Tempest Heart - Paula Quinn Page 0,54
a playful invitation to get to know her more and more.
“How is she?”
“Always kind, melancholy mostly.” Jones gave him a frank look. “You are truly lost to her then.”
Tristan sighed, reaching for his water basin. “So it would seem.” Why the hell was he speaking to Jones about his heart? He hardly even knew the man. Mayhap that was why it was easier.
He washed his hands and then reached for his saddlebag.
“Last night, she was very angry,” Jones told him. “She boldly admonished the cap—” he snapped his lips together.
“Aboot what?” Tristan asked him and then tossed him an apple.
“No, I cannot say.” Jones slid out of his chair. “You make me forget whom I am speaking to. You are our enemy.”
“Not necessarily. I intend to speak to the earl, not kill him.” He took a bite of his apple and shook his head at himself. He must be mad.
“Then why not do it now?” Jones asked. “Why wait until you are well?”
“If I am attacked, should I not be able to defend myself?”
“No one will attack you.”
Tristan smirked. “I dinna mean to insult ye, Jones, but how much weight does yer word hold over yer captain’s or yer earl’s?”
Jones lowered his gaze and returned to his seat. “I must tell the captain about tonight.”
“Of course, but first, tell me aboot him. I’m curious aboot him. Ye dinna have to tell me anythin’ that ye think would hurt him.”
“I already did, Highlander. I told you that he shot you. You will likely try to kill him.”
“I will not seek revenge on him.” Tristan tossed his apple core out the window and rubbed his hard belly. “I live, do I not? Unless he tries to kill me again, he has nothin’ to fear from me.”
“Do you vow it?”
“Aye, I vow it.”
“Good,” Jones finally looked relieved. He tossed his apple in the air, caught it, and shoved it into a pouch at his waist. “I shall go then and let you sleep.”
“Aye, my thanks.”
“MacPherson,” the soldier stopped and turned to him. “She admonished the captain over you.”
Tristan raised his raven brows. “Me?”
“Aye. The captain suggested that you are good at pretending. She let him know that you were genuine with her.”
Tristan smiled. “I was. Jones?” he said as the soldier reached the door to leave. “Let us discuss a meetin’ between me and the earl and ye there to protect him.”
Jones grinned and nodded, returning for the discussion.
When the soldier finally left, Tristan rose from his bed and shoved the small chair beneath the door latch then went back to bed.
He’d gone soft since meeting Rose. He’d been careless sleeping at an inn. Tonight, it could have got him killed.
Jones didn’t know him. Why would he believe Tristan’s vow? He was a foolish soldier, easy to manipulate. But he fought well, and Tristan liked him.
Closing his eyes, he thought about Rose. He smiled in the dark. She’d been bold on his account. She knew he’d been genuine with her. Knowing that made him happy. Knowing she was melancholy did not.
Did this captain, the one who shot him, make her unhappy? If he did, Tristan couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t kill him, and to hell with his vow.
He thought about everything Jones had told him about the captain. Why didn’t he kill Tristan when he had the perfect chance? Why had he disobeyed his order? Had he done it for Rose’s sake? If only he would have known who she was earlier, then he would have asked her about the men she lived with.
He would think on it tomorrow. Now he needed to sleep and get well. Get strong.
But first he needed to see her.
The next morning, he dressed and packed his things. He rubbed his grumbling belly and lumbered below stairs for something to eat.
After a quick meal at the inn, Tristan rode out of the village and headed for the castle.
He stopped along the way to practice moving his sword. His arm and shoulder were a bit stiff. After a while, he loosened up more and continued on his way.
When he grew closer to Callanach Castle, he found a place for Perceval and left the horse untied to wait for him. He walked the rest of the way, staring up at the branches above him.
He found a strong, old oak a few hundred feet from the castle that looked easy enough to climb. Its branches were sturdy and thick. The canopy around it was thick, with branches from other trees. They