Chapter 6 #2
Kallen’s mouth went dry, and she nervously licked her lips before biting down upon them. She couldn’t guard her words, for she had none to give him.
He laughed. “Surely, the ride hasn’t been that painful? We are but a few hours into our travels, my lady.”
She turned and gazed into his eyes, eyes that were the deepest of blues. That tingling started again, and this time he hadn’t even touched her!
“No, my lord. I am ready to proceed. I just have a few more questions, ‘tis all.”
The nobleman placed her upon Satan’s back and swung up behind her. She adjusted her skirts but tried to remain perched just away from his body.
“Please, my lady, lean into me some. We shall ride again even longer than before. I would think I could cushion you somewhat rather than see you jostled about.”
“Of course,” she murmured, easing back into his hard, muscled chest. His arms came about her as he took the reins and nudged Satan. As they rode, the man she’d spotted passed them. He nodded to Sir Griffith before riding at a quick pace and was soon out of sight.
“Where goes that man, my lord?”
“That man is Sir Rodger, my second-in-command. He rides ahead to check the roads. Nothing for you to worry about, my lady.”
“He’s not to be trusted.” There, she’d said it. Kallen knew she had to get it out, else it would eat at her over the next hours and days.
She turned and studied Sir Griffith as he frowned. “I’d say your fancies run wild today, Lady. Rodger fostered with me and your uncle Crispin. We have fought together in battle. I find no better way to judge a man than one who has swung his sword at your side.”
Kallen reflected on his words. She hesitated before she said, “Yes, I can see he is fit and would be brave in battle. I wish I could explain to you why I feel as I do. I simply tell you he should not have your trust. I fear he is a dangerous man.”
His arms tightened about her. “Do not be evasive with me. If you witnessed something to support such accusations, I will hear it now.”
She saw orange shoots spring forth from him and knew he was very emotional now. It was the first time this particular color sprang from him. Kallen already knew him to be a very controlled man, so the sudden orange came to her as a surprise.
“Nothing specific, my lord. ‘Tis nothing I can justify.”
“A gut feeling, then?” he asked.
Kallen nodded. No further words could explain to him why she felt this way about the man unless she revealed her secret—and she refused to do that.
Her escort kept his eyes steady on the road as she watched him. “We all have those from time to time. Sometimes, they can be wrong, even unreasonable. I thank you for your warning, but I have known Rodger for nigh on a score. I will trust my own instincts in this case.”
Kallen heard the dismissive tone in his voice and kept silent.
Griffith swore he would break the silence that weighed so heavily between them. But league after league, he could think of nothing to say. His anger grew stronger the farther they traveled.
How dare Kallen, a stranger, accuse Rodger of being untrustworthy and dangerous. The little innocent had no experience with what danger truly was. If only she could meet the earl, her father. Then she would know pure evil and deepest treachery.
Why would she fix upon Rodger as a danger? Griffith could not begin to guess what brought Rodger to her attention, much less why she seemed so strong in her conviction.
He took a deep breath and tried to sweep it from his mind, as he did anything that troubled him overmuch.
He neither worried nor let anything disturb him in his present situation.
Let life come as it would; he bore no interest in it.
As for his brief infatuation with the woman seated before him, it was over.
He’d been blindsided by her immense beauty when they’d met, but Griffith Sommersby would be smitten with no woman.
His days of writing romantic poetry and dreaming of a life with a woman he loved were gone forever, banished from his existence.
Griffith realized he pushed their traveling party farther than he’d first wished, a petty reaction to his anger at Kallen. He thought previously to stop once again and then another time to make camp for the night. Instead, they’d ridden on without pause until now.
Dusk would soon arrive. He motioned to those around him. “We’ll make camp in the grove to our left. There’s a stream just beyond it.”
The group rode to the copse and dismounted, the men fully aware of their individual tasks. Some gathered wood to begin a fire, while others brought back water. Two set off and soon returned with their kill, quickly skinning it and tossing bits of meat into a pot already boiling with water.
He realized Kallen watched all of the men perform silently, efficient in their tasks. He’d given her no task to complete on their journey, as befit her station. He did know that she needed to move about to get over her soreness.
Griffith went to her. “My lady, after such a long day in the saddle, ‘tis best for you to move about for some minutes. Your joints will ache with soreness enough when you arise on the morrow. Walk now and you will help them some.”
His tone was even and orderly, and even he realized it lacked the earlier warmth from before.
“I wish to have some time alone to attend to my needs.” She looked about her, and Griffith understood that nature called out to her.
“Come with me.” He escorted her to a private place a short distance from where they set up their camp.
“I shall wait for you here. Take your time.”
Griffith waited some minutes until Kallen returned. As she moved toward him, her beauty, a breath of freshness, struck him again after a long, tiring day.
“I regret my harsh words from earlier,” he apologized. “I would have us be friends. After all, we are almost family.”
Kallen nodded. “I would like that.”
She smiled at him sweetly, and Griffith felt a stirring within him. He couldn’t escape the feeling of wanting to touch her in a most intimate way. How could he remain friendly with her with such thoughts bouncing about his head?
As if to pick a fight and put distance between them, he said, “I hope you have now pushed aside your foolish notions about Sir Rodger.”
His conscience ached as he saw the hurt sweep across her face.
“I wish you could trust me more, my lord. I cannot explain to you why I feel thus, but I implore you to be ever watchful as far as this man is concerned.”
He nodded stiffly and offered her his arm. They returned to the campfire, and he seated Kallen against a tree. He searched around and saw Rodger, a gleam in his eyes as he stared across the way at Kallen.
A wave of emotion flew through Griffith. Jealousy? Anger? He did not bother to try and classify it as he headed toward Rodger.
“Found yourself a new sweetmeat?” Rodger asked idly as Griffith approached him.
He tamped down the urge to strike the man. “Nay, Rodger, do not be vulgar. The lady is concerned, being around so many men. She has spent every night under Mother Superior’s watchful eyes at the nunnery. I merely tried to calm her fears. I assured her we are her protectors.”
Rodger nodded. “That we are, Griffith.”
Still, he suddenly viewed Rodger with new eyes. They had never been close friends, but rather good acquaintances after being thrown together often during the years. He wondered if Kallen saw something he was blind to after so long a time.
Griffith went about setting up guards for the night. He’d take the first watch himself.
And watch Rodger like a hawk.