A Warrior's Promise (23 page)

Bryce turned to his mother. “We're in desperate need of food and a washing, Mum.”

“Where are my manners,” Mara said, scolding herself. “Let's get you fed first, then bathed.”

Charlotte found herself quickly ushered inside the keep and deposited at a long table in front of a massive fireplace. More food than she had ever seen at one time was soon spread across the table. And chatter mixed with laughter as ale and wine were poured and consumed.

She noticed that Reeve was a handsome one even though a scowl marred his brow, and he was tall and slimmer than his brothers, though he did not lack for muscle. Duncan was a big one, with a slightly crooked nose and a scar in the corner of his mouth, though neither distracted from his fine features. Carmag was a good-looking man with gray threading through his dark hair, and Mara was plump, pretty, and had a sharp tongue though she did smile often. It was obvious they were a strong family, teasing and laughing easily with each other.

“My husband was tossed down by a woman?” Came a sultry voice that had everyone turning except Reeve.

The woman was attractive, with raven-colored hair and lavender-colored eyes and fairly tall. When she smiled, she turned even more attractive, and when she slipped her hands over her husband's shoulders, he turned his head and kissed her.

“Gossiping tongues, you can never trust them,” Reeve said, after kissing her.

She laughed and slid in on the bench to sit close beside him.

“Reeve was tossed down by a woman?” A woman's voice asked anxiously.

Duncan jumped up and hurried over to help the woman down the last few stairs. Charlotte realized it had to be his wife, Mercy. She was so large with child that Charlotte thought she would birth the babe there and then.

Charlotte couldn't help but stare, the woman was beautiful, with dark hair and blue eyes, and she was petite. That they were in love was obvious. You could see it by the loving looks they exchanged.

Duncan helped his wife to sit, then sat beside her.

“How is Trey faring?” Bryce asked.

“He's back to his old self,” Reeve said, “and gone off to help Willow gather some of her things from her farm.”

“You have yet to tell us about your encounter with this woman, Reeve,” Mercy said.

“Mercy's right, I want to hear it all,” Tara said. “Was she a big woman; she'd have to be to get the best of you.”

Reeve hung his head.

Charlotte didn't wait to be introduced. “It isn't size that matters; it's having your wits about you. Reeve made it easy for me to conquer him.”

Both women turned wide eyes on her.

“I'm Charlotte, Bryce's woman,” she said with pride.

Chapter 28

B
ryce smiled, listening to Mercy and Tara ply Charlotte with endless questions. She answered in her usual direct manner, and as she did, he could see admiration and respect for her grow.

He was glad his family liked her, well almost all his family. He figured it would take Reeve a bit of time to live down being bested by her. He'd come around eventually. He also liked that Charlotte had confirmed herself his woman, and how she rested against him without giving it a thought.

She was tired. He felt it in the slump of her body against his. It was time for them to get some rest. He gave a nod to his mum.

Her smile broadened, and she said, “Time to see about baths for you both.”

Mara stood and hurried off as Odin made his way into the keep and rushed over to Charlotte. She gave him a hug and fed him some meat from the table.

Bryce was eager to get her upstairs and alone, eager to have soft bedding under them tonight, a fire to keep them warm, and shelter from the elements. He wanted to make love to her, he wanted to curl around her and hold her tight throughout the night and wake with her in his arms in the morning. And know that they did not have to spend the day walking endlessly.

He wanted time, brief as it might be, to love her, just in case it was the only time they would have together.

“We should talk, Bryce, while your mum helps Charlotte,” Carmag said.

In his eagerness to retire with Charlotte to his bedchamber, he'd forgotten about meeting with his da and brothers to report on his mission.

“Tend to your duties,” Charlotte said.

That they would be together shortly didn't stop Bryce from feeling reluctant about leaving her. They had not been long-separated since meeting, and he found he preferred it that way. He wasn't sure how he felt about being so attached to a woman that he was reluctant to leave her. And he certainly couldn't allow it to interfere with his mission.

“I will wait here for you,” Charlotte said.

He didn't know how she did it, sense what he thought, but he liked that she was so attuned to him. He gave her a quick kiss and stood. That was when he caught the smug smiles on his brothers' faces.

“Say one word, and I'll beat the both of you,” he warned.

“Your woman may have bested me, but it appears she has done the same to you,” Reeve said with a laugh.

“Enough nonsense,” Carmag cautioned as he stood. “We have important matters to discuss.”

The brothers turned silent and, without another word being spoken, left the room.

I
t wasn't long before Charlotte found herself alone. Mercy had grown tired, and Tara had helped her to her bedchamber to see her settled for a nap. She had assured Charlotte that she would return afterwards to learn more about how the petite woman had bested her husband.

Charlotte was accustomed to spending time alone, and she was content here at the table in front of the fire, Odin asleep at her feet. She felt at peace as she so often had when she and her da were together.

It felt good to be in love, and she wanted to enjoy every moment of it. Life had changed too often on her, and with it had come sorrow. It had taught her to enjoy when she could, and, right now, she wanted very much to enjoy Bryce and the love they had discovered.

She did not know what tomorrow would bring, but she did have today, and it was a good day. She and Bryce would be together, they would make love, and she would fall asleep in his arms. Yes, it was a very good day.

Odin jumped up before a bell loudly tolled, reverberating throughout the hall. She and the dog ran out of the keep and into chaos. Warriors were gathering horses and weapons, and women frantically herded their children.

Charlotte stopped a warrior to ask what was happening.

“Soldiers attack a group of travelers seeking shelter here.” He pointed to a group of women huddled around someone.

Charlotte ran over, pushing past the women to get to the center. She was shocked to see Edward's mum lying breathless on the ground.

As soon as the woman recognized Charlotte, she reached out, grabbing at her. “My son, my son, please save my son.”

“The others?” Charlotte asked.

“They fight, and some hide,” she said through labored breaths. “Edward pushed me into the woods and told me to run for help.” Tears started running down her full cheeks. “Please, please help them.”

Charlotte nodded and pushed her way out of the circle of women. She spotted Bryce, his father, and his brothers on the steps of the keep, their wives and Mara behind them. From this distance, she could see he was shaking his head at her.

She ignored him, eyed the horses, and anxious to be off, headed for them, Odin on her heels.

“Charlotte!”

She didn't look Bryce's way. No doubt he'd order her to stay behind with the women. She couldn't do that. She felt responsible for the group under attack. And so, with one swift vault, she was on the horse and, soon after, out of the village.

“D
amn, did you see the way she mounted that horse,” Reeve said, shaking his head. “I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. It was almost as if she flew up on it. I've got to have her teach me how she does that.”

“Her foolish actions could soon see her dead, and you stand here admiring her skills?” Bryce said with anger. “When I get my hands on her, I'm going to throttle her.”

Bryce didn't care about nor expect a response from his brother. What he did want was his help making certain nothing happened to Charlotte. And that's what Reeve and Duncan did. They mounted their horses and, with a troop of warriors, took off.

C
harlotte had no plan though she knew it would be unwise to ride straight into the melee. She would be of more help in using the cover of the woods to make the soldiers believe they were under attack by a group of bowmen. She would do what she could, knowing Bryce and his warriors were not far behind.

She heard the clank of swords and screams of battle, and she directed her horse around the carnage to a spot where she would best serve those fighting. She was off the horse and had her spot picked while Odin pranced behind her, keeping watch. She drew an arrow from her cache and took aim, hitting her mark. She kept the arrows flying.

She moved only twice, when she saw Edward was in trouble. His mum's words came back to tear at her heart.

Please save my son.

Charlotte didn't stop to think, she reacted. She dropped her bow and, with speed born of practice, ran straight into battle.

B
ryce and his brothers came upon the battle to see Charlotte, ducking, dashing, and vaulting through the melee. Odin was right beside her, running down anyone who dared get near her.

“Damn, what a woman,” Reeve said, and dropped off his horse and charged into battle.

Bryce remained mounted and headed straight for Charlotte. Soldiers charged him, and his need to see her safe had him slicing his way through anyone who dared attempt to stop him.

By the time he reached her, she had Edward safe, and his warriors had full control of the battle, bringing it rapidly to an end. He almost reached out and grabbed her, wanting to make sure she had suffered no injuries.

“I am indebted to you, Charles,” Edward said, offering his hand.

In his quest to see Charlotte safe, he had forgotten that Edward knew her only as the lad Charles; and then there were the soldiers who had survived. He didn't want them aware of her true gender. So once again he was forced to keep his distance from her, and he didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.

Duncan and Reeve took charge of the surviving soldiers, Carmag and Bryce of the people and getting them safely to the village. Charlotte joined in; though he had ordered her home, she refused to go, insisting she could be of help, and she was.

It took a couple of hours to get the weary and battered group to the village. Mara, Mercy, and Tara were ready with food and lodging, and, with all that had to be done, it would take at least until dusk to settle the people.

After Charlotte saw that Edward was reunited with his grateful and teary-eyed mum, Bryce approached her. He didn't know whether to hug her or throttle her. Instead, he grabbed hold of her arm and hurried her away from the crowd to a spot where they could have a modicum of privacy.

“You should have waited for me,” he said, his voice low but his annoyance high.

“And wasted time?” She shook her head. “That would have made no sense. You were but a short distance behind me.”

“You frightened me near to death when I saw you mount that horse and ride off. Don't ever do that again.”

“I can't promise that,” she said. “There may come a time—”

What troubled him the most wasn't that she had ended her response abruptly but that he understood what she meant without finishing it. There would come a time, and no doubt concerning her da, that she would do the same.

“You try my patience beyond measure.”

“I do not mean to.”

She remained calm while his annoyance grew.

“I don't know what to do with you,” he said, frustrated.

She took a step closer to him, and whispered, “Love me.”

“Bryce, we need help,” his da called, and he silently cursed the interference.

“I suppose there is no point in ordering you to my bedchamber,” he said.

“While I would be only too happy to retire there at this very moment, I'm sure my help here would be appreciated.”

“Later—”

“Bryce!” his da yelled again.

He hurried off with a smile, pleased that she finished his words exactly.

“You're all mine.”

H
ours later, Charlotte dragged herself into the keep and, though delicious scents filled the air, she was much too tired to eat. She wanted to get clean and go to sleep, preferably in a soft bed. Tara was the one who took her to a bedchamber where a tub filled with steaming water waited.

Not caring about anything, she stripped herself of her clothes, which a servant instantly scooped up, and lowered herself into the tub. She had to pull up her knees to fit, but the water rose to cover her chest, and its wet heat felt most welcoming.

She didn't know when the servant and Tara had vacated the room but was glad they had. She wanted to rest in the luxury of the bathwater, scrub herself clean, then—she looked to the bed and sighed.

The water cooled all too fast, and she reluctantly scrubbed herself from head to toe, got out, dried herself thoroughly, and hurried beneath the blankets. She almost cried with pleasure at the comforting feel of the stuffed mattress.

She surely had to be dreaming, it felt much too exquisite, as if it weren't real. And in no time she was dreaming, having fallen asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

B
ryce went to his bedchamber, expecting to find Charlotte there. What he found was a steaming bath and a table laden with food, but no Charlotte. A servant had informed him that Charlotte was given another room and had had a bath and was now sleeping soundly.

Had his mum intentionally kept them apart? Was she implying that Charlotte wasn't a good fit for him? He shook his head. She would have been straightforward with him, told him directly if she hadn't liked Charlotte.

But then he hadn't had a chance to speak with his mum, so he didn't truly know how she felt about Charlotte.

Could Charlotte have been the one who requested separate rooms. And if so, why?

The question annoyed him though it was probably not having an answer that frustrated him the most. She had been only too willing about—later. Had something happened to change her thought? Or perhaps she was simply too fatigued and, not wanting to disappoint him, sought a separate chamber.

His mind went crazy with possibilities the whole time he bathed and ate though he ate sparingly, having lost his appetite.

He crawled into bed, disappointed. He might have been tired, but he wasn't too tired to make love to Charlotte. He hadn't liked the thought that their first time together was in a thunderstorm under a bush, though the memory caused him to smile. He'd never forget it, the tight space, barely room to maneuver, garments pushed aside, and the feel of her so snug and wet.

Damn!

He grew hard recalling the moment he had slipped into her and how she had reacted, so eager and receptive. He could only imagine her response in a more conducive atmosphere.

Damn!

If he didn't stop growing hard, he'd be out of the bed in no time and off to find Charlotte.

Why not?

Why not go find her? She had agreed they would get together later.

You're all mine
.

That was what he had heard her say, what he had intended to say himself. She was probably expecting him, wondering where he was. She might very well be sitting there waiting and feeling disappointed that he had yet to show up.

He couldn't do that to her, couldn't disappoint her.

With a smile and a joyful hop out of bed, he grabbed a fresh plaid and wrapped it around him. And with eager steps was out the door.

He was glad it was late, everyone exhausted and in bed. He didn't want to meet anyone, especially his brothers and be asked where he was going. No doubt they would have to comment why mum had chosen to—

“So mum separated you and Charlotte.”

“Damn,” Bryce mumbled, and turned to see Reeve grinning. “Don't start.”

“I asked a simple question,” he said with a shrug, keeping his grin broad.

“You're asking for a fight.”

Reeve laughed and shook his head. “No, I'm overjoyed knowing that you are where Duncan and I have both been.”

“Where's that?”

“In the throes of fresh love.”

“I didn't say anything about love,” Bryce argued.

“Refusing to admit it, are you?”