“No,” he said gently. “You will be your own man and a fine one at that.”
He rode off, leaving Hope to stare after him. He forever encouraged the lad and saw to it that he was looked after. He never once ridiculed or abused him. She felt a pang of regret for being deceitful, and yet she felt as if her adventure truly began when she met up with Colin and his men. She had grown to be part of them, and she sensed the men had grown to like the lad.
It was a strange situation, to be sure, but one she did not wish to change. She looked forward to her continued adventures and learning more about Colin. He was so much more than just his charming smile.
Stuart interrupted her musings. “Time to ride, lad.”
He hoisted her up onto his horse as though she weighed no more than a feather, but then Stuart was a large man. She recalled the ease with which he handled his sword and the way he ploughed through his opponents in battle. He was a man of might and yet at times he appeared a gentle soul. And he, like Colin, felt protective of the lad.
“I think the sky is fighting off the rain,” Stuart said with a nod toward the heavens.
He was right. The gray storm clouds appeared to be drifting off, and though the sky lacked its usual intense blue color, it was clear.
Hope cast a look at her surroundings. The land lay drenched from the rain. Raindrops glistened on blades of grass, dripped from tree branches and kissed the blossoming buds of spring. The horses plodded along the mud-soaked road and the men began to discard their wet garments.
She had always thought the land beautiful after a rainstorm, but none so beautiful as today. Today she had the chance to view the countryside as a lad free of responsibility or burdens. A lad who had all the promises of all the tomorrows in front of him. A lad who could make his own choices and a lad who could find his own love.
Harold was fortunate, Hope was not. She could almost feel the weight of her responsibilities descend on her and too soon it would be necessary for her to shoulder them. She had no other choice. She could not disappoint her aunt and uncle. They had been too good to her.
“Something troubling you, lad?” Stuart asked, interrupting her thoughts.
She spoke the truth. “I was thinking of my family.”
“It is not easy being on your own, but take heart, lad, you have us now. And you will find many more at Shanekill Keep who you will call family.”
Hope smiled her appreciation. Stuart was a good man and Shanekill Keep sounded like a good place to call home. Unfortunately Hope realized she could not linger there for long. She could not take the chance of anyone discovering her identity, and she could not risk hurting or disappointing those she now called friends.
If the men discovered that Harold, the lad they had grown to admire and respect, was actually Hope, the spoiled woman for whom they searched, they would feel she had made a fool of them. They would no longer call her friend.
The thought upset her and made her decision all the more necessary. She would remain at the keep for a week or two but no more.
One day Harold would simply slip away from the keep and return to Croom Abbey. Once there, she would send a message to her uncle that she was ready to return home.
Harold would be no more and her adventure would live forever in her memories.
Her glance drifted to Colin who rode slowly toward her, and he smiled with the charm of the rogue that he was. Tears stung her eyes and she felt a tug at her heart.
She would miss him. Much too much.
The thought disturbed her and made her wonder about her feelings for Colin.
And made her think twice about remaining for any length of time at Shanekill Keep.
Chapter Nine
Hope rose as dawn was breaking. The men lay sleeping except for John who stood watch, his eyes closing and his head nodding every now and again. She made a point of walking past him, Lady by her side.
He did not stop her, assuming the lad was going to relieve himself. In reality, Hope needed some time to herself. She had slept little the previous night, her active thoughts keeping her from a restful slumber.
In the predawn light, she made her way to the nearby stream. While Lady drank the cold refreshing water, Hope splashed a handful in her face. The cold water sent a chill through her and she shivered.
A heavy sigh followed, along with a shake of her head.
She did not know what to do. Part of her wanted so badly to remain at Shanekill Keep and continue her adventure, but another part warned her to return home. Perhaps she should remain and learn more about Colin; though if she was truthful with herself she would admit that the reason she wanted to remain was to learn of her own feelings for Colin.
She sighed again, knowing what the wisest decision would be, and knowing it was the hardest decision of all to make.
“Thinking of running away?”
Hope fell back on her bottom, so startled was she by Colin’s voice.
He did not wait for an answer. He walked to the stream, went down on bended knees and scooped up a handful of water to splash in his face and then another handful to drink. He wiped the excess water off his face with his hand and then stood and walked over to sit beside her.
“What troubles you, lad?”
At that very moment she wished she could confide in him and tell him all. She wanted him to know who she was, why she had run away and all about her dreams and hopes for the future. She felt he would understand; if anyone could, it would be him.
But she maintained her facade as she knew she must and spoke to him as a young lost lad. “I do not know if I should go to Shanekill Keep.”
“I thought you were reluctant. Can you tell me why?”
He spoke so gently with the lad and made no demands on him. Would he be the same with the woman he loved?
How to speak the truth and not give her secret away? She chose her words wisely. “I fear I will disappoint many.
“Nay, lad, these are foolish thoughts.”
She remained silent, knowing her thoughts were far from foolish.
“Give yourself and the keep a chance.”
She reminded him of his own words. “You tell me I must remain at the keep, that I no longer have my freedom.”
“In all honesty, lad, I cannot allow you to go off on your own when I know you cannot adequately protect yourself.”
“But is that not my decision to make?”
“You are young and headstrong and think yourself capable of defending yourself.”
She shook her head. “I am no fool. I know my skills and physical strength are limited.”
“Then why would you wish to be on your own?” He sounded agitated that he should have to ask.
Hope lowered her head along with her voice. “I know not where I belong.”
Colin placed a firm hand on the lad’s knee. “Then allow yourself time to find out.”
His hand was so warm and the strength of him palpable. At that moment she thought of him as a virile man and her body reacted, sending a sensual shiver racing through her. She disguised it with a strong hug of her arms around her shoulders.
“Chilled?” he asked, and without waiting for a response he placed his potent hands on her arms and rubbed vigorously.
She closed her eyes, not wanting to look into his dark eyes that promised endless pleasure or see his handsome face that could charm with a smile or warn with a chilling stare. And in doing so she allowed her other senses to take command and she felt more than she was prepared to feel.
The strength of him never failed to surprise her. His lean build suggested he lacked the power of a large muscled man and yet his hands betrayed his potency. His skill with a sword was phenomenal. He swung it with the ease and grace of a man born to it and a man strong in courage and strength. He was so much more than he appeared to be, and she wondered how many men had judged him unwisely and paid for their foolish decision.
And she wondered how those potent hands would react if he knew he touched a woman. She
mentally shook some sense into her head and eased back away from him. “I need to know that I am free to leave if I so choose.”
Colin hesitated and his brief pause did not bode well. “I cannot promise you that, lad. If the Irish Devil feels you should remain at the keep then so you shall. You will need to address that matter with him.”
Colin did not bother to tell the stubborn lad that he would advise Eric that the lad was to remain at the keep until he was grown enough to defend himself properly. He had no intention of allowing the lad to continue on his own. And once Eric met him he would no doubt agree. In time Harold would understand and come to think of the keep as his home. Until then the decision would be made for him, whether he agreed or not.
Annoyed that her life never seemed to be her own, Hope grew sharp with him. “And if I should choose not to continue on with you?”
“That is not an option, lad.” His stern voice warned her that he expected her obedience, and the thought rankled her.
She stood, her hands firm on her slim hips. Lady stood to move behind her. “Are you telling me that I must go with you?”
Colin rose slowly, towering over her. His impressive height and confident stance would cause most to back away or surrender.
Not Hope. It only made her more stubborn and she stuck her chin up to prove she was not at all intimidated by him.
He made the mistake of smiling, which only fueled her annoyance.
“I can go where I please,” she said, not realizing she was shaking a tightly gripped fist in his face.
This time he laughed. “You’d best learn how to throw a good fist before you challenge someone.”
His laughter did not help and she unwisely maintained her clenched fist while she spoke. “I will do as I please.”
Colin nodded, his smile remaining. “I’ll tell you what, lad, since that fist of yours is ready for battle, if you can land a solid punch on me, I will allow you to do as you please.”
How could a pint-sized woman land a potent blow to a man of his solid muscular structure? Her small fist certainly did not possess the power to inflict the slightest damage, thus he was simply toying with her. The idea further fueled her temper.
“It is not a fair offer.”
Colin looked at the lad with surprise and a bit of admiration. “Life is not fair. You learn to deal with what is dealt to you.”
He was teaching the lad a lesson, a lesson Hope had already learned and one of which she did not need to be reminded. But arguing with him would be futile.
She decided her wit would be a better weapon and relaxed her fisted hand. “What if instead of a solid punch, I manage to get past you?”
“Use wit instead of brawn, an intelligent choice, especially in a situation where your opponent outweighs you.” He nodded as if approving her sound reasoning. “I agree, lad. Get past me and you shall win your freedom.”
Hope counted on his approval and the stance he took. He extended his arms out, spread his legs, braced his feet firmly on the ground and waited for her to advance.
“Any time, lad.”
“Follow me, Lady,” she whispered to the dog and swiftly bent down to scoop up a fat rock, toss it at Colin and make a mad dash between his legs.
Colin was prepared; he swatted the flying rock aside and reached down to grab for Harold. He did not count on the swiftness of the lad or the trailing dog and when he reached down it was Lady’s rump he grabbed.
Lady’s screech echoed loudly in the bright light of a new dawn and caused Colin to jump out of her way. He swung around in time to see that Harold was not far in front of him and without hesitation, he threw himself at the lad.
They hit the ground with a solid thud, Colin coming down on top of her.
Hope threw her hands out in front of her to prevent her face from hitting the hard ground. The impact knocked the breath from her and caused a jolt to her ribs, sending a sharp, stabbing pain resonating through her body.
Regaining her expended breath, she let out a yell that rivaled Lady’s screech.
Colin was off the lad in a flash and just as quickly he turned him over and reached down to run a gentle hand over his sore ribs.
When Hope realized his intentions she quickly rolled away from him, wincing and crying from the pain, and with much effort got to her feet, her own hand firmly holding her side. She looked at him with accusing eyes. “I was past you. You had no right to jump me from behind. You cheated.”
His face betrayed his concern for Harold’s condition, but his tone warned he would accept no argument. “You involved Lady in your escape. The agreement was for you and you alone. Since you saw fit to cheat, I followed suit.”
“I won my freedom,” she insisted loudly, instantly regretting her action since it sent a piercing pain through her side. She pressed her hand firmly to her aching ribs, hoping to ease her self-inflicted suffering.
Colin stepped toward her. “You have injured your ribs again.”
Hope took a cautious step back, wanting to keep the pain at least bearable. “I am fine.”
“You are stubborn,” he said firmly.
“It is my freedom that is in question, not my stubbornness,” she insisted, though this time she kept her voice at a normal tone.
“You forfeited your freedom when you chose to cheat,” Colin said, his tone as normal as hers. “Now let me have a look at your side.”
Hope backed away from him as he stepped toward her. “I will see to my own care and it is not my care that concerns me. It is my freedom.”
“That issue is settled. You remain with me.”
She spoke as one highborn. “You cannot dictate to me.”
His soft laughter soon turned hardy and then quieted to a ripple. “You have much to learn, lad. You will follow my edict whether you like it or not.”
Hope thought to protest, then suddenly realized the futility of such action and chose to remain silent. She had no intention of following his edict. She would have her way whether he liked it or not. When the time was right she would take her leave, and he would have little to say about it.
He seemed to read her thoughts and responded accordingly. “You will remain at the keep, Harold. If you intend to leave without my permission then know that I will come after you, and I promise you that you will not like the consequences of disobeying my order.”
Her chin went up defiantly. “We all do what we must.”
“Aye, that is true and I will do what must be done if you choose to disobey me.”
She shrugged, as if his warning mattered not to her. “Do what you must, as will I.”
Colin softened his tone. “I do what is best.”
Bewilderment filled her eyes. “Best for whom?”
“For a young lad who requires guidance and help.”
“And what if this lad does not want guidance and help?”
Colin spoke patiently. “The lad is too young and inexperienced to know otherwise.”
Hope attempted to voice her objection but he quickly continued. “Therefore, one who is wiser must take charge, teach him and become his friend.”
Her anger faded when she realized that he truly wished to call the lad his friend.
“Give Shanekill Keep a chance, Harold. It will not disappoint you.”
Nay, it probably would not disappoint her, but she certainly would disappoint many there and perhaps that was why she felt the need to take her leave. Colin and his men had been good to her. She could not help but concern herself with their reaction to her true identity. She would certainly disappoint people and lose many friendships, and that thought disturbed her.
“Now let me have a look at you.”
Before he could step forward she took a few quick steps to the side. “It pains me little and besides, you say we will reach Shanekill Keep before nightfall. The healer can then have a look at it. I trust her skills more than yours.”
“That is a wise decision and one I will respect,” Colin said. “Now let us be on our way, I
am anxious to get home.”
He turned to walk away and Hope called out to him, her voice strong as that of a young lad filled with conviction. “Colin.”
He stopped and settled an attentive glance on the lad, letting him know he was willing to listen even though he had addressed him with a demanding tone.
“I ask for nothing and make no promise, but I do wish to thank you now for your generosity, your protection and most of all for the friendship you offer me.”
Colin admired the way the lad spoke the truth and his courage for admitting that although he had been warned there still remained the possibility that he would not remain at the keep. He smiled and shook his head. “Brave or foolish, lad, I am still not certain which you are. But I am pleased to call you my friend.”
“And I you,” Hope said, and with a wide grin walked past him along with a trailing Lady. “And I still won the wager.”
Colin laughed at his audacity and in a few effortless strides caught up with the lad, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “Let me teach you about cheating.”
The men were in a festive mood, all of them happy that they would soon be home. Laughter and merriment filled the campsite as they prepared to take their leave. Some of the men, mostly the married ones, had washed up and changed to cleaner garments.
Colin did the same and took much teasing for it as they began the final part of their journey home.
“Which fair lass will be the lucky one tonight?” Stuart asked with a grin.
John added to the teasing. “How dare you insult him, Stuart. It will be two lassies he entertains this night.”
Hope listened with interest and a twinge of disappointment as she rode Colin’s horse. He walked alongside her, his smile as potently charming as ever and his own tongue adding to the good-natured ribbing.
“Only two?” Colin shook his head. “What little faith my men have in me.”
The men laughed.
Hope did not. She had not expected the thought of Colin being with other women to disturb her so, and yet surprisingly it did. Why should it matter to her who he dallied with?
“Harold,” John said, startling the lad. “You look annoyed. Could you be jealous? And in need of a woman yourself?”
Lords of the Kingdom Page 81