Page 47 of Ladybird

“You aren’t so bad yourself.” She liked being with Hunter and would be sad when this all ended and he left the castle for good. “Hunter, what will you do once you apprehend the thief? Where will you go?”

“Back to my cabin in the woods, I guess. Back to catching thieves and trying to figure out how to raise a thirteen-year-old stubborn, defiant boy without going crazy in the meantime.”

“Mayhap Luke needs a mother’s guiding hand,” suggested Regina.

His head jerked upward and his eyes closed partially. “What are you saying?”

“I’m just saying that mayhap it is time you got married.”

“You think so?”

“It might help. Don’t you have a sweetheart? Someone you could ask to settle down with you?”

She was playing with fire and hoped she wouldn’t get burned. It was her way of putting the idea in his head that mayhap he needed to be around a woman more. Settle down. Start a family.

“Now that you mention it, I do have a woman who I’d like to consider my sweetheart.”

“You do?” That surprised her. Did he have a woman back home that he’d never told her about? She hoped not.

“Yes, I do. And I would even consider marrying her but I would never ask because I don’t think she’d want me as her husband.”

“Hunter, don’t say that. Have more confidence in yourself. You are an exciting, wonderful man. You’d make a good husband for any girl who was lucky enough to get you.”

“Nay. Not any girl,” he said, sounding suddenly sad. It made her wonder if perhaps he had his eye on a woman who didn’t want him the way he wanted her.

Suddenly feeling ill that she’d even asked about it, Regina realized it would be best to go to sleep. “I must take Hera to her perch in the tent now. She’s had a big day and is tired.” Regina stood up and took the bird onto her glove.

“Allow me to escort you to the tent, my lady.” Hunter was immediately on his feet.

“It’s not necessary,” she told him, feeling sad inside that Hunter sounded as if he had his eye on someone back home. She hoped for his sake it was a respectable woman and at least not a whore. Luke really did need a mother. Most likely the types of women Hunter was around all the time weren’t going to set a good example for the boy. “Didn’t my brother even give you a blanket to use tonight?” she asked, stretching her neck to try to see through the dark.

“I’m hot. I don’t need one,” he told her. “Sweet dreams, my lady.”

“Thank you,” she said, entering the tent with Hera and putting the bird on her perch for the night. “Oh, Hera,” she whispered. “My heart aches. I think I am falling in love with Hunter and I am the last woman he would probably ever want.”

She was awoken later by a clap of thunder and the fluttering of Hera’s wings since the noise startled the bird.

“It’s all right, girl,” she said, getting up to check on and comfort her falcon. The wind picked up causing the flap of her tent to open a little. That is when she heard the sound of rain pelting down against the ground. “Oh, no,” she said, peering out of the tent to see Hunter trying to man the fire in the rain. He had no blanket or covering of any kind. Her heart went out to him. Picking up her blanket, she put it over her head. In just her nightshift and with bare feet, she hurried out to join Hunter.

“Fast, get under here,” she instructed, holding the blanket open for him.

“My lady, you shouldn’t be out in the rain.” Hunter ducked and got under the blanket with her. His wet body pressed up against her dry night rail.

“Your clothes are soaking wet,” she told him.“You really need to dry off so you don’t become ill.”

“I’m supposed to be watching the fire,” he reminded her. “I promised Robin.” They both turned to look at the fire but it had been extinguished in the cold rain and now it only smoked.

“Come into my tent,” she told him.“At least until the rain lets up.”

“Nay. That wouldn’t be proper.”

“I insist.”

“If I do that and your brother finds out, he’ll have my head,” said Hunter.

“Then stop talking so loud before you wake him.” She put one arm around him and walked with him to her tent. Once inside, she dropped the blanket. Hera made a soft clucking noise from her perch. “It’s just Hunter, sweetie,” she told her bird while Hunter closed the flap to keep the rain out.

“I’ll just stay for a moment,” said Hunter, brushing the water off of his arms. “I’m sure the rain will let up soon.”