She leapt up and tried to catch the orb, but he was too quick and swiped it out of the air.
She put her hands on her hips. “Where did you get that? It’s mine, give it back.”
He examined the orb and then raised his brow at her. “It is not yours and if you had it, then I suspect you stole it from a friend of mine.”
“I didn’t steal it, it’s mine. How did you get it? Do you always go through people’s belongings?”
He leapt onto his feet and towered over her. “If you must know, I found it near the brigands’ camp. This keepsake is one of a kind and it belongs to my friend.”
She stepped back so she could see his scowling face more clearly. He really thought he was right.
“Look, buster, you gotta trust me, it’s mine and I have to have it.” Bree’s voice rose in tone with each word. She had to breathe, to regain control, but without the orb, she couldn’t get back to her own time—and she had to go back to Garrett and Laura. She was so happy that he’d found it—she thought she had lost it forever—but the knight couldn’t keep it. It was hers and thank goodness she’d found it before she got any closer to Horland. He was handsome and funny, but there was no way she could think any more deeply about him.
His brows drew together, and he pierced her with his gaze. Even though he wasn’t exactly angry, suspicion filled his expression. Bree swallowed; he must have seen her mother with it, or maybe Aunt Di or Uncle Mark. How was she to convince him it was hers without saying they gave it to her? She drew in her lips. Should she tell him the truth? Would he be able to deal with the truth?
He plunged the orb back into his coat. “Once we meetwith Sir Garlain and his wife and child, they will tell me if I am mistaken. They alone will I believe.”
A shot of confusion ran through Bree. “You think they are together?”
He drew his brows together, so they formed one thick line. “Why would they not be?”
Bree turned her face away and swallowed down a sob. She couldn’t cry—he’d ask too many questions.
She noticed the young girl snap her gaze away and look over the water. The little munchkin was listening.
That didn’t worry Bree; what had her wondering was why the girl appeared startled that Bree caught her eavesdropping. People could be quite mean to children in those days. Perhaps she had been punished for listening to adults’ conversation before. She decided to make sure the girl knew she wasn’t worried about what she overheard and if she wanted to speak more privately in the future, she’d make sure she and Horland weren’t in hearing distance. However, nothing that was said could have gotten Bree in trouble. She was certain of it.
Bree stood up. “Okay then, you keep it until we get to wherever we’re going, but let’s just hurry up and get there.” She patted the girl on her shoulder. “Quickly, get your things together.”
Horland reclined onto his back. “I thought to stay the night here.”
“Why? We’re rested and we still have daylight for some time. We should leave now.”
Horland let out a rush of air from his nostrils as if he was irritated by her.
“Perhaps,” he said. He looked up at the sky, leapt onto his feet, and strode to the fire.
HORLAND MADE SURE THEfire was out and once he packed up his belongings, he marched into the forest uncaring whether the woman from America and her companion followed or not.
He had told Briana he expected Garlain and his wife to be together, and he hoped that was true, but he couldn’t forget that Simone had said Garlain was full of grief at Patricia and their daughter’s disappearance—so much so, he had gone mad.
What could have happened between them since Horland left to travel the kingdom? Had she met someone else? Had she left Garlain for another man? Horland gave a shake of his head. He could not reconcile the couple he left, so in love and adoring of one another, to a couple who had so many problems that one or the other would find solace in another’s arms.
What if they were together in the castle ruins? What if Garlain found Patricia, but in his mad state, he held her against her will? Had he hurt his wife? What of the baby? She would be at least a year old and a babe that young would need caring for.
But what of Princess Morla? Would she be a party to such goings on? Horland didn’t think so, but then he didn’t think he’d come back from his travels to find everyone he knew changed—and they had all changed. He had to find out why and he was glad Briana had insisted they continue their journey.
His heart ached at the loss of his friends, at the thought of what he might find at the ruins. He rubbed his chest, and his hand brushed the trinket. Glancing over his shoulder, he only then noted Briana and the child following. Briana was talking, her face animated, shifting from worried to amused. He smiled. She was telling the child a story.
He tried to listen but most of her words were hushed as ifshe were whispering. He hoped it wasn’t a frightening story. The child was far too young to hear such things.
He caught names he hadn’t heard before. Garrett and Laura. Mayhap he would hear the whole of that story one day.
Mayhap Briana liked to tell stories. He frowned over her attempt to lay claim over Patricia’s possession. Why would she insist she owned the trinket? Surely, she wasn’t so numb-brained as to think Horland would believe her?
He stepped over some dead wood. Her conviction told him she had faith in her words. Her eyes shone with indignation that he didn’t believe her. His step faltered.
“Better watch where you’re going, Sir Knight,” Bree chided. “Or you might fall and crack your skull.”
