Scarlet

I nodded. That were fair.

“And from now on, I’m switching the pairs. John, you’re going with Much, and Scar goes with me.”

John chuckled, cracking his knuckles. “Come on, Rob. Don’t tell me you’re jealous.”

I felt my mug heat up, and I looked to Rob.

“Jealous?” Rob repeated, crossing his arms.

“Scar and I are gettin’ friendly, and you’re jealous.”

I looked down.

“You may have kissed her, John, but since then she seems damn uncomfortable around you, and more important, despite the fact that you’re so interested in her, you couldn’t be bothered to protect her from Gisbourne last night.”

John jumped up. His face were flat as sheet rock. “I got her out of there. I protected her.”

“After I told you to.”

“I can protect my—” I tried.

John’s jaw went bumpy with muscles. “Just because you thought of it a hair before I did don’t mean—”

“Actually, that’s precisely what it means. Gisbourne won’t hesitate, and so if I think quicker than you, I’m with Scar and you’re with Much. Figure out how friendly you are when no one’s at risk.”

“Both of you shove off!” I snapped, crossing my arms. “John Little, just because you kissed me don’t mean we’re getting friendly. I might kiss you again, but only if I damn well feel like it. Stop pushing and charmin’—I don’t like it.” I heard Rob chuckle, and I whipped round to him. “And as for you, Robin of Locksley, on your big noble horse, I don’t remember you helping none neither. I got myself out of there, I got Much away from Gisbourne, and I am part of this band much as you. Stop talking ’bout me like I’m some lily-fingered lady!”

Everyone stared at me.

I shook my head. “Honestly.”

“If the problem is how to split into pairs, perhaps you and me should stay together for now?” Much said.

“Perfect,” I agreed.

Rob and John shot daggers at each other. With their eyes, leastways. I’m the only one who shoots real daggers.

“Fine,” Rob agreed.

John nodded.

“Let’s get to work,” I said, and Much shouldered John on ahead.

I fell in behind them to walk to the road, and Rob held back to walk with me a moment.

“Figure this out, Scarlet. Figure if you’re with John or not, because while you toy with him, you’re toying with my band, and that means you’re toying with the people of Nottinghamshire.”

Horribly, I felt tears pushing my eyeballs. “I thought you said you’d handle him for me.”

He shook his head. “You’re toying with me too, Scar. I’ll help you if you need it, you know that. You make me watch you like a hawk, and I don’t want to. Be with John or don’t.”

He pushed ahead of me on the trail.

Chapter Eleven

I sat in the elbow of a tree, leaning on one knee and flipping a knife in my hand. I watched over the lads, whistling to them as needed and just thinking. I looked at John. It were strange. Talking to him alone, I felt like we were fair kindred, but then put him with the lads and his blustering bits came out. I didn’t like him much when he were like that—well, I did, but as a bandmate and not as a fellow—but when it were the two of us, it were . . . nice.

I looked to Rob. It weren’t like I wanted him. Or that I could have him, which were the same thing, right?

He felt me watching and glanced up, meeting my eyes. His eyes scrunched together like he were worried, and I shook my head and turned away.

The roads were busy, and for once it felt like we weren’t fighting back such a mountain of trouble. A pair of noblemen offered up hefty purses, and a small convoy of knights gave us some nice weapons, including four huge broadswords that would fetch a fortune in one of the larger market cities.

Seeing movement down the road, I whistled to them and leaned forward.

Four knights came in the front, guarding a carriage. I rolled my eyes. Christ’s bones, it were a lady. I hated this.

Four knights came behind. It were a high-ranking lady, too. My mother had traveled with no less than eight, often more. Part of that had been my mother’s deserving rank, but part had been her own silly pride. The right things weren’t never important to my mother.

Rob were running lead on this one. I liked his style for it. Me, I like to talk, but Rob gets right to the point.

“Stop, in the name of the people of Sherwood!” Rob called.

All eight knights charged ahead of the carriage, and I watched as John jumped into the carriage, grabbed the fair lady, and hauled her out of there. She sparkled like the sunny ocean with all her jewels.

“My lady!” the guards called, wheeling around.

Rob walked through them. The guards all froze when there were a lady in trouble. I crossed my arms.

It weren’t that I were resentful. I liked bowing and scraping and such fair enough if it got the job done. Ladies were prey just like any other far as I were concerned. Rob, ’course, were a bit of a different matter. And it weren’t like I had any right to be resentful of him bowing and scraping. I gave up that life. I gave up being the sort that he’d notice and bow to and such.

Strange, but none of such thoughts soothed the burning in my belly.

“My dear lady,” Rob said, bowing over like the lord he were and kissing her hand. “Where are you headed?”

John let go of her, but she were still breathing hard enough to faint. “Northumberland,” she peeped.

“To what purpose?”

She flushed. “Marriage to his lordship.”

He nodded. “Ah, the duke. He’s a nice fellow. Very rich,” he told her. “Rich enough that he should buy you a whole new chest of jewels, don’t you think?”

“Step away from her ladyship, ruffian!” one of the guards bellowed. They didn’t move. Couldn’t risk her ladyship, and my boys were closer, with weapons.

She were clutching her heavy necklace. “Why do you want them?”

“He’s a thief, my lady!” her guard roared.

“The sheriff of Nottingham starves his people, my lady, and taxes them into submission.”

Her mouth opened a little. “And my jewels would help?”

He nodded grave, like she were saving the world. She pulled the rings off her fingers, the jeweled comb from her hair, the bracelets from her wrists, and the bobs from her ears. Last she pulled off the huge necklace, and Rob bent his head to let her put it on him. She kissed his cheek.