Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

T evin tore into the east side of the settlement wielding his broadsword. His men were plowing into the clusters of huts under orders to search every room, hearth, socket, and corner. No stone was to be left unturned. They took their command and their mission seriously. Tevin could hear the screams of the inhabitants as he barreled into a small group of huts and used his broadsword to slice off a corner of the nearest sod roof.

Three women huddled inside the hut, screaming when they saw a very big man in well-used armor hovering over them astride a fire-breathing charger. Tevin yelled at them, demanding to know of a stolen woman, girl and young boy in their midst, but the women were either too stupid or too terrified to answer him, so he chopped away more of the roof to get a good look at the interior of the hut.

Chunks of sod and pieces of wood rained down on the screaming women, but it didn't take long for Tevin to see that no one else was inside the structure. Satisfied that Cantia or Arabel weren't inside, he moved on to the next hut and did the exact same thing.

Tevin had several soldiers behind him, conducting a more thorough search of the properties he was tearing apart. The men were also confiscating anything of value and storing it on their horses, of which Tevin didn't particularly care. If these people were outlaws, and it looked very much like they were all tucked away secretly in the forest, then whatever possessions they had were more than likely stolen anyway, so he took no issue with his men taking stolen goods from thieves.

As he finished with one group of shacks, he caught sight of another cluster of huts several dozen yards away and was intent to raid those next when he caught a glimpse of a very small hovel shoved back in a thick cluster of trees off to his right. The rear of the structure was backed up into a small rise or hill, in fact, nearly hidden from his view, so he took the time to spur his charger back into the darkened area. He wasn't going to miss anything.

The trees were thick enough as he approached that he was forced to dismount and he did so, marching upon the hut and kicking the door in. Sword wielded defensively, he noted that the hut was very dark and presumably empty. He really couldn't see anything at all and it was very still inside, seemingly unoccupied. He was about to turn away when something on the floor twitched.

He raised his sword as he moved into the hut, realizing that someone was lying on the ground all covered up. It was so dark that he couldn't make anything out until he was nearly on top of the pile of quivering furs. He was about to bark at them when soft crying met with his ears. It took Tevin a moment to realize that it was, in fact, very familiar crying. His breath caught in his throat.

"Arabel!" he gasped.

Arabel had been lying on the ground with the musty furs up over her head, terrified at the sounds going on all around her. When someone kicked the door to the shack open, she was certain she was about to be killed. Her father's voice was the last thing she expected to hear and the furs came away from her face, her eyes open wide in astonishment.

"Father!"

Tevin dropped his sword and swooped down on his daughter, picking her up and holding her tightly against him. Truth be told, there were tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat as he savored the feel of her. Even though he had hoped to find her, he could scarcely believe it.

"Sweetheart," he breathed. "Are you well?"

Arabel had her father around the neck so tightly that she was nearly strangling him. She nodded fervently.

"I am," she said. "I am fine. Oh, Father, how did you find us? Did Hunt send you?"

Tevin's joy was tempered with confusion and apprehension. "He did not," he said, pulling back so he could look her in the face and see for himself that she was well and whole. "Where is Hunt? And where is Cantia?"

Arabel was breathless. "Hunt went to find help," she started to tear up as the situation overwhelmed her. "I told him to escape. I told him to go to Rochester to send you back to save us."

Tevin didn't like the sound of that at all, especially with his men raiding the settlement. A little boy could very well get swept up in the chaos, or worse.

" When did he leave, Arabel?" he asked, trepidation in his tone. "Which way did he go?"

Arabel was trying not to feel horrible and apprehensive, but she wasn't doing a very good job. Her tears broke through. "He left only a short time ago," she said, sniffling. "Father, I… I made him do it. I told him he had to find help for us and that we were all depending on him."

She was starting to cry and Tevin soothed her as much as he could, although he was feeling much anxiety and panic.

"We will find him," he assured her, collecting his sword and carrying her out of the hut just as several of his men rode up. He looked to the seasoned soldiers around him, men bearing weapons and torches. "Hunt Penden is around here somewhere, possibly hiding. Make all due haste to find the boy. I do not want him caught in the madness and injured."

A few of the men tore off to search while one man, one of Penden's men, dismounted his horse and began prowling the landscape on foot, calling Hunt's name. As the search for Hunt commenced, Tevin turned to his daughter once more.

"Arabel," he sounded as if he was begging. "Where is Cantia?"

Arabel shook her head, wiping tears off her cheeks. "She went away," she said. "Someone needed help and some of the people took her away. I do not know where she has gone."

Tevin fought down more panic, now for Cantia. "Is she gone from the camp?"

"I do not believe so. Someone was sick, I think. She went to help."

"So she is here, somewhere?"

"I think so."

"Is she well?"

"She is well, Father."

The knowledge helped Tevin's state of mind tremendously. She is well, Father . He found himself muttering a silent prayer but in the next breath, he was seized with the overwhelming desire to find her. She was here, somewhere, and he had to get to her. As he approached his charger, Myles came thundering up. His fair face slackened as he recognized Arabel.

"Lady Arabel," he sounded relieved and surprised. He looked at Tevin. "Where did you find her?"

Tevin jerked his head in the direction of the darkened shack. "She was in there," he said. "But Hunt is missing. Apparently, he ran off to find help. He is out here, somewhere, de Lohr. Find him."

Myles was even more panic-stricken than Tevin was at the thought of Hunt wandering around the dangerous settlement. He bolted off, calling Hunt's name, as Tevin mounted his daughter on his war horse and mounted behind her. He didn't particularly want to take her with him as he hunted for Cantia but he had little choice. He wasn't going to let her out of his sight.

The settlement was in complete bedlam by the time Tevin and Arabel rode into a clearing in the center of the encampment. There were two massive bonfires blazing with the remnants of supper cooking on them. Word had spread that Lady Arabel had been found, but Lady Cantia and her son were still missing. Three hundred armed men could do a lot of damage, and they certainly did as they ruthlessly searched for Lady Penden and her son.

Tevin stayed directly out of the search purely because of Arabel. He lingered near the bonfires as his men searched around him. He was joined periodically by his senior men, bringing him reports of sections searched that had turned up nothing. He tried not to let his apprehension get the better of him as time went along and still no Cantia or Hunt.

Eventually, he dismounted his charger and began to pace, watching his men rip the place apart in their quest. He wanted them to rip it apart even more. If Cantia and Hunt didn't show up soon, he was going to have them burn it for good measure. Fury and fear were fully entrenched in his chest, like great claws, threatening to tear him asunder.

But those emotions were doused when he heard someone call his name. It was a female voice, a familiar call, and his panic evaporated.

Tevin spun around in the direction of the voice, so swiftly that he nearly lost his balance. His gaze found Cantia walking towards him out of the darkness, her beautiful face full of disbelief. Here they were, in the middle of madness, and she was walking towards him as easily as if she were out for an afternoon stroll. She was looking at him as if she could hardly believe her eyes and Tevin found that he couldn't breathe. All he could do was run at her.

Cantia ran, too, and suddenly she was up in Tevin's arms, sobs of relief and joy bursting out all over the place. She had her arms around his helmed head and somehow, he ripped his helmet off and still managed to hold her tightly, now kissing her furiously as she sobbed. His lips were all over her face, tasting the salt from her tears.

"Sweetheart," he gasped in between kisses. "Are you well? Have they harmed you?"

Cantia shook her head, her hands in his long hair, returning his kisses. "Nay," she wept, finally pulling away from his furious mouth so she could breathe. "I have not been harmed. I am well."

Tevin couldn't seem to stop kissing her but when his movements slowed, he hugged her so tightly that he heard her spine pop. He eventually set her to her feet, his enormous hands cupping her face simply so he could look at her. Heart pounding as he tried to calm himself down, his dark eyes drank in every beautiful line.

"You are sure you are well?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"I am sure."

"Swear it?"

Cantia nodded, running her fingers across his lips and watching him eagerly kiss her flesh. "They did not harm us," she stressed, becoming increasingly aware of the screams and shouts going on around them. "Please call your men off, Tevin. These people have not been cruel in the least."

He was confused, suspicious. "But they abducted you and killed two of my knights," he said. "How can you say they have not been cruel?"

Cantia's features paled. He could see it even in the moonlight. "Dear God," she breathed. "Val…?"

He shook his head. "Val is alive," he assured her. "I was referring to Dagan and Gavril. Val made it back to Rochester to tell us what happened. She is injured but she will survive."

Cantia breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "Praise God," she said sincerely. "I was so worried about her. Dagan hit her very hard."

Tevin's brow furrowed. " Dagan hit her?" he repeated. "What do you mean?"

Cantia's features hardened with anger and disgust. "Exactly that," she said. "It was Dagan who betrayed us, Tevin. He hit Val on the head and then killed his own cousin so they could not interfere with his plans. It would seem that Charles promised the knight my hand in marriage. He was planning on taking me to the nearest church to be married and then he was going to ransom Arabel to you in exchange for Charles' freedom. He had all manner of grand and terrible plans to marry me and become a wealthy man, all thanks to Charles' scheming."

Tevin stared at her. "What madness is this?" he could hardly believe what he was hearing. "You are certain that is what Dagan told you?"

Cantia nodded. "He threatened to hurt Hunt if I did not comply," she said, thinking back on that horrible moment in time. "Just as he was preparing to take us away, Gillywiss and his people came out of the woods and put an arrow in him. Then they spirited us away so, in a sense, they really saved us. You owe them much."

Tevin was furious, confused and overwhelmed by the entire story. After a moment's hesitation, he turned to a couple of soldiers standing nearby and barked orders for them to cease the raid. Those two men disbursed, calling out commands to the group as a whole, and the entire force began to wind down their assault.

Tevin watched his men for a moment to make sure they were obeying before returning his attention to Cantia.

"Who is Gillywiss?" he asked. "Is he the leader?"

Cantia nodded. "These people are all homeless, as you can see," she gestured to the upended camp. "Some are outlaws, but some have simply been displaced. They live here because they have nowhere else to go and they were indeed following us with the intention of robbing us as we rode south to Darland. When Dagan attacked, they killed him and took Hunt, Arabel and I back to their settlement. Even if they are thieves, they saved us that day. They truly did."

Tevin was astonished. He stared at Cantia for several long moments, digesting her story, before feeling the familiar fury again. Only this time, it was at Charles.

"Penden," he growled. "Damn him… I can only imagine what tales he fed Sutton. But I simply cannot believe the man was fool enough to believe him."

Cantia sighed faintly, squeezing his hand. "He can be rather persuasive," she said quietly. "Who knows why men do what they do? Perhaps Dagan saw an easy way to riches. Charles has a great deal of personal wealth as the Steward of Rochester. He must have promised Dagan a great deal."

Tevin shook his head, frustrated. "Sutton and de Reigate were bachelor knights when they came to me, but they had served the Earl of Essex for some time prior and the man gave them a strong recommendation." His thoughts lingered on the rogue knight a moment. "It would seem that Charles Penden and I have much to discuss upon my return to Rochester. In fact, it makes me wonder who else the man has poisoned with his lies. I do not want to spend my time at Rochester looking over my shoulder or worrying over your safety."

Cantia watched him carefully. "What do you intend to do?"

Tevin merely lifted an eyebrow but he would not look at her. His gaze moved out over the compound, now settling into a brittle and harsh state of existence now that his men had backed off from their raid.

"I would speak with de Lohr and see what his thoughts are on the matter," he replied. "He knows Penden as well as anyone. I will speak with Myles and make my decision."

Cantia wasn't sure what more she could say. She was afraid of what Charles was capable of, too, so she wrapped her arms around Tevin's waist and hugged him tightly. Tevin swallowed her up in his big arms, his face buried in the top of her head as he relished the feel of her. She was safe, and alive, and he was deeply thankful, but the information regarding Charles and Dagan had him gravely concerned.

His thoughts were still lingering on Penden when Cantia lifted her head and caught sight of Arabel upon her father's charger. She smiled thankfully at the young woman, who smiled timidly in return, and then glanced around as if looking for something more. It didn't take a great intellect to figure out what she was searching for.

"Where is Hunt?" she asked.

Tevin passed a glance at his daughter before replying. "My men are looking for him," he said evenly. "In fact, Myles is searching for him personally. We will find him."

Cantia's brow furrowed. "But I left him with Arabel," she said, looking to the young woman. "He was with you, was he not?"

Arabel's features fell, feeling some panic and sorrow, but Tevin spoke before she could spill her fears and terrify Cantia with tales of her missing son.

"Hunt apparently decided to leave and go find help," he told her as carefully as he could. "He cannot have gone far. I have dozens of men searching for him right now, so do not worry overly. We will find him."

Cantia was confused, now with a creeping sense of fear. " Leave to find help?" she repeated. "But why would he do that? He would not even know where to go."

Tevin could feel her panic. He sought to soothe her before she could veer out of control.

"Sweetheart, perhaps he got scared and ran off," he said, not wanting to incriminate his daughter as having a hand in Hunt's departure. "He is a young boy and young boys often do unpredictable things. What matters now is that I have many men searching for him and we will find him. I do not want you to worry."

Cantia would not be soothed. She looked up at Arabel. "Where did he go?" she wanted to know. "Did he say anything to you?"

Arabel was tongue-tied, looking to her father for help. Tevin opened his mouth to answer for her when the thunder of chargers caught their attention. De Lohr was riding towards them at breakneck speed, pulling his excited charger to a halt several feet from Tevin's horse, which began to get excited as well. Arabel shrieked as the horse danced and Tevin ably calmed the excitable beast.

"What goes on, Myles?" Tevin demanded. "Where is Hunt?"

Myles was edgy. He yanked off his helm in a frustrated gesture, propping it on the saddle in front of him.

"We are expanding the search," he said, seeing Cantia and nodding his head in her direction. "My lady, it is good to see you safe and whole"

Cantia ignored the greeting. "Where is my son?"

Myles sighed heavily, hesitance in his manner. "I do not know… yet," he said, trying not to sound too discouraged. "But rest assured, Lady Penden, that I will find him."

Cantia had tears pooling in her eyes by the time he was finished, realizing that her son was still missing and no one seemed to know where he was. Tevin could see how frightened she was and he rubbed her back soothingly, trying to ease her as the search went on for her son. Upon the saddle, Arabel watched Cantia and tried not to feel too guilty. She was verging on tears as well.

Myles wiped the sweat off his brow and plopped his helm on again, turning his charger towards the south with the intention of resuming his search when a shout filled the air. It was very loud, causing them all to look towards the source. Out of the darkness of the trees to the east came several figures, one of them carrying a squirming little boy. Cantia gasped when she realized it was Hunt in the arms of Gillywiss.

With a cry of joy, she broke free from Tevin and started to run towards her son, but that joy turned to horror when she realized that Gillywiss had a dirk pressed up against Hunt's pale little neck. She came to a halt, her eyes wide.

"What are you doing?" she asked as calmly as she could. "Why do you hold my son?"

Cantia could hear broadswords unsheathing around her and she held out a quelling hand to Tevin and Myles, silently asking them to be still. She kept her focus on Gillywiss, whose eyes had that familiar wild look about them. She didn't like it in the least.

"I was rushing to see what the trouble was and what do you think I found?" Gillywiss was being rather grandiose, like he had been the night they had been brought into the camp and he had made a big show for his people. "Someone had caught this little boy trying to escape from camp. But, it seems that an escaping prisoner was the least of my worries."

Cantia sighed heavily, trying not to look at her son as he struggled against Gillywiss' grip. She knew what the man meant without even asking.

"Please," she begged softly. "You must understand they did not know what they would find when they came here. For all they knew, we were being held in horrible conditions, or worse. They did not know that you have not been cruel to us, but I have explained the situation and they will withdraw, I swear."

Gillywiss' wild-eyed expression faded into a countenance that Cantia had never seen before. It was hard and deadly. His gaze moved to the men behind Cantia, hardened warriors in expensive armor and with expensive weapons. He fixed on Tevin, standing slightly behind Cantia, and assumed it was the viscount because he was standing so close to her. His attention drifted over the enormous warrior with the long hair.

"You are Winterton," he said, a statement and not a question.

Tevin was fixed on the man. "I am the Earl of East Anglia," he said in his deep, authoritative voice. "If what the lady has told me is true, I owe you my thanks. But that mercy shall be at an end if you do not let the boy go immediately. Release him to his mother and I shall have no quarrel with you."

Cantia was watching her son squirm when Tevin's words registered with her. I am the Earl of East Anglia . Confused, she turned to the man questioningly, but his dark eyes were riveted to Gillywiss.

"The earl?" he repeated. "You are not Winterton?"

"I was. That status has changed."

Gillywiss thought on that a moment, as did Cantia. Gillywiss seemed to be considering it while Cantia's sense of confusion only grew.

"So you are authority personified," Gillywiss said.

"I am."

"I have never met an earl before."

"Now you have."

"Then if that is the truth and you want this boy returned, you will have to make some concessions, Lord Earl."

Tevin's hard expression didn't waiver. "I do not negotiate with outlaws," he said. "Return the boy or we'll burn this place to the ground."

"If you do, the boy will not survive."

"If you kill him, you will not survive, either."

"Wait!" Cantia threw up her arms, putting herself between Tevin and Gillywiss so they would stop threatening each other. She turned to Gillywiss with pain in her expression.

"Please give me my son," she begged softly. "Nothing more will happen to you or your people, I swear. But if you must have a hostage, then I would rather you take me and let my son go."

Gillywiss wasn't finished posturing with Tevin yet but he forced himself to look at Cantia's frightened face. The inherent compassion that the man kept so closely guarded began to flicker, seeping through the cracks of his composure. Cantia somehow had that ability over him, as she'd already proven.

"You are a lady of great sacrifices," he said after a moment. "What has he ever done for you?"

Cantia knew he meant Tevin. She sighed again, averting her gaze after a moment. "He gave me the will to live again," she confessed, daring to look at the dark-eyed outlaw. "I tried to kill myself after the death of my husband. No matter what you may think of him, know he has given me my life back and for that, I am grateful. I am sorry that he raided your settlement, but you know why he did it. He was looking for me. Now, please give me my son so we can return home. I would consider it a personal favor."

Gillywiss' eyes glittered at her. Then, without another word, he released Hunt, who went running to his mother. Cantia threw her arms around the boy and picked him up, cradling him. She couldn't help the tears in her eyes as she focused on Gillywiss.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Your mercy is appreciated."

Gillywiss watched the mother and son cuddle, acutely aware of what else was going on around him as Myles silently ordered the men to mount and retreat. The earl's soldiers were clearing out. Tevin went over to Cantia and Hunt, putting an enormous hand on Hunt's back and peering at the child to make sure he was well. Seeing that the boy was unharmed, merely shaken, he looked at Gillywiss.

"I will again thank you for your service in saving the lady, her son, and my daughter," he said. "If ever you have need of something in the future, do not hesitate to send word to me. I consider myself indebted to you."

Gillywiss eyed the very big earl. He was a handsome devil with his piercing eyes and long hair, and even though he'd only been confronted with the man for a few minutes, he could already see the genuine emotion between him and the lady. It was hard to miss. He scratched his head, his focus moving between Cantia and her son, and Tevin.

"You and your men came to my village, once," he said. "You burned it to the ground."

Tevin was not remorseful. "In the course of my duties, I have burned many villages. It was nothing personal against you."

Gillywiss couldn't argue that point. It was the truth. But he wasn't finished yet. "Because of you, my family and I had to flee. Now we live here and you have torn this up as well."

Tevin's eyes drifted over the settlement, now quieting that his men had ceased their raid. People were walking around, picking up the pieces.

"I was looking for Cantia," he said, his dark gaze fixing on Gillywiss. "I would stop at nothing to find her. Surely you can understand that."

"Will you not apologize?"

"No."

Gillywiss contemplated his reply. "Then we will require restitution, Lord Earl."

"You shall have it. Consider it a reward."

Gillywiss was rather surprised by the answer. There had been no hesitation. It wasn't an apology, but he really didn't care. More and more, he was coming to see that the warrior felt the same for the lady as she did for him because a lesser man would not have agreed so readily. The man had the only thing he cared about and was showing his thanks.

"If she means so much to you, why do you not marry her?" he wanted to know. He was, in truth, a nosy man. "Why have you not searched for the wife that ran off on you years ago? Is this lady, this lady who was the very reason you tore up my camp, not worth it?"

Tevin was rather taken aback by the fact that this stranger, this outlaw, knew intimate details about his personal life. He looked at Cantia who was, by this time, looking at Gillywiss. She still had Hunt in her arms, all wrapped up around her torso.

"I told you why," she said before Tevin could reply. "You will not question him. It is none of your affair."

Gillywiss' brow furrowed, like a scolded child. He finally made a face at her and kicked at the dirt, having a hard time looking her in the eye.

"I do not suppose he would let his daughter take up with a married man, no matter how much they loved each other," he muttered. "Yet he sees nothing wrong with taking up with you."

Cantia looked at Tevin, somewhat apologetically, and was surprised to see that Tevin was actually listening to the man. Finally, he just shook his head.

"I am not entirely sure what you have been told, or why you have been told." He was scolding Cantia and she knew it. "However, I will tell you this since you seem so concerned, I have every intention of seeking out the woman who abandoned me and my daughter those years ago, but the days have been rather busy for me lately. Times are dark and difficult, especially with those in a position of power. There has been much sacrifice all the way around."

Gillywiss shook his head faintly. "'Tis not only with those in power," he gestured to his encampment. "Those who have nothing suffer worst of all. It is as if the land itself is undone and darkened with such evil, as if Christ and his angels are sleeping and demons are let loose upon us all."

Tevin lingered on his words. "For an outlaw, you are particularly insightful," he said. "You understand the wickedness and lawlessness of this time."

Gillywiss seemed rather pensive, glancing at Cantia. "And happiness in and of itself is rare," he said quietly. "Perhaps… perhaps that is why I asked of your intentions towards the lady. Happiness these days is difficult to come by and should not be treated casually."

Tevin wasn't going to get into an in-depth discussion about his feelings for Cantia with the man so he turned to see who was still lingering nearby. Spying Myles astride his big charger, he motioned the man forward.

"Round up those who have stolen from these people and have them deposit whatever they have taken here in this clearing," he said, his voice low. "We shall return what hasn't already been eaten or otherwise disposed of. Are you carrying any coinage?"

Myles dug around in his saddle, into a hidden compartment where he usually stored coin or valuables. He pulled out a small leather pouch and tossed it to Tevin, who opened it up and counted what was inside. Then he closed it back up and made his way back over to Gillywiss.

"Here," he said, tossing the man the pouch. "This should be sufficient for the moment, but I will send more at a later time."

Gillywiss deftly caught the sack, opening it and peering inside. When he saw all of the coins, his eyes widened and he looked at Tevin with that crazed, wild-eyed look that Cantia was familiar with.

"This is better than robbery," he announced, turning to those people hovering behind him. "It seems to be more lucrative to save the nobility than steal from it."

His followers laughed and he tossed the purse to one of the women, watching her and a few others excitedly count the coins. Then he returned his attention to Tevin.

"The lady said you were generous, Lord Earl," he announced. "It would seem she was correct."

Tevin gave him a faint grin in reply, thinking it was time to return to Rochester as the hour grew late and the darkness grew damp. He was particularly concerned for Arabel's health, so he turned to Myles.

"If you will take Cantia and Hunt with you, I will take Arabel with me," he said, motioning towards the general direction of the main road that lead to Rochester. "Gather the men. We return."

Cantia heard his order, disappointed that she would not be riding with Tevin but understanding. Arabel didn't really know Myles and would be much more comfortable with her father. Tevin must have been reading her mind because when he was done peeling Hunt off of her and handing him up to Myles, he took her sweetly in his arms and hugged her. Then he kissed her forehead and both hands, preparing to lift her up to Myles when Gillywiss stopped him.

"My lady," he said, his focus on Cantia. "Do you remember what I told you earlier about my relatives in Paris?"

Cantia cocked her head thoughtfully. "I am not sure," she said. "What do you mean?"

Gillywiss grinned that toothy grin. "I will find this woman," he said confidently, "so you can marry your great Lord Earl. I will find this woman who stands between you and your happiness."

Cantia could help but grin because he was. He was being boastful and, in truth, she didn't particularly believe him, but she humored him.

"If it is God's will," she said softly.

"For my sister's life and my nephew's life, I vow to repay you," he said, back to his grandiose style. "I will find this woman and bring her back to you."

Cantia simply smiled, graciously acknowledging him as Tevin lifted her up to Myles. She settled in behind him as Tevin mounted his own charger, collecting his daughter carefully into his arms.

The last Cantia saw of Gillywiss, the man was waving at her as if she were departing on a great and dangerous journey, not as the man who had once been both captor and savior. It was rather strange. The further away she got, the more vivid his waving became until he was literally jumping up and down.

As she watched him, it occurred to her that she had not collected her bags but in the same breath, she realized she didn't particularly care. She would leave them for Gillywiss, since he was obviously so enamored with her things. Perhaps it would give the man, that complex, puzzling and intelligent man, a little of the happiness he had spoken of. He didn't seem like a very happy man. Besides, from what she had seen, he liked her things far more than she did.

The thought made her smile.