A Knight of Honor (6 page)

His eyes shifted to the two horses before him as one of the animals snorted.
 
Sully smiled at Jared in a private joke and spurred her horse on to take the lead.
 
Slane wondered if Sully and Jared were lovers.
 
And if they were, how could he have let her get beaten like that?
 
How on earth had she gotten those cursed bruises?
 
Why, if Sully were his woman, he would never let anyone hurt her.
 
He would kill anyone who laid a hand on Elizabeth.

He sighed, thinking of Elizabeth waiting for him at her home in Bristol.
 
He had sent word with his best man, John Flynn, that he would be delayed.
 
He knew John would watch over Elizabeth and protect her while he was away.
 
He wouldn’t be long.
 
Not with the best tracker this side of France in his employ.

Slane nudged his horse and took up step beside Jared, turning his head to regard the mercenary.
 
He was indeed old.
 
There were deeply shadowed wrinkles around his eyes and his skin sagged around his cheeks.
 
He glanced up ahead at Sully.
 
What could she see in this old man?
 
What kind of pleasure could he show her?
 
And then another thought occurred to Slane.
 
Perhaps they weren’t lovers.
 
Perhaps their relationship was more of a father watching over a daughter.

“We’re coming to Briarwood,” Jared announced.

“Are you sure the ring is here?” Slane asked.

“Look,” Jared said, “you’re paying me to track.
 
That’s what I’m doing.
 
I’ll find the ring.
 
Don’t doubt that.”

Slane nodded, satisfied.
 
They rode in silence for a few moments, the hot sun beating down on their shoulders.
 
“You used to work for lord Sullivan, did you not?”
 
He felt Jared’s gaze turn to him.

“Aye,” Jared replied.
 
“A long time ago.”

“Tell me of the girl,” Slane ordered.

“The girl?”

“Taylor Sullivan,” Slane clarified.
 
“What did she look like?”

“That was a long time ago,” Jared replied, keeping his eyes on the road.
 
“I was surprised she ran away.
 
Didn’t think she had it in her.”

Slane looked steadily at Jared, not saying anything.
 
After a moment of silence, Jared added, “I suppose when your mother dies, you do impulsive things.”

“So you haven’t seen her since then?”

“No,” Jared said.
 
“Don’t know if I’d recognize her anymore.”

“What do you remember of her?”

“Why do you want to know?”

Slane watched Jared’s knuckles tighten on the reins of his horse.
 
He had no intention of telling him his reasons.
 
Not with his unusual behavior.
 
“Just curious.”

Jared looked at him then, and Slane swore he saw hostility in his blue eyes.
 
But then it was gone.
 
“She was a fat, lazy thing, from what I remember,” Jared said.
 
“There was one pretty thing about her.
 
She had the most brilliant blond hair that I’ve ever seen.
 
Almost like gold.”

“Golden hair,” Slane murmured.
 
“Indeed.”
 
He allowed his horse to fall behind.
 
As he studied Jared’s back for a long moment, Slane’s eyes narrowed slightly.
 
Why would Jared lie?
 
What was he hiding?

***

Taylor walked back and forth before Jared, who sat beneath a tall tree.
 
With each step, her muscles stretched and she almost groaned in delight.
 
After such a long ride, it felt good to be off the horse.
 
She paused to glance over her shoulder at the stream, where the horses drank, to see Slane bent over near the water, splashing his face.

“What do you think he wants with the ring?” Taylor wondered.

Jared snorted.
 
“Don’t know,” he said, lifting a flask of ale to his lips.
 
He lowered the bag and wiped his mouth with his sleeve, then offered the flask to Taylor.
 
“But that’s not all he’s interested in.”

Taylor took the flask and lifted it to her lips.
 
The refreshing ale slid down her dust-filled throat.

“He was asking about you,” Jared whispered.

Taylor lowered the flask and shifted her startled gaze to Jared.
 
He raised his eyebrows and nodded.
 
She returned her gaze to Slane.
 
He was standing now, stretching, reaching toward the sky with his arms.

“What did you tell him?” Taylor asked.

Jared chuckled.
 
“That you were a fat, lazy girl with blond hair.”

Taylor lifted an amused eyebrow.
 
“And he believed you?”

“They don’t know you like I do,” Jared said, chortling deeply.

She squatted beside her friend and handed back the flask.
 
“Do you think Father sent him?”

Jared’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Slane.
 
“I don’t know,” he said quietly.
 
“All I know is I don’t like him.”
 
His gaze turned to Taylor.
 
“So stay away from him.
 
You hear?”

“You know me, Jared,” Taylor said, standing.
 
“I don’t court trouble.”

Jared groaned and rubbed his hands over his face.

Taylor walked across the small clearing toward the horses.
 
Slane was checking his animal’s bridles and straps, and she watched his strong shoulders and golden head over the horse’s back.
 
How many stories she had heard about him!
 
Lord Slane Donovan of Castle Donovan winning the tournament at Warwickshire.
 
Then the tournament at Glavindale.
 
Then another tournament.
 
And there were the great battles, fighting at the King’s side.
 
She shrugged.
 
It all seemed so unreal to her.
 
She had just turned away when his soft voice reached her.

“Where was Jared when you got those bruises?”

Taylor turned slowly.
 
“Jared is not my protector,” she said.
 
“I am a free woman and I do as I please.”

He lifted his gaze to her, and she was suddenly startled at how blue his eyes were.
 
Then those tawny brows slanted over his eyes, and he returned his concentration to his horse.

He had dismissed her without a word!
 
Exasperation filled her.
 
But in that exasperation was a sense of victory.
 
For the woman he sought stood face-to-face with him and he didn’t even know it!

T
hey rode into Briarwood just as the sun was setting.
 
Jared and Slane went ahead to the inn to secure rooms and order a hot meal, and Taylor led the horses to the stables.
 
As she dismounted, she noticed dark clouds brewing in the distance, promising rain.

“It looks ta be a bad one,” a boy’s voice said.

Taylor turned to the young stable boy as lightning ripped through the churning clouds and thunder rumbled in the distance.
 
He had sandy blond hair that hung into his eyes.
 
She handed the reins to him, nodding.
 
“That it does,” she answered.
 
She motioned to the horses.
 
“See to these horses.”

“I’ll take good care of ‘em,” the boy promised, swiping the hair from his eyes.
 
“I’ve done lots before.
 
I’ve even done a warhorse once.”

Taylor smiled at him.
 
“I’ll bet you’re the best,” she said.

The boy beamed, nodding his head.
 
Taylor turned to leave, but the boy added, “I never seen no lady carrying a sword like you do.”

Taylor turned around, the old feeling of defensiveness surging within her.
 
He studied her face for a moment.
 
She straightened her back.

“Looks like you been in lotsa fights, too,” he added.

After a quick moment, Taylor decided he meant no ill will and a smile split her swollen lips.
 
“That I have,” she answered.
 
“Maybe I’ll come back later and tell you about some.”

The boy nodded enthusiastically.
 
“That’d be grand!”

“Then you take care of these horses for me,” she said.

He nodded and led the horses away.
 
Taylor turned to leave, only to find Slane standing in the doorway of the stable, watching her.
 
The sight of him so relaxed caught her off guard and she became flustered.
 
“What?” she demanded.

“I’ve secured rooms for us,” Slane told her.
 
“Are you hungry?”

The thought of real food, hot from the pot, made her mouth water.
 
Food like porridge was a luxury.
 
Much of the time, she and Jared had to eat what the land offered them.
 
Berries.
 
A rabbit here and there.
 
A handful of nuts.
 
Roots.
 
A fresh bowl of porridge sounded heavenly!
 
“A little,” she admitted grudgingly.

He swept his arm out before him, guiding her toward the inn.

But Taylor’s feet wouldn’t move.
 
What was Slane doing out here?
 
Why wasn’t he in the inn waiting for her?
 
Something was very suspicious.
 
“I can make sure the horses are properly taken care of,” she said guardedly.
 
“I don’t need help.”

“I’m quite aware of that,” Slane replied.

“Then what are you doing out here?” she wondered.
 
“Checking up on me?”

Slane straightened slightly.
 
“Making sure you’re all right,” he said.

Taylor eyed him skeptically.
 
“I’m just fine,” she said in a condescending tone.
 
“I don’t need an escort, thank you.
 
I’ll be there in a minute.”

“As you wish,” he said unflustered, then moved off toward the inn.

As Taylor watched Slane disappear into the inn across the road, an odd feeling came over her.
 
She suddenly had the distinct impression Slane had truly been watching over her just now, making sure she was safe.
 
Don’t be a fool, she chastised herself.
 
He has no interest whatsoever in your well-being.

But still, the thought lingered, leaving her feeling unsettled.
 
She decided she would tell the stable boy one quick story.
 
By then, she was sure that the feeling would be gone.