Annista drew free of his hand and continued to the stall door.
Tempest was a big horse, as befitted a man of Evan’s size, and had an angry eye.
“Careful, I pray,” Alan warned as she again reached out.
“Does he bite?”
“Aye.”
Annista lifted a calming hand. The big stallion stamped his hooves and shifted aside so she got a better look at him. He appeared well fed and well kept. Of course, the stable hands would see to that. But the animal’s temper was evident in every line.
What had made him that way? The same kind of treatment that had killed Annista’s sister?
Slowly and very gently, she touched his shoulder. The chestnut coat looked glossy, yes, yet her fingers felt stiff ridges there beneath the shine. The marks of old wounds? Anger washed over her, tangled with a wave of sickness.
She turned on Alan, there being no one else to turn upon. “Does Evan abuse him? And ye allow that?”
He looked at her steadily. His expression turned grim. “No’ willingly, I do not.”
Ye can judge a man by how he treats his animals.“Nay beast deserves to be ill-used.”
“I agree wi’ ye.”
“These creatures are put in our hands as a matter o’—o’ trust. To allow mistreatment—ye should be ashamed o’ yoursel’.”
The stablemaster, or perhaps he was but the head groom, came stepping up.
“Is somewhat amiss, Master Alan? Is it the care o’ the beasts?”
“Not at all, Billy,” Alan said, his gaze still fixed on Annista and now burning like a smoldering fire. “Allow me to introduce my new—wife.”
Billy appeared to be in his late fifties, weathered and balding, and at the moment appearing very distressed. He gaped at Annista with patent surprise. “Aye, Master? Well, and I wish ye joy—”
Annista swung to face the man. “I should like to visit the stables from time to time. I’m told there is nay a horse I can ride.”
“Uh—nay, Mistress.” Billy looked at Alan helplessly.
“I will speak to my father,” Alan said, still with that icy calm. “Perhaps we can procure a suitable mount. Meanwhile, if ye do wish to visit here—”
“I will keep well away fro’ Tempest, aye.” But would she? Something drew her to the big horse with the wild eye. A strong desire to comfort. To see was there anything within him that might be redeemed.
“Aye, Mistress, do that,” said Billy worriedly. “He’ll kick ye, he will, if he gets the chance.”
Too bad he had not kicked his master senseless, Annista thought.
Still and all, as they left the stables and returned to the sunlight, she came to herself. This quiet man beside her always seemed to see her at her worst. Launching herself at Evan in the chapel yesterday. Turning on him now.
He would deem her a harridan.
Did she care what he thought of her? She did not have it in her to stand by while an animal was abused. Or to respect anyone else who would.
Animal or young wife.
Why, why had no one taken Robena’s part against her brute of a husband? Were they all so afraid of Evan?
She looked at her husband from the corner of her eye. He was big and hearty. As tall as Evan, if not so beefy. Had he never tried to stand up to him for Robena’s sake?
“When does your father plan to leave?” Alan asked.
