While he was there, he also thought to buy her a pair of boots. Traveling barefoot, especially in the woods, was never a good idea, even if one’s feet were as calloused as his. He imagined her feet to be small and delicate. Unsure of Lara’s size, he useds the seamstress’ size as a reference. It was a good thing that the woman was not plump, otherwise he would not have known how to describe the lass without insulting this one. Once he’d paid for the items and placed them in the saddle bags, he rode towards the tavern hoping to find Lara unharmed.

He found Lara inside the tavern at the far end of the room, sitting at a table surrounded by men. His hand went right to the hilt of his sword and he marched towards them. Listening to the drunken fools, he could tell they openly flirted with her. They asked to buy her drinks, or share a dance.

“Nay, thank ye. I am waiting here fer someone,” she said to them as they huddled around her.

“Ah, come on lassie. Just one wee dance. ‘Tis all I’m asking,” one of the men said, placing his hand upon her shoulder.

“Best ye remove yer hand Sir, if ye favor it,” Lara snapped and scooted away.

Bram grinned when he heard her sharp tongue but the fact that they were still trying to pursue her did not sit well with him. If anyone was going to pursue the lass, it was going to be him. He would not idly stand there and allow any other man the opportunity. If the need arose, he would fight off every one of these bastards, throw her over his shoulder, and walk out the door.

“I believe the lass said nay to yer advances,” Bram growled.

Four of the men that surrounded Lara turned their heads in his direction. Three of them were smaller than Bram and looked as if they were about to piss their trews. The fourth, however, was similar to Bram in size, and did not take Bram’s interruption too kindly. The man crossed his arms over his chest and stood in front of Lara; blocking her from Bram’s view.

“And who are ye to say that the lass willnae change her mind?”

“I am her escort,” Bram replied, trying to keep calm.

Clutching his free hand into a tight fist, Bram’s anger rose, and this man added fuel to the fire. The other men took a step back.

“Well, it seems she has a new escort now,” the man declared.

Chuckling, the man turned his attention back to Lara. With one foot up on a chair and the other planted on the ground, he leaned towards her. Bram could feel the heat of his anger rising. It was a force to be reckoned with. Like a wild beast protecting its young, Bram swung his fist and punched the man hard on the side of his head, causing him to flip over the table and go tumbling to the ground. Bram stood over him, waiting for the man to get up and continue to brawl, but the man did not move. His head lolled to the side, his eyes remained closed, and spittle dripped from the left corner of his mouth. Bram had knocked him out cold. As for the other three, Bram watched as they cowered, then took off running out the door. As mad as a raging storm, Bram stomped back to where Lara was still sitting at the table. She looked affright, but something inside of him knew that it wasn’t the men that frightened her, it was him.

In a brash voice, he uttered, “It is time to go, lass.”

As they walked out the door, Bram said nothing to her. He knew that she must have thought his actions were harsh and uncalled for, but he had good reason. It had driven him mad seeing those men huddled around her; flirting and making advances. He justified what he had done by his promise to protect her, but he knew that he would only be fooling himself.

“Thank ye,” she whispered.

Her low and sweet voice carried on the wind behind him and he could barely make out her words.

“Yer welcome.”

“Ye dinna have to do that. I was able to handle myself just fine. They were being proper gentlemen.”

“Ye shouldnae be so trusting,” he barked, not meaning to sound so harsh.

“Are ye saying that I welcomed their attention?” she quickly interjected.

Bram could hear the anger in her voice.

“Nay,” he replied and paused for a moment. “Men like them cannae be trusted. I dinna mean to frighten ye nor am I mad at ye. I am only mad at myself. Had I been there ye would nay have been in that situation. I promised I would protect ye and I meant it.”

The light in Lara’s eyes softened. Bram had to muster all his strength not to grab her, pull her into his arms, and press his lips to hers in a hard and passionate kiss. The force he felt between them was as strong as the tides. He did not know what stopped him from trying except for the fact that most lasses he took to his bed were not lairds’ daughters.

Wanting to forget this whole bloody thing, Lara asked, “Will we be traveling tonight by horse?”

He waited to catch up with her before he replied, “Nay, lass. Tis too late to travel tonight. We will get a room at the inn and leave by first light.”

His voice sounded much calmer than it had earlier and for that Lara was grateful. She did not wish to argue with him nor did she want to be in his company if he continued to stay angry.

Lara waited outside of the inn while Bram made arrangements to obtain a room for the night. He walked out the door moments later with a key in hand.

The room was small, with barely enough room to walk around the bed, let alone sleep on the floor. When Bram stated they would sleep in the room together, Lara wanted to protest, but she remained silent. How could she claim that it was not proper for a married woman to sleep in the same room as another man, when in fact she already had? In the dungeon, she was surrounded by men and not one of them was her husband. Her stomach felt like it was twisted in knots as she struggled with the morality of the situation.

While Bram started a fire in the hearth, he insisted that she sleep on the bed and he would lay upon the floor, but the thought of taking such luxury for herself at his expense was unthinkable. She did not deserve to be lounging in comfort while Bram, who was still wounded from his beatings, lay on the hard floor without a pallet, or even a blanket. There were only enough bed coverings for one.

“Lass, I am used to sleeping on the ground. Now, dinna argue wit’ me.”

Lara suppressed a smile.

“Ye say that a lot, ye ken. Mayhap I enjoy a good argument now and then,” Lara jested, hoping to lighten the mood.

Bram smiled and shook his head. Before she knew it, they both started laughing.

“Well, then I promise ye that ye can argue wit’ me anytime, but I must warn ye that I can be quite stubborn and dinna give way too easily. No’ even fer a bonny lass.”

Lara blushed. No man had ever called her bonny before. She did not believe that he really meant what he said and assumed that it was just his way of making peace after he had been so angry earlier.

Lara fought hard to hold back her yawns. She was tired after spending her day in the market walking around the different shops. She made her way to the bed.

Distracted by his anger at the men in the tavern, Bram had forgotten the gifts in the saddle bags. He thought that now would be an appropriate time to give them to her. Excusing himself, he hurried outside to the horse and pulled out the parcel that contained the gown and boots.

Returning to the room, Bram laid the package, tied with twine, on the bed before her.

“I almost forgot. I bought you something.”

“A gift?”

“Nay. A necessity.”

Lara opened the bag and pulled out a blue gown and a pair of leather boots. Tears came to her eyes.

“Bram, they are lovely. But ye really shouldnae have.”

“Lass, ye needed the boots. And the wool dress ye were wearing is too hot fer this heat. The thinner material should offer ye more comfort.”