Free Debra Kay Leland by From Whence Came A Stranger... Page B

Thomas and forced a smile.  “Ock, and if I didn’t dote over ye, who would?”
    He stood and handed William a bowl of porridge from the grain they had just harvested the day before.
    “Porridge?”
    “Aye, and if ye complain of my doting over ye again, I shall stir in a little chaff to boot.”
    William laughed and spooned some into his mouth, then raised his hand with a smile as he spoke between bites.  “I swear—I shall not ever say another word.”
    Phillip laughed and his concern for his friend fell behind a smile yet again…
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    T he sweet smell of wild flowers drifted in the soft autumn breeze, golden sunlight filtered through the still lush leaves barely kissed with the colors of fall...  Everything was perfect; but one thing, it was the first day of the week and the whole village knew it…!
    Miranda hurried, hoping to somehow to miss Egan that day; even though she knew it was useless to try—she did it anyway.  If it weren’t for the English she would have begged off, for in truth the whole thing had begun to unnerve her.  She never knew exactly where he’d be waiting for her, never knew if she was being watched or not until he wished her to notice him, and she hated it!
    He stood leaning against a tree, his arms crossed over his chest stiffly waiting for her to round the bend.  He wanted her to know he was there, wanted her to know that he too had remembered and that he was not pleased.  He straightened as he saw her coming his way and almost smiled when he saw her hesitate because of him.  And though he had promised to hold his peace till she was older; she sorely tempted him even now…
    She hesitated when she noticed him coming towards her; then looked down and continued on her way purposefully ignoring him.
    “Good day, lass.”
    She paused yet again; then glanced up at him uneasily.  “Ye should not be waiting for me, Egan, and ye know it well!”
    He shrugged and turned to follow her.  “And why not?  ‘Tis the day that the Englishman comes to the village, is it not?  And I won’t have ye meet him alone; even if yur da thinks it right, I do not!”
    “He has not come to bring trouble; ye have seen so for yurself.”
    He raised one dark brow as he continued, “It matters not why he comes h ere; he is still not welcome.”
    She glanced at him again as she walked on stiffly.  “And are ye to make trouble for him?”
    He chose not to answer as he continued on beside her silently.  He would do what he needed to do with or without her permission.
     
    As she came to the edge of the village she stopped; stepping away from Egan purposefully as he settled himself down comfortably onto the grassy knoll, his eyes never leaving her as he did so.   “Will ye sit with me, lass?”
    At his words she stepped even farther away, throwing him a hard frown as she spoke, “Nay, I shall not.  Ye should not even be here talking to me and ye know it well, Egan Wallace!”
    He laughed.  “Everyone in the village knows how I feel about ye , ‘tis no secret I assure ye.”
    She blushed and turned away; purposefully going to the opposite side of the roadway.  She stood there stiffly facing the road, trying hard not to even acknowledge his presence.  Yet he stared at her , despite her wary withdrawal.
    She turned on him then and scowled.  “If—ye press yur suit, Egan Wallace, I swear I shall not even speak to thee!  I have no need of a man I cannot trust…!
    His dark eyes narrowed at her well chosen words that were meant to prick his conscience; and they did.  He turned his head towards the road with a growl; pausi ng before he lowered his voice.  “…I only asked ye to sit with me; ye should know by now that I would never hurt ye.”
    She blushed and looked down; knowing in her heart that of all the men in the village, she trusted him the least.  And yet to say so would