He regarded her solemnly.
“Aye, I think we can do it. Or die trying—there is no other way,” she answered herself.
Garrick mounted the stairs just as Maudya was coming down. “Where is Brenna?” he barked at her. “If she has turned stubborn because of this morn, I will take a switch to her.”
Maudya blanched at his anger. “I was just coming to find you, Master Garrick. She has not returned yet. She has been gone all afternoon, and I fear some—”
“Gone where?” he interrupted her, his eyes narrowing.
Maudya became all flustered and started weeping. “She said she was going riding—to ease her pain—because of the way you chastised her this morn.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“I was not supposed to tell you, but only to say that she felt like riding for a while, and would soon return. She has not, and I fear some harm may have come to her.”
“What harm?”
“The Borgsens slaughtered a dog while you were away. Some of us feel that soon they will tire of killing animals and the slaves will be next.”
“What is it, Garrick?” Anselm asked from the foot of the stairs.
Garrick joined him, his brows knitted together. “The girl says Brenna has been gone since morn, riding on that horse you gave her, no doubt.”
“She is pleased with the gift, then?”
“Pleased, aye. Pleased enough not to return. Maudya thinks the Borgsens may have done her harm.”
“Nay, I know Latham Borgsen too well. He would not resort to such foul play. I would stake my life on it.”
“I agree, which can only mean Brenna has run away,” Garrick said acidly. “You give her to me, then you give her the means to escape me.”
“You cannot blame me for this, Garrick,” Anselm returned angrily. “You forget I was in the hall this morn. I do not know what you said to the girl, but I recognized your tone. You were overly harsh, I think.”
Garrick stared furiously at his father. “You saw how she was dressed! She came into the hall nearly naked. And ’twas intentional, I’ll wager. She is the tease her sister claimed. She would have every man besotted by her.”
“I saw none of that, only the concern in her eyes for you. And how do you greet her? With naught but anger. You have much to learn of women, son. ’Tis no wonder she ran away from you.”
Garrick stiffened at his father’s words. “You act as if you care more for the girl than you do me. Is this so?”
“Nay, but I understand her better than you.”
“I have no doubt of that, for I understand her not at all.”
Anselm chuckled. “I will help you find her.”
“Nay, this I will do myself,” Garrick replied adamantly.
“She needs a lesson taught that she will not soon forget.”
“Garrick!”
“Do not interfere, father. You washed your hands of Brenna when you gave her to me.”
Anselm sighed, staring after Garrick’s retreating back. He had been amused this morn when Garrick had taken exception to Bayard’s jesting remark about Brenna, saying she had changed too quickly from a wildcat to a purring kitten and that it could only be a ruse. ’Twas obvious Garrick did not like that possibility, even though it was said in jest.
Garrick’s reaction gave Anselm reason to think Garrick really did care for the girl. Only yesterday he had said to all that he would not share her. Now this. Ah, would the two young people forever be at odds with each other?
Brenna stirred her small fire and added more sticks before she lay down for a few hours’ sleep. She was pleasantly sated after sharing a plump, roasted hare with Dog. Willow was covered and settled for the night, and Dog lay at her feet on a pallet of old furs.
