“Is something wrong? Did I say something wrong?”
“No. I just…” Her gaze skittered away and remained averted, focusing on the stream. “I just got uncomfortable for some reason.”
If she’d been able to read my mind a moment ago, she’d have been very uncomfortable indeed. Merely the mention of the word “tender” had sent my thoughts off in inappropriate directions once again.
“I think I might be a little punchy from the sporadic sleep schedule,” she laughed.
“I understand, believe me. I think the horses are rested enough, though. Shall we ride again?” I asked.
She nodded. As we walked back toward Cimmerian, she said, “I was thinking… maybe you could teach me what to do as we’re riding, so I could, you know… learn what I’m doing on horseback. That way we could maybe… switch up the riding pairings from time to time. For the horses’ sake.”
She didn’t want to ride with me.
My lips pressed together in a bitter smile, and my stomach hardened, but my mood instantly rebounded when something occurred to me.
Was it possible her discomfort with it stemmed from the same source as mine did?
Attraction?
A pulse low in my belly replaced the tension, and a sense of lightness caused my limbs to tingle with fresh energy.
Perhaps I was completely delusional, but I was beginning to wonder if Raewyn felt the same kind of chemistry with me as I did with her. Based on some of her body language and reactions today, I was entertaining the notion.
She’d looked at me, too, back in the cave when I was shirtless. Not just a glance—she’dlooked.
And once again I condemned myself as a bad brother. Stellon had entrusted me with Raewyn’s safety.
That wasallI should allow myself to think about when it came to her.
“Of course,” I agreed as I boosted her onto the stallion’s back. “It’s a good idea. You should definitely know how to ride. After all, Ruby will be yours when we get to our destination. And after you learn, you’ll be able to teach the girls.”
“I never imagined we’d own a horse,” she said.
Looking down at me from atop Cimmerian’s back, Raewyn appeared as though she was about to say something of import, but then she simply said, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I helped her father onto his horse and lifted the girls up to sit in front of him. Instead of placing the reins in his hands this time, I threaded a lead rope through her bit rings and stretched the line out to attach it to Cimmerian’s saddle.
“For this leg of the journey, you won’t have to worry about watching the path, so to speak,” I said to Wyll. “I’ve got a lead line on Ruby here, and she’ll just follow my horse. I thought the girls might start getting tired. It’s fine for them to doze now if they want to.”
“Thank you. Mighty thoughtful,” the old man said.
“I’m not tired,” Tindra protested, but only an hour into our ride, I looked back and saw both little girls sleeping, draped over their father’s protective arms.
“How is he?” Raewyn asked anxiously.
She was supposed to be focusing on guiding Cimmerian the way I’d instructed her, but obviously her mind was wandering to her family trailing behind us.
“Looks like he’s holding up okay,” I said. “You sound worried. What’s his problem? You mentioned his back before.”
Keeping her voice down so she wouldn’t be overheard, she explained.
“My father was badly injured during the Rebellion. Until recently he was in constant pain and barely able to walk upright. Sorcha cured him, but I’m worried it won’t last… since I failed to render payment.”
“You mean since I’m still breathing,” I quipped.
“Exactly. I’m not sure how the Earthwives’ spells work,” she said, “or if they outlast the one who casts them. His pain and disability could return the moment she’s executed.”
