Read Online Warrior's Last Gift by Melissa Mayhue - Free Book Online Page B

and refilled their cups before taking the fish from the fire and passing a stake to each of them.
    Eric finally sat down next to her.
    The salty broth, though delicious, was stoking a mighty thirst. She drained the contents of her cup and held it out for more at almost the same moment Eric did.
    “I’ll admit that I was wrong about Dobbie,” she said, by way of offering an olive branch. “But Halldor is altogether different. Surely you can feel that as well as I do.”
    Eric arched an eyebrow and tipped back his cup.
    “Who is this Dobbie?” Halldor asked.
    “We met Dobbie Caskie on the side of the road as we traveled. He claimed to be headed to his mother’s people, the MacCabes, on the Isle of Skye. Jeanne here felt sorry for him and insisted that we invite him to travel with us and share what food we’d brought along.”
    “He was quite young to be traveling alone and he looked so very hungry.” Jeanne shook her head. “My heart went out to the poor lad.”
    “I would expect nothing less of you, my lady,” Halldor offered gallantly. “So you shared your food with the boy.”
    “And the next morning,” Eric continued, “this ‘poor’ lad of hers stole one of our horses and most of our food.”
    “Ah, I see. Dobbie Caskie of Skye, is it? I’ll remember that name.” Halldor nodded thoughtfully. “So it is for this reason that you were reluctant to accept my offer of hospitality. For many, trust doesn’t come easily.”
    Eric looked in her direction. “And some are much too trusting for their own good.”
    “Those whose hearts are open and accepting, perhaps,” Halldor agreed. “But as you can see, I’ve food aplenty and two horses that travel with me, so you’ve naught to fear in this meeting.”
    Jeanne nodded vigorously, setting her world to spinning around her. That mead of Halldor’s had quite the kick.
    “I have to sleep,” she said, surprised that she’d voiced the thought aloud.
    “We all have a long road to travel on the morrow. You two take your rest; I’ll clean up here. No.” Halldor held up a hand to stop Eric’s protest. “See to your lady this night. Only a fool would turn down a second chance when it’s been given as a gift.”
    Eric spread her blanket close to the fire, and she lay down, pulling the covers up over her shoulders.
    “That’s the second time you’ve made reference to a second chance,” Eric noted, his words sounding heavy and slurred. “Am I missing something yer trying to tell me?”
    Halldor’s laugh boomed before he answered. “Only that by the sun’s rise we’ll part ways, and who can know how long before we meet again?”
    “ If we’ll meet again,” Eric corrected, lying down next to her.
    “Oh, my warrior friend, I feel sure our paths will cross again.”
    Jeanne sighed and snuggled back against Eric’s warm body. His arm draped over her, possessively pulling her closer to him, and she had to force herself not to giggle with pleasure as his breathing turned to soft snores.
    Thanks to their new friend, her stomach was full and her heart was light. This was one of the best nights she could remember in a long, long time.

C hapter T en
    A tickling to Jeanne’s nose awoke her. She lay still, hoping the irritation would disappear, in no hurry to move from the warm comfort of her nest of blankets.
    It was not to be. As regularly as a heartbeat, something soft flitted across her nose and back again.
    She lifted a hand to discover the fur under which she slept was the culprit, blown back and forth by the slow, steady breathing of her sleeping companion.
    Her sleeping companion! A trill of excitement prickled deep inside, adding to her warmth.
    Cracking her eyes open only the barest slit, she discovered it was still night and, from the looks of the stars overhead, it would be a good long while before the sun made an appearance for the day. Much too early for her to move from this wonderful spot.
    She shifted a bit under the big arm draped across