Free A Warrior's Heart (Shields) by Donna Grant Page B

still recall her mother’s warm brown eyes and they way they would light up when she laughed.
    Jayna finished plaiting her hair and sighed. She had come this far, she couldn’t fail now. Not when she was so close to finishing.
    A soft knock on her door brought her out of her reverie. “Enter,” she called out, not wanting to leave the warmth of the fire.
    “Did you sleep well?” a deep, smooth voice asked.
    She turned her head to see Gabriel leaning against the door, a fur-lined cloak of black around his shoulder and something dark draped over his arm.
    “I did, thank you,” she replied as she climbed to her feet. “I was just about to go down to the great hall.”
    She felt his gaze as she walked toward him, but she couldn’t quite meet his eyes this morning. At one time, she had thought he was the man of her heart, a man who she could trust and would be by her side forever. She had thought she was prepared to face him, prepared to feel any memories that crept up on her.
    She had been wrong.
    “Jayna?”
    She took a deep breath and walked out of her chamber as Gabriel shut the door behind her.
    “Are you well this morning?” he asked, concern making his voice soft.
    “Aye,” she answered and forced a smile. She certainly couldn’t tell him that at one time she would have walked barefoot over hot coals for him, or that she used to daydream about what their children would look like.
    A chill raced through her and she brought her arms up to wrap around her waist.
    Lightning fast, he pulled her to a halt as his hand touched her forehead. “There is no fever.”
    “I’m fine,” she said as she stepped back.
    She knew by the set of his chin he didn’t believe her. Gabriel had always known when she lied.
    “I was going to suggest going for a ride this morning, but if you’re not feeling well, maybe we should postpone it,” he said as they set off down the hallway.
    Her head jerked toward him. “A ride?”
    “Aye. I must check the perimeters and I wondered if you might want to collect your bow and arrows. The storm should hit later today or tomorrow, so we cannot tarry long.”
    Jayna closed her eyes and unbidden a memory of her and Gabriel racing across the hills on her father’s fastest horses came to her. She opened her eyes to find Gabriel watching her silently.
    “I think I’d like that very much.”
    “Then you’ll need this,” he said as he handed her the cloak that was draped over his arm.
    She ran her hands over the fur-lined cloak. “What happened to my cloak?”  
    “It’s being repaired,” was all he said as he started down the stairs to the hall.  
    The great hall was nearly empty by the time they arrived. She was slightly embarrassed to have slept so long, and doubly so when she saw Mina smiling at her.
    “I do apologize for sleeping so late. I normally wake with the sun,” she said as she took a seat beside the lady of the castle.
    “I asked the servants to let you sleep,” Mina said. “I thought you might need it. Want another visit to our bathing chamber?”
    Jayna smiled as she remembered the luxurious warmth of the water and the heavenly bliss of soaking for as long as she wanted. “Words cannot describe how wonderful it was.   I’m sure I’ll make my way there sometime this day.”
    “I thought you might,” Mina said with a laugh. “Usually, Elle and Shannon are in there for hours.”  
    Jayna glanced beside her, expecting to see Gabriel, yet there was only an empty spot. She looked around her, searching for him.
    “He went to speak with Hugh in the solar,” Mina said.
    She turned to look at Mina and found Mina staring intently at her.
    Mina cleared her throat and said, “Gabriel is a very handsome man.”
    “I suppose so,” Jayna replied. She wasn’t about to tell Mina Gabriel was the most handsome man she had ever, or would ever, meet. “I must thank Elle for allowing me to borrow her gowns.”
    Mina waved away her words. “Think nothing of it. Consider