Horland couldn’t believe his ears. The woman was completely numb-brained. “You wanted nothing else but to go to Frother. Why change your mind when you have transport awaiting you?”
BREE UNDERSTOOD HEwas probably confused, but she couldn’t really explain her reasoning, not at that moment anyway. She threw Horland a wry smile and placing a hand on the little girl’s back, steered her toward the back of the wagon.
The girl once again ducked away and ran to Horland’s side. Bree frowned. “What now? Don’t you want to go to Frother? Isn’t that where your parents are? Surely they’ll be worried about you.”
“I’m sorry, Sir Horland, but we have to go,” Monty said. “If we don’t arrive in time, we will lose the chance to be the king’s choice of cheese.”
The little girl crossed her arms and stood solid, refusing to move. Briana sighed. She could understand the little thing forming an attachment for the knight. He was brave, strong, and kind. In another place and time, Bree might have been tempted by him also.
“Please go,” she told the driver. “And thank you for being so patient. Good luck with your cheese.”
“Wait.” Horland glared at Bree. “Both of you get in that wagon now. I am leaving and I am leaving alone.”
Bree folded her arms across her chest and stood erect and defiant. “No.”
The driver chuckled. “Best wishes, Sir Horland.” He flicked the reins, and the horse moved forward, pulling the wagon down the road.
Rose gave them an apologetic look.
Mayland stretched his head around the front of the covered wagon and waved. “Goodbye and thank you, Sir Horland.”
Horland stared after the vehicle for a second then rounded on Bree. “You can wait here for another wagon. I am leaving.”
He strode toward the forest and Bree trotted to keep up. “You can’t leave us. What if that was the last wagon? It’s getting late and there might not be any more people going to Frother today. We can’t stay here all night by ourselves, can we, kid?”
The child shook her head, her eyes pleading with Horland.
Bree patted her on the shoulder. The girl might not be able to talk, but she was quick on the uptake.
“I must go if I am to end my mission, and you cannot come with me. You will not only slow me down, but the forest is dangerous, too dangerous for a woman and a child.”
Bree wanted to argue but then wondered if she should tell him she knew Sir Garlain. Maybe if he knew she wanted to see him too, he would be more obliging. She gave him her sweetest smile, but he still glowered at her.
“Fine, go then. We’ll be okay here without you.” She turned her head so he couldn’t see her eyes and winked at the girl. “Won’t we, kid?”
The girl’s eyes widened a touch, but then she nodded and waved goodbye to Horland.
Wow, shewasa clever thing. Bree waved also.
A frown crossed Horland’s face before he turned on his heels and marched into the forest.
The girl moved to follow him, and Bree clasped the back of her coat. “Not yet,” Bree whispered. “Let him think he’s lost us. We know which way he’s going, and we’ll catch up before he gets to the fork in the path.”
Several minutes later, Bree took the girl’s hand and they followed Horland.
“I wish you could talk,” Bree said after a while. “I know why I wanted to go with the knight, but I’d like to know why you didn’t want to leave him.”
She smiled up at Bree.
Bree grinned. “Hmm, I think we’ve both got secrets, huh?”
The girl nodded and dashed after Horland.
Bree threw her hands up in the air and hurried to catch up. She pulled the girl up. “Not so fast. He’ll hear us.”
The sun was sinking below the treetops, but the light still made its way through enough that Bree could easily see the path they trod. She was thankful there were no clouds and that she hadn’t experienced the English wet weather Abby and Izzy talked about.
Late in the afternoon, they came to the three-fork corner in the path. Bree had to take a second to remember the way they’d come earlier, so she stood on each track one by one.
