He met up with Eric a short time later and joined his fighting troops. It was fighting alongside Eric that he came to understand the true meaning of friendship and the value of a caring and loving family.
One day perhaps he would marry, though he often wondered if he could love, truly love anyone. Lilith had insisted love was possible, though rare. She had told him that most times people made do with each other. She had advised him that love was different for everyone and that he should think on what it meant to him and then not dwell on it. Let it go and wait; wait for love to find him.
He had asked her if she was still waiting herself.
She had smiled and told him that she had been blessed with such a love. When her love had passed on she was wise enough to realize she would never find another so she made do. Her loving memories made her life bearable for she felt she was one of the rare few who had known true love.
He had admired her strength, courage and unselfishness. She had taken a lonely, unloved young boy and turned him into a man full of strength, courage and convictions—a man who could not turn a hungry young lad away.
Colin gave the sleeping boy one last glance and closed his eyes. They would rise early tomorrow and he would make certain that he saw Harold delivered safely to the next village.
Chapter Three
“Harold!”
Hope jumped at the lad’s name being called out and both she and Lady turned to see who issued the demanding summons. She had thought it was Colin. His voice was distinct even in a shout, a melodious thunder that caught attention and made the legs tremble.
She, however, approached him on sturdy legs with her attention alert.
“Good morning to you, sir,” Hope said, purposely respectful.
“Colin,” he corrected, “and it is a good morning. A fine morning for you to be traveling along with us to the next village.” Since the lad voiced no objections Colin assumed he favored the idea and continued. “We should arrive there by early afternoon.”
Hope was relieved to hear his generous invitation. She had hoped to remain with the band of men for as long as possible. If it were only to the next village then that was fine, though she would have preferred to tag along until she thought otherwise. To remain on her own was not a wise choice.
She had learned relatively early on in her travels that the road was a dangerous place to be and she had been lucky to survive as long as she had. And of course there was Lady to consider; she simply did not travel well. Everything seemed to frighten her, unless she was hungry: when hunger struck she turned courageous.
The journey to the next village would give Hope time to think and plan. Perhaps there was a way to remain with Colin and his men. If she kept her identity a secret there would be no need for worry, and besides, she doubted that any of the men thought she was female. She was much too thin and shapeless.
Hope walked without complaint alongside the men on horses. She and Lady had no difficulty keeping up with the slow, meandering horses and their riders. They seemed in no particular hurry, and with all the walking she and Lady had done lately it wasn’t difficult to keep up with their unhurried pace.
The day was beautiful, the sun bright and the land a carpet of brilliant green. Spring was early in the air and the thick buds would soon burst and drench the land in a profusion of color and greenery.
She walked, enjoying the eye-catching sight, and was grateful for the safety of the men who surrounded her. If she was wise she would admit her identity and ask to be returned home. While she did not think of herself as lacking intelligence, she was not ready to return and accept her fate without question. She had not nearly experienced all there was to life. And possibly, just possibly, with this band of men and with Colin in particular she would learn what she wanted.
A quick peek at Colin as he rode past her on his sleek mare made her heart flutter. He was a handsome one and a charmer, though at the moment his charm was replaced by his warrior skills. He sat his mare confidently and his brown eyes remained alert to his surroundings.
Hope sighed and looked to Lady, who walked beside her, issuing a protesting whine every now and then. “I would like to know him better.”
Lady released a moanful whine, not at all in agreement with her master.
“He interests me,” Hope said on a whisper. “There is more to the man than he shows. I wish to know that man.”
Lady whined again, drawing the attention of the riders close by.
“Behave,” Hope scolded in a low, threatening voice, making Lady grumble quietly. “If you do not wish to forage for food then it would be wise for us to remain with these men, who could provide us with a daily sustenance.”
Lady’s eyes widened and she looked with curiosity at the men who rode past her as if she understood Hope’s every word.
“How we will accomplish that feat I am not certain, but I intend to see that we do.”
Lady issued a low grumbling sound of agreement.
“I am glad you agree and I know I can count on you to help.”
Lady whined this time and dropped her head, her large sorrowful eyes fixed on the ground.
“You can be courageous when you must,” Hope informed her.
“Does she ever answer you?” a laughing voice asked from behind.
Hope turned wide eyes on the large man with bright red hair. If she remembered correctly, he was called Stuart. “When she wishes.”
The man laughed all the harder. “Too bad you do not follow us to Shanekill Keep. I know of a good mate for her.”
Hope grew curious. “One she would fancy?”
“Aye, that she would,” Stuart said with a firm nod. “A big ugly but lovable dog that belongs to the lady of the manor. And brave. He saved Lady Faith’s life.”
Lady’s ears perked up with interest.
“As brave as the Irish Devil himself,” Stuart continued. “They would turn out fine, strong pups. And I would be proud to have one as my own.”
Someone cried out that they approached the village, and Stuart immediately took himself off to join the impressive line of men.
Colin rode the lead and Hope was certain that with his charming smile he and his men would be greeted with enthusiasm. She actually looked forward to entering with his troop. At least there would be no need for worry of her safety. The men, she was certain, would offer their protection to the young lad.
It was with confidence that she entered the village.
Yet her confidence was fast put to a hard test.
After enjoying an ample fare at the local gathering place, Hope had taken herself off to explore the village. Lady joined her and they slowly strolled the small village together. Colin had warned her to stay near at hand and said that he wished to speak with her before they departed. She had wished the same, hoping to convince him to take her along. But he had been busy with a well-endowed woman who had planted herself on his lap and looked as if she had no intention of going anywhere without him. As he appeared to agree, Hope thought it best to leave him to his dalliance while she saw to exploring.
The few cottages and barns that comprised the village were well maintained. Fields ripe and recently planted spread out from behind the cottages, and fences helped keep the few livestock contentedly secluded. Villagers kept themselves busy with daily chores and the women shared the local gossip as they strolled by with baskets in hand.
It seemed a safe enough place to be on her own. Of course, she had not counted on running up against the village ruffians who were out to prove themselves formidable foes when actually they were nothing more than troublemakers.
Hope always did have a problem with tyranny over the weak, and three boys—for their childish antics certainly forbid them from calling themselves men—who taunted a meek, young lad drew her attention.
The tallest boy, though only an inch or two more in height than Hope, and with a thatch of bright red hair and a preponderance of freckles, appeared to be the leader. He pushed and shoved and verbally b
elittled the lad who began to cry.
This was a mistake on his part, for it only served to strengthen the trio’s bravado. The two other boys, shorter than Hope but sizable in weight, joined in the taunting. No one who passed by appeared to take notice. Lads constantly got themselves into fights and were expected to defend themselves. It was a way of life and one that was better learned at a young age. Obviously the young lad had not learned that particular lesson, but he was about to.
It was a lesson well worth learning if one was to survive and yet Hope felt a tug of sympathy for the distraught lad. He would surely take a beating with three against one and what would it teach him? Fear? Self-doubt? Humiliation?
She shook her head. She could not ignore his plight. She had to help, she just had to. Lady did not seem to agree and took a step back away from her master.
The words rushed from her mouth before her mind gave them consideration. “Only cowards pick on the weak.”
The tall boy gave the young lad a hard shove, sending him sprawling to the dirt, then he turned angry brown eyes on Hope. “You calling me a coward?”
The crying lad scurried to his feet and looked about to run when he cast a worried glance at Hope. Though his knees looked as though they trembled, he remained where he stood, gaining an ounce of strength and a wealth of courage.
“I would say the name fits you.” Hope supposed that she should give thought to the consequences of her actions and words and the fact that she was a woman of noble birth at that. But at the moment she felt like a lad fit and ready to defend his honor.
The tall lad shoved his two cohorts out of his way and approached Hope with his hands fisted at his sides.
Hope had been in a few scuffles since her departure from her uncle’s home, but a fight with fists? Never. She had a feeling that was about to change.
She expected words flung at her but his fist came fast and hard to her face and she felt the blood pour from her lip and her anger boil. She put every ounce of strength she had into her fist and landed a good punch to his jaw, sending him tumbling.
Chaos broke free after that—fists flew, blood ran and Hope learned fast how to fight. She also learned that her dog, for all her impressive size, was a coward at heart—she took flight after the scuffling had started.
Lady ran straight to Colin, inserting her cold, wet nose beneath the snug arm he had wrapped around the waist of the friendly woman who sat on his lap.
“Go away, Lady,” Colin ordered firmly.
The dog persisted, this time with a whine.
“Not now.” His words were stern and meant to reprimand.
Lady remained persistent. Her nose dug beneath his arm with enough force to disengage it from the woman’s waist. That brought Colin to his feet after lifting the disappointed woman off his lap.
Lady took a few cautious steps back but continued to whimper and whine and turn her head in Hope’s direction.
Colin suddenly realized something was wrong. “Harold in trouble?”
Lady barked and jumped, ready to take flight.
“Show me,” Colin ordered and Lady took off.
Hope and the young boy fought bravely. Unfortunately they possessed limited fighting skills and physical strength. Remaining alert to her opponent’s moves and being quick and agile on her feet saved her from several direct punches, but when the tall boy called for reinforcements she knew she was in trouble.
She kicked, swung and battered anything in her line of vision until one staggering blow sent her to her knees and was followed by several kicks to her ribs, landing her flat on her back. This was not a good position to be in, since her grinning opponent was about to pounce down on top of her with fists swinging.
She prepared for the worst and was utterly shocked when the descending boy suddenly stopped in thin air. With a look of disbelief crossing his face, he was tossed aside to land with a hard bounce in the dirt.
In the next instant she was grabbed by the arm and yanked to her feet. The look on Colin’s handsome face when he laid eyes on her bloody mouth and bruised eye was chilling.
“I told you to stay close by.” He sounded annoyed and angry.
Hope instantly grew defensive. “I take orders from no one.
Colin brought his face to within inches of the lad’s. “You will take orders from me.”
She was about to open her mouth when he warned, “Do not dare defy me.”
His usual charming voice chilled and his dark eyes cautioned.
She wisely held her tongue.
The other lads hurried off, not waiting or wanting to be confronted by the formidable and angry man.
Colin made no attempt to stop them. He cared not a wit for them, though he did care that Harold had taken a noticeable beating. And he wondered over its cause. “Tell me what happened.”
Hope wiped the trickling blood at her mouth with the sleeve of her brown tunic and winced.
Colin shook his head. “I would say that you have not a lick of sense in your head.”
She shrugged, not really willing to offer an explanation.
Her indifference annoyed him all the more and he grabbed her arm. “Come with me. We need to talk.”
A rough yank to her arm had her crying out and Colin abruptly stopped.
Her hand insistently went to her right side over her ribs. “A kick,” she explained when he looked at her with concern.
He shook his head again. “Come, I will see to your care.
His words rang with a clear warning in her head and she grew defensive. “I can look after myself.”
“Obviously you cannot.” This fact irritated Colin for some unknown reason. Perhaps it was the lad’s puny size that made him feel protective toward him. And there was his face, much too pretty for a lad even with the blood running from his split lip and the bruise darkening around his eye. His gentle features would surely attract the wrong attention. He needed someone to look after him. Someone to teach him how to defend himself properly. Someone to make sure he got enough to eat and a safe place to rest his head. He needed a home.
The strange, contemplative look in Colin’s dark eyes made Hope wonder over his thoughts. She decided not to respond to what was obviously the truth—she could not adequately defend herself. She chose silence and waited for him to clear his mind and speak his thoughts.
It did not take him long. “Since you have no home and obviously require looking after, I think it would be not only in your best interest but wise of you to come live at Shanekill Keep.”
Lady, who had been cautiously hiding behind a bush during and immediately following the melee, hurried over to Hope’s side and whimpered as if insisting she accept the generous offer.
It was what Hope had intended and yet she felt reluctant looking into Colin’s intriguing dark eyes. She realized she found him attractive. What woman would not? He was handsome and charming and a skilled warrior who could protect. And protect he did. He protected a young lad too skinny and helpless to defend himself. And why should that thought disturb her? She wanted everyone to believe her a young lad. She was, after all, on an adventure.
But she was also a woman and the woman found the man appealing, a dangerous prospect in her current position.
“I will have your answer now,” Colin said with annoyance. Here he offered the lad a safe home and the lad paused to give it consideration. What was there to consider?
Lady whined and Hope nodded as if confirming her answer with the animal.
Colin suddenly stopped her from responding. “I must tell you that you will be expected to do your fair share of the work along the way and once at the keep you will be given chores that must be maintained, though it will be a fair exchange for the lodgings and care you will receive.”
“I am not lazy. I can do my share and more if necessary,” she said, her chin rising with her pride.
“Then it is settled,” Colin said as though deciding for her. “You will return to Shanekill Keep with us and make it your home.”
>
For now.
It would be a good place to be for now. She could continue her adventure more safely, and when the time came to reveal her identity, she would simply leave.
“I will go with you,” she agreed.
Colin looked at her strangely and she felt as though he understood her thoughts. His words confirmed her suspicions.
“And once there you will stay put.”
She simply nodded.
He did not look as though he believed her but made no mention of it. “Come, we will see to your wounds.”
She did not care for the “we” for she intended there to be no “we.” She would tend to herself. It would do no good having his hands on her and discovering her secret, but then the thought of his hands on her did give her pause to think as she followed him, Lady trailing behind her.
She was not ignorant to the intimate ways of men and women. She had always been an inquisitive child, asking questions, oftentimes embarrassing ones, as her uncle reminded her. But she was lucky that her uncle Shamus was patient and also indulgent with her to a fault. He allowed her to have her way much too often as her Aunt Elizabeth repeated time and again to him, but then Aunt Elizabeth had a way of indulging Hope herself. Her aunt and uncle were never blessed with children of their own and when Hope had come to live with them they had given her everything her heart desired and then some. Add to that an abundance of love and a little girl who was forever grateful.
Her aunt and uncle were the reason she had actually considered this adventure. They were the only married couple she believed truly loved each other. Hope could see the love in their eyes and in their actions toward each other. And she had dreamed over the years of finding such a unique love herself.
She understood that if she found such a man to love that her uncle would not deny her choice of a husband. But if she did not find that man and that love, she would be forced to wed the man of her uncle’s choice. Although, she didn’t think her uncle would force her to wed a man she disliked; that was part of the problem. He would probably pick a man acceptable to her—but would she love him?
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