Thomasina glanced at the large hand being offered her.
“Again I wait.” Sean said. “Give me yer arm.”
She had no idea how to jump onto a horse but every young boy did. She’d better learn quickly. Just as she began to lift her hand up, the huge, bearded man leaned forward to grab it and yanked her up behind him.
Pain shot through her shoulder and she leaned forward in agony.
“Reidh?”
Ready? Thomasina cringed, holding her breath to keep the groan of pain from escaping. She took a deep swallow. “Aye. Reidh.”
As one, they lurched forward with the movement. Her beloved beast moved beneath them. Her own pain forgotten as she felt for any shift of a misplaced hoof or strained ligament, any sign her horse had been mistreated while separated from her. This man certainly did not seem like someone who would be cruel to an animal.
A big man, yea. Towered over her. But he didn’t seem mean. Even his back was expansive. She couldn’t see anything beyond it. His body narrowed at the waist so that her legs were only somewhat indecently surrounding him, resting against his own thighs. She needed to lose him.
No doubt this man meant to help her search for her brother but he wouldn’t be found. Damn him. Why couldn’t Niall be where she needed him to be? He’d never have left her behind to deal with her father alone. She thought she’d only have to wait a few days but she’d waited nigh a week. Alone in that dark cave with only the food she could catch or gather to eat.
“Sean?” Thomasina coughed and adjusted her voice to a lower pitch and hoped the man hadn’t heard the slip. “Sean?”
What sounded like a chuckle preceded his answer. “Aye?”
“Can ye tell me who had my horse?”
A massive lift of his broad shoulders his only reply. He pushed the horse into a trot once they cleared the trees.
It had been bad enough that her father willingly handed her off to the highest bidder but separating her from her horse as well had been too much.
“If I knew the name, it might help me… stop the person from taking her again.”
A loud sigh followed. Sean slowed the horse until they stopped.
“I can’t hear ye, Tommy.”
Something about the way he said her name, made her think she irritated him.
“I’m sorry, Sean.” She liked saying his name, the way it sounded to her ears. He had a strange accent as well but she dare not question him. He’d already shown his short temper and she didn’t require another display. “I would appreciate ye taking me back and showing me where ye first saw my horse.”
“Is that it?” Sean turned toward her but did not look directly at her.
“I dunna ken what yer asking.”
“Is that all ye had to tell me?”
His irritation came from her asking a question? He didn’t want her to talk!
“Aye.” She clamped her mouth shut and crossed her arms in front of her. Insolent man.
The sun quickly dropping, Thomasina didn’t know the area. She also didn’t know how far it was to where he had gotten her horse. He spurred the animal again, faster this time.
“Hold tight, lad.” Sean ordered with a loud voice.
She didn’t know what he meant but held the horse tighter with her legs.
“Hold, lad.” He shouted the words at her. “Just do it.”
“I ken not—”
“Damn.” Sean muttered and grabbed her right hand, wrapping it around his firm torso. The movement shifted Thomasina forward in the saddle, all but flattening her against his back.
Damn is right. She tried to pull back slightly to stop her breasts from crushing against him. He wouldn’t be expecting her to have any breasts and as far as breasts go, hers weren’t very big, so maybe he wouldn’t notice.
“The other hand, too!” he said in a growl but gave the horse its lead to let loose before she could wrap the other arm about him.
Sean seemed to care very little for her struggles or discomfort. When she had him encircled in her arms, he covered both her hands with his own much larger one as if to keep them there. His warm palm was calloused. His fingers strong where they gripped her wrist. He urged the horse into a fast gallop as if the devil himself were chasing them.
She tried not to breathe too deep to stop anything from moving against him. It hadn’t even occurred to her to bind her breasts when she’d gone off after her brother. She’d been desperate to get away from her father bellowing after her when she’d run to get her horse. Dressing like a boy should have been enough. All she needed to do was to go find Niall and get his help escaping her father’s demands until he sobered. Surely then he’d realize the horrible mistake he’d made in offering her as payment to clear his debts.
Sean’s legs relaxed against hers. The horse responded immediately and they were trotting then walking when they again entered the woods. Behind her, a sudden downpour started. They were mostly protected by the thick trees.
Sean released her hands before jumping off the horse. Thomasina paused but a moment before rolling onto her belly and sliding down the horse. She could feel his eyes on her but when she turned to look, he was walking away from her to the edge of the clearing.
He shook his head, clearly irritated. He looked out through the pouring rain. The rain so loud, he had to shout. “Doubt it will let up until morning.”
That must have been why he’d started racing. He knew of the impending storm. It was miserable. The rain made everything cold and damp. Thomasina hugged herself for warmth. Whatever angered him—and the deep scowl on his face did indeed indicate his anger—had nothing to do with her. All she did was try to get her horse back.
Thomasina went to her horse, seeking the comfort of a friend. She rubbed her hands down the length of her appreciative beast. “Ye’re looking well cared for.”
“Of course she’s well cared for.” She hadn’t heard him coming toward her. “Do ye think I beat my animals?”
Thomasina stepped back as the man removed the items from its back.
“I dunna think anything. I have sorely missed her. I am glad she is unharmed.”
Sean rested an arm on the horse’s bare back, facing her with a smirk. “And if not for ye, the horse could not possibly survive?”
Without waiting for her reply, he pushed off. He paused and looked about the area before setting the items on the ground. “Either we can be warm with the skins atop or be protected from the cold ground with it on the bottom. I say the top.” He shook out the large length of deer skin as he spoke then stopped to pierce her with his bright, blue eyes. “What say ye?”
He had deep set eyes that sparkled even in the forest’s dimness.
“Um, yea, ’tis fine.”
She wasn’t certain why she kept feeling like she needed to defend herself. Perhaps because he seemed so damned angry. “What would ye have me do?”
Sean looked her up and down then smiled. The type of smile that wasn’t real. An attempt to hold in his annoyance no doubt. “Nothing. Ye’d best stay here. I will see to the food.”
Thomasina wanted to come to the defense of the boy he believed her to be. Why would he act like she couldn’t do anything? Look at all she’d accomplished. She’d gotten her horse back. She’d defended herself against someone much bigger and stronger, despite the tremors that had washed over her at the sight of him. Who could blame her? He was huge, like a mountain, towering in front of her with large, muscular arms that could squeeze the life out of her no doubt. The arms of a warrior. She had held her ground and done pretty well for a boy. Even better for a woman.
Thomasina moved about gathering wood for a fire. A nice blaze awaited Sean when he returned a short while later. He glanced her way a few times but said nothing as he prepared what he’d caught. She turned away from the disgusting sight of having the—whatever—skinned and cooked. Her stomach growled at the aroma of the meat sizzling over the flames.
They ate in silence. The rain kept up with occasional fat drops that worked their way through the thick canopy to plop on them. It wasn’t long before she was being bitten by a variety of irritating bugs.
“Oh, damn.” Thomasina slapped the bug on her arm. Blood oozed across her soaked sleeve.
Sean sat leaning against a fallen log, oblivious, staring into the flames. His long, powerfully built legs stretched out in front of him. He’d retrieved a skin from his sack which he drank from at steady intervals without offering to share. They’d already found a nearby brook with water for drinking so she assumed it must be something stronger.
“Devil spawn.” She slapped another bug dead.
Sean turned his bright eyes on her, his brows low as if thinking through a problem. His long hair hung behind him, pulled back at the crown. Not really blond. More the color of wheat but it looked soft to the touch. He seemed to see right through her.
“Shite!” She slapped at her leg. She must be one tasty morsel according to all these bugs and he sat there totally unbothered.
At least in the cave there had been no flying things to feast on her, just a few bats that kept to their own area. It had also seemed much safer than this place, less exposed. She glanced into the darkness. She couldn’t make out anything beyond the light from the fire.
“Whoreson!” She slapped at her neck and her hand came back bloody. “What to hell!”
Sean raised his eyebrows now clearly contemplating her. As if she spoke a language he didn’t understand. As if he were just noticing her at all.
“Ye have quite a mouth on ye.” He sounded as if he were making an observation. No expression. “Let me ken when ye run out of expletives. I’ll be happy to supply yer youthful brain with words nae child should ken.”
“I’m not a child.”
Sean swept his gaze over her body and she felt the sudden urge to shield herself from his view. When he looked her in the face, he smiled. A knowing smile. A smile that said “I know yer secret”.
“I would not say ye’re a man yet. Would ye, Tommy?”
Thomasina seethed inside at her own prideful outburst.
Idiot!
Of course she was a child. Just a boy. Not a lass of ten and eight only pretending to be a boy.
Sean kept his eyes on her face. He watched but said nothing. The shadows cast from the fire played across the strong planes of his face. She shivered.
“Are ye cold, Tommy?” His voice pitched lower this time. He took a long drink, his eyes never leaving her.
She wrapped her arms across her chest, hugging herself. “Nae.”
He licked his lips as if whatever he drank were delicious.
A fluttering inside demanded… action. She held out her hand to him. “May I have some?”
“’Tis best not to indulge at such a young age.” His tone remained even but that light in his eyes intensified as if he were holding back laughter.
She kept her hand out. “Please,” she coughed again. “Please.”
Satisfied that her voice sounded more appropriate, she tipped her nose into the air. She tried for that I-will-not-back-down expression that boys get.
His white teeth gleamed and he took another swallow. “Are ye certain?”
Her hand did not waver and it suddenly seemed of the utmost importance that she taste whatever he was drinking. She was not much of a drinker. Her father imbibed too often and too much. She preferred not to be like him. This seemed different somehow. The need to win this stranger’s acquiescence pushed her.
“Yea.”
His eyes pierced hers. She felt the jolt down to her toes and she couldn’t explain it. As he moved forward to pass her the skin, his eyes never wavered. They held hers as if in a trance. His warm fingers brushed her palm. Lightning shot up her arm.
“Thank ye.” Her voice sounded breathy.
She glanced at the glistening, pink lips just visible through his heavy beard. His eyes remained on hers. She took a sip. Bitter liquid burned down her throat and she jumped to her feet. Grimacing, she spit it onto the ground.
“Now that is a waste,” he said.
“What to hell is this?”
Sean’s hearty laugh surprised her. He remained sitting but his whole body shuddered with his deep, gut-splitting laughter. She paused to watch him. His eyes were closed. His broad shoulders shook with the sound. The tension in her gut eased a bit turning everything inside pliant.
He opened his eyes, starting as if surprised to see her watching him. He cocked a brow and gave her a sly look. “I did warn ye.”
Thomasina wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and smiled. A heartfelt smile. “Ye did.”
“Ye should have listened to me.”
“Yea.” She raised her eyebrows in expectation. “Have ye had enough fun with me now?”
Too late she realized she’d not disguised her voice. She swallowed hard. She waited.
His smile faded like early morning fog. His face became serious. “Mayhap not. Is there more fun to be had with ye?”
The intimate scene closed in around her. All alone with a handsome stranger. A stranger who believed she was a boy. Surely there was no threat to her innocence here.
She cleared her throat and brushed off the seat of her pants. “Well, I think ye’ve teased me enough for one night.” Her voice sounded very much like a boy now. “I’m for bed.”
Thomasina glanced around and found the long, deer skin brat. She hesitated. If she were indeed a boy, would it seem odd for them to share a covering? Maybe not but she’d certainly feel odd sharing it with this man. Odd enough to not get a wink of sleep. Mayhap she’d wait to decide what to do. She had more pressing matters at present.
“I’ll find myself a quiet spot and be back in a shake.” She did not look back at Sean before heading off into the dark forest.