Read A Hero's Bargain for Free Online Page B

information
from me. I wish you no harm.” She lifted his wrapped hand and began removing
the binding cloth. He watched closely as she probed the cut. It seemed to be
healing. “What is your name, or should we simply call you the stranger?”
    He took a ragged breath then looked
at her again. She’d never seen eyes so blue.
    “Vaughan. Ryder Vaughan.”
    “That is an usual name, Vaughan
Ryder Vaughan. Does it hold a special meaning among your people?”
    He started to shake. She grabbed
his shoulders, alarmed. A seizure could do more damage to his root nerves and
she wasn’t strong enough to hold him down. Only he wasn’t having a seizure—he
was laughing at her.
    “I do not see the humor in my
question.”
    He smiled, transforming his face.
Little lines crinkled at the corners of his eyes. The lines of pain eased. Saba
suspected she was getting a glimpse of the real man, one full of cheerful humor
with a good dose of boyishness remaining in his heart.
    “Just call me Ryder. It’s easier.”
His smile faded. The deeply etched lines of pain returned. His eyes closed
again. “I think it means ‘horseman’ or something like that. I never paid much
attention.”
    She sensed his withdrawal. Perhaps
he was searching for some place where he could fight the pain and win. She
hoped he could find it and rest, but first she had to keep him with her just a
bit longer.
    “Ryder, are you thirsty?”
    “Very.”
    Saba stepped outside and looked in
her water pail. The boys hadn’t yet drawn the day’s fresh water for her. She
went to the well herself even though it meant leaving Ryder alone for a few
minutes. When she returned, Ryder was struggling to sit up.
    “Do not!” She all but dropped her
pail and rushed to his side.
    “Lady, I’ve got to piss and I mean
now.” He pointed at the privy bucket. “Give me that and get out.”
    “You cannot stand! If you fall, you
may injure yourself more.”
    “Give it here! Now!”
    She was so surprised at the
strength in his voice, she snatched it up and handed it to him.
    “Out!”
    Saba retreated to the door,
refusing to go further. She did turn her back to him, though. He mumbled something
that sounded like he called her stubborn. Well, he didn’t yet know the half of
it, did he?
    A few moments later he breathed out
a long sigh of relief. She sneaked a glance at him. He had pulled the blanket
around his hips. It probably wasn’t the time to remind him she’d seen all of
him the night before, and in very poor condition. The tightly closed look on
his face told her that he was well aware she’d had a good look at him. Like
most males, he was probably embarrassed she had tended him so intimately when
he was not at his best. They were strange that way.
    She held out her hand and took the
bucket from him. The contents were an ugly rusty color. Those blue eyes watched
her, waiting.
    “We won’t worry about this too much
today. If there is still blood tomorrow morning, I will give you something.”
    “You’re a healer who lets the body
heal itself?”
    “Of course. Is that not the best
way?” She set the bucket on the ledge outside her rear window. Jennica or
Delnor would tend to it shortly, or she would after she’d had something to eat.
She looked at Ryder. He was still sitting up.
    “You should lie down and try to
rest.”
    “You’re a bossy little thing, but
you’re very pretty with it. Excuse my bad manners before. I thank you for
saving my life.”
    Pretty? He thought she was pretty?
Surely she’d misunderstood that.
    “It’s not within my power to save
lives. That rests with the gods. They use me for their own purposes.”
    He snorted. “Are you going to give
me a dipper of that water?” He glanced at the glowing embers in the hearth then
his gaze met hers once more. “I’ll go to sleep if you give me a drink.”
    She suspected he’d pass out whether
he got his drink of water or not. She dipped her best mug into the cool water
and handed it to him.