.” Sparrow took Sea-Storm's reins and mounted.
”I'll look forward to your next visit to the city,” Namir said to the couple, though his gaze remained fixed on Lock.
Lock mounted behind Sparrow and they turned towards home.
Chapter Nineteen.
By the time they reached the farm several hours later, Lock's ribs hurt so much he could scarcely wait to dismount and fall into bed. When Sea-Storm moved any faster than a walk, every strike of his hooves on dirt jarred Lock to the bone. His head hurt from the repeated slamming against the wall as well as the missing chunk of his scalp. And worst of all, during the entire ride, Sparrow had said no more than five words.
They stopped in front of the house, and Sparrow dismounted first, Lock moving slowly, careful not to show any sign of discomfort.
”I'll see to the horse.” Sparrow glanced at him. ”You look awful.”
”I feel great.” He flung her a mocking smile and stepped into the house while she walked Sea-Storm to the barn.
”By the G.o.ddess, what happened?” Shea-Ann's brow furrowed as Lock entered the house. She left the table where she'd been preparing herbs and approached him. ”Where's Sparrow? Were you attacked?”
”Sparrow's fine. We weren't attacked, and it's a long story.”
”I want to hear everything. Come sit down. What's wrong with your side?”
”Broken ribs.”
”You rode all the way from the city with broken ribs? Are you crazy?”
Lock lowered himself to the bed, resting his head against the pillow and closing his eyes. ”Don't you start shouting at me, too. Sparrow's done enough of that to last me the next ten years.”
”Did you win your freedom?”
”If I tell you will you spare me the reprimand?”
Shea-Ann approached with salve for his cuts. ”I can't make any promises, but you better start talking, yak.”
Lock wasn't sure why, but he was actually grateful to tell someone his side of the story-even if that someone was Shea-Ann.
By the time he finished speaking, Shea-Ann had applied the salve as well as checked his ribs. She stood beside the bed, her hands folded beneath her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and said, ”Just like a man.”
”What's that supposed to mean?”
”You thought by killing Miska-and I'm glad you did, the brutal b.a.s.t.a.r.d-it would please Sparrow. You thought she wanted revenge more than she wanted you.”
”It seemed that way. If I'd been in her place-”
”You'd like to see Sparrow risk her life?”
”That's different.”
”No, it's not.” Shea-Ann placed a hand on his knee. ”Lock, a woman prefers a live lover over a dead enemy.”
”I wish...”
”What?”
He shook his head, closing his eyes. ”Doesn't matter.”
No matter what he thought or what he wanted, Sparrow was still furious. At that moment, he was too tired to care.
After Sparrow settled Sea-Storm in the barn, she hauled a bucket of water from the well and headed for the house. Shea-Ann met her halfway.
”Good. I was going to get some water,” the old nanny said. ”Are you all right? Lock told me everything.”
”I don't know what I feel,” Sparrow murmured. ”I thought he was going to ask for his freedom. I thought he wanted to marry me, that he loved me.”
Shea-Ann placed her hands on her hips. ”You don't honestly expect me to believe that you don't think he loves you?”
”I don't understand him.”
”He wanted to kill that b.a.s.t.a.r.d because he loves you. Yes, he made a stupid decision. Yes, he was trying to flaunt his masculinity, but underneath it all, he did it for you.”
”I know. Shea-Ann, when he fought, if anything had happened to him, I don't know what I'd have done.”
”You should have made him stay in the city at least another day. The ride home with those broken ribs wasn't a good idea. He could have pierced a lung.”
”Broken ribs?” Sparrow's eyes widened. ”He didn't say anything about broken ribs.”
”Broken ribs, half his scalp torn out, all those gashes.” Shea-Ann shook her head. ”Such stupidity, and all for a woman who doesn't care in the first place.”
”Of course I care! If I didn't care, I wouldn't be so angry!”
”Life is so strange,” Shea-Ann observed. ”When he first came here, I remember you trying to offer him comfort he refused. Now he looks to me like a man in need of a gentle touch and you're in no mind to give it. Oh well. I always said a pirate doesn't deserve kindness.”
Shea-Ann walked toward the barn. Sparrow glanced over her shoulder at her friend. She knew what Shea-Ann was trying to do, and it worked. She was right. Though Lock hadn't expressed his love for her in the manner she'd expected, he loved her nonetheless.