Free Dragon Warrior (Midnight Bay) by Janet Chapman Page A

narrowing on him. “I told you to be gone when I got back,” she said, her voice raspy from crying.
    He kept walking until he reached her and pulled the mare up beside him to pat its cheek. “I remembered that ye had a sore knee, and Rose here suggested that we give ye a ride home before we head back to An Tèarmann.”
    “ Rose suggested you give me a ride?” she asked, the barest hint of a sad smile twitching one corner of her mouth.
    “Aye, she’s quite thoughtful that way, despite being Scots,” William said, running his hand over the mare’s large nose. He suddenly stilled when he noticed Maddy staring at his arm. “Are ye upset that I let Janice use her money card to order my watch?” he asked, pulling his cuff back even more as he held his wrist out to show her the watch. “The others assured me it would be okay.”
    “Huh?” It took her a moment, but she finally lifted her gaze from his arm to his face. “Oh, no, it’s okay,” she said, her eyes straying to his wrist again.
    “Then come.” He stepped to the mare’s side. “I’ll help ye up.”
    “She’s not wearing a saddle. I can walk. It’s not that far.”
    “A saddle’s more trouble than it’s worth; don’t worry, Rose is as gentle as a spring lamb. And the less ye use that knee, the quicker it will heal. Come on,” he urged, pulling her in front of him so she was facing the horse.
    She clutched his hands when he set them on her waist. “The both of us will be too heavy for her.”
    He chuckled. “Six of us wouldn’t be too heavy for her, but I intend to walk.” She tried to step away, but he didn’t let her go. “You’re not afraid of horses, are ye, Maddy?”
    That did the trick. She grabbed Rose’s mane, then raised her leg for a boost. “I’m not afraid of a silly old horse, even one that’s bigger than the car I’m driving.”
    William lifted her by the waist then waited to make sure she was settled before stepping away. “Ready?” he asked, trying not to laugh when he saw her eyes had gone wide at being tossed up like a sack of feathers.
    He started walking down the path and smiled to himself, remembering the night Eve and Maddy had gotten falling-down drunk to bolster their nerves as they walked along a dark road after Maddy’s truck had ended up in the ditch. Since he’d been a dragon at the time—which they decided had to be a hairless moose—and was inadvertently the cause of their driving into the ditch, he’d gotten Kenzie to fetch them home. When Kenzie had found them and in turn carried each woman to his truck, Maddy had been drunkenly adamant that she was going to lose a few pounds before her own knight in shining armor finally showed up to sweep her off her feet.
    The next day, William had asked his dear friend Mabel what a knight was, and that’s when she’d told him the tale of King Arthur. And with twinkling eyes filled with speculation more than amusement, she’d also explained that even though Maddy might have been jesting, she was probably secretly hoping that a big, strong, handsome hero would come riding into town and rescue her and love her forever.
    “It’s true that Rose is the one who suggested we come give you a ride,” William said into the peaceful silence. “But where she was being thoughtful, I admit I have a more selfish motive, as I have a favor to ask.”
    He heard Maddy sigh. “Sure, why not, seeing how you’ve probably figured out that I’m a pushover when it comes to people asking me for favors.”
    William kept facing forward so she wouldn’t see his smile. “Ye can say no if ye want; I won’t be offended. But if ye do say no, then maybe could you give me some advice instead?”
    “What’s the favor?”
    “I’ve purchased a truck, but I’m not allowed to drive it on the roads alone with only a permit. I was wondering if you’d consider riding with me while I practice for taking the test to get my license.”
    “You don’t drive?”
    He frowned at the path