“Ewan fell from a tree while retrieving my brat,” Nora explained. “I think he’s injured his leg and his back.”
Ewan saw the suspicious looks from the men. Och, but they were just jealous they didn’t have a beautiful lass to dote on them.
“Did he now?” Viktor asked. “And just how far did he fall?”
“Quite a ways,” Nora hastened to assure him.
Lysander snorted. “Too bad he didn’t land on his head.”
Bavel shoved at him.
Nora helped Ewan into the back of the wagon. “You rest here and I’ll be right back with something for you to drink.”
As Nora left him, Catarina approached her and whispered so that Ewan wouldn’t overhear her.
“I don’t think he’s as injured as he appears, my lady. I think he’s playing upon your sympathies so that he can stay close to you.”
Nora flashed an evil smile. “And well I know it. ‘Twould take much more than such a slight fall to hurt him, but I rather like having him close.”
She winked at Catarina who laughed.
She didn’t think Ewan would have allowed her such freedom with his body if he wasn’t “injured.” And he seemed to enjoy her caresses too much for her to stop them.
If he wanted to be babied a bit, then she would certainly oblige him.
As she returned to the wagon, she caught sight of him with her brat. He had it pressed to his lower face as if inhaling it.
Seeing her, he quickly put it aside and straightened up.
Nora stared at him there. His long legs were stretched out in front of him and he looked a bit guilty. Those piercingly blue eyes of his made her tremble.
He was so fierce and powerful and at the same time there was something playful about him. But what warmed her most was the knowledge that he wasn’t playful with others.
Only she was allowed to glimpse the more tender side of him.
She liked that a great deal.
Nora climbed in to sit down beside him and handed him the wineskin.
He took a drink, then glanced at her in surprise. “You brought me ale?”
“I thought it would help with the pain.”
Viktor looked in on them. “How you doing, lad?”
Ewan looked at her uncomfortably.
“He’ll be fine,” Nora answered. “He just needs a bit of a rest. Would it be all right if we rode back here for awhile?”
Viktor nodded. “We’ll be on our way then.”
Nora listened as the others returned to their horses and Viktor tied both of their mounts to the back of the wagon. After several minutes, they were on their way.
Again he had a guilty look about him that told her he wasn’t as injured as he would have her believe.
So be it. She was more than content to ride back here alone with him.
“Who do you think this man is who paid them to abduct you?” Nora asked after a short span of silence. “Have you many enemies?”
