Page 61 of The Piper's Pursuit

“I am well. I don’t need a healer.”

“Nonsense. It can’t hurt to let her look at you.” Frau Goschen took hold of his arm and pulled. “Come.”

Steffan threw up his hand. “Very well. But we are wasting time.”

Frau Goschen shook her head. “Come.” Over her shoulder, she said to Kat, “I’ll be back soon for the children.” She pulled Steffan with her out of the stable.

Katerina sighed in relief. The flushed look on his face had worried her, but she’d been too afraid to make a fuss over him.

She sat on the floor with the children who were left. They talked quietly with Katerina as they ate their bread and cheese. They were quiet, but their eyes had lost that dazed look and they seemed less afraid. They even smiled. Katerina felt much better too, but they weren’t out of danger yet. Hennek was surely looking for them, and he had too much to lose to give up.

She didn’t want to frighten them, so she put on a smile and they talked lightly about their favorite foods and their favorite feast days. Soon, a couple of the more adventurous children began to pet the friendlier horses in the stable and to jump about. Others asked when they would see their mothers.

“Soon, very soon,” Kat answered with a smile. “Only a few more days.”

Just as she was beginning to think it should be time for Steffan to return, he appeared in the doorway with Frau Goschen. Kat quickly read their faces. Steffan’s expression was humble, while Frau Goschen was frowning. But as soon as she saw Kat, she came toward her.

“It is a good thing you mentioned Steffan’s wounds, Fräulein,” Frau Goschen said. “The healer saw the beginning of a putridness in the wound on his arm, and possibly on his chest.”

Kat’s throat seemed to close up. She tried to swallow but couldn’t get past the constriction.

“The healer is making up some of Steffan’s healing salve. She assured us she will have it ready before sundown,” Frau Goschen said. “Now, don’t worry, Fräulein Katerina. He will be well.”

“Shouldn’t he stay more than one night?” Kat asked. “To rest and heal?”

Steffan folded his arms across his chest. “You all are making too much of this. I can ride in the morning.”

Frau Goschen shrugged her shoulders. “He will not listen,” she said as she shook her head. “I left the children with the servants, rolling dough for pasties. Come,” she said, addressing the children who were left in the stable, “and you can help too.”

The children all hurried out with Frau Goschen.

Kat and Steffan were left alone in the stable—the first time they’d been alone for days. Steffan lightly kicked at the hay on the floor. Finally, he slowly turned and looked her in the eye.

He didn’t say anything, so Kat said, “Why do you want to leave me here?”

“To look after the children.”

“You already found these women to look after them. Obviously you don’t want me to go with you. Do you think I’m not tough enough to keep up with you?”

“It’s going to be very difficult, Kat.” His voice had softened.

“I know that. But I want to come.”

His expression seemed to freeze. He stared into her eyes. “Why?”

Her heart thumped against her chest and her breath shallowed. She looked away and shrugged. “I want to make sure you get to Hagenheim. And with two of us, it’s more likely we will arrive. Without being stopped by Hennek’s men or... robbers.”

She glanced up at Steffan again. His brows were raised. “I should see to buying you a horse, then.”

So he was agreeing?

“I met a horse trader on this street earlier. I believe he had a perfect gelding. I shall return very soon, in less than an hour.”

Before she could decide to thank him or tell him she wanted to see the horse first, he was out the door.

Why did he call her Kat a few moments ago? And then, the way he looked at her, when she said she wanted to go with him. It had felt so... close, as if he were feeling the same tender feeling she was. Could she have imagined it? Or was it pity, seeing her own tender look but not reciprocating it?

“Oh, let it not be pity,” she whispered, plopping down in the hay and realizing the women had left her a bundle of food and a cup of water.