Free The Rock by Monica Mccarty

sword and tap his ribs, signifying a cut.
    Thom betrayed none of his satisfaction, but it was there in Kerr’s furious expression.
    A few of the men clapped and cheered. Despite his rank, the captain was a crude braggart and not popular around camp.
    The most important spectator clapped among them. When he finished, Carrick called Thom over. “Not bad, MacGowan. I see you are improving in your sword skills.”
    Thom accepted the compliment with a nod. “The captain has taught me much.”
    Carrick lifted a dark brow. “I see you’ve learned some diplomacy as well. You may become a knight yet.” His mouth twisted with amusement. “Assuming your horsemanship skills have progressed, that is?”
    Thom didn’t bother hiding his grimace. His lack of fondness for horses (and theirs for him) wasn’t exactly a secret. He rode, but through sheer grit and determination. “I’m afraid not, my lord.”
    Carrick laughed uproariously and clapped him on the back. “We’ll find you a sweet filly to tame yet. Which reminds me . . .” He gave Thom a knowing look. “You made quite the impression on our hostess with your heroics a few days ago.”
    Thom winced a little at Edward Bruce’s attempt at humor. Like most men in camp, Carrick could be crude when it came to talking about women. Big Thom would have skinned him alive, if he’d heard Thom say half—a quarter—of the things that were said about women at camp. Thom might be of low birth, but he’d been raised to treat lasses—all lasses—with respect. Despite their supposed code of chivalry, from what Thom had seen, not all knights took it to heart.
    But Carrick wasn’t all bad. Thom knew that many men didn’t like the king’s second-in-command, but he wasn’t one of them. Edward Bruce could be hotheaded and impulsive, but he was also bold, fierce, and aggressive on the battlefield. If he was in the shadow of his older brother and at times jealous, perhaps Thom understood. He knew what it was like to always be looking up.
    “It was nothing, my lord,” Thom said.
    “Well, Lady Marjorie doesn’t think so. I wish I’d seen it. Did you really climb all the way up there?” The earl pointed to the spine of the pitched roof of the tower house.
    Rutherford Castle was of the simple stone peel tower construction that was common in the area. It had served as a base for the earl and his men as they raided England and harried the garrison at Jedburgh to prevent any provisions from getting through.
    “It’s easier than it looks, my lord.”
    Edward Bruce glanced at him as if he were crazed. “How the hell did the cat get up there anyway?”
    Thom shrugged. “Lady Marjorie said one of the children was chasing him around the ramparts and the cat was trying to escape. He was probably too scared to try to come down.”
    “I wonder why,” Carrick said dryly. “I sure as hell wouldn’t risk my neck for a cat, but Lady Marjorie is grateful. Very grateful. The lovely widow has requested that you be among the men to provide her escort to her lands in Yorkshire.” When Thom didn’t immediately respond, he added, “She specifically asked me what your position was in the army, and whether you were wed. I told her you were one of my most promising soldiers, and that you were as yet unmarried. The lady is definitely interested. Move your pieces right, and you’ll capture your ‘queen,’ and be lord of this castle in a few months.”
    With the amount of attention Lady Marjorie had been showing him the past few days—and the suggestive touches and brushes—Thom wasn’t completely surprised by the earl’s news. “Thank you, my lord. I will do my best. When do I leave?”
    “The day after tomorrow.”
    “You do not need me here for the raids?”
    Carrick shook his head. “We’ll be leaving for Stirling by the end of the week. You can meet us there.” The earl paused, eyeing him thoughtfully. “You surprise me, MacGowan. I thought you would be more excited by the