“I did, my lady,” George said as he started to rise.
“You, George? But—” Bronwyn stopped herself. There must have been a good reason from someone of George’s quiet, steady nature to strike a first blow. She didn’t like Richard and she didn’t trust him. Yesterday he’d too often leered at the young serf girls. But she couldn’t leave George and Richard alone together, and she couldn’t take George with her because he was the one who started the quarrel. It was better to keep Richard with her and protect Stephen’s man.
“Richard,” she said quietly, “you may go with Lady Mary and me today.” She gave one look of regret to George and left the stables.
“Hot for me, the woman is,” Richard laughed as he left the stables before George could attack him again.
Chapter Fifteen
MARY SWUNG INTO THE SADDLE AND GAVE HER SISTER-IN-LAW a sleepy look. She wondered if cold or exhaustion were words Bronwyn knew. They’d ridden all day yesterday until even the guards who followed them were tired. Then Bronwyn had sat with Judith, eagerly talking and asking questions until after midnight.
Mary stretched and yawned, then smiled. No wonder Stephen wrote that he had to work hard to keep up with his wife. She suddenly wondered if Stephen ever told Bronwyn how much he admired her. Stephen’s letters were full of praise for his new people and his new life, and especially his courageous wife.
Mary urged her horse forward to catch Bronwyn. Already the Scotswoman was stopping at a serf’s hut.
It was late morning when they finally stopped on the side of a hill for a moment’s rest. The men stretched out on the grass, breathing deeply, eating hungrily of bread, wine, and cheese.
Mary and Bronwyn sat on the crest of the hill at a place where Bronwyn could see across the countryside. It had taken all of Mary’s strength to follow.
“What was that?” Bronwyn asked suddenly.
Mary listened for a moment, but all she heard was the soft sigh of the wind and the guards’ voices.
“There it is again!” Bronwyn looked over her shoulder, and Rab came to nudge her. “Yes, boy,” she whispered. She stood quickly. “Someone’s hurt,” she said to Mary as she began to run to the top of the hill, Rab beside her.
The guards looked up, but they gave the women privacy, thinking a call of nature took them over the crest of the hill.
Mary strained her eyes but saw nothing. Below them lay a pond, the edges half frozen, great thin sheets of ice floating in the water.
Bronwyn strained her eyes until suddenly Rab gave a sharp bark. “There!” Bronwyn yelled as she began to run.
Mary didn’t see a thing but lifted her heavy skirts and followed. It was only when she was halfway to the pond that she saw the child’s head and shoulders. The child was trapped in the icy water.
Mary felt a shiver run along her spine, and she began to run faster and faster. She didn’t notice when she passed Bronwyn. She ran straight into the water and grabbed the child.
The little boy looked up at her with great, blank eyes. Only minutes were left if they were to keep the child from freezing.
“He’s stuck!” Mary called to Bronwyn. “His foot seems to be caught on something. Can you throw me your knife?”
Bronwyn’s mind worked quickly. She knew the child could stand little more of the icy water so time was of the essence. If she tossed Mary the knife and Mary didn’t catch it, they’d probably lose the child. There was only one way to make sure Mary got the knife.
“Rab!” Bronwyn said, and the dog recognized the sound of urgency in her voice. “Go to the men and get help. Bring someone here. We need help, Rab.”
The dog shot away like an arrow from a bow. But he did not head toward the guards who waited just over the hill.
“Damn!” Bronwyn cursed, but it was already too late to call the dog back to her.
She took her knife from her side and plunged into the cold water. She moved as quickly as she could, hindered by the growth under the water. Mary was blue with cold, but she held on to the boy, whose face was turning gray.
Bronwyn knelt, the water smacking against her chest like a brick wall. She felt for the child’s legs, felt the undergrowth that held him. Her teeth were beginning to chatter as she sawed away at the tough growth.
“He’s free!” she whispered after a moment. She saw that Mary’s face was beginning to lose its blueness, turning to the more dangerous gray. Bronwyn knelt and lifted the child. “Can you follow?” she called over her shoulder to Mary.
Mary didn’t have the excess strength to reply. She concentrated all her energies on moving her legs and following Bronwyn’s quickly moving form.
Bronwyn barely reached the edge of the pond before the child was taken from her arms. She looked into Raine’s serious face.
“How…?” Bronwyn began.