Free The Lady and the Knight (Highland Brides) by Lois Greiman Page B

she felt his gaze bore into her. Lifting her gaze to his, she reddened, and then, steadying her fingers against his arm, pushed the needle into his flesh.
    An eternity later the angel-witch tied off the last stitch and settled back on her heels. Probably she wanted to see how much pain she had managed to inflict. It was his duty as a knight not to let her know, but he thought perhaps the rivers of sweat flowing down his forehead might give her a clue to the truth.
    "Finished," she said, her tone breathless, drawing his attention to her lips. St. Thomas's teeth, no witch should have lips like that. "I am sorry if I hurt ye."
    He noticed she looked pale.
    "You didn't," he said, and was quite proud that his voice trembled only a little.
    "I've but to wrap it now."
    "Wrap it!" he said, then winced at the squeak in his voice. He cleared his throat and made a point to lower his eyebrows to a well-honed look of irritation. "I'm certain tis fine as it is."
    "It willna hurt," she promised.
    How the hell would she know? It hurt right now. Like the devil was stabbing him with his fiery pitchfork.
    "I've seen more battles than I can count, lady," he said. "Think you that your touch would frighten me?"
    "I think as a child ye did not spend enough time with your mother," she suggested.
    "Wrap it," he said, and looked away.
    He could feel her gaze on his face, but after a moment, she began to bandage. Upon completion, he tested her handiwork. The clothes were snug, but not too tight, allowing his muscles to flex with only enough pain to leave him this side of consciousness.
    "I owe you my thanks," he said finally.
    She didn't look up as she gathered what was left of her medicinal items. "Twould be best for ye to continue to use your arm a bit to discourage swelling, but I would not suggest any more battles for a couple of days."
    "I'll try to remember."
    Their gazes locked. Silence settled between them.
    "I am sorry about your mother."
    He started at her words. "What of my mother?"
    She bit the inside of her lip as her fair brows drew together. "I dunna know," she murmured, looking shaken.
    Premonition prickled eerily up Boden's spine. He pushed it away. If he allowed himself to believe she could read his mind what would come next? Ghosts and goblins?
    "We'd best be moving," he said. "I'd not wish to defy my physician's orders by killing more brigands so soon after her efforts."
    Sara sat absolutely still. Once again, she was cradled between the massive, oaken thighs of Sir Boden Blackblade. Trying to avoid the disturbing intimacy of this position, she had insisted on riding sidesaddle, but he refused, saying her balance would be compromised.
    Tilly had followed docilely along behind for some miles, but finally she had lain down and refused to get up. She was now tied behind the saddle like an ungainly sack of feed.
    In retrospect, Sara, thought, her own position could be worse.
    "We'll spend the night here," Boden said.
    Sara nodded and prepared to dismount, but before she did so, Boden was on foot and assisting her.
    "I am not helpless," she said. "Ye are wounded, ye should rest."
    "I am a knight," he argued, and turning back toward Mettle, remounted.
    "Where are ye going?" Despite her words of independence, despite the fact that she knew she could not trust this man, the thought of him leaving sent terror spurting through her.
    Reaching behind his saddle, he withdrew the sword he'd obtained at the last battle. "Take this while I search for food."
    The blade felt heavy in her hand. "I know nothing of s wordplay."
    "I saw what you can do with a branch," he said. "Think of your child. The brigands will be lucky to leave with their heads above their shoulders."
    Despite her better judgment, she reached past sleeping Thomas to touch his thigh. The muscle there was hard and broad. Warmth spread up her arm. She pulled her hand nervously away. "Ye will be careful?"
    His expression changed slightly. Although she doubted he would have wanted her to