Mistress Jen looked shocked. “Wait, are you leaving that horse?”
“Aye, tis the Princess’s horse. He will need food and a stable.”
“I don’t think we can just come up with a stable, Torin, it’s not… Lexi hasn’t ever wanted a horse.”
“Tis her horse, she named him, she will want him.”
I hefted bags up tae my shoulder, and tossed them over Lambo’s saddle. “Master Cooper, the Princess needs a guard. I need ye tae hire a good guard tae protect her — ye saw her kidnapped. We might hae killed all who knew where she was, but tis only a matter of time before more men come.”
Master Cooper said, “Yeah, sure, right.”
He dinna take it as seriously as I demanded. I tightened my jaw, drawing Lambo’s reins intae my fist. “Ifanythinghappens tae her… daena let anything happen tae her.”
“I won’t.”
I said, “I winna be back, I winna bother ye again.”
The Princess moaned and shifted her leg.
Master Cooper ignored me and spoke tae her. “Lexi, it’s me, are you okay?”
She groaned again. “No… where’s Torin?”
Master Cooper was touchin’ her, I dinna want tae watch. “He’s here.”
Mistress Jen said, “Don’t worry, Torin, we’ll get her to the emergency room.”
I said, “Tell the Princess I said, ‘Farewell, mo leannan.’”
Mistress Jen nodded, “‘Farewell, mo leannan’?”
“Aye.”
She said, “We will.”
I bowed. “I will remove m’self from yer lands.” I stalked across the fields, headed tae a desolate spot where I could activate the vessel without causin’ the Princess harm.
When I looked back, Master Cooper was holdin’ her in his arms, Mistress Jen was fussin’ over her.
I had fulfilled m’oath, and returned her home. Twas all I could do.
26
JEN
SAME DAY - DIFFERENT POV
Cooper had been out on the porch all night with the gun beside him.
I was supposed to work in the morning. I had called out sick but that sucked, I was lying, plus it was the Monday after spring break. It did not look good to be asking for the Monday off. And what would I do if she didn’t come back tomorrow? I couldn’t keep calling out.
I fretted — if she didn’t come back, how much trouble would we be in? And what would the police say if I called them? I called out sick from teaching — would that play into the charges that would definitely be levied against us if she never returned?
I guess sickness wasn’t a complete lie, I felt sick.
I was worried about Lexi. Would we be able to find her, would she come home? Cooper was very morose.
At around 11pm, sitting in a chair on the porch, staring out at the night, I couldn’t stay awake anymore. My head lolled forward and I almost hit my head on the table.
