Page 22 of The Eagle

Torac nodded. “Once he is ready, I will ensure he has a place at the stables. Understand that he will have to live in the rooms there and will not go home daily. Apprentices often are the ones who handle the horses at night.”

“I can ask Lady Isobel for a room in the servant’s quarters and share with Mother, I suppose.”

“Ensure Brice is ready. Once he comes, he cannot simply walk away.”

“I will.” She gave him a soft smile. “Cora is lovely.”

His eyes narrowed, not giving Cait a good feeling.

“One last thing, can ye acquire a mule and cart for a day? It would be helpful to take Mother to the village when I have a day of rest.”

Her brother met her gaze. “I can see about one for ye to use.”

Chapter Six

When Stuart returned from hunting, it was still early in the day. He’d given up after only a couple of hours, his mind much too involved in rethinking the kiss with Cait. Like a lad, he returned to the keep hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

Once he dismounted, he saw her. She was with another servant, both carrying water toward the kitchen.

She looked toward him, her cheeks turned pink, and she turned away.

When spotting her brother, Stuart went to him and told him about his idea to gift Cait the mare.

“A horse?” Torac asked giving him a curious look and then glancing in the direction that Cait went.

“She walks a long distance to and from the cottage. Yesterday, I was hunting and came upon her hiding from a boar. I told her we could allow her the use of a horse.”

The warrior narrowed his eyes. “She does not require a horse, Mister Stuart. Cait can walk, or I can see about a mule and cart.”

Not wishing to continue the discussion with her half brother, who obviously cared little about Cait’s welfare, Stuart shrugged. “Let us practice.”

There was little doubt left in his mind that Torac was not upset about the horse, but about the fact that Stuart had noticed his sister. By the time they finished sparing, not only was Stuart drenched in sweat, but there had been a couple of times he’d wondered if the man meant to kill him.

“Point taken,” he told the warrior, who gave him one last glare and stalked away.

At the water barrel, he dipped a bowl into the cold water and poured it over his head. Then repeated the process, washing as much dirt and sweat as he could before going inside.

“What was that about?” Darach neared and gave him a questioning look. “Are ye fighting over a woman?”

“Was it that obvious?” Stuart asked watching his brother wash up. “I do not think he cares that I pay attention to his sister.”

Darach chuckled. “I do not have to ask who the fair lass is. What do ye plan to do?”

The question caught him off guard. For the moment, the only thing he’d planned was to teach her to ride so that she’d have a way back and forth from the cottage in the woods. Now he worried it would cause a problem between him and Torac.

“I do not know,” he replied. “The cottage ye gave her family is much too far and her trudging through the woods in the early morn and late eve is dangerous.”

His brother chuckled and shook his head. “I suppose ye should do something about it then. There is no need for the wee wench to be in any danger.” When his brother walked away chuckling, Stuart visualized throwing the water bowl at the back of his head.

He walked past the garden then took a step back when he noticed Cait digging at the dirt with a small spade. She hummed as she worked not noticing him.

It was time to stop the foolishness. He’d made sure she had a way to and from the cottage. He would arrange for someone else to teach her. The last thing he needed was any kind of complications in his life. There was much to do with archer training duties and plans for rotation of the guards at the northern and southern posts.

Soon, he and his team of archers, along with a group of warriors, would be going to the southern shore to replace those on guard there.

“Cait,” he called out much louder than he intended.

When Cait saw him, her eyes rounded. She attempted to stand but stepped on something and lost her balance falling backward onto the ground.