The Defiant Bride Read Online Free

with all her strength. The arrow moved forward, but it took three more tries before the thing came away.
    Blood flowed copiously from the wound. Dariana tore away pieces of her soft woolen skirt. She pressed the fabric against the holes to stanch the gore. The man fell back against the furs and his rest deepened. Convinced he was unconscious but still alive, she sought a bucket and hurried to the nearby stream.
    She returned and washed away his blood and cleaned the wounds. She tore more strips from her gown and made bandages. Satisfied with her work, she ran back to the cottage to put on a proper dress lest he wake and humiliate her for her improper attire. She laughed at herself, thinking how silly she was to care as to her appearance.
    Her old gown, once a lovely shade of pale gray wool, was ruined, but she tucked the scraps away under the cot in case they should prove of some use later. It struck her as odd that she had learned to value even scraps of fabric in her new life, wasting nothing, so unlike her other existence as the pampered daughter of an earl. She found another dress, the color faded to a soft mauve, and donned it. The new gown Tamara had brought was still tucked away, as though saved for an occasion. Then she returned to her charge and sat beside him as he slept.
    After some time had passed, Dariana realized she hadn’t eaten this day. The knight, too, would need some nourishment if he was to recover. She did not know how damaged he was or if he had sustained other injuries in his fall from the horse, but she prayed her efforts had been enough.
    Darkness would be upon them all too soon, so she walked back to the cottage for some dried strips of meat and a pot. She filled the vessel from the stream, gathered some wood, and built a small cooking fire, hoping this time it might actually attract his vassals looking to find their lost lord. Certainly someone would come. His attackers thought they had succeeded, so she was certain he was safe from them.
    When the food was ready, Dariana sat behind him and lifted his head. His eyes opened, but they appeared unseeing. She held a spoon with some broth against his lips and he sucked greedily. His parched lips softened and the tension in his face eased. Once he had swallowed a fair amount, she lowered his head again and he slept.
    After having taken such care with fires for so long, Dariana felt an almost joyous sense of freedom to have the crackling flames visible. It was comforting to have another beside her, even if her guest was unaware of his status as companion.
    Tamara had not been for a visit of late. Dariana hoped she would come soon. If her friend could take the man from the forest before he was aware of his surroundings, her secret would be safe. Those at Tamara’s castle could tend him until he recovered. Of course, Dariana could never see him again. The thought brought an odd ache to her chest. She curled up next to her charge and slept.
    Dariana was suddenly wide awake. Daylight had not yet penetrated the leafy canopy and no birds’ voices pierced thequiet. She leaned over to check her companion. His chest rose and fell easily in the depths of sleep. She was fascinated by the play of light from the fire on his chiseled features. Perhaps he was her knight come to save her. She laughed at her own silly turn of mind. Too many fairy tales.
    Dariana’s back ached from the too-hard ground and she rubbed it to ease the tightness. It took a moment for her to remember she was still in the forest and near her cottage. Her dreams were fading and the morning wind now freshened the air, as if attempting to banish any possible bad thoughts. Alert, she gazed at ‘her” knight, as she now considered him. He remained in the arms of Morpheus and lay peaceful. Satisfied he was at ease, she rose and slipped into the trees, blending into the foliage.
    She hesitated at the sound of approaching footsteps. What to do? Certainly it was his own men come for him. It was with