Love Thine Enemy (52 page)

He nodded.  "A bargain.  Brigham, place her upon
my horse."

Relief rushed out of her lungs in a sigh.

"But, Kyle, what about the theft?"

"Brigham, we do not ravage the unfortunate, but
protect them.  We do not starve the hungry, but feed them.  Give Lucinda
another bag of grain and let her be.  Moreover, her sister has offered to
satisfy the debt."

"You would let
us
starve?"

Lord Kyle slipped the sword-tip under Brigham’s heavy
gold chain that held an even heavier ruby atop his chest.  The blood-red stone
glimmered in the dim light.  "A weighty bauble."

Brigham snatched the pendant from off the sword and let
the ruby drop to beneath his cloak.

"Brigham, I've come a long way.  I'm exhausted. 
Just bring her to me.  Now."

"Ride on your horse?  On that giant beast?" 
She had never before been on an animal's back.  And the saddle allowed no
room.  Eleanor should insist she walk, but she knew better.  Even though she
had forgotten the pain while under Lord Kyle's spell, her feet now reminded
her.  Wondering if Brigham would relinquish her without further contention, she
chanced a brief glance his way.

Brigham met her glance, his hatred as sharp as a honed
sword.  He jerked upright as if alarmed.  "Green eyes.  Witch’s
eyes."  

Terror surged through Eleanor like spewed venom.

"Lord Kyle, she's a witch.  Let me dispense with
her and then I must see you in private.  King Edward--"

"Not now, Brigham."

"But the king--"

"My first moments home after four years and we are
quick to argue?  'Tis our destiny?"  He lowered the tip of his weapon
again to point toward Brigham's chest.  "Bring her here.  I will not ask
again."

Brigham glanced at the now-vacant puddle where his
sword had fallen.

Eleanor wondered what sort of odd relationship existed
between the two men, and why Lord Kyle allowed such disrespect from his
steward.

Brigham fisted his gloved hands as if he preferred them
around someone’s neck, then nodded to one of her former captors. 
"William, do as
Lord Kyle
orders."

The conspirator stepped forward and lifted her from the
ground.  Pain from her feet screamed through her body, replaced quickly by fear
as the man carried her toward Lord Kyle--and his enormous steed, which grew
even larger with each spur-jangled step her bearer took.

"Merciful heaven, give me strength." 
Determined to show bravery she didn't feel, she clenched her teeth and held her
breath.  When William lifted her higher, she swung her leg astride the huge
stallion that would surely eat her if given the chance.  She held her feet out
so as not to muddy her master's boots and groaned as the blood throbbed in
punishment.

Lord Kyle settled her atop his steel-like thighs, and
with his arm around her waist like a keg strap.

The black beast pranced and stepped sideways.

Eleanor clutched Lord Kyle's arms, his strength obvious
beneath his drenched cote.  She knew the smell of wet wool would forever bring
to mind his mysterious, fog-wrapped image.

"Be not afraid."  His voice sounded gentle,
husky.  "I'll not let you fall."

"I'm not frightened, Sire, only startled."
Not entirely true, but she gained courage with the pretense.

Lord Kyle pulled her tighter on the wedge of his legs,
and she felt oddly safe within his arms.  She let her frame melt into his.  Her
savior would keep her from harm; her heart assured her as much.

"I thank you for rescuing me, my lord.  I'll serve
you well.  Aye, I'll serve you well." 

His rumbled chuckle sent an uneasy tingle through her
back to the pit of her stomach.

"Aye, you will, wench.  You will."

***

If
you enjoyed
Love Thine Enemy, then you might also enjoy
The Wager
,
a historical romance sent in England, 1284 AD.

Eleanor, a peasant,
escaped the convent nuns who called her a witch because of her prophetic
dreams.  Rescued by Lord Kyle of Trystonwood who is determined for her to share
his bed, he challenges her to perilous game of chess.

The wager?  If he wins,
she’ll serve him as leman.  If she wins, she’ll become his lady. 

Against all odds Eleanor
won!  And yet, the king forbade nobles to marry peasants and expects Kyle to
wed the king’s cousin.  And yet, he gave his knight’s word. Might the king
charge Kyle with treason?

As to Eleanor’s confessed
visions, Kyle, too, dreams of a dragon.  Is the dragon King Edward?  Or
Eleanor? Or is Eleanor truly a witch who has cast a dangerous spell on him.   

Awards:

S
econd place in the Northeast
Oklahoma’s Romance Author’s Crystal Heart contest. 

***

Thank you for reading Love Thine
Enemy.  I hope you enjoyed Rochelle’s and Becket’s love story.

Carolyne Cathey