Free Afton of Margate Castle by Angela Elwell Hunt Page B

down, please,” Afton called, trying to sound pleasant. “I can play horseshoes, too.”
    Lienor turned and ran out of the barn after Charles. “I don’t know how to let you down,” she called over her shoulder.
    Afton was left alone in the barn, spinning like a rag doll above the stone floor of the stables.
    ***
    Her anger dissolved into fear, and her fear arched into overwhelming loneliness. Afton bore her helplessness as long as she could, then let a loud sob escape her. Was she taken from her home only to be abused by those who were supposed to be her playmates? Why was Lady Endeline allowing this to happen?
    The sound of approaching hoof beats interrupted her tears, and Afton wiped her face with her sleeve. What if she was found by a knight? Would she be beaten? Left to starve? Turned out into the forest?
    It wasn’t a knight on the bulky horse trotting into the barn, it was Calhoun. He slowed his horse to a walk and bent over the beast’s neck, gently stroking the lathered animal. Afton didn’t know whether to call out or remain silent.
    As she debated what to do, Calhoun walked the horse into a stall and dismounted. As he swung his leg over the horse’s rump, he glanced in Afton’s direction and soon came out of the stall for a better look.
    “For a moment I thought my eyes had trespassed upon an angel,” he said simply, looking up at her. The twinkle was gone from his eyes. “But you are not of the heavenly realm yet. If you were intending to hang yourself, you have placed the noose incorrectly.”
    “I didn’t do this,” Afton answered, unable to keep the anger out of her voice. “Lienor and Charles did it for sport.”
    Calhoun stood motionless and Afton was afraid he would walk away, too. “Are you going to let me starve up here?” she finally demanded.
    “No,” Calhoun answered, smiling up at her. “I was just enjoying the sight. It is easy to see why my eyes mistook you for an angel. Hair of gold, eyes like morning fog. . .”
    “Get me down!” Afton shrieked, covering her ears.
    Calhoun maneuvered the weighted bale of hay so that it was directly under Afton. Then he pulled a dagger from his belt. “I’m going to cut the rope and you will fall,” he said, looking up. “I will catch you.”
    “Is there no other way? I don’t want to fall.”
    “I said I would catch you. Don’t you trust me?”
    Afton bit her lip. “No.”
    Calhoun shook his head. “A knight always keeps his word,” he said solemnly. “I will catch you.”
    She nodded and held tight to the rope around her waist. Calhoun swung his dagger in a wide arc and as it bit through the rope, Afton squealed and dropped to the ground like an iron weight. She landed squarely on top of Calhoun and knocked him off his feet. Both of them lay sprawled in the hay.
    When she had caught her breath, she pushed herself up and away from him. “You didn’t catch me,” she said, her voice unsteady. “But thank you for breaking my fall.”
    Calhoun spat hay out of his mouth and lifted his head. He grinned at her. “Next time, I will catch you.”
    She scrambled further away. “You will not have to rescue me again,” she said, brushing the hay from her tunic.
    In an instant he was beside her. “Nay, but that is a knight’s duty.” He ran his hands lightly over her shoulders and arms. “Are you certain you are all right? You are not hurt?”
    “I am not hurt,” she answered, studying his face. His touch surprised and affected her, for no man or boy had ever touched her with compassion. In his eyes she saw concern, friendliness, and care, the qualities she had always ascribed to God and the king alone. And she knew no son of the king’s, or even the king himself, could be more beautiful than Calhoun.
    “Lienor and Charles will not play these tricks again,” Calhoun told her, taking a step back. “You can be sure of it.”
    He returned his dagger to his belt and went to tend his horse, and Afton sat silently in the hay,