The Lady of Fairhaven by Lee Scott Page A

hunting for the source of trouble. A low menacing growl warned any intruder of his intentions.
    Luke sprang from his blankets at the night-splitting sound. In two steps he reached out to grasp Gillian’s trembling shoulders. With eyes wide open, she fought furiously against his restraint.
    “God, no!” she screamed.
    Dog snapped at the air.
    “Easy Dog! Come!” Anne commanded. The animal moved over to the maid and settled, keeping a cautious eye on his master.
    With an angry tone, Luke said, “Can’t you keep that dog quiet?”
    “ I’m sorry, My Lord,” the maid said. “He is My Lady’s dog and very protective of her.
    “ So be it!” He turned his attention to the woman thrashing on the ground. “Lady
    Anne,” Luke whispered. “Wake up!”
    “ No!” she screamed.
    Awakened by her scream, the sleeping men bounced up from the warmth of their blankets to survey the camp for trouble. Seeing nothing but an hysterical sleeping woman, they bundled up and nestled back into their bedding’s warmth. Clearly, she was deeply caught in a nightmare. Luke pinned her arms from striking out against him.
    “ Please! Sir Luke, have mercy on her,” Anne warned. “She has had a fearful fright, and I fear she still suffers from it.”
    “ What has happened?” He asked.
    “ I am not at liberty to share; however, I can say it was not of her doing, and she needs some patient care to undo the effects from it.”
    Suddenly, Gillian covered her face and whimpered, “No! Please don’t do this.”
    Luke whispered in her ear as he gathered her close, “Do not fear, My Lady. No one will hurt you.” His hands stilled and for a moment the two remained motionless. A few immense sobs were buried into the knight’s solid chest.
    Once spent, Gillian sagged in his arms as her body was clasped tight against the muscle hard flesh of his chest. As quickly as she had started her nightmare, she appeared to cease her ravings and drift back into a restful sleep. A sheen of perspiration coating her forehead was the only evidence of this episode. Luke disentangled himself from her and began to lower her back down to her bedding.
    “ Don’t leave me,” Gillian pleaded softly. Tears ran down her flushed cheeks. “Please don’t leave me.”
    Her entreaty was passionate, and the knight’s blood raced throughout his body. Without any invitation, Gillian laid her trembling body against the heated chest and wrapped her arms around him.
    Luke’s self control was snapped like a dried twig. He stroked her back softly, and she moaned outright. He then allowed his lips to brush the top of her head. After a few minutes, he once again lowered her to her blankets. Without a fight this time, Gillian complied. She then gently pulled Luke’s hand close to her body. Luke tried to extract it, but a moan was rent loose, and she tugged his hand closer. Luke looked to Anne for help, but the exhausted woman merely shrugged and returned to her warm sleeping nest.
    It was some time later when Gillian’s breathing evened as she fell back into a deep sleep, and Luke, however reluctantly, pulled his hand from her limp grasp. Enjoying one last study of her exquisite face sent a lusty surge of desire pulsing through him once again. But his own tired mind gratefully accepted the opportunity to return to his own blanket.
    Before sunrise the men were packing up. As the pink gray dawn lightened the sky, Luke and Simon planned on waiting to wake the women. They were surprised to see the Lady had risen with the first nickers from the anxious horses.
    Luke hoisted Gillian onto his destrier. Her arguments to ride on her own horse held no ground with him. He claimed that her propensity to run away necessitated her riding with him. He prayed he would be the only one aware of his real reason to keep her close.
    As the party reached the vicinity of Fairhaven Keep, Lady Gillian begged to refresh herself in the nearby stream. The knight obliged, knowing the keep was well within