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Merry's eyes widened at the anger in the man's face and voice. 'Twas obvious he was upset and not afraid to show it. Alex, however, merely nodded. "Aye, you are right. It would not have happened. But how do you know it was set?"
Gerhard blew out an exasperated breath. "Well, I presume you were not foolish enough to leave a candle burning while you slept?"
"Nay," Alex agreed, even as Merry shook her head. She distinctly recalled Alex blowing out the candle before joining her in the pallet. It had definitely been dark inside the tent when she'd drifted off to sleep.
"Then someone obviously must have set it," the soldier snapped, and was so upset he began to pace in front of them. "It was a stupid effort to kill you, though it nearly worked. Fortunately, the fire upset the horses, and their nervous movement and whinnying woke Allan and he got up to soothe them, saw the tent was afire, and woke me."
"And you came in after me," Alex said solemnly. "Thank you, old friend."
Gerhard waved his words away with disgust. "Of course, I came in after you. 'Tis my job to keep you alive. But I would not have needed to, had you just listened to me and allowed me to put guards on you. Someone set that fire deliberately, trying to kill you. There is no way this could be an accident that we are misconstruing."
His eyes slid to Merry as he said that and she sat a little straighter in Alex's lap and said quickly, "I did not set it."
"Merry, love," Alex said softly, drawing her wary gaze to him. Lifting one sooty hand, he brushed the hair back from her face and said solemnly, "We know it was not you. Do we not, Gerhard?" he added in hard tones.
Merry glanced to the man, sighing inwardly when he hesitated. She was sure he was about to accuse her of starting the fire in another attempt to point the guilty finger elsewhere, but much to her surprise, he nodded solemnly.
"Aye. We know it is not you," he said dutifully, and then added, "You would hardly set the tent on fire and then go to sleep inside and remain there so long." He shook his head. "I do not know how you survived it. The heat and smoke were enough that I was sure you were dead when I realized you were still in there."
"My wife sleeps buried under the furs," Alex said dryly. "She burrows even her head under them. 'Tis probably the only thing that saved her."
"Ah." Gerhard nodded and then peered at Merry and said seriously, "'Tis good you do. 'Tis probably the only thing that saved you this night. I thought you were in the wagon with Una, and the smoke was so thick in the air I never would have seen you there. We are just lucky that the furs were not set afire by a spark ere Alex realized you were still inside and got you out. Surely the angels were looking after you both tonight."
Merry nodded solemnly as her gaze slid back to the fiery tent as it collapsed. The angels had indeed been working hard tonight.
"My lady?"
Merry glanced back to Gerhard and she noted that his expression had gone even more solemn.
"Allow me to offer my apologies for my earlier accusations," he said with dignity. "My only excuse is that--"
"Lookin' out fer Alex has been yer job fer many years now," Merry interrupted, equally solemn despite the relief pouring through her. She had not enjoyed knowing she was under suspicion for hurting Alex and was glad to have that pall removed. She was so relieved she didn't need the apology, so said, "And everything did start after me arrival. I understand why ye suspected me. 'Tis all right."
"Thank you," he murmured, and then seemed to become aware of the men all standing around them, watching and listening to everything, and said, "Well? 'Tis morn now. Why are you not breaking camp?"
The men began to move away at once, and Gerhard turned to offer them both a slight bow before following suit.
Merry watched him go, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. In truth, she thought it was nearly worth having almost been roasted alive to get that suspicion off her. She suspected she might feel differently had she not slept through the ordeal. However, the very fact that she had made her shake her head with bewilderment. Surely the heat or the smoke should have made its way through to her sleeping mind and roused her? Apparently not.
"Merry?"
She turned to Alex, surprised to see that he looked even more solemn than Gerhard had.
He caught her face in his hands and said, "I want you to know that I have never believed that you were involved in what has been happening." When Merry's eyes narrowed with doubt and she opened her mouth to say she was not sure that was true, he held up a hand and said, "If ever I did wonder, it was only a passing thought and quickly forced away by your own behavior."
"Mine?" she asked, wanting to believe him.
"Aye," he assured her, and then laughed slightly and said, "Merry, there is a reason you gained the name the Stewart Shrew."
Merry felt herself flush, but before she could get too embarrassed or upset, he added, "And you did not get it from sneaking around drugging people or knocking them out when their backs are turned. Anyone could tell that from watching you deal with your father and brothers."
"They could?" she asked dubiously.
"Do you recall the day I found you training the men in the bailey?"
"Aye," she said slowly, unsure where this was heading.
"Well, Merry, when you realized your father and brothers were drinking in the great hall, you straightened your shoulders and marched up there ready to do battle. You did not handle it in some underhanded sneaky manner."
Merry grimaced but said, "As much as I hate to disappoint ye and risk ye thinkin' I'm behind all this, I feel I should tell ye that I did actually slam me shield ower Brodie's head from behind when I got there."
"That was just to get his attention," Alex said, waving her words away.
"Ye saw it?" she asked with dismay.
"Aye. I followed and saw and heard everything, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. You hit him over the head, got his attention, gave him hell, and then knocked him out good and proper from in front."
Merry was busy cringing over the knowledge that he'd witnessed one of her shrewish moments, when he caught her face and turned her so that she was focused on him as he continued, "Merry, you handle everything in a forthright manner. You did not hide the whiskey from your father and brothers, but locked it away in the pantry and kept the key on your person, and all knew you had it." He shook his head. "Nay. Did you want me dead, you would not choose strange potions and sneak attacks from behind to do it. You would choose a much more forthright manner."
"Thank ye, husband," Merry said quietly, touched that he thought so highly of her. She then frowned and added, "I think."
Alex chuckled at the disgruntlement now claiming her face and then hugged her close. "I am almost glad for this latest attack. It has allowed us to clear up the matter of your being under suspicion and--"
Merry tilted her head back to peer at him curiously when his words faltered. "And what?"
He grimaced, but then admitted, "It also gave me the chance to rescue you for a change."
"I..." She paused, her brow furrowed with confusion.
Alex smiled, but explained, "It was beginning to hurt my pride that my sweet little bride had saved my life twice when I am supposed to be the big strong, warrior husband."
"Oh!" Her eyes widened in realization and then she patted his shoulder soothingly. "Ye are a big strong, warrior husband, husband. I have never doubted that, and I kenned 'twas only a matter of time ere ye'd ha'e to be savin' me back."
Alex began to laugh so hard he fell back on the grass with her, and Merry gave a little squeal and clutched at his shoulders as they went. She then found her head pressed to his chest as he hugged her tightly and breathed, "Ah Merry, you are priceless."
Merry wasn't sure what he found so amusing. She'd been in earnest, but let the matter go and admitted, "I'm glad o' it, too, if it means Gerhard will stop suspecting me. But yer words have made me wonder."
"About what?" Alex asked, his hand moving soothingly over her back.
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"Well, ye're right. It hadna occurred to me, but this whole ordeal is full of sneakin' about and such, and I think Gerhard too forthright to do that, too."
