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Authors: Beth Trissel
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am.” What luck . Jack could hardly believe his good fortune. The irreplaceable necklace might be hidden in this very room.
Shequenor had been adamant in his desire for its recovery along with his daughter, almost as if his time on this earth were waning; and more, as though the necklace held some sort of magical power. Not that Jack believed in magic, but he respected Shequenor above any living soul—feared him too. He sensed an almost inhuman quality about the indomitable warrior.
Perhaps if Jack prodded Karin’s memory, she might help him unlock the long-buried secret to the necklace. After that, he didn’t bloody well know, except to take matters step by step and scheme for all he was worth.
She fixed on him with a suspicious light in her eyes. Her unswerving focus followed him like a sheep dog’s as he stood with forced casualness to remove his coat and hang it from a peg on the log wall inside the door. Then he returned to the fire and added more kindling. Flames snapped at the fragrant hickory.
“Warmer now?” he asked.
She nodded, her expression sharply contemplative, and untied the cloak at her delectable throat.
He dragged his eyes from the tempting curve of her neck—how he’d love to bury his lips in that sweet skin—and lifted the damp mantle from her to hang it on a peg beside his coat. Aware of her gaze boring into his head, he turned and walked back to her. The scrutiny she targeted him with crinkled the corners of her eyes.
No need to inquire the reason, even if he were in ignorance. All rushed forth from her in a torrent. “What are you not telling me? You’re concealing something, I feel it. And don’t say ‘tis only because you have more experience than I.”
Leaning against one corner of the stone hearth, he considered her with a slight smile. “No fooling you, is there?”
She absorbed his good-humored jibe as though unsure if he were serious or spoke in jest. “I think you could fool me plenty, if you have a mind to. But you won’t, will you? Did Sarah say something about my father?”
Jack’s mother might’ve mentioned they were all sworn to secrecy by John McNeal, practically on pain of death.
“Don’t keep me in the dark an instant longer. I beg you.”
Her earnest entreaty nearly made him forget all else. He wasn’t a hard man, just independent, and hated having to manipulate her. “I shall tell you all I know in time, but it’s not everything you badly want to learn.”
Breath escaped her in an exasperated whoosh. “Whatever you tell me is more knowledge than I possess now, Jack McCray. You, a near stranger, are better informed. Folks have put me off my whole life.”
“For good reason.”
“So they say. But how am I to determine the truth? Give me the chance to decide for myself. Please.”
The light in her remarkable eyes reminded him of sunbeams dancing on lake water. Watching Karin, hearing her appeal, sent a peculiar pain knifing through Jack. Apart from Peki, he’d never mightily wanted anything. Even the tenacious battles he’d fought in that seemingly never-ending revolution hadn’t affected him as deeply, nor had he cared as much about the outcome as he did now. Hoof beats drummed in his chest and his manhood swelled with a whole intent of its own.
God help him, this sweet girl utterly bewitched him. “You truly are irresistible,” he said.
“Then answer my questions.”
“I will. Karin. Trust me.”
“Why should I?”
“Because deep down you know you want to.”
She lifted her quivering chin. “Of all the sheer—”
He knelt and covered her protesting mouth with his palm. “Hold on. Let’s find the necklace first before you give me the tongue lashing I no doubt deserve.” Or he claimed something that he didn’t.
****
Jack slowly withdrew his palm from Karin’s lips. Why did his light touch feel so right, his low voice stirring to her shivery center? She was as heady as if she’d finished off that flask he’d
Shequenor had been adamant in his desire for its recovery along with his daughter, almost as if his time on this earth were waning; and more, as though the necklace held some sort of magical power. Not that Jack believed in magic, but he respected Shequenor above any living soul—feared him too. He sensed an almost inhuman quality about the indomitable warrior.
Perhaps if Jack prodded Karin’s memory, she might help him unlock the long-buried secret to the necklace. After that, he didn’t bloody well know, except to take matters step by step and scheme for all he was worth.
She fixed on him with a suspicious light in her eyes. Her unswerving focus followed him like a sheep dog’s as he stood with forced casualness to remove his coat and hang it from a peg on the log wall inside the door. Then he returned to the fire and added more kindling. Flames snapped at the fragrant hickory.
“Warmer now?” he asked.
She nodded, her expression sharply contemplative, and untied the cloak at her delectable throat.
He dragged his eyes from the tempting curve of her neck—how he’d love to bury his lips in that sweet skin—and lifted the damp mantle from her to hang it on a peg beside his coat. Aware of her gaze boring into his head, he turned and walked back to her. The scrutiny she targeted him with crinkled the corners of her eyes.
No need to inquire the reason, even if he were in ignorance. All rushed forth from her in a torrent. “What are you not telling me? You’re concealing something, I feel it. And don’t say ‘tis only because you have more experience than I.”
Leaning against one corner of the stone hearth, he considered her with a slight smile. “No fooling you, is there?”
She absorbed his good-humored jibe as though unsure if he were serious or spoke in jest. “I think you could fool me plenty, if you have a mind to. But you won’t, will you? Did Sarah say something about my father?”
Jack’s mother might’ve mentioned they were all sworn to secrecy by John McNeal, practically on pain of death.
“Don’t keep me in the dark an instant longer. I beg you.”
Her earnest entreaty nearly made him forget all else. He wasn’t a hard man, just independent, and hated having to manipulate her. “I shall tell you all I know in time, but it’s not everything you badly want to learn.”
Breath escaped her in an exasperated whoosh. “Whatever you tell me is more knowledge than I possess now, Jack McCray. You, a near stranger, are better informed. Folks have put me off my whole life.”
“For good reason.”
“So they say. But how am I to determine the truth? Give me the chance to decide for myself. Please.”
The light in her remarkable eyes reminded him of sunbeams dancing on lake water. Watching Karin, hearing her appeal, sent a peculiar pain knifing through Jack. Apart from Peki, he’d never mightily wanted anything. Even the tenacious battles he’d fought in that seemingly never-ending revolution hadn’t affected him as deeply, nor had he cared as much about the outcome as he did now. Hoof beats drummed in his chest and his manhood swelled with a whole intent of its own.
God help him, this sweet girl utterly bewitched him. “You truly are irresistible,” he said.
“Then answer my questions.”
“I will. Karin. Trust me.”
“Why should I?”
“Because deep down you know you want to.”
She lifted her quivering chin. “Of all the sheer—”
He knelt and covered her protesting mouth with his palm. “Hold on. Let’s find the necklace first before you give me the tongue lashing I no doubt deserve.” Or he claimed something that he didn’t.
****
Jack slowly withdrew his palm from Karin’s lips. Why did his light touch feel so right, his low voice stirring to her shivery center? She was as heady as if she’d finished off that flask he’d
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