Free Heir of Thunder (Stormbourne Chronicles Book 1) by Karissa Laurel Page B

motioned to my horse— “wanted to get away from
the village and this seemed like a nice place for a horse to wander.”
    Jackie studied me. His gaze made me feel translucent. “This is a nice place. It’s the reason I came here, too.”
    “Do you live in the village?”
    He turned and pointed through the trees in an eastern
direction. “No, I live on an estate about three or four miles that way.”
    I realized, then, that I might have trespassed. “Is this
your land?”
    “It is, but you are welcome. You’ve made a delightful
addition to the daisies and violets.”
    His compliments unnerved me, and I felt gangly and gauche.
Another blush heated my cheeks.
    “You’re not from Thropshire, though,” he said. “I know all
the village girls and I’ve never seen you before.”
    I shook my head. “I’m visiting, passing through on my way to
Braddock.”
    “Braddock? Have you booked passage on a ship?”
    “Yes.”
    “What a shame.” He clucked his tongue. “Inselgrau is so
lacking for sources of natural beauty. It could barely stand to lose one of its
finest specimens.”
    “Do you mean me?” The men at Falstaff were mostly old, or
married, or both. No one had ever flirted with me, before. Was that what Jackie
was doing? “Or are you making fun of me?”
    “Not at all,” he said. “I’m telling you the truth. I hope
you’re not in a hurry to leave. I’d enjoy your company.”
    “We’re leaving tomorrow.” I didn’t think Gideon would stand
for us to stay any longer than that.
    “Tomorrow? Who is this we ?”
    “My brother and I.”
    “Your brother? Maybe I could talk him into delaying your
departure for another day. In which of the inns have you reserved your rooms?”
    I shook my head and waved him off. “I shouldn’t even be
talking to you. If he knew, he’d be angry.” Angry was a polite word for what
Gideon would be.
    “Angry? Why?”
    I shrugged “He’s protective, I guess.” My excuse sounded
unconvincing to my own ears, and Jackie must have thought so, too.
    “If he’s so protective, then why are you out here by
yourself?”
    “I slipped away before he woke up.”
    “Then I’ll have to make the most of your company in the time
we do have.” Jackie tilted his head and squinted at the sun. “Just how much
time do we have, exactly?”
    I laughed, unable to help myself. “If I don’t show up for
supper, I’m sure he’ll come looking for me.”
    “Good. We have more than a few hours until suppertime. Get
your horse and we’ll ride for a while, if that suits you?”
    I nodded and started for Nonnie, but stopped before taking a
second step. I would have to hitch my skirts to make my way across the frigid
creek. Alone, I wouldn’t hesitate, but in the company of gentleman.... Jackie
noticed my hesitation and, before I could register his intentions, he had
lifted me off my feet and carried me across the creek. My heart thumped like a timid
rabbit’s, and my breath caught in my throat.
    Jackie deposited me on the bank next to my scruffy boots, which
looked particularly road-worn next to his gleaming attire. He crouched beside
me, focusing somewhere in the distance. I studied his profile as I laced my
boots. He wasn’t as tall as Gideon, or as broad, though not many young men
were. Still, Jackie had nearly half a head of height on me, and his tailored
coat set off a sturdy set of shoulders. My heart fluttered as I remembered the
easy way he lifted me and carried me across the slippery rocks.
    When I had finished tying my laces, he stood and stretched a
long fingered hand down to me. “Ready?”
    When I took his hand, he pulled me to my feet. I paused
again, remembering the hassle involved with mounting Nonnie back at the stables.
    He laughed. “What’s the trouble now?”
    “Would you mind looking away for a moment?” I didn’t want
him to lift me onto my horse the way he had lifted me across the creek. I could
tolerate only so much being tossed about in one day.
    Once