Heart's Ransom (Heart and Soul) (5 page)

Talon spun the animal and glared at Gwen as she laughed.

“Oh that was wonderful, Talon,” she cried joyously.

He tried to be angry with her, he really did, but seeing her so happy melted the ice around his heart.  He found himself chuckling.  He folded his arms over the saddle bow and leaned forward.  “Where, in all of God’s creation, did you learn to ride like that?”

She smiled brightly, her eyes as green as the grass of the meadow.  “My brother wasn’t nearly as mean as my father.  He taught me a few tricks here and there.”

So that’s why she rode with such skill.  A knight had to be able to control his mount without his hands, using his legs and seat.  His admiration for her levered up a few notches.

She frowned, looking past him at the road that continued into the woods.  “Where does that go?”

“It wanders a bit, stopping at an offshoot of the Severn and a nice little glade.”  He paused, his smile growing.  “It’s actually quite beautiful.  Would you like to see it?”

“I’d love to Talon.”

“But you have to promise me one thing.  No more races unless I actually agree to them before you take off.”

She gave him an adorable little pout then sighed.  “Very well, if you insist.”

“I do.”

They waited for his knights to catch up then Talon led her into the forest.

The road ended at the edge of a wide but shallow stream.  The glade stretched around them, littered with a few large gray boulders, and carpeted with thick grass.  The giant oaks and smaller ash trees grew so thick they offered a dense canopy overhead.  Streams of golden sunshine cascaded through the leaves.  Patches of blooming lavender added even more color and filled the air with a soothing fragrance.

Talon inhaled deeply and dismounted, wondering why he had stayed away so long.  He led his mount to the stream to drink.

“Oh Talon,” Gwen whispered, her voice soft with reverence.  “It’s beautiful.”

He glanced over his shoulder and shot a grin at her.

Her eyes were wide as she stared.  “It’s so perfect.”

His smile faded slightly.  “Perfect?”

She dismounted before he had a chance to help her.  Abruptly she walked away from him, approaching Aaron instead.

Talon’s humor vanished instantly.  His eyes narrowed as Gwen spoke softly to Aaron.  Was there something he was not aware of?  His lip curled slightly and his hands tightened into fists.  Aaron was his knight, the highest ranking baron in his earldom and his same age.  Talon relied heavily on him.  Marcus was Talon’s second in command when it came to Montgomery, but when it came to battle, Aaron was his man.

“Aye lady,” Aaron said, a soft laugh rumbling through him.  He winked at her.

Fury shot through Talon, blinding him for an instant but also startling him with its intensity.

Suddenly Aaron turned his mount and led his men away.

Talon spluttered, trying to regain some control of his rage.  “Where are you going?” he snarled.

“Worry not, my lord,” Aaron said as he glanced over his shoulder.  “We are going to spread out and scout the area.  Just to make certain there is no danger to you or your lady.”

All right,
Talon’s mind agreed. 
Scouting is good.
  Suddenly he blinked.  “
My
lady?” he roared.

Aaron simply laughed and waved at him, the men vanishing into the trees.

He saw Gwen trying to stifle a laugh, gazing at him with a peculiar glint in her eyes.

What the hell was going on?

She moved to her horse and pulled a large blanket out of her saddle pack then spread it on the ground.

Talon’s jaw went slack as he watched her.

Gwen returned to her bags and pulled out a loaf of bread, cheese, and wine.

Sheer terror shot through him.  “Aaron, get back here now!”

No answer, no movement in the trees.

“Aaron!” he bellowed.  “If you do not come back now I will confiscate all of your lands.”

The only thing he heard was Gwen giggling.

“Do I not have control of my own men anymore?”

“Now, Talon,” Gwen said reprovingly.  “They are only seeing to your safety and making sure there is no danger to you in these woods.”

He yanked his horse from the stream and stalked toward her until he towered over her and she had to crane her neck to look up at him.  But she did not back away.  “Why do I have the feeling the only danger to me in these woods is you?  Have you poisoned the wine, my lady?”

Hurt flashed so vividly across her expression that Talon instantly regretted his words.  But anger immediately followed.  “Nay,” she spat.  “But I should have.”

“Why are you doing this?” he snarled.

“For pity’s sake, Talon!” she cried.  “Can you not see a simple picnic when it is laid before your eyes?”  She gestured to the blanket.  “Is it such a crime to actually enjoy something on this beautiful day in this wonderful glade?”

He stared at her, mute with shock.  Her words vanquished the fury coursing through him and his suspicion.  But not his guilt nor his grief.  He suddenly turned away from her, fiddling with his mount’s tack.  “Not for you.  I should not begrudge you this, Gwen,” he whispered.  “But ‘tis a crime for me to take such joy in life.”

He felt a gentle hand grip his arm and looked down.  Gwen gazed at him with such compassion that he was forced to look away.

“I’d be lying if I said I understood you, Talon Montgomery,” she said softly.  Her soft fingers touched his face.  Talon closed his eyes and shivered at the warmth of her touch.  Her fingers traveled to his chin where she lightly tugged him back to look at her.  He could have resisted, he could have yanked himself away, but he did not.  Instead he allowed her to turn his head and he gazed down at her once again.

“I do not care what argument you may have, but you do deserve this, Talon.  You deserve this as much as I do.”

He stared at her, knowing he should object but unable to.

“Please Talon, sit with me, enjoy this day with me.”

He gave her a curt nod then tethered their horses.  Unbuckling his sword belt, he dropped it beside the blanket and sat.  Gwen had certainly come prepared for her picnic, not only did he see bread, cheese, and wine, but grapes and small meat pies.  Fresh from his own kitchens.  He could not help the rueful chuckle that escaped him.  “So, lass, what did you do with my men anyway?”

She smiled impishly.  “I just told Aaron I wanted to have a picnic.  He was the one who said he would take the men to make sure the area was safe.”

“Mutinous little--”

“Talon.”

He shrugged then struggled to get comfortable wearing his heavy mail.

“Why don’t you take that off, Talon?  Your men surround us; there is no reason for you not to be comfortable.”

“Do you realize how difficult this armor is to don and remove?”

“I’ll help you.”

“What the hell,” he grumbled and moved closer.  “Undo the leather ties.”  Although it was a struggle because the mail was heavy and Gwen not as strong as his squire, Talon soon had his mail and the padded clothing in a neat pile.  His sweaty tunic plastered his chest; he wore
only black hosen on his legs to keep the padded leggings from chafing.  But his mail leggings covered his feet so he wore no boots and had to resort to walking barefoot.

He sat on the blanket and couldn’t resist digging his toes into the cool grass.

He heard Gwen laugh softly.  Within an instant her soft leather shoes were off and she sat beside him and buried her toes as well.

Talon found himself grinning at her.  He could not believe he was actually doing this...with a lady no less.  Eleanor would have never removed her shoes and curled her toes in the grass, she refused to ride a horse, insisting on a wagon instead, and she would have never been able to handle a horse as Gwen had, she detested picnics.  To her, the outdoors represented danger, not freedom.  She never wanted to leave the safety of Montgomery Castle except for the time she had begged him to take her to London.

Talon had done so, but he had a beastly time getting her to leave the king’s court and return home.  His smile vanished as bitter memories returned.  Their division had become prime gossip among the courtiers.  Talon hated the king’s court with all of its gossip mongering and currying of favor.  He tolerated it only as much as he had to.  But after three months, he suddenly realized that Eleanor developed a mysterious illness every time he mentioned leaving.

He finally insisted they leave no matter how bad this imagined illness seemed to be and Eleanor was furious with him.  He snorted ironically, it was amazing how the illness faded enough on the trail that she had the energy to rail and berate him all the way home.

“Talon?” Gwen whispered, her fingers stroking through his hair.  “Are you all right?”

“Aye,” he said tightly.  “What makes you think I am not?”

She arched an eyebrow.  “Oh, I don’t know, maybe it’s because your expression has turned as black as a thundercloud.  If this truly is not to your taste, I won’t force you.  We can go home if you want.”

He gazed at her startled.  He clearly saw the longing within her to remain, but he also saw her sincerity.  “If I told you I wanted to leave immediately, would you?  Without complaint?”

She focused on her hands, twisting the rings on her fingers nervously.  “Well...uh...I probably would complain...just a little.  But I would go...eventually.”

Suddenly his foul mood vanished and he laughed heartily, true mirth replacing his melancholy.  Gwen had answered as honestly as she could.  Knowing her personality, he could easily imagine the exchange that ended with him throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of feed to take her back.  “My dear Gwen, I do not wish to leave just yet.  Let us enjoy this picnic you have so stealthy planned.”

She awarded him with a brilliant smile that stole his breath.  “That sounds like a wonderful idea, Talon.”

A few hours later, Talon reclined on the blanket, his fingers laced behind his head and his legs crossed at the ankles, as he gazed through the canopy of trees.  Drowsiness tugged at him, beckoning him to sleep.  He had consumed too much wine and too much food.  A soft breeze played through the trees and the gentle scent of lavender calmed his nerves.

Gwen relaxed beside him, on her side, her arm folded under her head.  Her free hand moved to toy with the laces of his tunic that crossed the opening of his throat.  He swallowed hard whenever her fingers inadvertently brushed his skin.

“We should start heading home soon,” he said softly, even though he had no desire to move.

“Aye.”

He turned his head slightly and gazed at her.  “I’m sorry I objected to this so strenuously, Gwen.  You were right, this is enjoyable.”

She flashed him a bright grin.  “Does that mean we can do it again...perhaps tomorrow?”

He laughed and rolled on his side, propping his head on his hand.  “Not tomorrow, lass, but...perhaps...again soon.”

“Soon?” she asked indignantly.  “How soon?  Will you wait until I am beset with madness again?”

His gaze traveled over her beautiful face, locking on her lush lips.  Without truly realizing he found himself leaning closer to her.  “Perhaps,” he whispered.  “Unless you give me a reason to come here sooner.”

To his shock she did not retreat.  “And what would that reason be, my lord?”

His lips hovered over hers; he felt her breath caresses his skin.  His hand moved to touch her face.  He trailed a fingertip down her jaw to her chin then bent his knuckle to lift it and draw her closer.

A sound he could not truly define sent a shudder of dread down his spine.  He hauled himself back, staring at the trees, wondering why his men would dare approach when they seemed mired up to their necks in this fool scheme.

“What is it Talon?” Gwen whispered, pushing herself up on her hands.

“I don’t know,” he said tightly.  He rolled away from her and reached for his sword belt.

A crossbow bolt buried in the grass between him and his weapon.  He shot to his feet.

Gwen also bounded up, gripping his arm.  He shoved her behind him, searching the trees.

A roar sounded from their right.  Men charged from the woods, straight at the horses.  Within a heartbeat, their tethers were cut and the men scared them away.  At least Gwen’s mare
was scared away.  Ebon reared and snapped at the nearest person.  The war trained stallion did not take well to bullying.

Talon again lunged for his sword, but another crossbow bolt stopped him.  Damnation!  Where were his men?

Slowly, a ragged band of men emerged from the trees.  Talon’s eyes narrowed.  Welsh raiders!

“Are they your father’s men sent to free you?” Talon snarled.

“I recognize the...the captain,” Gwen whispered.  “The one in the lead.  And two others...but....” her voice faded to a choked gasp. 

Never had he heard such terror in her voice, not even when he abducted her.  He risked a glance at her and immediately wished he hadn’t.  The fear clouding her green eyes twisted his heart, her face was deathly pale.  Her hands clutched at his arms as they retreated, her fingers dug into his flesh.