Read Online Lass' Valor (The Pith Trilogy) by Kara Griffin - Free Book Online Page A

Bonnie.
    “I
don’t feel safe, let’s move under that thicket. Be careful of the thorns.”
    She
laid a cover on the ground. The spot was tight and they squeezed together.
Bonnie curled up against her and they fell asleep minutes later.
    Kate
awoke to the sound of horses pounding the ground, and by the sound of it, there
were many. Was it men from Lord Richard’s keep? She put her hand over Bonnie’s
mouth, and prayed they didn’t find Ralph. As the horses flew by, Kate held her
breath until she could no longer hear them. She and Bonnie continued to rest
until morning, and set out as soon as it was light enough to see.
     
    *****
    For
the next five days, they rode over the dusty roads and through the forests.
They were tired and dirty. Kate had several coins tucked in the seam of her
gown, and she hoped to find a village or an inn. Instead, they settled for a
stream and slept on the soft high grass. They stopped early that day because
they both needed rest. After bathing in the stream, they finished off the
remains of their foodstuff. Kate refilled the flask with water. She gave Ralph
a well-deserved rest, and rubbed him down. Trixie stalked away, searching for
her own meal. Kate rested beside Bonnie on the ground, her back was sore, and
her muscles ached because she’d never ridden so long before. She groaned,
rubbing her lower aching back.
    “You
know what, Kate?”
    “Nay,
what, Bonnie?”
    “I
can’t wait to see Papa and Mama,” she said sadly.
    “I
know, lovey, we’ll get there soon. I just hope we can find someone who will
direct us, because I don’t know if we’re headed the right way.”
    “Papa
will make me sit in his chair.”
    “If
he does, Bonnie, I’ll sit with you.” Kate hugged her.
    “Uncle
Brendan won’t let Papa punish me.”
    “Why
not?”
    “He
always gets me out of it. He says that I’m just a wee fairy that just likes
venturing.”
    “My
father used to call me fairy,” Kate said sadly. “You’re Uncle Brendan sounds
like a very nice man.” She wished her betrothed was just as kind as Bonnie’s
uncle sounded.
    Bonnie
rolled on the ground holding her tummy, giggling.
    “What’s
so funny?” Kate smiled at the delightful sound of her gaiety.
    “He’s
not nice—he’s mean. Mama says ladies don’t like ‘em cause he frowns too much,
but he only frowns at me when I do something to ‘em.”
    Kate
didn’t like that he frowned. “What have you done to him?”
    “Once,
a longed time ago, when I was wee, I stoled into his bed.”
    “Stole,”
Kate corrected her.
    Bonnie
continued. “It was late when he came to bed, and I scairt ‘em, and he swore
loudly.”
    “Scared,”
Kate corrected her again.
    Bonnie
nodded then resumed her story, “Mama came running, och when she got there, she
just standed there staring at Uncle. That’s when Papa came and yelled at Uncle
Brendan. He swore, too. Then he said that I had to contemplate and sit in his
chair the whole next day. I didn’t know what contemplate meant so I just played
with George.”
    “Why
was your papa so mad?”
    “Oh,
‘cause Uncle didn’t have clothes on and Mama sawed him. Papa pulled her out of
the room. Every time mama saw uncle after that she got a red face.”
    Kate
laughed. “I can’t wait to meet your family, sweeten. They sound like fun.”
    “Aye,
Uncle Brendan’s going to like ye.”
    “Why
do you say that?”
    “‘Cause
you’re bonny, but ye’ll be scairt of him.”
    “Scared,”
Kate correct her again. “Nay, I won’t be afraid of him, I promise. Let’s get
some sleep now, we’ve a lot more riding to do, I think.”
    They
fell asleep and it grew chilly during the night, but at least it was dry. It
hadn’t rained much since they began their trek. When they awoke in the morning,
Kate’s stomach growled.
    “I’m
hungry,” Bonnie complained, as she scooped up the cover they had lain on.
    “I
know, lovey, me, too. I’ll think of someway to get food. We could catch