"Nay, child," Catarina snapped. "Never. It's not in him to do such a thing."

Lochlan moved back, away from them as their words haunted him. Most likely his father had done it. He wouldn't be surprised.

The only thing people respect is cruelty. Show them you're the meanest and none will dare to attack you. His father had lived and died by those words. And his own mother had worn enough bruises that Lochlan knew firsthand how seldom his father had spared his fist.

Not to mention the rest of them.

But at least Catarina had seen the truth. He was not his father. He refused to deal such cruelty to others. Unfortunately, many others didn't see things the same way Catarina did.

His heart heavy, he returned to camp.

Bryce's face lightened the instant he saw the hares. "There will be full bellies tonight."

Lochlan laid them out by the boy's feet so that he could skin them. "I should wash up." And this time when he made his way back to the stream, he made sure to make enough noise to warn the women of his approach.

Julia quickly excused herself while Catarina stayed behind. Ignoring her, Lochlan knelt to wash his hands.

Cat frowned. Lochlan seemed even more closed off from her than he'd been before. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, la.s.s."

But he didn't seem fine. There was something troubling him. "Are we slowing you down?"

"What?"

"I was wondering if you were bothered by the fact that all of us are traveling with you now. I know you're in a hurry to find out about your brother."

"Nay. Since Bracken knows where he's heading and I don't, I imagine this is much quicker."

She moved closer to him. "Then what's weighing on your mind?"

He stood up to tower over her. "There's nothing."

As if she believed him. Every part of his tense body and his pale eyes denied his claim. "If you say so, my lord."

He frowned at her. "What do you mean by that tone of voice?"

"Nothing at all. If your mind is empty, then it's empty. Far be it from me to question a mindless man."

His scowl deepened. "I thought you said you would refrain from insulting me."

"It appears I can't help myself. Must be your charming ways that compel me to tease you so.

Besides, you told Bracken that what with your brothers, you were used to being insulted."

His features smoothed a bit. "I was rather enjoying the hiatus from my torment."

"Then I shall give you peace once more." Cat moved away from him, but before she could take more than one step, he gently took her arm.

She looked up expectantly as a myriad of emotions crossed his brow. But the one that made her ache was the torment she saw in those pale eyes. He wanted to say something, she could feel.

However, he seemed incapable of getting it out.

"Is there something more?"

He let go. "Nay. You should return." He knelt back on the ground.

Cat hesitated as she watched him splash water on his face. Part of her wanted to go to him and touch his rigid back. But the other could sense he wanted to be alone. Deciding to give him peace, she forced herself to walk away even though it was hard.

She didn't know why she wanted to soothe him, yet she did. There was something about him that lured her even against common sense. She'd never felt like this about a man before. Sure, there had been men like Bracken who appealed to her in terms of looks and personality. Men who made her laugh and who were extremely attractive. But they didn't make her warm just to glance at them. She didn't want to soothe them when they were sad; nor did she ache simply because she thought they were troubled.

"Are you all right?" Bracken asked, as she returned to camp.

Suddenly she understood Lochlan's reticence to answer. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"Of course I do. At least as fine as someone running from the authorities. All in all, I think I appear quite happy."

He laughed. "I've always admired that about you."

"What?"

"Your ability to make light of any situation, no matter how dire. It's a skill I wish I possessed."

Cat smiled at him. "You are too kind. I think all of you have immense grace under pressure." She moved past him to see Julia and Bryce fastening a makeshift spit above the fire so that they could cook the hares.

Once it was complete and they had the hares dressed and roasting, Bryce pulled out a small wooden flute from his satchel and began to play.

Closing her eyes, she listened to the notes and let the pleasure of them ease the worry in her mind. She didn't know why, but the sound of music had always soothed her no matter what. She opened her eyes and smiled at the young man. "You've grown very talented."

He paused in his song to smile at her. "Thanks, Cat." Then he returned to playing.

Cat held her hand out to Julia. "Dance with me, Jules."

She got up without hesitation and brushed the dirt from her skirt. Laughing, she took Cat's hands so that they could turn a circle together.

Lochlan paused as he entered camp as saw the women dancing together. But what froze him to the spot was the way Cat danced. It wasn't anything like he'd seen before. Unlike the dancers at court, she undulated and moved like a seductress. If this was how Salome had looked, he could well understand a man willing to do anything to placate such a woman.

The sound of her laughter and song caressed his ears. And when she spun alone the hem of her dress lifted, showing him the most incredible set of legs he'd ever beheld.

Catarina danced without care. Without rules. All that mattered to her was her enjoyment.

Her smile floored him as she came to his side and held her hands out to him. "Join us, Lochlan."

Never in his life had he wanted anything more, but he couldn't. He didn't know how and the last thing he wanted was to look foolish before the others. "Nay, thank you."

She tsked at him. "Come, my lord. For one moment, be free."

He glanced to Bracken, who watched them curiously. "Nay, Catarina."

Rolling her eyes at him, she went to Bracken, who took up her invitation with the same abandon.

A part of him hated the man in that instant. But the truth was he hated himself most of all. He could just as easily have danced, too. Only he was stopping himself.

You'll look like a fool, boy. Men don't dance. Only women, geldings, and jesters. If you want a woman to mock you, have at it. Trust me, they only care how a man battles on the field and how he performs in their bed.

His father was right. Besides, the one time he'd danced, the woman he'd loved had gone to bed with someone else...

Lochlan flinched at the harsh reminder. To please Maire, he'd belittled himself and it hadn't been enough. He would never again stoop to such a level. People could take him as he was and if he wasn't good enough for them, then he was better off without them.

So he contented himself with watching the others dance.

Until he realized the hares were burning.

Cursing, he ran to the spit to turn it, but it was too late. One side was already blackened.

Breathless, Catarina joined. "Oh no!"

"You see what such foolery gets you, don't you?" he snapped.

She didn't even react to it other than to laugh. "Aye, blackened hare and a smile. I'll take that over morbidity any day."

He wanted to argue, but the twinkle in her eye won him over and he returned her smile.

"One day, Lochlan, I will have you dance."

"That will never happen, la.s.s."

"Are you challenging me?"

"Nay, I only speak the truth."

Still her eyes were merry. "As do I and I will have my way with you. Mark my words."

The only problem was at this moment, he wanted to have his own way with her in an entirely different kind of dance. He could feel the heat from her body and was desperate to taste her lips, among other parts of her.

"You'd best let me take that," Julia said as she jostled him aside and took over roasting the hares. "We can't afford for any more of the hares to burn; otherwise, you'll have to be hunting again."

He nodded even though he wasn't quite sure what the girl said. He was too fixated on Catarina's mouth.

Her dark eyes glistened mischievously before she stood up on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss to his cheek. "One dance," she whispered in his ear.

Chills spread over him, but they were quickly squelched by the knowledge that he would never yield to her charms.

And he would never dance.

Chapter 7.

Even though they were all a bit nervous about the ones chasing them, the road to Rouen was uneventful. Not that their stress was alleviated by their arrival at the fair. Here there were king's men all over, some of whom could easily ident.i.ty Bracken or Cat.

She only hoped none of them knew that her father was currently seeking her.

Julia's face brightened at the sight of the multicolored tents and competing music that surrounded them. It'd been a while since Cat had been to a fair this large. There were people all around them. Spectators, entertainers, and knights rushing to and from. There was a liveliness here that made her spirits soar.

"Jugglers!" Julia said, twisting in her saddle to watch them as they rode past. "Now there's a talent I'd dearly love to have."

Bryce scoffed at his sister's interest. "Think you the jousts are still going on?" he asked Lochlan.

"Most likely," Lochlan said. "They usually run to the very end."

"I can't wait until I'm old enough to compete."

Bracken scoffed. "Spoken like a boy who has yet to be knocked off a horse, onto his backside. I think you'll change your mind once you've tasted a piece of lance."

"It never stopped you."

Julia smirked. "That's because he took such a blow to his head in his first match that it addled his brains and they haven't worked properly since."

"Ow!" Bracken snapped. "I'm being attacked by both of you snipes at once. Where is chivalry?"

"Certainly not here, Lord Grump," Julia said an instant before she set her heels to her horse and rode on ahead of them.

Bryce frowned. "Does she know where we're going?"

"I would say not."

The boy let out a sound of disgust before he went after her.

"Where are we headed?" Bracken asked.

Lochlan reined his horse before he handed his money to Bracken. "You find us tents to rent and I'll see about finding this Stryder." He dismounted and handed his reins to Bracken. "I'll catch up to you later."

Bracken inclined his head to him.

Before Lochlan could take so much as a single step, Cat slid from her horse and joined him. "I'll come, too."

He wasn't so sure that was the wisest course of action. "You'd do better to stay with Bracken."

"Nay. I would rather help you search."

Lochlan started to argue, but he knew better. There was never winning a verbal argument with this woman. Unwilling to waste time or breath, he headed for the nearest gathering of n.o.bles.