Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

" M aaa'," the boy blubbered.

"Dinnae move," Benedict bellowed. "We're going tae get ye down."

"I want me maaaa…" he sobbed.

"We're here now tae help ye, dinnae fret. But we need ye tae stay really still," Evelyn called up.

Not wanting to waste any time, Benedict turned to Evelyn. "I'm going tae climb up and grab him, then I'll hand him tae ye. All right?"

"What if he falls?" Evelyn whispered.

"Then ye better be ready tae catch him."

Benedict grabbed hold of the trunk and started to climb. The branches looked thin, and he didn't trust that they could hold his weight, so, for as long as he could, he tried to avoid them. Using his own weight as leverage, he heaved himself further and further, until eventually, he was only feet away from the boy.

"Grab me hand," he said.

But the boy shook his head. "I cannae. I'll fall."

"Nae, ye willnae. I willnae let that happen. Come on, lad. Grab me hand."

At that moment, the boy's tunic began to tear, and Benedict feared the worst. "Grab me hand now," he bellowed.

So shaken was the child by Benedict's tone of voice, he threw his hand out. Benedict grabbed his tiny arm just as the tunic tore completely.

"Argh," the boy yelled, as he swung in the air, secured only by Benedict's grip.

With one arm around the tree trunk, holding on for dear life, and the other holding the boy, Benedict panted, "I've got ye. Ye're all right. I've got ye."

He pulled the boy into his body, and held him close to his chest. "Get ready," he called down to Evelyn.

"I'm ready," she called back.

Climbing down was difficult with one hand, but as he neared the bottom, Evelyn stood with her arms held out, ready to take the boy. Carefully, Benedict lowered him down to her, and when she told him she had a firm grip on the lad, he finally let go. Only then, did he jump the six feet to the solid ground beneath.

"Well, that was exhilarating," he declared, brushing himself down.

While Evelyn had the boy wrapped up in her arms, he was still sobbing. It had been a terrifying experience, and his tears were now likely relief, more than anything else.

"Where dae ye live, lad?" Benedict said, once he had got his breath back.

Between the sobs, the child told them his cottage was not far from where they were.

"Good," Evelyn said soothingly. "Then let us get ye home tae yer mammy."

"Nae," the boy cried. "Me kitten." He pointed up at the same tree Benedict had just rescued him from.

"Och, nae," Evelyn said, turning to Benedict, "He was trying to save his kitten."

Before Evelyn even asked, Benedict knew what he had to do, and returning to the same tree, he began the same steady climb. The kitten was a few branches further up than the child had been, and as he stepped on a branch to reach it, it snapped beneath his feet, causing Benedict to slip and fall several feet down the trunk.

"Och, God. Be careful."

Aye. Easier said than done.

Benedict tried again, but once more, the branches were too weak to hold him, and in the end, he clambered back down the tree. "It's nae use. I cannae reach the kitten. The branches are too thin tae hold me."

He watched as Evelyn put the child down gently. "Ye wait here a moment, darling," she said kindly. She then moved directly toward the tree.

"What are ye doing?" Benedict barked. "It's too dangerous, Evelyn. I dinnae want ye going up there. We're lucky we got the boy down without injury."

Turning away from the boy and, at the same time, pulling Benedict close, she whispered, "I have nae intention o' leaving a tiny child crying when I can dae something about it."

By both her expression and her tone of voice, Benedict knew Evelyn was determined. Clearly, she was not taking no for an answer, and Benedict found himself surprised at her tenacity. But how were they going to make this work? Looking about him, he noticed a few large logs; dead branches and tree trunks that had fallen over many years.

"All right. But we're doing this me way."

Leaving Evelyn with the boy, Benedict went and found as many logs as he could. Disappearing into the nearby trees, he grabbed them one by one, and then dropped the huge branches on the ground beside the tree. Each time they landed with a heavy thud. With enough gathered, he lay three logs together, side by side. He took the next three and lay them on top, this time going across. The final three, he lay on top of the others, going in the same direction as the first layer. When he had finished, he had made a platform of sorts.

"And how is that going tae help us exactly?" Evelyn said, frowning at his creation.

"The only way I'm letting ye dae this is if ye climb ontae me shoulders."

Evelyn's mouth fell open, and her face bloomed red. "Absolutely nae," she declared. "Ye'll be able tae see right up…" she trailed off, realizing the boy was listening.

"I told ye," Benedict said, trying hard not to smirk. "We're doing this me way. I'm nae having ye risk yer life. Ye climb ontae me shoulders, or the child doesnae get his kitten. That's the deal."

At hearing that, the little boy sobbed even louder. Benedict watched Evelyn as she struggled with the decision, but before she agreed, he knew what she was going to do. She had a huge heart. Her actions had made that clear. And as she had so succinctly said earlier, she wasn't going to leave a child crying when she could do something about it.

"Fine," she relented. "But ye keep yer eyes forward."

Benedict chuckled. "I'll dae me best."

"Ye'll keep yer eyes forward," she barked, clearly already embarrassed at what might happen.

"O' course I will, I'm a gentleman," Benedict said. He was still smirking, which clearly did not fill her with confidence.

"A real gentleman would nae state he's a gentleman. Ye cannae look," she said, as she walked toward him.

Benedict had positioned himself near the tree trunk. It would give Evelyn something to grab hold of. "Aye, I ken. Ye've said already. Now, come here. I want ye tae walk up my thighs."

"And then what?" Evelyn said.

"Then ye'll have tae climb up on me shoulders. Use the tree trunk tae steady yersel'. After that, ye'll have tae turn around."

"I'll fall."

"Nae ye willnae. I willnae let ye. I'll have a good hold of yer ankles. Ye'll just need tae balance."

"Och, is that all," Evelyn replied with sarcasm.

Benedict grinned. "Come on. We can dae this."

"And ye'll nae look up me frock?"

"Och, fer the love o' God, woman. Can we just get on with it?"

With a deep breath and an expression that conveyed she was not at all convinced that this was going to work, Evelyn slipped off her boots. Unlike Benedict's, her hands were tiny and hardly went halfway around his wrists. His great big hands tightened all the way around her wrists, and then leaning back, he caused the tension needed for her to begin.

Carefully, Evelyn placed one foot just above his knee, and pushing herself off the ground, pulled against him and placed the other above his other knee.

"That's it. I've got ye. Keep going," Benedict instructed.

Letting go with one hand, she hitched her frock up on one side, so her knee could reach his shoulder. "Dinnae ye dare look," she panted.

"I'm more concerned we're both going tae end up flat on our faces. Will ye concentrate?"

"I am concentrating," she huffed back.

She let go of his other hand and grabbed the trunk, while Benedict now raised his arms above his head and kept a tight hold of her waist. He could feel her trembling, but she did not stop. What they were doing was dangerous enough. She was far braver than some soldiers he knew.

"Ye're doing grand. Now, hold on to the trunk, and pull yersel' up."

"All right," Evelyn replied, a slight quake in her voice.

Benedict felt her weight shift, and having no choice but to let go of her waist, held out his hands. Partly, he was offering them in case she needed to grab hold of him for balance, partly, he had them there just in case she lost her footing and fell.

Once more, she hitched her frock up, and one by one, her feet pressed into the large muscles of his shoulders. Now came the tricky part. She had to turn around from this position.

"Keep yer eyes ahead," she panted. "Dinnae ye dare look."

"Here's me worrying about ye falling and breaking yer neck, and all ye care about is if I see something I shouldnae."

"I mean it," she growled.

Benedict grinned. "Well, there's nae much ye can dae about it from up there."

"What?" she cried.

"Naething. Never mind." It took all his strength not to burst into a chuckle.

Eventually, Evelyn had herself turned the right way. Benedict took a tight grip on her calves, and then stood fully erect. "All right. Are ye ready? We're going tae move."

"I'm ready," she called from above.

Very slowly, and keeping close to the trunk, so Evelyn could keep her balance, Benedict moved toward the platform he had created. With effort, and a burning in his thighs, he stepped onto the platform and positioned himself as close to the tree as he could.

"How is that?"

"Ye need tae go more tae yer left."

Benedict took a step to his left.

"A bit more," she called down.

He took another step.

"Aye. That's perfect. All right, little pussycat. Come on."

Evelyn stood on her tiptoes and reached up, while Benedict continued to hold her as fast as he could. He could hardly believe this had worked, but he was pleased that it had.

"I've got it," she said with a steady voice, as her feet lowered fully down to his shoulders again.

"Good. Can I look now?"

"Dinnae ye dare!" Evelyn spat.

Benedict couldn't help but chuckle.

"Just get me down from here," she begged.

Taking careful steps, Benedict clambered off the platform, and once back on solid ground, he called up to her. "I want ye tae jump."

"What?"

"I want ye tae jump. I promise, I'll catch ye."

"This isnae a game. I cannae just jump," she cried.

"Then ye'll be stuck up there a while, and I definitely will look," Benedict teased.

"Nae!"

"Then jump, woman."

"All right." Her voice sounded as quaky as it did before.

"On the count of three," Benedict said, releasing his grip on her calves. "One, two, three."

He felt the pressure leave his shoulders, and a second later, Evelyn was in his arms. Breathlessly, she gazed up at him, her face red from the effort. As he held her like a husband might a bride, he felt completely proud of her, and their eyes locked. At that moment, he didn't care that this woman was marrying his brother. Nor did he care that he was supposed to be playing a part. His stomach churned and the desire for her rose, and all the reminiscing he had done about that night in the library returned.

She's yer braither's bride. What the devil are ye doing?

His conscience roused him out of his stupor, and feeling suddenly guilty, he grappled for a way out of the situation. He had to ruin this moment. With a wide smirk, he said, "I always wondered what there was under a woman's frock."

Evelyn's face bloomed bright red, and still smiling, Benedict gently lowered her to the ground.

"What is under a woman's frock?" the young boy asked.

"Och, me God," Evelyn looked even more mortified. This sent Benedict into peals of laughter, but clearly, by her dark scowl, Evelyn was not at all amused. "Here." She handed the kitten to him, and the lad squeezed it so hard Benedict wonder if he'd kill it. "It's about time we got ye home."

With the boy home safe, and after many grateful thanks from his mother, Benedict and Evelyn made their way back through the dense wood.

"Well, I dinnae think that could have gone any better," Benedict said. "Ye're a brave lass, Evelyn. I ken men who wouldnae have pulled that off."

"We only managed tae pull it off because ye are so strong, B-Audor. Thank ye for helping that wee boy. Ye'll be his hero forever now."

"We'll both be his heroes," Benedict replied, gazing down at her with a smile. "I couldnae have done it without ye."

"Or without looking up me skirt," she quipped back with a grin.

Benedict burst into laughter again, and they continued walking until they reached the horses. He lifted Evelyn onto her horse, and then mounted his own beast. There was no race back to the castle, which was a relief. There had been enough excitement for one day. Too much, in fact.

There was a moment there, where Benedict's common sense had gotten away from him. A moment where he had nearly lost himself completely. Perhaps it would be wiser and safer for both of them if he stayed away from Evelyn Sinclair. He did not want a broken heart. Evelyn had gazed up at him with desire in her own eyes, but given the fact that she thought he was Audor, her affection had not even been aimed at him.

Protect yer heart, Benedict. Before it is broken intae a thousand pieces.