Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“You are not upset?”
“Why would I be?” Fiona asked as they left the group of cottages to walk in the open meadow.
“For one, I feared I exposed my identity; and second, I think you begin to care for this man and I worry I may have hurt your chances with him.”
“I admit he stirs an interest in me. I am amazed at his patience in dealing with us. I thought by now he would have been frustrated and returned us home.” She shook her head. “Instead, with patience, he shows us all he has to offer a wife”
“Do you wish to alter our plan?”
“Not unless I see a reason to change it.”
“What if Tarr actually toys with us?” Aliss asked. “What if already he can tell us apart?”
“Not likely,” Fiona said with confidence. “He has demonstrated that he is a man on a mission. He is as determined to have a strong wife who will defend his land and bare him mighty sons as I am to wed for love.”
Aliss stopped and turned a soft glance on her sister. “You and Tarr are much alike.”
Fiona crunched her face, about to shake her head.
“You cannot deny it. You are both skilled hunters, strong-willed, independent,” Aliss said. “You match each other perfectly.”
“Where is love in all this?”
“Perhaps it would grow if you wed and gave it a chance.”
“And if it does not? I am stuck.”
“The problem is that time is running out, and quickly,” Aliss said, addressing the obvious. “This ruse cannot go on for long, one of us is bound to make a mistake or Tarr, sharp-witted as he is, will figure out that he is actually spending more time with Fiona than Aliss. Then there is Raynor. I have not healed him only to see him die.”
“Is it that you favor Raynor? He is a handsome man and well-endowed.” Fiona smirked.
“He is an ill man in need of tending, nothing more. I told you many times that I, unlike you, am not interested in finding love. I wish to continue studying the healing arts, which means I have no room for a husband in my life.”
“You may regret it one day.”
“Then it will be mine to regret, but now I wish to pursue my interests.”
“You know I will always support whatever choice you make,” Fiona assured her. “I think it would be wise of us to place a time limit on this charade.”
“You mean a time limit to see if you could possibly fall in love with Tarr.”
“Whatever way you wish to see it as.” Fiona shrugged. “One month’s time, then we leave or stay unless an earlier departure proves necessary.”
“Tarr will not let us leave,” Aliss said.
“I know someone who would probably welcome us and protect us.”
Aliss looked perplexed.
“Think about it, Aliss. Where is the perfect place to hide?”
Aliss smiled. “Raynor.”
“He would not deny us protection. He feels indebted to you.”
“He would need our help.”
“If we need his help, then so be it,” Fiona said. “How long before he is well enough to attempt an escape?”
“Two, perhaps three weeks.”
“See if you can stretch it into a month. If we time this right, all can fall into place easily.”
By the time they were done, it was agreed that nothing would be said to Raynor until it was deemed necessary. As for Tarr? He was for Fiona to deal with; Aliss wanted nothing more to do with him.
Aliss returned to Raynor and Fiona went to the pen where her mare was stabled.
She grabbed a blanket and reins and prepared her horse for riding. Within minutes, she was flying across the meadow, a cool wind in her face, her raging red hair flying wildly about her head and the pure joy of freedom beating wildly in her heart.
Fiona was not familiar with the land but that made no difference. She feared little, her knife sheathed at her waist and her sword strapped securely to her horse. Most men feared a woman with a sword, not knowing whether she was skilled or if it was simply a ruse. Once she unsheathed it, though, men quickly learned she knew exactly what to do with it.
She rode with sheer abandonment until, spying a stream through sparse woods, she slowed her mare, guiding her to the water.
Resting on the edge of the stream while the horse drank, she tossed a stone or two into the running water. “I know you follow me; show yourself.”
A moment passed and no one emerged from behind the trees or bushes.
“Have it your way, but I know you are there. For a fierce warrior, one would think you would be a good tracker, or is this another ruse like our hunting expedition?”
The taunting did it; Tarr stepped out from behind the trees. His stallion headed straight for the stream.
“How?” was all he asked.