Knight Moves: Merriweather Sisters Time Travel (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 2) (20 page)

Not now. Now she liked a certain man who wore his scars on the outside. Everyone bore scars. Who cared if they showed?

“What will you trade, lady?”

“Trade?”

John sat down on a wooden bench. Everyone else followed his lead. So, she was to negotiate for James’ release. Fine. Mr. Hollywood was about to find out just how good she was at negotiating.

As she walked to sit across from the man, she whispered to Renly, “I’ve got this.”

He inclined his head. “As you wish.”

Before sitting down, Melinda made a show of walking around James, looking him over.

“Have you damaged him in any way? I expect to get him back in the same condition as when he left.”

“He is better, lady. My healer has given him herbs to heal his injuries. He is now more valuable.”

They went back and forth, discussing James as if he were a nice piece of antique furniture. She made sure to keep her most skeptical look plastered on her face. She peeked at James out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to be amused. Time to wrap this up and get back on the road.

“I suppose you usually accept gold?”

“Gold will suffice.”

Melinda lifted her necklace out from under the dress, pulled it over her head, and held it up to the light. The gems sparkled. She knew that look. He wanted the necklace.

“The necklace is made of gold. There is an emerald, a diamond, a sapphire, and a gold charm in the form of the unicorn. Unicorns are powerful. The necklace has been blessed and will bring the wearer great fortune and luck.”

She crossed her fingers behind her back. Technically it had been blessed. Aunt Pittypat wore it when she attended mass over Easter in St. Peter’s Square several years ago. The Pope gave his blessing, so the necklace was blessed. As to bringing good fortune… Well, it had brought her back to the past to find Lucy and meet James, hadn’t it? She thought a little white lie wouldn’t hurt in this particular situation.

John held out his hand.

“May I see the necklace?”

She handed him the only thing she had left of Aunt Pittypat. As he examined the necklace, she looked around the camp. Looked like the Robin Hood myth was still going strong. The women and children looked happy. Everyone had a task. And while it was probably a hard life, not to mention a dangerous one robbing and ransoming people, Melinda thought everyone acted like they were content.

She made sure not to pay too much attention to James. After all, you weren’t supposed to show too much interest in the item you wanted. A woman wearing a purple cloak came forward. Her long silver hair was braided down her back. And while her face was full of wrinkles, her eyes were full of intelligence. She held out a hand.

“Let me examine this charmed necklace.”

John handed it over without hesitation. He saw her looking at the woman.

“My healer. She helped Lord Falconburg.”

The woman examined the necklace, murmuring and talking softly to herself. She looked at Melinda with a shrewd eye.

“You have traveled a great distance.”

Melinda snorted. What was next? For her to meet someone tall, dark, and handsome? A giggle escaped. For she had met tall, dark, and handsome. He was the captive whose release she was working to secure.

The woman touched each gem and charm, holding them in her palm. She handed the necklace back to the masked man.

“The lady does not lie. The piece is powerful.”

Good. Maybe she could get James and get out of here. The sooner they left, the sooner they could be on their way to Blackford.

“I will accept the necklace in trade…only if you, and you alone, carry Lord Falconburg out of my wood.”

Melinda’s jaw dropped. She started to argue then shut her mouth. She could do this. She’d carried her sisters piggyback numerous times. Of course, he was a lot bigger and probably weighed a hundred pounds more than them. But she would do it.

She held out a hand.

“I have your word? If I carry Lord Falconburg out of here, you will allow us and his men to go free? No one will bother us?”

The man looked amused. “I give you my word.” John grinned, taking her hand in his. “’Twill be a sight to see. We have an accord.”

“Yes, we have an accord.”

Melinda walked over to James and looked him up and down. She turned around and bent down, knees spread apart.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

She could feel the anger rolling off James.

“Not now,” she whispered. “Wait until we’re out of here.”

He wrapped his arms around her neck, the tension rolling off him.

Melinda reached behind her, pulling her arms under his legs and clasping her hands together. She slowly straightened, hoping she wouldn’t fall over. He’d never forgive her. Melinda wobbled back and forth, afraid she was going to drop him. But she found her center and stood. Well, sort of.

“What have you been eating? Rocks? You weigh as much as an elephant.”

John and his men laughed. Renly looked like he wanted to join in, but knew if he did he would face James in the lists later.

James whispered in her ear, “Kill me now.”

“Whatever. Look at all the gold I saved you.”

“Your necklace. ’Twas valuable?”

Melinda limped out of the clearing, focusing on taking one small step after another. She panted, her knees and legs shaking.
Hold it together. A little longer and you’ll be safe.
They were almost out of the camp and to safety.

“The necklace belonged to my aunt. She died the day Lucy went missing. It was all I had left of her.”

“I am sorry. You should not give it up. Put me down. We will find another way.”

“No. Aunt Pittypat would think it exciting and romantic for Robin Hood to wear her necklace.”

James scoffed. “He is not Robin Hood.”
 

“Perhaps not. Think of what a great story we have to tell. Living in the woods with outlaws. Ransomed for a charmed talisman. Very romantic.”

Melinda swore she could feel James rolling his eyes.

“You read too many of these romance books you tell me about. I am grateful.”

She wanted to laugh but didn’t have any extra breath to spare. Renly and the other knights followed behind. At least, she thought it was them. She couldn’t risk looking back. Melinda was afraid she’d topple over if she didn’t keep going, one foot in front of the other.
Breathe
.

They were almost to the edge of the wood when John called out.

“You win, lady. ’Tis too late to travel. Stay with us tonight. You have my word: no harm will come to you, Lord Falconburg, or his men.”

Melinda let James down and stumbled. He caught her.

“Thank you. I think you’re made of solid steel.”

“Perhaps.”

She’d love to soak in a hot tub for about an hour.

James called out, “We accept your hospitality.”

John clapped his hands. “Let us feast, drink, and dance.”

What a dolt. James should be rescuing Melinda. She should not be rescuing him. He knew his pride was bruised. James stomped over to the large bonfire.
 

Someone handed him a mug of ale. Music started playing and people began to dance.

Melinda was dancing with John. James should be glad it didn’t cost him any of his gold for his ransom. But he couldn’t seem to get over the fact a mere woman had saved him.

He was thinking dark thoughts when she came over, out of breath.
 

“Will you dance with me?”

He started to grumble. She held up a hand.

“Get over yourself. I didn’t pout when you saved me. And how dumb do you think I felt? I don’t even know which way is north.”

“I am a man. A warrior. A knight. It is my duty to rescue you,” he said stiffly.

The wench had the cheek to roll her eyes at him.

“Do you think the damsel in distress likes being in distress?” She poked him in the chest. “No. She doesn’t. She feels like an idiot.”

And that was all it took. His foul mood left on the wind and he smiled. With the light from the fire turning her hair to burnished copper, the curls looked alive. Her cheeks were pink from dancing. She was the most beautiful woman James had ever seen. He reached out, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her close to him, kissing her senseless. His unease vanished when her arms came around his neck and she kissed him back.

“I am in your debt. Do you still wish to dance, lady?”

She nodded and he pulled her into the ring of dancers. Here, he did not have to worry about his scars. And as the night turned to full dark, James felt like his old self. He laughed, danced, smiled, and kissed his woman. Repeatedly.

Melinda was his. He loved her with a passion that astonished him. He only prayed she would care enough for him to be willing to marry him. He didn’t expect her to love him, not the way he looked. If she would but tolerate him, it would be enough.

The next morning, they were ready to leave.
 

“I will talk with John, buy your necklace back.”

“No. He might make me give you back.”

She kissed him on the cheek. And it seemed the magic from the night before was still among them.

“I have never been rescued by a woman before. You are as brave as any of my knights.”

“I’ve never rescued anyone. It is a very powerful feeling.”

He followed her gaze. John walked around the camp, wearing the necklace.
 

“I know Aunt Pittypat is looking down from heaven, giggling. The thought of an infamous outlaw wearing her necklace, believing it to have magical powers. She must be laughing her head off right now.”

Renly appeared before him. “The horses are ready.”

They said their goodbyes. John kissed Melinda on the cheek.

“’Twas a pleasure to meet you, lady.”

She smiled up at the bandit.

“No offense, but I’m just as happy to be leaving.”
 

John laughed, the sound ringing through the wood as they rode out.

James didn’t know how he had forgotten to tell her. The kissing had distracted him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you last night. The things John told me were difficult to hear. It seems I have been wrong my entire life.”

Melinda turned in her saddle to look at him.

“What are you talking about?”

“William did not murder my family. I will tell you the tale, but you’ll want to hear what else I learned.” He hoped Melinda would not want to stay with her sister in Blackford. For he wanted to make her his own.

“Lady Blackford is Lucy Merriweather.”

He didn’t get to say another word. Melinda let out a yell. Raised her fist to the air and shook it.

“I can’t believe I did it! I traveled through time to the right time and now I’ll see Lucy.”

She urged her horse close to his, leaned across the saddle, and tugged on his arm. He leaned toward her and she kissed him. James ignored the teasing and taunts from his men.

“Tell me everything.”

As they rode, James told her what he learned from John Thornton. Told her how wrong he was about William. The lies he grew up believing. And how her sister was at Blackford.