"Why?"Izzy asked as fear flickered through her eyes. Did she doubt he could keep her safe? After what he had just done to get her back from their vile grasp, she would question such a thing?
"I'm too focused on takin'care of ye," he answered. "It puts a target on us. Makes us look weak. If ye stand and put on a brave face, even in the face of death, then ye just might get that chance to run away."
"I takeit you've been in many battles to have such knowledge."
"Fightin'is nae what is the important part. In the heat of the fray, that's where a man is forged and molded. Either that moment is goin' to shape ye, or ye'll shape it. And that goes for both the lads and the lasses. Survival is a learned skill. Ye'll learn to harness it quickly or die."
"I suppose a thankyou is in order then. You came for me. You saved me. Again," Izzy observed. Her voice was light, almost as if it were the breeze itself skipping through the valley.
"Ye saythat as if ye werenae expectin' it."
Izzy shookher head as Aaron led her to the blacksmith stables. He pushed through the doors and brought her up to the last stall.
"If I'm being truthful,I didn't think you would. I figured you'd be glad to see me gone. Then the King wouldn't have anything to say other than what a freak accident."
"I wishit were that simple, but knowin' me luck, the King will think I hired the men to get rid of ye, and then I'd be walkin' up to the gallows for treason. Nay, thank ye. If I'm bein' honest, I'd rather marry ye than go through that mess."
Izzy tried to flash a smile,but it looked weak and frail. "I suppose there is an adverse reaction to one losing their life. Still, I am grateful. Thank you."
Aaron couldn't helpbut let out a hearty chuckle. Izzy's dry, cynical humor was unexpected. Her eyes widened as he opened the stall to get his horse.
"Ye're welcome,"he answered over his shoulder. "But I wish ye'd do as I say."
"Areyou saying getting taken hostage was my fault?" she asked, her voice pitching with emotion.
"Aye,"he sternly answered. "It is. To say otherwise, ye'd be foolin' yerself."
"I didn't askto be picked up by that brute."
"And didI nae tell ye to leave the child be? If ye would have listened, we would still be enjoyin' the festival, maybe even enjoyin' some of that plum cake I was tellin' ye about."
Izzy openedher mouth to protest only to clamp it shut and drop her shoulders in defeat.
"I thought they were in trouble,"Izzy tried to explain as Aaron watched her fight back the tears. Watching her eyes redden cracked the icy wall around his heart. He didn't want to make her cry, but she had to learn if she was going to survive in these parts.
"That'swhat they wanted ye to think. But I'm sure once ye have yer own bairn, ye'll be able to hear the difference in the cry," he said as he guided his horse out of the stable. As soon as they were out in the open, Aaron hoisted Izzy up into the saddle.
"You speakas if you have a child."
Aaron shookhis head as his thoughts shifted to Chloe . He pulled in a long deep breath and pushed aside the memory before it could draw out his tears.
"Aye well,Chloe is me sister, but I helped raise her from day one," he answered as he climbed into the saddle behind Izzy. Her body warmed his inner thighs and tempted him. He looked up to the sky as if expecting his help to come from the heavens before reaching around to grab the reins. "I ken it's nae the same, but I'm sure there's more than plenty similarities, and I never heard her cry so calmly."
