Binding Vows (5 page)

Catherine Bybee

death, Grainna will return here and destroy us all.”

This time Duncan knew, they played Grainna’s game of chess, and unlike before, she already held the Bishop.

While Fin rode deep in the forest to bring their armor, Duncan purposely spent time talking to the people of the fair. The women melted at his accent.

His smile had them stepping on their tongues.

Once he learned where Tara’s tent was, he spent much of his time finding its weak points. He set up an entry, or more important, her escape. Then set out to find the maiden once again.

He found Tara in the dining arena pushing food around on her plate. She hadn’t eaten anything.

Every so often she would glance up, as if knowing another set of eyes were on her.

She saw him from across the yard. A flash of recognition went over her before she darted her eyes away.

She appeared tired and annoyed at all the attention. The men who approached her were met with dismissive eyes. Duncan didn’t need any special gifts to realize her temper was starting to boil.

The wait wasn’t long before Tara abandoned her friend for the serenity of her tent. She stormed away, practically running to her quarters.

Once inside Duncan heard her shouting at Grainna’s man. “Get out!”

Duncan waited.

“I didn’t sign on for this, Bruno. If you don’t leave, I am, and to hell with your court, your fancy dresses, tent and everything!”

The man retreated and stood guard outside the entrance of the tent.

Duncan slowly backed around behind the canvas, careful to keep his movements natural. He ran his fingers along the tent and found the straps he had loosened earlier. Within seconds, he slipped 34

Binding Vows

inside, completely unnoticed by anyone.

****

“What the hell am I still doing here?” Tara asked herself out loud. “Cassy’s off playing lady of the court, or whatever the hell else. What would she care if I left right now?”

A movement and rustling of fabric caught her attention. Her eyes flung open, her breath caught at the sight of a massive form in a dark cloak standing inside the room. She opened her mouth to scream and found a large hand covering it up.

He moved so fast, she didn’t get out the smallest shriek. “Quiet, lass, I’m not going to hurt you.”

The voice was familiar, but Tara couldn’t see his face. She opened her eyes wide and started to struggle in his grip.

“Stop, or else you’ll call her man in here.” The man removed the hood off his head with his free hand. She relaxed slightly once she recognized him, but kept her eyes alert. “You won’t scream if I let go?” She shook her head. With his grip loosened she turned away from him and gave herself a few feet of distance. She calculated how fast she could make it to the opening of the tent. “What are you doing here?” she hissed out, careful to keep her voice low.

The man opened his mouth to give an explanation, shut it, then opened it again. “I never had the opportunity to apologize for last night for your injuries. Today I can’t get near ye, ah, you without one of those men blocking my way.”

Suspicious, she creased her brows. Her eyes peered deep inside him to see if he spoke the truth.

“In that case, apology accepted.”

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Catherine Bybee

He gave a timid smile. “I’m sorry to sneak in on you. I hope I didn’t startle you too much.”

“You scared the hell out of me.”

“Then I must apologize again.” He bowed. “I’m very sorry.”

“Don’t do it again.”

“As you wish.”

Slowly the hair on Tara’s arms started to return to normal. The massive man standing before her felt less like a threat than the guard at her door. “What I wish doesn’t seem to be what anyone around here is thinking of.”

“Perhaps I should leave the same way I came.

No one will know I was here.” He turned away.

“Wait.” Tara scanned the tent. “How did you get in here?”

“There’s a hole in the canvas.” He moved to the opening and lifted the folds, showing her the daylight. “Look for yourself.”

Hope springs eternal
.
I have an out! I can
breathe a bit of summer air, without Bruno breathing
down my shoulders. Peace, tranquility.

She shuffled for a few seconds, almost giddy with the possibility of getting away. “Hey, you wouldn’t mind helping me get out of here for a while would you? This whole royalty thing is making me nuts.”

He sent her a puzzling look and a slightly wicked grin. “Aye, I’ll help you escape.”

Her words came on a thankful sigh. “Great. Let me just leave Cassy a note.” She scribbled a message and placed it on the mirror where it would be noticed.

“Here, you’ll need this.” He took off the cape he wore and draped it around her shoulders. It was dreadfully hot, but Tara knew she would be spotted the minute she showed her face. She tucked her hair down her back and pulled the hood over her head.

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“How’s this?” she asked.

“Good, follow me.” He took her hand and led her to freedom.

No one saw them leave. They moved quickly, skirting the parameter of the campground. Tara wasn’t sure where they were headed, and frankly didn’t care. She was just happy to get away from all the people.

His horse was settled and grazing beyond the makeshift village. He mounted in one fluid motion, like a dancer. Hesitating when she noticed the size of the horse, Tara stood with her feet firmly on the ground.

“Are ye coming, lass?” He held out a hand.

She stared at his hand and then the horse. “This is crazy!” She grabbed her gallant stranger’s hand and felt her weight being tossed on the back of the horse.

He didn’t give her time to get comfortable before yelling a command. “Hold on.”

The horse took off in a full gallop. She clenched his waist to keep from being thrown off.

Once the camp was no longer in sight, Tara tossed the hood of the cape back, and let her hair flow through the wind. “Yee Haw!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. “Freedom... at last!”

****

Enough water flowed to make a soft gentle whisper.

Trees held back the afternoon sun and wild flowers bloomed on the stream banks.

He dismounted before lightly plucking her off his horse.

“Hot damn, we ditched them.” Tara did a little dance. “That was great.”

“I’m glad to be of service, my lady.” After removing a pack from his horse, he led him to a patch of grass to graze.

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Catherine Bybee

“You can drop the act. My name is Tara. Not,
my
lady
.” Tara took off the cape and handed it back.

“Aye. I mean yes. I know your name.”

“Then why say, my lady?” She watched as he draped the cape on the ground so they had a place to sit. “It’s hard to address you as anything else, dressed as you are.”

“Your accent... It isn’t fake is it?”

“Nay, it isn’t.”

“You’re originally from Scotland?” Tara sat down and crossed her legs.

“Aye.”

“I suppose all the women in Scotland dressed like this. And you call them all, ‘my lady’?”

“Not all the women. But, those who are, I give them their due respect and title.”

He’s kind of strange
.
Drop dead gorgeous, but
strange. Who comes to a different country to visit a
Renaissance fair?

His accent liquefied more than her knees. She was having a hard time concentrating on his words instead of the twinge that tickled her thighs when he talked. If she didn’t know better she would think he was chivalrous.

“Huh. So what? You go around the world checking out Renaissance fairs?”

He shook his head and then laughed a deep rich baritone, starting that tingling sensation again.

“Nay. My brother and I came on a...”

“A vacation?” Tara asked.

“Aye, we came on a vacation.”

“Well you certainly dress the part.”

She stretched out on the cloak.
What is he
thinking about?
Her eyes drifted to his, making her suddenly aware of the seductive picture she presented laying there. Tara squirmed under his pointed stare.

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He shook his head, sat beside her, and removed a flask of wine.

Tara closed her eyes and relaxed, enjoying the sun on her face.

“Would you like some?” He held out a cup.

She opened one eye and fixed her gaze at him.

“It just occurred to me. I don’t even know your name.”

“You haven’t asked.”

Turning to her side, she took the glass. “Okay.

What’s your name?”

“Duncan.”

She nodded in approval. “You look like a Duncan. Tell me, Duncan. You don’t happen to have any cheese or fruit to go with this, do you?”

She was really starting to enjoy herself. When he turned to pull a sack to his lap, and his hair fell in his eyes, Tara longed to push it away. Her fingers actually itched to touch him. It took physical restraint on her part to keep her hands at her side.

“As it so happens...” Duncan produced exactly what she asked for.

“Now this is perfect. What is wine without cheese and fruit?” Glad to have something to do with her hands, other than succumbing to the pictures in her mind of running them through his hair. Tara picked off a few grapes and popped them in her mouth. “So, why did you come to my rescue today?”

“I told you. I needed to apologize.” He watched her nibble. “How is your leg?”

“Fine,” she picked up her skirt. “See, just a scratch. Bled like heck for a while though.”

He tilted his cup back for a long pull off the wine, and an even longer glance at the view of her perfectly shaped thigh. “I hope it didn’t pain you much.”

“No. Just my pride.”

“Your pride?”

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Catherine Bybee

“I don’t usually fall asleep in a crowded room.”

He smirked. “And I don’t usually sit on someone’s lap... uninvited.”

“We’re even then. To a fresh start.” She held her wine to his for a toast.

“A fresh start.” Their eyes caught and held.

His stare was so intense Tara lowered her eyes.

“Did you bring me out here to seduce me?” Now why had she asked that? She regretted the question almost immediately.

When Duncan’s answer didn’t come quickly she glanced up again. He was measuring her question and deciding on an answer.

“I believe ’twas part of my intent.”

“Well, I have to give you points for honesty.”

Tara busied her hands to cover up her nerves. Hands shaking, she attempted to cut off some of the cheese.

Duncan placed a hand over hers and removed the dagger from her fingers. He sliced the cheese and handed her a bite.

Tara felt a spark when their fingers touched.

“I have made you uncomfortable. I am sorry.”

His voice was as polished as his moves.

“It’s okay. I really do applaud your honesty. It’s refreshing in this day and age. So many people lie to get what they want.”

“Truth is important to you?” Duncan looked away.

“Yes. I’ll be honest with you.” Tara took a long-suffering breath and slowly explained what she needed to say. “Having sex with someone I barely know isn’t on my list of things to do today.” The air thickened while she awaited his reply. Her shoulders tensed.

With a straight face he asked, “What about tomorrow?”

Laughter bubbled over. Tears of happiness stung her eyes.

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He laughed along with her. The tension ebbed for the moment.

“Thanks, I really needed that.”

“You didn’t answer the question.”

“Maybe you haven’t noticed.” Tara raked her fingers through her hair emphasizing her point. “But I’ve been deemed the quintessential virgin for this dog and pony show.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t find the question insulting, and wondered why. “Are you?”

“Nay, but I think you know that.”

“Ah, but I wanted to see how you would answer.”

“Points for you, then.”

“So why else did you rescue me, other than the sex part and the apology?” Tara sat back again and allowed herself to unwind for the first time in days.

She watched the water flow down the stream.

“You looked miserable.”

“I was,” she grumbled.

“But you’re not miserable now?” Duncan put the forgotten food to the side and stretched out alongside her. “No.”

“Why don’t you leave? Why stay if you’re unhappy?”

“You remember my friend, the drunken one from last night? This was all her idea. Cassy’s having a ball. I couldn’t ask her to leave.”

“Loyalty. ’Tis a rare quality in a person.”

“Maybe, but Cassy would do the same for me if the situation were reversed. So I’ll stay and deal with all the stares and pointing for a few days. The tournament sounds interesting—should be fun.

Have you been to one before?”

“Aye, I’ve been to them once or twice.”

“What about after,
the ceremony
? Have you seen that?” She picked a flower and started plucking the 41

Catherine Bybee

pedals one by one.

“Aye, but not quite the way they have this one planned.”

“Gwen told us all about it. Handfasting is like an engagement ceremony right?”

He nodded. “Engagement to most, but ‘binding’

when the right words are employed by the right people. Does the ceremony worry you?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “How bad could it be? It’s not like I’m selling my soul or anything. I’ll pretend I’m acting in a play.”

Duncan’s smile faded.

“Gwen gives me the creeps.” Tara finished her wine and sat the glass down.

“Why?”

“First, is her name. Gwen. She doesn’t look like a Gwen. I’ll bet it’s some kind of stage name. Second, her smiles always look so fake. It’s as if she wants everyone to think she’s this great person, when under it all she’s doing all of this for some perverse reason. I mean, why single out virgins? I think if I could read people like her, I would use the gift for something good. Not to announce something as personal as one’s virginity to the world.”