Free Everything I Do: a Robin Hood romance (Rosa Fitzwalter Book 1) by M.C. Frank

smiling.
     
     
    Robin took a wooden cup that contained a steaming chunk of meat and squatted down unceremoniously next to her. They ate in silence for a minute and then Rosa could no longer contain herself.
    “I was very angry with you yesterday,” she said and Robin almost choked on his bite.
    “Angry?” he asked, taken aback.
    “When I heard about the flying arrow, I…”
    Robin laughed, relieved, and pride glowed in his black eyes.
    “So the tale traveled all the way down to the stables, did it?”
    “It will probably have reached the ears of the king himself by now!” she exclaimed, infuriated by his apathy. He didn’t even notice. Instead his cheeks grew pink with joy. Well, it was rather dark for her to discern if he actually blushed, but he certainly behaved as if he had. “I was saying how angry it made me…,” she insisted.
    He seemed to sober a little at that.
    “Why?” he asked, and for a minute it seemed to her that he really cared to know.
    “… and scared,” she finished.
    He turned to look at her abruptly. He will laugh at me, she thought. But he didn’t. Instead, his expression became dark, inscrutable. They fell silent, but Robin didn’t continue eating. His portion of the day’s hunt lay delicious and untouched in his idle hands, all but forgotten.
    He stared at her blankly.
    “Forgive me,” he told her presently, “I am at a loss… You say you were scared? Surely you did not think you were in any danger? I swear they would all have died terrible deaths in that banquet room before I allowed any harm to come to you. You know that, don’t you?” His eyes were intent on her, willing her to believe him and he reached out a hand towards her, but thought better of it and withdrew it.
    “It was for you I was scared, master. For you and your men and…” she hesitated.
    “And?” he prompted.
    “…and you,” she finished, embarrassed.
    “I admit I cannot remember the last time someone worried about me, fair maiden,” he replied slowly. “You do me great honor.”
    Rosa looked at him, speechless.
    “Well, everyone is abuzz with speculation at the meaning of your cryptic note,” she said, trying to make light of the situation.
    “Are they now? And I thought I had made it plain as day,” he replied, but he still looked serious and ate but a few bites of his food.
    And his eyes never once left her face until the camp settled down to sleep.
     
     
    Little John woke her with a gentle pull on her sleeve before the break of dawn, for he would have no time to waste once the sun rose. They went to work eagerly, a few more men coming to their help as they progressed. They went on famously until, suddenly Robin appeared, hardly noticing what they were doing, a deep frown on his face, his steps hurried and anxious.
    “John!” he shouted.
    “Here, chief!” came the prompt answer.
    “Come, we have to go quick,” he said more calmly, but still urgently. Little John got up immediately. Only then did Robin seem to notice Rosa and address her:
    “Forgive me Rose, for interrupting you. We have to get ready.” His smile dazzled her for a moment and then he was gone.
    As the others readied the horses, Rosa heard the news. Apparently the Sheriff, mad about the incident with the arrow at the banquet, and further humiliated by his fruitless efforts to capture Robin Hood that very night, had sent his men to comb the forest. Robin’s men that were scattered around the forest by daytime, had spotted a group of the Sheriff’s guards getting dangerously close to the camp. Upon hearing of this, Rosa’s heart was gripped with fear.
    The groups of guards that had been sent were larger than ever before and she knew firsthand the measure of the Sheriff’s anger. Even Robin must be uneasy this time. She had seen it in his eyes, had heard it in his urgency of his step; this would be a hard battle to fight, even for him.
    Soon enough a few small groups were made, one led by Robin and another by