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“I re for the box too, but the baron’s got to find it first I don’t knohy I don’t re else,” he ended on a wail “I want et me now”
“Please don’t cry,” she pleaded She hugged hi, not crying”
“I don’t have three I only got one”
“Yes, you do too have three Your father’s one, Brodick is two, and I’m your third protector I’ll be your chaet you safely home”
“But ladies can’t be champions”
“Of course they can”
He puzzled over the possibility a long ot to givethen”
“I do?”
He nodded again “A protector always gives soirl he’s supposed to watch out for,” he explained “You got to giveof yours”
“Did your Uncle Brodick give you so important?”
“Yes,” he answered “He gave Papa his best dagger to give to me It has his crest on the hilt Papa made a leather sheath for it, and he let one”
“What happened to it?”
“One of the baron’s soldiers grabbed it froreat hall”
“We’ll find a way to get it back,” she promised
“But what are you gonna give ain
She held up her hand “Do you see this ring I’s”
In the dying light it was difficult to see the ring clearly He pulled her hand toward him and squinted down at it “It’s pretty”
“It belonged to ave it to h my ribbon and tie it around your neck You’ll wear it under your tunic so the baron won’t see it”
“Can I keep it forever?”
“No, you can’t,” she said “After I’ve kept ive the ring back to me Now close your eyes and try to sleep Why don’t you think about how happy your parents are going to be when they see you again”
“Mama will cry ’cause she’ll be so happy, and Papa will be happy too, but he won’t cry ’cause warriors never cry He won’t be happy very long, though, ’cause I’onna have to tell him I disobeyed him”
“How did you disobey him?”
“He told erous for a boy to play there ’cause the rocks were slippery, but I went anyith onna be mad at me”
“Are you afraid of your father?”
He snickered “I could never be afraid of my papa”
“Then why are you so worried?”
“’Cause he’ll make me take a ith him, that’s why, and then he’ll , and then he’ll punish me”
“What will he do?”
“Hewith him for a spellthat would be the worst punishment ’cause I really like to ride on his lap Papa lets me hold the reins”
She rubbed his back and suggested he not worry about it now
He wasn’t through confessing his sins “But that’s not all I got to tell hiot to tell him what me and Michael did”
“Your friend’s name is also Michael?”
“My friend is Michael,” he said “I told you, ere playing a trick”
“Don’t fret about it now Your father isn’t going to care about a ga”
“But”
“Sleep, “she ordered
He quieted down and was silent for several ht he’d finally fallen asleep, and she turned her thoughts to ent matters
“You knohat?”
She sighed “No, what?”
“I like you, but I don’t like lish Uncle Ennis hates thelishers, but that isn’t true, is it?”
“No, that isn’t true”
“Are you sorry you have to be English?”
“No, I’m just sorry Alford is”
“He’s ignorant You knohy?”
She had the feeling he wouldn’t let up until he had told her as on his mind “No, why?” she dutifully asked
“’Cause he thinks I’m Michael”
She stopped rubbing his back and went completely still “You aren’t Michael?”
He rolled onto his back and then sat up to face her “No,to tell you The stupid baron thinks I’m Laird Ramsey’s brother, but I’ed plaids, and ere gonna see how long it took for anyone to notice When it got dark, I was gonna go to Michael’s tent and he was gonna go to mine”
“Oh, dear God,” she whispered, so stunned she could barely catch her breath The innocent little boy didn’t have any idea of the significance of what he had just told her, and all he orried about was his father’s reaction when he found out about a silly ga with his friend It was only a matter of time before Alford would discover the truth, and when he did, this child’s fate would be doomed
She grabbed hold of his shoulders and pulled hiently “You must never tell anyone what you’ve just told me Promise me”
“I promise”
There were only a few flashes of distant lightning to illuray stones of the canyon, and it was difficult for her to see his face clearly She pulled hi his eyes, and whispered, “Who are you?”