He pushed the annoying thought from his mind and marched forward. He’d waste no more time on such nonsense. He was foolish for having asked her in the first place.
She stopped abruptly and turned, forcing him to halt sharply.
“If the king planted one soldier amongst the peasants, then no doubt he planted more. We will need to be cautious.”
“I thought the same myself,” he said.
“And I didn’t have a chance to tell you that my da passed Glenna’s way—”
“Were the others with him?”
“It sounded as if he was alone, though I think Glenna purposely spoke that way, not wanting to alert the soldier that she spoke of the prisoners.” Charlotte grinned. “But more importantly, my da sent me a message.”
Bryce smiled. “He has no doubt you’re searching for him.”
“And no doubt he leaves a message where and when he can.”
“What were his words?” Bryce asked.
“My da told her about his daughter who would not be able to hold her tongue if her life depended on it—”
Bryce burst out laughing, and through each burst, he said, “I can’t wait to meet your da.”
“Now that I have entertained you, do you want to hear the message?”
Bryce settled his laughing though a chuckle let loose here and there.
“ ‘She knew the way to him’ is what my da said.”
“You understand what he means?”
“I have thought on it, and I remember. When I was young, I wandered off away from my da and got lost in the woods. He found me huddled and crying beneath a large spruce. It was then he said he would teach me so that I would always know the way to him.”
“What did he teach you?”
“To follow signs, as I thought, but it’s what signs he’s using that I can’t seem to spot,” she said frustrated. “I looked around Glenna’s croft as we were leaving but saw nothing. And I’ve watched as we’ve traveled, and still I can see nothing.”
“It will come to you.”
“But I could be missing it, which means we could be traveling in the wrong direction.”
“So far we have managed to keep a good trail,” Bryce said. “And your father leaves messages when he can, and soon you will spot a marker that he has left. We do well, and we will continue to do well.”
Charlotte smiled, and a tingle wound its way around and through Bryce. He had seen her smile so many times before, but this time was different. This time he saw that she was pretty. Not beautiful, like some women, but simply pretty. And it was impossible to stop staring at her. There was softness to her features, a gentleness that belied her nature. It was as though he was seeing someone different, someone he had yet to meet.
“You’re right,” she said.
She startled him out of his musings, and he wasn’t quite sure what he was right about.
“My da would agree.”
Her da and he would agree. But about what? Try as he might, his mind was too befuddled by her lovely face to think straight, and it frustrated him. He had to keep his mind clear. There was his mission, besides finding her da, that needed his attention.
That was it, finding her da, doing well, on the right trail. He almost sighed, his thoughts finally clearing.
They started walking, Odin keeping close to Charlotte, though sniffing ahead now and again.
“Where to now?” Charlotte asked.
“Another village about a day away that might prove helpful, and there are crofts along the way. Perhaps your da will have left more messages.”
“And if not, then we travel in the wrong direction.”
“Not so,” Bryce said. “Your da may not always have the chance to speak with someone. Remember, he is taking a chance when he does, and having learned something about your da from you, I’d say he also watches and chooses the right people to leave a message with.”
“You’re right. Da would be watchful and choose whom he felt he could trust,” she said, and glanced over at him. “I have been selfish concentrating only on finding my da when your mission must be just as important to you. We have yet to learn anything about it.”
“Not true. We did learn there are other men being held captive with your father. Since the group is being taken to the king’s secret prison, and from others things I’ve heard, there is little doubt left that one could very well be the spy. The king probably has plans to torture the poor man and see what he can learn.”
“Does this spy know much?”
“I’m not sure. My brothers and I have only recently learned of his existence. He wasn’t sent by us.”
“Then by who?” Charlotte asked.
Bryce shrugged. “I have no answer to that.”
“It might be an answer you want to clarify. I know people have faced danger to help the true king seek the throne, but to spy on the king on one’s own?” She shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Bryce had thought the same himself when he started on this mission. His clan had had a spy in the king’s court, Neil, and he had served them well. He was pulled out when it had gotten too dangerous for him to continue. While there, though, he knew of no other spy, but that didn’t mean much since it would have been difficult to trust anyone, and it was better one didn’t.
“Could it be a trap?” Charlotte asked. “Perhaps the king allows you to believe a spy exists so that he can capture someone of importance from your clan and discover what he can from him. From the gossip being spread, it seems the king grows ever more desperate.”
“Time is drawing close,” Bryce admitted. “Soon, the true king will need to reveal himself.”
“Perhaps the king hopes to capture him before he can do that, and so he searches for one close to him. It is a thought you should consider and not place yourself in danger for a spy who might not exist.”
“But if he does? What then? Do I leave an innocent man who believes in the true king to die?” He grinned down at her. “Besides, I cannot let you go off on your own.”
“I can take care of myself.”
He laughed. “It isn’t you I’m concerned for. It’s the ones who come across you.”
She laughed along with him, and damn if the soft, tinkling sound didn’t wrap around him and send a tingling through him. It didn’t rush but crawled along slowly until it consumed every inch of him. Along with it came a heat that stirred and grew uncomfortable.
He knew damn well what he was feeling, but he’d be damned if he’d acknowledge it. There was no way, no way that he would admit it. He’d stamp it down and ignore it and force it away.
He wasn’t successful, no matter how hard he tried. His body was in control and refused to obey him, just like Charlotte refused. The thought of her didn’t help his predicament. He grew hotter, more uncomfortable. And still he fought against the obvious.
He stubbornly refused to accept what he felt. It wasn’t wise of him to accept it. It would only complicate matters more. He had no time for it. Besides, Charlotte wasn’t what he wanted in a wife.
Wife?
Where did that come from? He wasn’t interested in marrying her. What he was feeling was simply pure lust.
He cringed. Damn it, he had admitted it. Now he was in trouble.
He lusted after Charlotte.
Chapter 13
Charlotte stared at Bryce’s back. They had stopped and made camp a couple of hours ago, and as soon as they had eaten some of the food Glenna had packed, Bryce had turned on his side, his back to her, and gone to sleep.
The change in him since he had discovered she was a woman disturbed her. She missed the easy friendship they had shared and the conversations. He didn’t talk with her freely the way he once had, and she partly understood why, but she had hoped that he had grown as comfortable with her as she had with him and perhaps—just perhaps—their friendship would not change.
It didn’t seem that was the way of it, and she felt a twinge of loss. She draped her arm around Odin,
who slept plastered against her. He had snuck in a crawl to plant himself between her and the campfire. Bryce had told her to make him move, but she didn’t have the heart, he looked too comfortable. And it was nice to have someone to cuddle against.
She continued staring at Bryce’s wide back, frustrated by the situation and not knowing what to do about it. Her father, no doubt, would tell her to let it be, let it resolve itself. Unfortunately, she wasn’t very patient.
What bothered her most was that she felt as if she had lost his friendship. There had been camaraderie between Bryce and the lad that she had not only greatly favored but had never known. It had been hard to form a lasting bond with anyone through the years since she and her father never stayed long in one place. And there had been times they lived in remote areas, removed from people. She had grown accustomed to it, but now, having met Bryce, she didn’t care to think that he was simply a passing friend. She hoped they could be . . .
She sighed. What did she truly hope they could be? That was the question that haunted her whether she wished to acknowledge it or not. When he had grabbed her and dangled her in front of him, a habit he was making of that, she had thought he would kiss her. She had been surprised she had even realized it, not having had much experience when it came to kisses. But it had been undeniable, she felt it. It was impossible not to, even to someone as naïve as she. And, Lord, did she want him to kiss her. Regrettably, it never came, it lingered between them in limbo—waiting.
She blushed, grateful there was no one to see her cheeks flame red.
“You’re mumbling,” Bryce said, startling her.
Why couldn’t she rid herself of that trait?
“Did I wake you?”
Bryce turned to face her. “No. I haven’t been able to sleep.”
“Why?”
Charlotte was caught by his blue eyes. Normally soft in color, they were now the deep blue of a turbulent ocean. And she couldn’t help but think of him that way, rough and tumbling, pounding to the shore and taking back with it what was in his reach: to protect and shelter.
She realized he hadn’t answered. “Does something trouble you?”
He grunted. “Heavy thoughts.”
“And I add to them.”
“How could you? You’re nothing more than a wee one. You could never be a burden.”
Nor your lover.
Charlotte flopped on her back, shocked by her own thought. Whatever was wrong with her? How could she even think that? He certainly didn’t find her appealing. She was much too petite for him. And he too large for her, and that was that.
Or was it?
“That wasn’t a mumble, that was a groan,” he said. “So what’s troubling you?”
“Everything.” She sighed, because it was the truth. Her life had been turned upside down so fast that she felt as if she had yet to take a breath. And it had grown more confusing and dangerous since the soldiers had taken her father.
“It seems that way sometimes, doesn’t it?” Bryce said, turning to face her.
His gentle tone had her rolling on her side to lay eyes on his strong features. “Lately, it seems that way all the time.”
“It is a difficult time, but it will pass.”
“You sound so sure.”
He grinned. “Working together—your tenacious nature and my patient one—there can be no doubt of it.”
“Your patient nature?” she asked with a grin of her own.
“A virtue of mine and one you stretch to the limits.”
She laughed. “Not purposely.”
“And with no sound reason,” he said with a shake of his head. “You simply forge ahead and damn the consequences.”
“Confidence.”
“Foolhardiness.”
“Do you think me a fool?” It was more a challenge than a question.
He didn’t answer immediately; he seemed to give it thought.
“You need time to think about it?” she asked, slightly offended.
“Time to explain my thoughts,” he said. “You are different from others, and so it is hard sometimes to understand you. I dare say it was much easier when you were the lad Charles. He was someone I understood.”
“Why?”
“That word forever spills from your lips.”
“I’m curious.”
“Another trait to add to tenacious,” he said with a laugh.
“You avoid answering me.”
“Charles reminded me of myself. I lost my parents when I was young, and it is a pain that never stops aching. I could relate to his need to find his da since I never had the opportunity. I wished my parents had lived so I could rescue them. I would have done anything to save them just as Charles had been doing.”
“Does it make a difference now? Charles and Charlotte are one. Do you not feel the same for me?”
“I feel even more need to help you, as you’re a woman,” Bryce said.
“It makes no diff—”
He reached around the campfire and pressed a finger to her lips. “It makes a difference to me that you are a woman. I was raised to protect women and those weaker who cannot defend themselves.” He pressed his finger harder to her lips. “No protests. I cannot change who I am. I protect, and I will protect you.”
Normally, Charlotte would have argued with him, but she found herself understanding, and so made no comment. It pleased her that they had talked, and she had learned more about him. And no doubt he felt the same, yawning along with her as sleep began to creep over them.
“I will always protect you, Charlotte,” he said on a yawn once again, and stretched out on his back.
“And I you,” she said, turning on her back.
Bryce was snoring lightly in no time, and though Charlotte’s eyes grew heavy, she fought sleep. She wanted to linger in the feel of his warm finger pressed so tightly to her lips. She had imagined it a kiss, so solid and yet so alive.
She yawned, kisses were much too often on her mind, and with that thought lingering, she slipped into sleep.
They were up and on their way at daybreak, the early-morning mist fading as the bright sun claimed the land. It had been too long since Bryce had taken note of a beautiful day. He had been much too busy to take even a moment to think of anything else but his missions.
Why, now, did the loveliness of the morning strike him? He had to admit it was because of Charlotte. Her chatting started with the sunrise, only stopping when she spotted something that caught her attention. She’d run to unearth what had caught her eye, Odin right alongside her, then return to his side to either announce it was nothing or show him a plant and explain its properties to him.
She was trying hard to find any signs her da was leaving along the way, and he empathized with her frustration when something turned out to be nothing. But he admired her tenaciousness. No matter the disappointment, she didn’t give up; she persevered.
“St. Bride’s plant,” she said, joining him once again.
“Roots and all?”
“Once the roots dry, they can be used to make a tasty drink.”
“More of your da’s knowledge?” he asked with interest.
“Just a small part of my da’s vast knowledge.”
“I have never known a man who pursued knowledge as his life’s purpose,” Bryce said.
“It seems odd to me that more don’t.”
“I truly look forward to speaking with your da. I think there is much I can learn from him.”
She stopped abruptly and stared wide-eyed at him; so did Odin. “Truly? You believe you could learn from him?”
“Why not? He is a learned man.”
She shook her head and started walking again. “Most men think my da a fool. He carries no weapons, and yet he possesses the mightiest weapon of all . . . intelligence. I am pleased that you feel as you do. My da will enjoy talking with a man who seeks to learn.”
Odin ran up ahead, then stopped suddenly. The two were quick to halt their steps and cast anxious
glances around. In seconds, Odin relaxed his stance and scampered back to them.
Charlotte hunched down and hugged the dog, who planted lavish kisses on her. “Good work, Odin. Good work.”
A twinge of jealousy struck Bryce, and he grew annoyed with himself. Whatever was the matter with him?
You want to lavish kisses on her.
He spewed a bevy of silent oaths. This was ridiculous. Whenever he had wanted to kiss a woman, he did just that. If he wanted to kiss Charlotte so badly, why didn’t he just do it? What was stopping him?
He wished he knew. He wished he understood what made her different from other women he had kissed. And the thought that he believed her different disturbed him even more. Could it be that there was something special about her?
They continued their journey much as before, Charlotte hurrying off to investigate with Odin at her side, only to return to him delighted with found discoveries or disappointed there had been none. All along knowing she searched for clues that would lead her to her da.
The sun was still bright in the sky when they stopped near a stream to rest and satisfy their hunger. Odin no soon as gobbled down the fish that Bryce had caught, his catch more than adequate for the trio, when he was stretched out and was sound asleep.
Bryce and Charlotte continued enjoying their fare.
“We have been lucky so far, but I fear we may head in the wrong direction,” Charlotte said, concerned.
“Perhaps it is not luck, but instinct that keeps us on the right course,” Bryce said. “Your father could very well be relying on your instinct in finding him. Wasn’t his message, She knew the way to him? Could your da having been talking about instinct?”
“It’s possible, but I don’t think that’s what he meant.”
Odin’s head popped up, followed by his body, and he ran in front of Charlotte and Bryce, planting himself in a protective stance and growling.
Bryce was to his feet in seconds, his sword drawn. Charlotte grabbed her bow and readied it.
A young couple with a child no more than four years emerged out of the bushes. The trio looked exhausted and half-starved. The little lad clung to his father’s leg, his eyes wide with fear as he looked on Odin.
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