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She seemed to weigh his words, and he could see that she remained unsure.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Soldiers,” he said, and explained what he had seen. “I need to get to Old Jacob’s farm and make sure he and his granddaughter are all right. How is your ankle?”
“Better,” she said, and held out her foot to show that she had gotten her boot on.
A slight bulge protruded out one side of her ankle. It was better but far from healed. He worried that a day of walking and climbing the snow-covered hilly terrain would only make it worse.
She seemed to sense his apprehension and was quick to put his mind at ease. “My ankle does fine. And while I know it will probably swell again after our long trek, at least I can walk on it now without pain. So I suggest we get started.”
He admired her resilience and willingness to suffer further pain so that he could see to the safety of another. She was not a selfish woman, and that was a worthy attribute.
“We’ll need to be extracautious,” he said as he extinguished the fire, dumping a good amount of snow on the last of the dying flames and embers. “I don’t know where the soldiers are going. They could backtrack or cut to the west, or do any number of things.”
“But you sense they go north toward Old Jacob’s place, don’t you?”
She was perceptive, keeping good count of what he had told her. And he nodded.
“This area is close to your land?” she asked.
“It is my land,” he said, standing and brushing the snow off his hands. He waited for her to ask more, but she simply nodded and turned to the door.
“We better get going.” And out the door she went.
He followed with a smile, Tara continuing to surprise him, and he loved women who could surprise.
Tara’s thoughts had remained on the soldiers as she walked. When Reeve had told her about them, she worried that they could prove a threat. What were they doing in the area? Did they search for someone? And was her curse the cause of this sudden problem? Was she already bringing danger to Reeve? And what of the farm they go to? Would danger follow them there or arrive before them?
She could not change what she had done. The deed was done, and she so hungered for her freedom. Her only course of action was to remain aware. Be careful of what choices she made from here on and not think that because she was about to embrace freedom, she was free of the curse. She had to remain diligent, not only to protect herself but others as well. She could not, would not, bring danger to others.
“Are you all right?”
Reeve’s concerned query startled her out of her musings, and she nodded. “I am fine.”
“We will rest in another hour or so unless you need to rest now,” he said, as they continued to walk.
“No. An hour or so will be fine,” she said; though her ankle tormented her, it wasn’t anything she couldn’t bear.
They continued on in silence until finally Reeve announced it was time to rest. He found a boulder they could sit behind, and Reeve, in a whisper, suggested they continue their silence.
She nodded, understanding his concern that their voices would carry on the wintry air and through the barren tree branches to be heard even a good distance.
His hand reached for the hem of her dress, and she grabbed his hand. “It’s fine.”
They remained as they were for a moment, her hand holding firmly to his until she realized what she had done, and then she quickly released him. She should not have touched him. They had been too close of late, and while he might not believe in curses, she certainly knew better. She could not allow herself to feel for this man, or it would be the death of him.
They didn’t linger long. After only a short respite, he reached out to help her to her feet. But she ignored his kindness and stood on her own. She had to remember that while he was here now, he wouldn’t be for long, and she would once again have only herself to rely on.
Her ankle throbbed, but she would have none of it. Ignoring the pain, she gave Reeve a firm nod and smiled, letting him know she was ready.
Reeve glared at her a moment as if he had seen through her façade, then shook his head, turned, and stepped around the boulder.
Before she could follow, she heard the clash of swords and without thinking she grabbed the dirk from her boot and hurried forward.
Reeve was in battle with two soldiers, and she had no doubt he could dispose of them both. The one soldier turned a shocked expression on her when she appeared at Reeve’s side.
“Stay behind me,” Reeve shouted.
