A Knight of Honor Read Online Free PDF

waist continued to catch his attention every time he glanced at her.   He had rarely seen a woman with a blade and wondered how good she was at wielding the weapon.
    It was a shame he probably wouldn’t have time to find out.   He turned his concentration back to his mission.
    The Sullivan woman.
    He was certain that once he found the ring, he would find the girl and his search would be over.   He wondered what she looked like.   Had eight years on her own taken their toll?   Was she haggard and gaunt from lack of food and working too hard?   Did she look older than her twenty years?   He knew she had dark hair.   But that was all he knew of her.
    His eyes shifted to the two horses before him as one of the animals snorted.   Sully smiled at Jared in a private joke and spurred her horse on to take the lead.   Slane wondered if Sully and Jared were lovers.   And if they were, how could he have let her get beaten like that?   How on earth had she gotten those cursed bruises?   Why, if Sully were his woman, he would never let anyone hurt her.   He would kill anyone who laid a hand on Elizabeth.
    He sighed, thinking of Elizabeth waiting for him at her home in Bristol.   He had sent word with his best man, John Flynn, that he would be delayed.   He knew John would watch over Elizabeth and protect her while he was away.   He wouldn’t be long.   Not with the best tracker this side of France in his employ.
    Slane nudged his horse and took up step beside Jared, turning his head to regard the mercenary.   He was indeed old.   There were deeply shadowed wrinkles around his eyes and his skin sagged around his cheeks.   He glanced up ahead at Sully.   What could she see in this old man?   What kind of pleasure could he show her?   And then another thought occurred to Slane.   Perhaps they weren’t lovers.   Perhaps their relationship was more of a father watching over a daughter.
    “We’re coming to Briarwood,” Jared announced.
    “Are you sure the ring is here?” Slane asked.
    “Look,” Jared said, “you’re paying me to track.   That’s what I’m doing.   I’ll find the ring.   Don’t doubt that.”
    Slane nodded, satisfied.   They rode in silence for a few moments, the hot sun beating down on their shoulders.   “You used to work for lord Sullivan, did you not?”   He felt Jared’s gaze turn to him.
    “Aye,” Jared replied.   “A long time ago.”
    “Tell me of the girl,” Slane ordered.
    “The girl?”
    “Taylor Sullivan,” Slane clarified.   “What did she look like?”
    “That was a long time ago,” Jared replied, keeping his eyes on the road.   “I was surprised she ran away.   Didn’t think she had it in her.”
    Slane looked steadily at Jared, not saying anything.   After a moment of silence, Jared added, “I suppose when your mother dies, you do impulsive things.”
    “So you haven’t seen her since then?”
    “No,” Jared said.   “Don’t know if I’d recognize her anymore.”
    “What do you remember of her?”
    “Why do you want to know?”
    Slane watched Jared’s knuckles tighten on the reins of his horse.   He had no intention of telling him his reasons.   Not with his unusual behavior.   “Just curious.”
    Jared looked at him then, and Slane swore he saw hostility in his blue eyes.   But then it was gone.   “She was a fat, lazy thing, from what I remember,” Jared said.   “There was one pretty thing about her.   She had the most brilliant blond hair that I’ve ever seen.   Almost like gold.”
    “Golden hair,” Slane murmured.   “Indeed.”   He allowed his horse to fall behind.   As he studied Jared’s back for a long moment, Slane’s eyes narrowed slightly.   Why would Jared lie?   What was he hiding?
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Taylor walked back and forth before Jared, who sat beneath a tall tree.   With each step, her muscles stretched and she almost groaned in delight.   After such a long ride, it felt good to be off