“Interesting. I’ve never known her to trust anyone except Bavel that way.”
Yet she didn’t seem to hesitate collapsing against him. It was odd and almost insulting that he bored her to such a state that she constantly fell asleep around him. He didn’t normally elicit such a response from anyone. Most people were extremely reserved in his presence.
“How long have you known her?” he asked Bracken.
He smiled as if the memory warmed him. “We met as children, here in France. Paris actually. I’d come here with my father and was at court, and she was visiting her father that summer.” Amusement radiated from his eyes. “She was livid at being forced to stay in the palace and made to wear finery. Every few minutes, she’d kick off her shoes and tear the wimple and veil from her hair. She said she was suffocating from the weight of her gown. I thought her poor nurse would have apoplexy from dealing with her.”
Lochlan could just imagine her tantrum. “Her father tolerated it?”
The humor fled from his face. “Not a bit. They would whip her and she would laugh, even while there were tears in her eyes from the pain. ‘You can’t make me wear it,’ she’d say bravely. ‘You can beat me until I turn blue, but you’ll never make me wear it.’”
“Why didn’t they give in to her and just let her be?”
“Prince Philip? Now king?” Bracken asked incredulously. “Do you honestly think he’d ever cede any point, especially to a willful child?”
It was true. Philip was known for his iron will and inflexibility. The only opinion that ever mattered was his own. “So what happened?”
“Her uncle stole her away in the middle of the night and took her back to her mother. After that, they left their home and traveled about so that her father could never again command her back to his lands and her station.”
That had been a daring move on their part. It was a wonder Philip hadn’t dragged them back to Paris in chains. “I wonder how he found her this time?”
“There’s no telling. But I doubt she went to him voluntarily.”
Lochlan smiled at the understatement. “You seem to know each other rather well for people who only met once as children.”
Bracken gave him a pointed look. “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?”
“Hardly. I barely know her myself.”
Still suspicion hung heavy on Bracken’s brow. “Since my father knew and liked her mother greatly, he extended an invitation to them to come stay with us during our annual spring festival. For years, they would visit and stay at least a month at our castle in England.”
Now there was a prickling of jealousy inside him. There were years of history between the two of them. He didn’t know why that one fact bothered him, but it did. “No wonder you know her well then.”
“Not as well as I think you mean. Cat has no interest in being tied to any man and she never has. She values her freedom more than any person I’ve ever known.”
But the life of a gypsy was no life for a princess. Traveling with no real home and having been alienated from her father must have been hard on her and her mother. He couldn’t imagine the hardships they must have faced.
Bracken cleared his throat. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked me of my lands and titles.”
Lochlan gave him a sheepish glance. “I thought it might be a sore spot best left undisturbed.”
“Aye, it is. Can you imagine losing everything in the blink of an eye?”
Lochlan looked over his shoulder at Bryce and Julia. In his opinion, Bracken hadn’t lost everything—he still had quite a bit with him. “Aye, I can. I’ve lost one of my brothers.”
Bracken crossed himself. “Then you know what I mean. My deepest condolences.”
“And mine to you as well for your father.”
Bracken inclined his head to him in mutual respect before he let his horse drift behind so that he could ride abreast of his siblings. Lochlan looked down at Catarina, who had one hand tucked none too comfortably against his groin while the other rested in her own lap. Her perfect lips were parted and if they’d been alone, he wasn’t too sure he wouldn’t have sampled them.
But with the others nearby…It would only be a fantasy of his. Dear God, she was beautiful in his arms….
They rode in silence for the rest of the night. It wasn’t until daybreak that they found themselves approaching a small farm.
Bracken came abreast of his horse again. “Have you any more coin?”
“Aye.”
“Then let us see if the farmer would mind putting us up in his barn for a bit. What say you?”
Lochlan had to stifle a yawn. “I couldn’t agree more. Sleep would be most welcome at this point.” He handed Bracken a few coins.
Bracken rode ahead while they stayed back so as not to frighten the farmer or his family. Generally the sight of so many nobles at a French peasant’s home boded ill and they were ever on their guard against foul play.
After a few minutes, Bracken returned with a leg of salted lamb, a jug of mead, and two loaves of bread. “We can sleep in the barn so long as we don’t disturb their animals.”
Lochlan snorted. “I don’t plan to disturb anything more than the hay as I lay myself upon it.”
“I hear you.” Bracken passed the meat and bread to his siblings.
Julia paused as she started to tear a piece. She held the loaf out toward him. “Would you like a bit to eat, Lord Lochlan?”
“Just call me Lochlan, my lady, and I’ll pass. You eat your fill.”
He saw the gratitude in her eyes before she tore her loaf in half and gave it back to Bracken. Lochlan watched as Bracken walked away from them to eat it, but he didn’t miss the way the man tore into the bread like a starving beggar. He ate it so quickly that Lochlan was amazed he didn’t chew his own fingers in the process.
Sympathy for them welled up inside him. No one deserved the misery that had been dealt to them. They appeared to be decent enough people. All they needed was a chance.
“You know, Bracken,” he said as he joined him, “I can always use another trained knight in my company.”
Bracken scoffed as he remounted his horse and led them toward the barn. “I have no sword or armor. I only have a horse because I stole mine back from the king’s own company. What good would I be to you?”
“Retaking what belongs to you is no crime in my book. The offer stands. Armor and swords can be bought.”
Suspicion clouded Bracken’s eyes. “Why would you do such a thing?”
Lochlan met his gaze levelly as he struggled to keep the pain out of his voice and eyes. “Because no son should be held accountable for the actions of his father. Nor should he be judged by them.”
Bracken gave him a hard stare and Lochlan was sure the man understood that he was talking about his own father as well as Bracken’s. “What of my siblings?”
“You’ll need a squire. Bryce appears to be of age for such and my mother would be most delighted to have a young lady to train and dote upon.”
Bracken glanced to Julia and the love and relief in his eyes was almost tangible. It was obvious he’d been more than concerned about her welfare on the road. Even so, he wasn’t about to subject them to complete charity. “We will pay our way.”
“Of that I have no doubt.”
Bracken held his arm out to him. “Then I’m your man.”
Keeping Catarina cradled against him, Lochlan shook his arm and nodded. “Welcome to the MacAllister clan.”
Tears glistened in Julia’s eyes. “We have a home again? Truly?”
“Aye, love,” Bracken said, his voice breaking. “It appears we do.”
She let out a squeal before she ran to Bryce and hugged him. “Did you hear that, brother? We have a home!”
“I heard until you screamed in my ear. Now I fear I shall never hear again.”
She shoved playfully at him. “Oh shush, Lord Grump. You’re just as excited as I am and you know it.”
A small smile fro
m the moody adolescent confirmed it before he mumbled under his breath and walked away.
Bracken held Lochlan’s horse while he slid to the ground with Catarina in his arms. She didn’t even stir. “I swear this woman could sleep through most anything.”
“Aye. She’d be the perfect mate for a man who snores.”
Lochlan laughed. “True enough.” He carried Catarina into the barn, where Julia quickly made a makeshift pallet for her. Laying her down, he covered her with his cloak. Her cheeks were bright from her slumber and her black hair coiled becomingly around her face. Damn, but she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, especially when she was silent and not tormenting him.
Bracken paused beside him. “You keep staring at her like that, and I’m going to suspect you’re infatuated with her.”
He scoffed at Bracken’s words. “I’m too old for infatuation.”
“We’re never too old for infatuation.”
Of course they were. He was a man full grown and would soon be married to another…if he ever got back and proposed. Infatuations were for children and silly women, not men.
Disregarding Bracken’s words, he went to unsaddle his horse and make it as comfortable as possible while Bracken and Bryce tended theirs. Julia made the pallets, then went instantly to sleep.
Bryce was next to follow her, then Bracken. As he followed them, Lochlan made sure to take his sword to the pallet with him. He placed himself between Bryce and Catarina on the floor. Cradling the blade to his side, he closed his eyes and was instantly asleep.
But even so, dreams of Catarina tormented him. He could see and hear her laughing with him, feel her body against his. It was the most pleasurable thought imaginable. Oh to have her with him like that forever…
Impossible thoughts those. She was a woman who refused to be tied down and he was a man whose restraints were never to be broken. He couldn’t travel about. He had too many duties and responsibilities for such frivolity.
But his dreams didn’t care about that. Here, he was free to be with her and, honestly, it was a sweet moment that left him smiling even in his sleep.
Cat woke up to a foreign noise. Still exhausted, she opened one eye to find herself enveloped by a warm body. Her back was against someone’s chest while one heavy masculine arm held her close. Even the backs of her thighs rested against his.
A quick survey of the barn to see Bracken lying asleep a few feet from her told her exactly who held her. Lochlan. A smile curled her lips as she tilted her head up to see him sound asleep over her.
Goodness, he was a handsome man. The stubble on his face seemed so out of place and at the same time it added a wildness to him that was absolutely compelling. She wondered if he even knew he held her like this. Given the rigidity of his personality, she doubted it.
He must have reached out to her in his sleep. Good thing that since Bryce was only a few inches from them. No doubt Lochlan would have been most horrified to be curled up against the boy.
Smiling at the thought, she impulsively laced her fingers with his. His hand was so much larger than hers that it amazed her. His fingers were long and well tapered. Meticulously clean and strong. He had a small gold signet ring on his smallest finger. It was engraved with the MacAllister crest of a lion and thistle.
As she turned it slightly on his finger, she again heard the sound that had awakened her. It was a group of horses.
She tensed and waited to see how close they would come. They stopped not far from the barn. But her relief was short-lived as she heard a man’s gruff voice.
“Ho, good farmer. We’re searching for someone.”
Chapter 6
Cat sat up immediately and shook Lochlan awake. She covered his mouth with her hand as he started to speak and motioned for him to listen.
“Who are you seeking, sir?”
“The worst sort of miscreant. He calls himself Le Faucon and is traveling with two boys. His brothers, we believe.”
“Ah, nay, sir. We’ve seen no such persons here.”
“Are you sure? The crown is offering quite a reward for any information that leads to the arrest of this thief.”
“Then I most certainly wish to claim it, but unfortunately, he’s never been seen here.”
“Very well. Should you hear of anything—”
“I won’t hesitate to let the local sheriff know.”
“Good day to you then.”
“Good day, sir.”
Cat didn’t breathe again until she heard the men ride off. She offered Lochlan a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry I woke you. I thought it was more pressing than it turned out to be.”
“Nay, lass. You did well. It could have been dire indeed.” He scratched at the stubble on his chin. “You should probably wake the others so that we can be on our way. The next group that comes calling could very well be seeking us.”
She didn’t like the sound of that, but knew he was most likely right. Scrambling away from him, she quickly did as he asked.
Bracken groaned as soon as she poked his shoulder to wake him. “Have kindness for me, Cat. Slide a blade between my ribs and leave me here to sleep.”
She shoved playfully at him. “Get up, you louse. The daylight’s wasting.”
He harrumphed at her. “You’re an evil shrew. Unlike someone I could name, I didn’t spend half the night sleeping in a man’s arms.”
“I didn’t know you had such fantasies, Bracken. I don’t know if Lochlan would concur, but—”
“Don’t you even…” he snapped, rising immediately. He gave Lochlan an indignant grimace. “Did you hear her, Lochlan? I’m not sure which of us was most insulted.”
His eyes actually twinkled. “I think her insult was definitely directed toward you.”
“You would,” Bracken grumbled as he made his way out of the stable.
Julia laughed at her brother’s surliness. “Never mind him. He’s always disagreeable whenever he wakes.”
“’Tis true,” Bryce concurred before he yawned. “Father used to say that if our castle was ever breached, he hoped the invaders broke into Bracken’s room while he slept. Then he’d be like a berserker and defeat them all just to have a few moments more of rest.”
Cat smiled even though a part of her ached at the tale. She remembered their father—tall like Bracken, he’d been a kind, gentle man and she couldn’t imagine how he’d ever been labeled a traitor. The loss of him would have to weigh tragically on all three of them. It made her heart ache.
After Bracken’s return, she and Julia went to attend their needs while the men readied the horses. By the angle of the sun in the sky, she’d guess it was just before midday. All in all, she felt rested—Lochlan had made an excellent cushion in the night. But it was late in the day to start their journey. She only hoped that the others weren’t exhausted.
The two of them knelt on the ground to wash their faces in a small stream. Cat shook her head as she remembered what had awakened her. “Julia? Have you ever heard of a thief called Faucon?”
The girl actually paled. “Why do you ask?”
“That was what woke me. I heard a group of men asking the farmer about him and I was wondering if you’d heard of him in your journeys.”
Cat wouldn’t have believed it possible had she not seen it, but Julia actually paled even more. She sprang to her feet and rushed back to the barn.
She hurried after her, wondering what was up. By the time she entered the barn, Julia had Bracken by his arm.
“Bracken, we must hurry.”
He frowned at his sister before he disentangled his arm from her grasp. “Why?”
“Cat said there were men here, seeking you.”
He cursed.
Cat scowled at them as she finally understood what was going on. “You’re Faucon?”
There was no pride in his face, only a look of deep resignation. “Aye, indeed. And don’t look at me like that, Cat. You’ve been taken care of all your life. You have no idea what it’s like
to bear the responsibility of a loved one’s belly and health. Trust me. It makes you do things you would never think yourself capable of.”
“Hunger has no morals,” Lochlan said quietly.
She saw the relief in Bracken’s eyes as he realized he was in the presence of someone who wouldn’t judge him for what he’d done to protect his siblings. Cat was trying hard not to. But she’d been taught from the cradle that it was better to starve to death than to take even a morsel from someone else to feed herself.
However, her morals had never been tested and she knew Bracken to be a fair and decent man. If he had stolen, then truly he would have had no other recourse.
Cat offered him an understanding smile. “I don’t condemn you for what you’ve done, Bracken. I’m just hurt that you’ve been reduced to this.”
His eyes burned into her. “Believe me, no one is sadder over it than I am.”
Cat stepped forward and hugged him. “You’re a good man, Bracken and well I know it. Have no fear that I think any less of you.”
“Thank you,” he whispered before he stepped away from her as if embarrassed by her actions.
“We just have to make sure no one recognizes him.” Lochlan opened his saddlebags and pulled out two of his tunics. “It’ll be a bit large for Bryce, but you should find it a good fit.”
Cat noted the way Bracken ran his hand over the fine linen. She could tell that the man had never thought to touch its like again. No one would mistake them for peasants or thieves wearing those garments.
Taking a cue from Lochlan, she fished one of her gowns out and handed it to Julia, who beamed like a child on a Christmas Day feast.
“’Tis lovely! Thank you, Cat, thank you.”
She inclined her head to the girl, who practically ran for privacy so that she could change her clothes while her brothers exchanged their tunics immediately. Cat averted her gaze, but the flash of Bracken’s well-muscled chest made her think about Lochlan’s. How strange that was what her desire would be directed to and not at the beautiful body before her. Rather it was the man to her left that she wanted to see naked.
You have lost your mind.