Page 14 of Christmas Secrets

“Plowing?”

“Helping a friend,” she said, not wanting him to ask more about what they did. “He was kicked by a horse. Actually, this horse, right here.” She pointed to her horse and he grimaced.

“And yet you didn’t shoot the damned thing?”

“Why should we?” she asked. “It was an accident. The horse didn’t mean to kick him. The mare’s leg got caught in a rope and it spooked her.”

“If I were you, the first thing I’d do is kill the damned animal that took my father’s life.” His entire face changed and he seemed so vengeful all of a sudden.

“I never even got the chance to know my father. My mother never remarried, so it was just the two of us for a long time until Noel came along.”

“What?” He squinted and made a face. “So who is Noel’s father?” he asked, making Holly want to bite her tongue. She didn’t mean to tell him all that information. And she hoped that Noel would never know. And as far as Noel knew, her father was his, and that’s the way her mother wanted it.

“Noel is... he’s a bastard. But I don’t want to tell him until he is older.”

“Why didn’t the damned man who planted his seed in your mother marry her, as is proper?”

These were too many questions. Questions she didn’t want to answer. She didn’t mean to say anything else, but just blurted it out before she could hold her tongue.

“My mother was taken against her will.”

His head jerked upward. “By a bandit?”

“Nay. But he was a married man, so he couldn’t marry her. Don’t you understand?”

“Nay, not really. “You should have gone to the lord of the castle and relayed the story and he would have flogged the man or killed him. I know that is what my brother would do in a case like that. He is the deciding factor whenever there is trouble in town or on his demesne.”

“I better go check on Noel.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her hand and spun her around.

“What’s the matter, Holly?”

“Nothing. Why?” She tried her best to fake a small smile.

“You seem very upset about something.”

“So did you last night when you almost knocked over the table in such a hurry to throw out my festive decorations.”

“I told you, I don’t like them and don’t want them around me.” He mounted his horse. “Now, are you coming to the castle or not? Your horse needs to run. I figure we’ll feed and water them at the castle stable while we’re there.”

“Nay. I’m going to stay here with Noel.”

“You cannot just let the horse stand and not feed it.”

“Please, take my horse with you.”

“But that will leave you with no form of transportation should you need to leave.”

“I told you, I’m not going anywhere. My grandmother’s cottage in her secret garden is my new home now.”

“I wouldn’t count on that,” he muttered, reaching over and untying the reins of her horse. “Well, stay inside until I return and lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone.”

“I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine,” she told him, wrapping her arms around herself, almost feeling panicked that he was about to leave and taking her horse with him. If guards from Castle Keswick showed up searching for her and Noel, there would be no way she’d be able to escape them now.

“Hurry back,” she called out as he left with the horses, already missing Lord Percival as soon as he rode out the gate of Imanie’s secret garden.