Page 46 of The Last Viking

That was the last straw. The jerk had crossed over the line. “You’re fired, mister.”

“Fired? Oh, I am fired, for a certainty. So fired I could take you now, on the ground, and plow you to Hel and back.”

“Not that kind of fired, you lech. You’re dismissed. No longer employed on this project. I don’t want you here anymore.”

Meredith inhaled sharply at her own harsh words. Her blistering fury had caused her to lash out without thinking. She wished she could take back her words, especially when Rolf drew himself tall with wounded pride. “I didn’t mean—”

He put up a halting hand. “Dismissed, you say? You don’t want me, you say?” His words hit her like daggers. “So be it!”

With heart pounding and eyes misting with tears, Meredith watched as Rolf stormed toward the house. And presumably out of her life.

The wench was looking whey-faced and miserable when she came into her homestead a short time later, but he did not care. No one—man or woman—insulted his honor and walked away unscathed. If she were a man, she would be dead now…or sorely bruised.

“Rolf, I’m sorry if I offended you,” she stammered out.

He could see that her pride had been damaged as well, and that the words came hard. Good. He’d removed his modern raiment and donned his leather tunic with the talisman belt. Now he was setting aside the comfortable running boots and pulling on his stiff leather, cross-tied boots. Let her be reminded that he was a Viking, not some weak-sapped modern man that she could push here and there like a lump of dough.

With a sneer of distaste, he realized that already his man-parts felt a chill without a loincloth. And he would no doubt have blisters on his heels from the chafing of his skin boots, which had shrunk in the ocean brine. Bloody hell! A few days in this strange land and I am getting soft.

She put a hand on his arm. “Rolf—”

“Unhand me,” he said stiffly and stepped away. He had to be careful. The wench muddled his senses every time she got within a hairsbreadth of him. Oh, wonderful! Now her eyes are filling with tears. Here it comes. She will try every feminine wile to bend me to her will. But I won’t abide such cajolery. I won’t!

Taking one of the silver armlets from his upper arm, he handed it to her. “This is recompense for the money you have advanced me. I will no longer be working on your longship.”

She tried to give it back but he sidestepped her.

“When Mike arrives in the morn, I’ll give him the other armlet. Perchance he can find a money broker who will purchase it so that I’ll have enough funds for food and supplies to complete my longship.”

“Are you crazy? Those bracelets are probably worth several hundred thousand dollars.”

He shrugged.

“Listen, I spoke hastily when I came outside because I was upset. My whole family just announced that they’re coming here.”

“Why did you not deny them your consent?”

Her head snapped up as if that thought had never occurred to her. My brother Magnus is right. Females do have lesser intelligence.

“They didn’t ask.”

He snorted with disgust. “No trouble did you have in finding the words to castigate me.”

“Oh, you just don’t understand. My parents badger me with politely spoken condemnations. My brother takes advantage of my fondness for him. My sister banks on my guilt and sense of responsibility.” She rolled her shoulders helplessly. “It’s easier to give in than argue with them.”

“’Tis never easier, or best, to give in without a fight. It sets a precedent, and forever after you are easy prey for those who would chip away at your armor.”

Her face brightened at his understanding. “That’s exactly what has happened. They use me.”

“Just as you were using me?”

Her face fell. “No. Of course not. Well, no more than you were using me.”

He had rolled up several blankets and was now tossing some apples and several biscuits into their center. “If you do not mind, I have borrowed these blankets till I can purchase some bed furs on the morrow. The food I will need to break fast since you have warned me against snaring any wild game and cooking it on an open fire.”

“Wh-what? You’re still going? But where?”

“Just outdoors. I’ll sleep under the stars near my longship. Even though I no longer work on your project, I must needs complete my boat to return home.”