Page 38 of The Stag & The Owl
Roark puffed his chest out and Alina laughed,happy to see him with his mother and Logan, two people he actuallyloved who obviously loved him back, as he deserved.
“Is this your way of warning me we’ll beeating a lot of fish?”she asked Logan.
“Best salmon in the world call the Long Riverand its tributaries home,” he boasted.
“Good thing I like salmon then,” shesaid.
“To be supplemented with your knowledge ofherbs and greens,” Roark added.“She designed a greenhouse at herhome,” he told his mother, “with roof panes of glass that can bemoved to follow the seasonal sun.”
Brianna smiled indulgently.“You always didlike your inventions.”She turned her smile on Alina.“It seemsLogan is right.My son has indeed met his match.”
“In every way,” Roark said, his voicecatching.
Alina was suddenly, ridiculously close totears.
“I wish with all my heart things end well foryou two,” Brianna told them.She smiled at Logan, her expressionsad and bittersweet.“I know how it feels to lose the chance to bewith the one person you want most in this world.”
Alina’s eyes welled and her throatconstricted.
“Oh, my dear girl.”Brianna wrapped Alina inher embrace.“Don't cry.It’s not over yet.”
“But when it is, I’ll never even get to seeRoark again,” she sniffed into Brianna’s shoulder.
“You never know,” Brianna said, holding Alinaby the shoulders and staring into her teary eyes.“The fates mayhave something else in store for you two.”
CHAPTER 9
The Stones
Roark and Alina followed the Long Rivernorth, avoiding roads, riding through fields, meadows, and woods.As night fell, they stopped along the riverside and made camp in aglen surrounded by willows.Roark tied off the horses to a linebetween two trees with plenty of spring grass for them to graze onwhile Alina unpacked bread, cheese, and cherries for theirsupper.
Logan had given them a small pot along with astore of dried meat, field beans, onions, oats, and hazelnuts, butRoark thought they were still too close to spying eyes to chance afire.He told Alina that while the Long River would provide themwith plenty of food, once it turned west and they continued northto the Mounths, the pickings would be slimmer and the dry storesbetter used then.
They tucked into the food, refilled theirwaterskins, and repacked their bags so they’d be able to grab theirgear and ride off quickly if needed.Then they unrolled the saddleblankets that were their bedrolls and laid them out under thegraceful canopy of a willow tree.Alina sat on her bedroll andstared up into the night sky, finding the Big Bear and the NorthStar.The stars they’d be following as they skirted the mountainrange called the Mounths.She shivered, and Roark pulled around hershoulders one of the otter cloaks his mother had given them.
“Are you all right, Ali?”
“You call me Ali,” she said with a smallsmile as he hunkered down beside her.“That’s what my youngerbrothers, Aaron and Aleksi, call me.”She tucked a knee under herchin and craned her head to meet his gaze.“But only you, sir stag,call me lady owl.I like it.”
“I’m glad, my lady owl.”He gave her one ofhis slow, easy grins, which made her feel anything but easy inside.He coughed and cleared his throat.“We’d better get to sleep,” hesaid, lying down alongside her.“We need to be on the move at breakof dawn.”
Alina woke with Roark curled around her asthe dark of night was giving way to the grey of dawn.They’d fallenasleep under their cloaks and the shared blanket on their ownbedrolls.During the night, their bodies apparently sought the heatand comfort of the other’s.Content in the snug cocoon of his big,warm body, she nestled closer into him with a sigh, and feltsomething long and hard poking into her backside.Roark stirred andyawned and tucked in closer around her, his breath tickling theskin at her nape, and then he stilled.
“Ach, Ali girl,” he murmured hoarsely.“Ididna mean to…”
“It’s fine,” she said, her stiffness easing,even if his wasn't.“I have three brothers and numerous malecousins.I grew up listening to them bragging to each other abouttheir morning wood.”
Roark chuckled into her hair.“Thank the godsfor brothers.”He took a deep breath in and blew it out.“We shouldprobably get up now.”
“I’d say you already were up,” sheteased.
Roark’s chest rumbled against her back withlaughter.“Ah, Ali, me lass.”He gave her a smacking kiss on theback of her head.“You never cease to surprise me.”He pushed thecovers off them and stood and caught her staring at the bulge inhis breeches.He grinned and coughed and offered her his hand,pulling her up and into his arms.“Don't think I’m not tempted tolay you right back down and have my way with you, my lady owl.Intruth, there’s nothing I want more, other than getting you home toyour family safe and in one piece.”
“Ach, Roark me lad,” she replied with herbest imitation of his Green Isles burr.“Don’t think I’m nottempted to let you.But…”
“But we need to get moving.”
They broke camp quickly and silently, eacheating a piece of bread and chunk of cheese as they rode.Alinatried to concentrate on the countryside as they followed the rivernorth, sticking to game trails and riding around the farmsteads andvillages, keeping watch for any signs of Roger’s men.In between,she kept sneaking glances at Roark, admiring the strong lines ofhis profile, the firm, yet gentle grip he kept on Artur’s reins,his well-muscled thighs gripping the stallion’s barrel sideswhenever they rode abreast.
