AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’ve got a new job, lads. This one should be juicy,” I announced.
“Juicier than the fucked heist where we lost Roger?” a grizzly old bastard called out.
I frowned. “Roger shouldn’t have died. We can’t be lucky forever, boys.”
Friar Tuck made the sign of the cross. “God rest his soul.”
“This one should be easy,” I said, nodding. “A quick in-and-out.”
“What’s the job?” Will Scarlet asked, propped up against a tree. At least his swords were put away.
I smiled at the sea of curmudgeonly faces. “Carriage robbery, mates. Rich, noble bastards, who are just begging us to unburden them of their belongings.”
The men gave a halfhearted cheer.
A year ago, that cheer would have boomed through the forest. Times were tougher now than they were then.
So I tried to rally the troops—though I’d never been much of a motivational spokesman.
“They’ll be passing not far from here in a few hours’ time, if the missive reads true. Headed to Barnsdale. And we’ll be waiting for them.”
Chapter 13
Robin
My father rampaged across the grass, face twisting as he muttered curses to himself. He turned and paced the other way, throwing up his arms.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’d gone as mad as me.
He’d only discovered me half an hour ago, stowed away like a bundle of wool. We were finishing our first rest stop of the afternoon, buying some time in the shadows of a canopy as the sun pelted overhead.
“Duplicitous, dishonest, deceitful little brat!” he roared, spinning to me.
I knew he wanted to hit me. His face was red with rage, blue veins protruding along his neck. Perhaps he even wanted to slice me up and leave me for dead on the side of the road.
Uncle Gregory stayed close to me. Calm, unconcerned, watching as Sir Thomas made a fool of himself. His hand never strayed too far from the sword on his hip.
I was grateful Gregory took my side. It could have easily gone the other way, if he were a lesser man. He could have welcomed the beating, but he wasn’t the type to enjoy watching young women get assaulted.
I had to imagine this little tantrum of my father’s was eye-opening. It gave Gregory insight into how my home life had been for the past few years—ever since I grew large and fortified enough to take physical discipline without breaking. Granted, I was still thin, but I was old enough to take a beating.
Truth was, Father had broken me long ago. His fists and slaps fell on a shell of a girl. They didn’t hold the same weight they once did, though I obviously longed to be away from them.
Perhaps a suitor isn’t the worst idea . . . unless said suitor ends up being an extension of Father, with the same angry traits.
“Calm down, Tom,” Gregory urged, watching my father pace back and forth. “She misses her mother and wants to be with her through thick and thin.”
It was true. I desperately wished for another conversation with Mama, like the one I’d had last night. I needed her advice on what I was supposed to do if she died and left me. My final protector.
No Robert, no Mama . . .
My future looked bleak.
“You still have Uncle Gregory to protect you, sister,” Robert said.
I whispered, “Yes. For now.”
My uncle’s brow threaded together. He kept his eyes on my raging father a stone’s throw away, and spoke out the corner of his mouth. “What was that? For now?”
