Page 26 of Love Me Forever

He looked puzzled, as if he had no answer for her, and then he softly whispered, “I care for you.”

CHAPTER9

Icare for you.

Those words had haunted Brianna for the last week, still uncertain how he meant them. He sounded as though he truly cared for her, not took care of her, and she had wondered over it these many days.

She was up and about now and grew stronger day by day. Her steps were slow and sometimes laborious, the pain in her lower back refusing to completely subside. In time she was sure it would, but for now she would pay heed to its annoying presence and rest when necessary.

Her thoughts, however, continued to drift to Royce. Try as she might he was a constant presence in her mind, but then they spent almost every moment of the day together. The only time they were apart was when he went hunting for food, and he was never gone long.

They slept comfortably together like lovers long familiar with each other, and though they were never intimate, his hands forever touched her, and his arms constantly embraced her.

He had dressed her in her night shift with the tenderness of a man who cared, and he looked after her every need like a man who . . .

Loved?

Nonsense, pure nonsense. He did not love her. He simply cared.

What was love anyway? She had thought herself desperately in love with her husband, and she had foolishly been mistaken. She did not wish to repeat the mistake, and while Royce seemed caring, so had her husband. He had been courteous and oh so charming.

She smiled. Royce was not charming, he was direct in his manner, and she believed him a man of his word. Odd that she should believe him after she had sworn never to believe another man again.

If she gave this situation serious thought, she might consider that she felt as she did because Royce had rescued her from certain death. He saved her life, and therefore she was grateful to him.

He did save her life and she was grateful, but another emotion haunted her, and she was uncertain of its origin. And until she could reason it, she would keep her feelings to herself.

The cottage door opened and Royce entered, followed by a flurry of snow.

“More snow?” she asked with the excitement of a child.

“A fresh coating, no more, I think.” He hurried out of his fur cloak and to the fireplace, holding his hands out to warm them “You like the snow?”

“Aye, especially when it is freshly fallen.”

“Freshly fallen snow covers tracks.” His remark was left for her to think on.

Brianna needed no time to think—her response came quick. “When the weather permits, my brother will have men out looking for me. He probably only recently discovered that I never arrived at my destination.”

“He will wait for the weather?”

“Would you not?” she asked curiously. “It would be wise. You said yourself that freshly fallen snow covers tracks.”

“Aye, it does; the more snow, the heavier the cover. It would be best to attempt a rescue even with a snowfall, for if more snow follows, it will make it nearly impossible to find any trail.”

She asked the question that had been on her mind and tongue. “Will you return me to my brother’s home if he cannot find me?”

His decision had already been made. “Aye, I will.”

She smiled. “Then the snow can keep falling.”

“You will be stuck here with me.”

“I am not stuck with you. I visit with you and I enjoy your company.

“I enjoy yours,” he said in turn, adding his own smile.

His lip was no longer swollen, and the wound was healing nicely. The swelling around his eye had faded, though a slight discoloration lingered, but the scar on his face looked as though it had barely healed. It was red and swollen in spots, and while most of the wound had crusted, one or two spots refused to close completely. His face was not a sight many would wish to look upon, but Brianna had grown accustomed to him, and his distorted features did not disturb her at all.