Page 24 of The Rogue’s Redemption

“I did not come here to train you,” he said. “I am here to apologize.”

Even the tone of his voice was different. He sounded . . . normal. Less sure of himself.

Yet she had vowed to stay away from him. Was she so fickle that one kind word could draw her to him?

Nay!

“Then say the words and be gone.”

But he didn’t say anything at all. Reid looked at her for so long that Allie felt the need to speak. “Why do you look at me like that?”

“I’m sorry,” Reid said finally.

That was it? His grand apology was all of two words?

“Very well. You’re sorry.” She turned away, willing him to leave, despising herself for wanting him to stay.

“I don’t know why I said you only did well for a woman. I meant to say you did well, as well as any man.”

She frowned. “Which means much the same.”

Allie didn’t move. And she most especially did not turn around.

“My sister,” he said quietly as the mist continued to gather, “is more capable than most men, and as you know, my sister-in-law wears men’s breeches. It’s said the woman with whom my brother-in-law fosters can shoot a bow and arrow better than her husband.”

Allie did turn back then. “Neill fosters with a woman?”

She had heard plenty about Sara’s brother-in-law Neill, a celebrated knight, but certainly not that.

“Nay,” he said, still so serious. “He fosters with Sir Adam Dayne, who was once a ward of Sara’s late father. They say his wife, Cora, is as skilled as any man, mayhap more so, with the longbow.”

Allie’s eyes widened. “Truly?”

“Aye,” he said. “Truly.”

Allie had never seen a woman shoot a longbow before. How did she have the strength to manage such a feat?

“Why?” The question came out before she could help herself.

Reid shrugged. “Likely for the same reason you yourself wield that sword.”

He didn’t ask, and she did not offer an explanation. At times she thought herself silly for standing here holding a sword and pretending to fight. She wasn’t ready to put words to the urge that sent her out here day after day, but she did have a question of her own.

“I meant, why would you say that last eve?”

Again, silence. Finally, he sighed and said, “To push you away.”

Allie had not been expecting that.

“Why,” she asked, aware of the dangers of such a conversation, “do you wish to push me away?”

“I—” Reid suddenly looked up to the sky, as if such a thing were necessary, to confirm what Allie had long since suspected. It was going to rain at any moment.

“We should go,” he said, looking back at her.

Too late. The sky opened up so quickly, there was little time to consider their options for shelter. They could climb the hill back toward the keep, be soaked for the efforts, or . . .

An abandoned dovecote stood between the castle and the clearing, just on the other side of the thicket of trees.