“You have my word,” she said and would keep her promise to be good, though she had not promised she wouldn’t try to escape.
Torr eased the horse to a halt, slipped off, and lifted Wintra off. He held her a moment so that she could get steady footing, then he unwrapped her cloak that he had tucked tightly around her.
She eased her arms out and with a wince gave a stretch.
“No time to ease your aches,” he said, his hands clamping onto her waist and lifting her to the horse to sit sideways. With a strong, quick leap, he mounted behind her.
She lost what little balance she had and fell against him. Again she was reminded of his strength when she hit hard muscle.
He quickly tucked her in the crook of his arm to keep her steady and from striking out at him, not sure if he should trust her word. He had yet to discover her true nature and until he did, he would remain cautious.
After having stared at nothing but the snow-covered ground for what seemed like hours, she found herself glancing up at the sky and one look told her that another snowstorm threatened. She did not know whether to be happy or worry. It would certainly slow them down, but it would also make it more difficult for Owen to find them. Then there was her concern about what would happen if Owen caught up with them. She was well aware of how skilled her brother’s warriors were and she feared Owen would not have a chance against this brute of a warrior. His scar alone frightened, but she would not let him know that. What she needed to do was find out more about him and why, after all this time, her brother decided to bring her home.
She began with the easiest question first. “What is your name?”
“Torr.”
“You must be one of my brother’s best warriors to have been chosen to bring me home.”
“Your brother has many fine warriors.”
“Yet he chose you.”
Torr didn’t respond. He knew that she was seeking information, and he could not blame her. He was, after all, a complete stranger whether he was one of her brother’s warriors or not. Though she appeared to trust his word, it made him understand just how much she trusted her brother. But then who would dare go against the infamous Cree?
After Wintra realized that Torr had no intentions of replying, she asked a question that had been disturbing her. “Why do you think Owen a vile man?”
Torr shot a question back at her. “How did you come to know him?”
Wintra smiled. “Owen stopped by the abbey on occasion, though what business he had there I do not know. He asked to speak with the person who tended the gardens, curious with their abundant harvest. I was introduced to him and with his many visits we—”
“The fool convinced you that he loved you and could not live without you,” Torr finished with a snort. “And of course he knows who your brother is.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Owen knows your brother will provide you with a favorable marriage chest.”
Wintra gasped. “You think Owen is only interested in my brother’s wealth.”
“His last wife didn’t fair too well after he wed her. She died a week later.”
“Owen has never been married.”
Torr plastered his nose against hers. “He lies. He always has and always will.”
“You know him so well?”
“Well enough.”
“Well, I know him better,” she argued. “He is a good, decent man who loves me.”
“If he truly loved you as he claims he does, he would have done right by you and gone to see your brother and formally request that a marriage agreement be made. But instead, he went behind your brother’s back and abducted you.”
“He most certainly did not. He and his warriors saved me from those who claimed to be my brother’s warriors. With the snowstorm and a friend’s keep close by, he thought it was best he take me there. Where we could be properly chaperoned until Cree gave permission for us to wed.”
Torr shook his head. “Owen probably set up the whole kidnapping scheme to make himself look good.”
“Owen would never do such a thing?”
“Yes, he would. He’s not an honorable man.”
“Until that can be proven otherwise, I intend to wed him,” Wintra said stubbornly.
She was too angry with her brother to think he would be fair with her, though he had been the most wonderful brother until he had stuck her in the abbey after their mother had died. She had wanted to stay with him. He was all the family she had left, and she felt safe with him. But it hadn’t mattered how hard she cried or begged, he had refused to take her with him.
It’s best you stay here.
His words still echoed in her head, since he had repeated them each time he had visited her. Would he tell her it was best she not wed Owen? She didn’t care; she would wed him anyway.