Read Online Forever Her Champion by Suzan Tisdale - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Suzan Tisdale
Ads: Link
thing.”
“Why nae?” she demanded.
He could not very well explain to her the real reason; he didn’t want to see her hurt. “Because I dunnae want to.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “That is nae a good reason.”
“’Tis as good a reason as any,” he told her as politely as he could manage. “I’ll nae be takin’ ye.”
Angrily, she picked up her blanket and her bundle. “Verra well,” she said through gritted teeth. “I no longer desire your help. I will get there on my own.”
Stomping away from the camp, back toward the stream, she left Aiden Macgullane alone.
Was she completely mad? Did she fully intend on walking the rest of the way alone, without escort or weapon? There could be highwaymen and brigands all about these parts. What if she came upon them or they her? ’Twas doubtful she could defend herself against one man, let alone a band of them.
Why should he care what happened to her? If she were set upon by such men, she would have no one but herself to blame. She was allowing her anger and that deep-seated need to know who her real father was to propel her forward. ’Twas not common sense that guided her. A fool should pay the price for their own actions. Isn’t that what he’d been taught?
Then why the bloody hell was he feeling guilty? Or worried? Or concerned for someone he hadn’t seen in nearly four and ten years? The fact that he did care left him feeling disgusted with himself. He had been trained to be a ruthless, cold-hearted killer. A mercenary of unparalleled proportions. Had they not beaten every ounce of compassion for his fellow men out of him?
He had escaped that life two years ago, had left it behind, along with the identity his masters had given him when he was but twelve years old. His only goal since had been to run as far away from his past and his demons as he could manage. He’d taken up drinking in order to numb himself from feeling anything. And he’d done a good job of it, save for the nightly assault of his dreams.
Until now.
He did care. He did worry.
Bloody hell.
3
“ G et on the horse ,” Aiden ground out, frustrated at her stubbornness.
Ignoring his plea, she continued to traipse through the woods, her bundle tossed over her shoulder, hips swaying from side to side. “I do nae wish to,” she told him.
It had taken time to saddle his horse, repack his meager supplies and change his clothes. ’Twas not difficult to find the object of his consternation. Now he was doing his best to persuade the stubborn woman to allow him to help.
He sat atop his horse as she continued her determined pace. “I told ye ten times now that I be sorry. Now stop and mount.”
“And I’ve told ye ten times ‘nay’. I do nae want ye to feel beholden to me. I can take care of myself.”
He laughed in disbelief. “Aye, I can see just how well ye can take care of yourself.”
A felled tree blocked her path so she decided to climb over it. “What does that mean?”
Loosening his hold on the reins, he draped his wrists over the pommel. “Ye be as skinny as me broadsword. I could snap ye in two with one hand. That tells me ye have eaten well of late,” he said sarcastically. “Ye be what? Nine and ten? Ye should be married and workin’ on yer second bairn by now. But here ye are, plodding through the dark woods, and ye be headin’ in the wrong direction.”
She paused to study her surroundings, her angry glare turning to a look of confusion and doubt.
“Aye, lass. Ye’ve been headin’ south fer the past hour.” He tried to keep the amusement out of his voice.
Lifting her skirts, she turned around to head back the way she’d come.
“Now ye’re headed east. The road ye seek is north and west, lass. Ye keep goin’ in that direction, and ye’ll end up walkin’ into the sea.” Try as he might, he could not help but smile at her predicament. At this rate, ‘twould take her a year just to find the proper road. If she weren’t set upon by thieves
“Why nae?” she demanded.
He could not very well explain to her the real reason; he didn’t want to see her hurt. “Because I dunnae want to.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “That is nae a good reason.”
“’Tis as good a reason as any,” he told her as politely as he could manage. “I’ll nae be takin’ ye.”
Angrily, she picked up her blanket and her bundle. “Verra well,” she said through gritted teeth. “I no longer desire your help. I will get there on my own.”
Stomping away from the camp, back toward the stream, she left Aiden Macgullane alone.
Was she completely mad? Did she fully intend on walking the rest of the way alone, without escort or weapon? There could be highwaymen and brigands all about these parts. What if she came upon them or they her? ’Twas doubtful she could defend herself against one man, let alone a band of them.
Why should he care what happened to her? If she were set upon by such men, she would have no one but herself to blame. She was allowing her anger and that deep-seated need to know who her real father was to propel her forward. ’Twas not common sense that guided her. A fool should pay the price for their own actions. Isn’t that what he’d been taught?
Then why the bloody hell was he feeling guilty? Or worried? Or concerned for someone he hadn’t seen in nearly four and ten years? The fact that he did care left him feeling disgusted with himself. He had been trained to be a ruthless, cold-hearted killer. A mercenary of unparalleled proportions. Had they not beaten every ounce of compassion for his fellow men out of him?
He had escaped that life two years ago, had left it behind, along with the identity his masters had given him when he was but twelve years old. His only goal since had been to run as far away from his past and his demons as he could manage. He’d taken up drinking in order to numb himself from feeling anything. And he’d done a good job of it, save for the nightly assault of his dreams.
Until now.
He did care. He did worry.
Bloody hell.
3
“ G et on the horse ,” Aiden ground out, frustrated at her stubbornness.
Ignoring his plea, she continued to traipse through the woods, her bundle tossed over her shoulder, hips swaying from side to side. “I do nae wish to,” she told him.
It had taken time to saddle his horse, repack his meager supplies and change his clothes. ’Twas not difficult to find the object of his consternation. Now he was doing his best to persuade the stubborn woman to allow him to help.
He sat atop his horse as she continued her determined pace. “I told ye ten times now that I be sorry. Now stop and mount.”
“And I’ve told ye ten times ‘nay’. I do nae want ye to feel beholden to me. I can take care of myself.”
He laughed in disbelief. “Aye, I can see just how well ye can take care of yourself.”
A felled tree blocked her path so she decided to climb over it. “What does that mean?”
Loosening his hold on the reins, he draped his wrists over the pommel. “Ye be as skinny as me broadsword. I could snap ye in two with one hand. That tells me ye have eaten well of late,” he said sarcastically. “Ye be what? Nine and ten? Ye should be married and workin’ on yer second bairn by now. But here ye are, plodding through the dark woods, and ye be headin’ in the wrong direction.”
She paused to study her surroundings, her angry glare turning to a look of confusion and doubt.
“Aye, lass. Ye’ve been headin’ south fer the past hour.” He tried to keep the amusement out of his voice.
Lifting her skirts, she turned around to head back the way she’d come.
“Now ye’re headed east. The road ye seek is north and west, lass. Ye keep goin’ in that direction, and ye’ll end up walkin’ into the sea.” Try as he might, he could not help but smile at her predicament. At this rate, ‘twould take her a year just to find the proper road. If she weren’t set upon by thieves
Similar Books
