There Your Heart Will Be Also (6 page)

“Ye look different.
Are ye all right?”

“Aye, Charism
.
I
'
ll be fine.
What
I need
is
a long
,
hot bath and an even longer nap.”
Sarra offered
a look
she hoped was reassuring
.

Charism
's
bead
y
eyes
narrowed
, but
Sarra
walked away
as if she hadn't noticed
.
So
she had told the old lady
a
partial
truth
.
Sarra
didn't necessarily look different, but she did
feel
different.

Hoping
the
bath would be prepared, Sarra
headed to her chambers.
She needed time to herself
, time for prayer
.
A
nd bath
time
always sufficed.
It was the one time no one bothered her.
Besides
,
the hot water should relieve the pain in
her
throbbing
ankle
.
A
t least Sarra hoped it would.

In Sarra's room, she found
a tub filled with hot water
sitting in front of
a roaring
fire.
She locked the
door
,
stripp
ed
quickly,
and eased
herself into the steamy goodness.

Lying
there enjoying the heat on tired muscles
, she g
rabb
ed
the
rose
-
scented soap
and
lather
ed
, scrubbing
away the day's grime and stench
from
her flesh.
T
he silky feel of the water teased her raw skin.
As
she
lay back in the water,
she
reflect
ed
on her life.
She had been able to keep the suitors at bay for so long
,
she
'd
never contemplated what it
might
be like to marry.

Thinking
about marriage
led to thoughts of
Cedric
MacNeil
.
He was large and daunting in appearance, but gentle and caring in action.
What would it be like to marry someone like him?
Someone big enough to
scare any
foe
away
with a look?
A man
large
enough to
wield
a
sword
in
defense
of family
?
Someone to protect not only
the mistress
, but the keep as well?

She
washed her hair with the soap
and then
lay
down in the tub to rinse it more thoroughly.
When she rose from the water, her stomach emitted a growl
.
S
he
'd
missed supper.

She
dressed with haste, choosing a dark blue gown.
Attempting to free her mind of all thoughts concerning men,
she
slipped into
a comfortable pair of
shoes and walked toward the kitchen.
It was past time to fill her stomach
, and
in doing so
she hoped it filled her mind with thoughts far away from the man who called himself Cedric.

****

The next day,
when Sarra awoke her ankle felt remarkably better.
Hurrying to the stables, she
saddled a gentle mare named Sadie and went for a ride.
T
he better part of an hour
was spent
riding around the castle walls, enjoying the sunshine warm
ing
her face and lighten
ing
her spirits.

She
loved the safety of the castle, but sometimes she enjoyed looking at the vastness
which
lay beyond the walls.
It served as a reminder of God's abilities to create something of beauty.

She
heard the soft sound of hooves.
Sighing, s
he
realized she
was not alone.
Sir Henry would never permit her
to
travel outside the walls without armed escort.
The
moment of solitude passed.
A list of responsibilities flooded her mind.
Since the knights were
tak
en
from their duties
to protect her,
she
maneuver
ed the horse around and
headed back to the keep.

When
she
reached the stables, she dismounted and handed the reins to James, the stable boy
.
The
mount had worked up quite a lather on their ride
,
and she
instruct
ed
James
to give Sadie a good rub down.
Although
the
ride had come to an end,
she
wasn't quite in the mood to head back to her rooms just yet.

Looking down at
her
riding habit
,
she
headed for the lists.
The enclosed area where the knights practiced
would
,
if nothing else
,
offer a bit of a distraction.

The
lists
were crowded with knights of all ages and abilities
working on various skills.
Children played games together on the outskirts and watched the sword play of the more experienced.
The kids squealed as a dog ran around.

With no provocation
,
t
he
children
set out on a merry chase.
Their faces were alight with excitement and wonder.
They
exuded
free
dom
.
An urge to join them surged through Sarra.

Not holding back, her feet moved
,
and before she was aware of her actions
,
she was
r
u
n
ning
after the mutt
as well.
There was
enjoy
ment in
the feel of the wind flowing through her hair and whipping by her face.
A certain amount of freedom was felt in the unplanned movement.
Although the bugs that flew in her teeth left a lot to be desired.

Breath came from her lungs in loud rasping gasps.
I
t wasn't easy to run in skirts.
The fabric wrapped around her moving legs
,
threatening to trip her
with every step.

But she
continued
chasing the dog with the children nonetheless.
A
giggl
e
escape
d
her throat
.
They
w
ere
having such a good time
,
no one in the group noticed they
were
no longer
alone.
First came some of the squires, then some of the older knights, and before
they
knew it
,
all the inhabitants in the lists had joined in as they chased the animal.
Laughter welled up
until her insides threaten
ed
to burst.

As
she
careened around the corner and began to sprint down the long side of the open area, she noticed Cedric
MacNeil
watching her.
He
leaned
against a bench
,
his eyes
never leaving her
.

Braver than normal,
she
waved
while
pass
ing
.
Her sides ached and her legs burned
with exertion
as
s
he made one mo
re pass
around
and collapsed in a heap on
to
the only
seat
in the area
.

A bench
right beside Cedric.

“Hullo, Cedric MacNeil.”

“Hullo, Sarra.”

Sarra's heart fluttered at the mention of her name.
How was it this stranger h
el
d such power over her?
Ignoring the extra beats
of her heart
, she said, “I see you've decided to stay on at Greenbriar.”

“Aye.
I have.
Very friendly people here.”

“You're right.”

As
she
settled herself
,
moving skirts underneath her in a more comfortable position,
she
tried
to think of something else to say
.

She was saved
when
he asked, “Do ye do that frequently?”

Struggling to catch her breath, she replied, “Do what?”

“Run.”

“Whenever I can, yes.”

“Why?”
Cedric asked
curiously
.

“Why not?”
s
he answered with a smile.

“Why would ye run around with the children?
Surely most Englishmen view
it
as unladylike.”

Sarra worked to find an answer. Before her mind could halt her tongue, she said, “If Englishmen believe it is unladylike, what do Scotsmen believe?”

Cedric
's eyes narrowed, studying the rambunctious children,
and tapped one finger against his temple
before
he
answer
ed
her question
.
“Well
,
a Scotsman thinks it is a useful skill.”

“Indeed.
Care to explain
?
”

“Well, let's see.
I think running comes in a mite handy when
ye
need to retreat or when ye need to get away from something
which
scare
s
ye.”

“I find it hard to believe you would do either of those things.”

Cedric
's
eyebrow
rose
and Sarra realized her forwardness.
What was it about this man
that
made her tongue flap with every thought
which
enter
ed
her mind?

“I don't believe I understand ye
,
lass.”

Wiggling with discomfort,
she
said, “I mean, I can't see you retreating from a foe, neither can I see a man of your stature being afraid of much.”

“Aye, ye are right
.
I retreat from very few things.
But I might run if I was scared.”

“Now what could possibly scare someone like you?”

“
Someone l
ike me?”
He pointed a finger at his massive chest.

“Aye.
A man
who
carries a
six-foot
sword on his back like it's a dagger.
A man with legs so big they look like they could squeeze
someone
in two.
What could possible scare you enough to send you away? And p
lease
d
o not
patronize
me.
It will do you no good.
Be
cause
I
won't
believe you.”

“Ye
w
on't?
Only met me twice and already can't trust me.
D
oesn't show much for me character.
But just so ye will believe me
,
I'll tell ye what I fear.”

“What is that?”

“I fear heads that float in a garderobe.”

A shiver ran
along
Sarra's
spine
.
Her breath came in short gasps.
Cedric leaned over and slapped her on the back.

“Are ye all right
,
lass?”

“I'll be fine,”
Sarra
stuttered.
“I need to go inside now.
It was nice to see you again.”

“Aye.
Ye
as well.”

Sarra headed back to the keep
,
thinking
she heard
a
soft snicker
come from Cedric's direction
.