She did not reply, but her unspoken answer was in the sorrow filling her luminous green eyes, and he reached out to take her arm as he changed the subject abruptly. “Come, it is a fine morning for hunting, and I am wasting time here that could be better spent elsewhere. You are fortunate the bear that lives nearby did not perceive your scent, or I would have found little left of you this morning.” Her skin was cool and he drew her close, hoping to warm her slender body as well as lift her spirits.
“Is this where the bear attacked you?” She looked about them anxiously, certain the animal must be lurking close by.
“Yes, and he’s a vicious beast who would have devoured you in no more than two savage bites. He is enormous and lives just beyond the rise. Would you care to see his cave?” He pointed the way with a broad sweep of his arm.
“No!” She backed away, still uncertain of his mood. “I believe you.”
He eyed her with a skeptical glance. “Then that is the first thing I’ve told you that you’ve accepted without an argument.” Delighted to have won even so small a concession from her, he started off in the direction he had indicated without once looking back to see if she were following, but she had no desire to be left behind and hurried to catch up with the tall man. He led her on a winding path through the trees, stepping so carefully that not a twig snapped beneath his feet to warn the creatures of the forest of his presence.
When at last he had the cave in sight, he reached out for Celiese’s hand and drew her close to his side as he whispered, “Do you see the mouth of the cave beneath that rocky, ledge in the hillside? That is his lair. Bears are solitary beasts, preferring to mate then leave their females to have their young and raise them alone. He roams far and wide, so you must never stray so far from my house ever again, for you would be too tasty a morsel for him to resist.” As he glanced at her frightened expression the stern line of his mouth softened to a teasing grin, but she was so intent upon spotting the ferocious beast that she failed to notice his smile.
She scanned the rocky terrain, expecting the gigantic animal to appear at any moment, her tension mounting until it nearly suffocated her, and, at the precise instant in which she thought she would surely faint, the stillness of the morning was shattered by a deep growl that could have come from no other animal. Mylan shoved her behind him as he withdrew an arrow from his quiver and set the notch in his bowstring, ready to attack should there be cause, but no other sound came, nor did the bear show himself. After a long moment Mylan relaxed his alert stance and beckoned for Celiese to follow as he started back in the direction from whence they had come.
That he had moved so swiftly to shield her body with his own at the first sign of danger had astonished her, and she stayed in his shadow as they left the woods. Why had he done so? She wondered. Was it no more than a reflex, a man’s natural instinct to protect a woman? She could not help but hope there had been some feeling for her in his action, but the events of the last afternoon had confused her so completely she did not know what to think about him.
She watched him closely as they walked along, his golden curls shining in the bright sunlight with a healthy sheen, the muscles that crisscrossed his broad back flexing and relaxing as he moved, his long legs swinging rhythmically from his narrow hips, his stride confident, despite the slight limp that marred his gait. In every way she thought him the most handsome of men. The sun was high overhead when they came upon a wide, sunlit meadow, and when Mylan paused suddenly to rest she was so lost in her own daydreams she nearly slammed right into his back before she realized he had stopped walking.
“Why are we stopping here?” she asked softly.
He brought his fingertip to his lips to warn her to be silent, and she stood quietly by his side, not wanting to disturb him when he seemed to be straining to hear something upon the morning breeze that she could not yet discern. She watched him casually take an arrow from his quiver and fit it against his bowstring, but when he began to pull back the string and turn toward her she gasped in horror. She saw only the gleaming tip of the deadly arrow as it flashed in the sunlight and shut her eyes tightly to force away the terrifying sight of her own death. The arrow sped by her cheek so closely she could feel the wind made by its path, and, fainting, she slumped forward upon the soft new grass.
Mylan threw down his weapons and gathered the slender woman into his arms, kissing her lips lightly before he called her name. “Celiese, Celiese!” He shook her, but she did no more than moan softly, and satisfied that she would soon revive he laid her down gently and walked across the meadow to the spot where the young buck lay and withdrew his arrow from the animal’s neck. It had died instantly, which pleased him, for he derived no pleasure from making an animal suffer needlessly when death should be sure and swift. He wiped the arrow upon the grass to clean it, then replaced it in his quiver and walked back to find Celiese sitting up watching him.
“I thought you enjoyed hunting, why have you been so anxious to come with me when you fainted at the death of a deer? That is the purpose of hunting, which I thought you understood, to kill animals for their pelts and for food.” He bent down on one knee and regarded her pale complexion closely before lifting his hand to caress the smooth curve of her cheek. Her face flooded with color as she blushed deeply, and he chuckled as he teased her. “That is better. I cannot carry you back home as well as the deer.”
She was dreadfully embarrassed to have been so foolish; it was obvious now he had been aiming over her shoulder and not at her at all. “I’m sorry. I have not been hunting in a long while, but I would not have fainted had I known that animal was your target rather than me.”
“You?” He laughed out loud as he got to his feet. “Your imagination seems to know no bounds this morning, woman. Now, the hour grows late and we are a long way from home.” Handing Celiese his bow and quiver to carry, he walked back to the deer, got a good grip on the carcass, and slung it over his shoulder. His burden was heavy and he kept his thoughts to himself as they returned home, but his mood was still a good one when they finally arrived. “We will roast some of this venison now and dry the rest to preserve it. I do not even hope that you know how to prepare hides.”
“You know that I don’t,” she admitted readily, for his smile did not waver, and she realized with delighted surprise that he was teasing her for a change rather than criticizing her for her many failings.
“I will prepare the meat. Heat water so I can bathe when I finish. There is a tub on the far side of the shed. We
ll hurry, fetch it so I’m not kept waiting.”
“As you wish,” she replied sweetly, but she feared she was the one in need of a bath. She found the tub, and after dusting it out rolled it into the house and placed it near the hearth. Since Mylan was going to skin the deer and carve up the meat she thought it only fair she help him in whatever way she could, but the buckets of water were heavy and she soon wished she had known how to prepare the hide. When at last he came in she had the final kettle of water heated and ready to pour into the tub.
After pulling his tunic off over his head, Mylan sat down to unlace his boots. “I built a fire outside so we’ll not fill the house with smoke. You know how to turn the spit, but it does not have to be done so often as with a bird.”
“Yes, I understand.” She waited a moment, pleased he had taken the time to tell her what to do in a pleasant tone, but when he stood up and reached for his belt she turned to go. It was his home, and he knew where to find soap or a towel to dry himself, but before she reached the door he called her name.
“You may stay here with me if you like, Celiese, I have no objection to your company.” He smiled broadly, his invitation a sincere one as he gestured toward the tub.
She gripped the door handle tightly as she lifted her chin. “Surely I’m not allowed to share your tub when I’m not permitted to sit at your table.” She left before he could respond, but she had been serious. She would not share one part of his life if he excluded her from all others. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment as she rushed out to check the fire roasting their supper. It was burning well, so she leaned back against the nearest tree and watched the flames dance and sizzle as fat from the venison dripped into the fire.
It was a long while before Mylan appeared, and she could only stare, too surprised to mask the admiration that shone so brightly in her eyes, for he had gone to as much trouble to prepare for their supper as he had for their wedding. Not only was he clean-shaven, he had also trimmed his hair and put on one of the handsomely tailored outfits she had seen in his chest. His tunic and trousers were of a rust-colored suede, the soft lines of the garments defining the powerful contours of his muscular body with an easy grace.
She tried to return his warm smile, but she was so ashamed of her own appearance that she looked away quickly. Her once beautiful gown was no more than rags, her hair a tangled mess, and she hid her hands rather than display her broken and dirty nails. She had never been so unkempt, but she had not realized how sorry she must look until the moment he had come through his front door looking so splendid.
If he noticed her discomfort he did not mention it. He walked over to look at the meat roasting upon the spit and nodded with satisfaction. “I do believe your cooking has finally begun to improve, this is well on its way to being done to perfection.”
“My cooking?” she asked coyly. “You killed the deer, hacked up the carcass, put the meat on the spit, built the fire. I’d say you did the major portion of the work yourself and deserve whatever credit is due for the quality of the meal.”
He opened his mouth ready to argue, since he had no intention of doing any cooking when she was there to do it for him, but he was hungry and the venison so savory he saw no reason not to take credit for it. “Yes, perhaps you are right. I am as accomplished a cook as I am…” After pausing to grin slyly he continued, “as I am at most things I attempt.”
She walked back into the house rather than comment on his many talents, especially the one he so obviously meant. At least the man had regained the confidence he had lacked when first they had met, she had done that much for him. But she doubted he had ever stopped to consider how greatly he had changed since they had met.
It took her almost as long to empty the tepid water from the tub as it had taken her to fill it, and she had no energy left to begin all over again to heat water for herself. Still, she wanted to be clean, so took the ill-fitting gray wool gown she abhorred with her down to the stream. She peeled off the shreds of the blue silk dress, and, caring little that Mylan was undoubtedly observing her actions closely, bathed and washed her hair in the ice cold water as she had each day since she had come to his farm. She thought her appearance greatly improved, but when she returned to Mylan’s side he shook his head sadly.