Thread: The Diverted Path (DareToDream & Hahvy)

The heat of the fire washed over him as he allowed his body to relax for the first time that night, still wary of the night but not as much now. She had allowed him to come near her, to even touch her, and that fact helped ease his tense nerves just a little bit. Caleb wasnt the kind of many that people were afraid of normally though admittedly he hadnt been around a lot of people in his lifetime, especially women. Sure, hed had a dalliance or two over the years, what man hadnt, but thats all they were. Those women had wanted him as much as he had wanted them so the idea of fright from his presence wasnt something hed ever experienced until he met this woman. As he watched her test the sling against her arm, he began to realize that purposes it wasnt fear that the woman felt or at least not fear of him specifically. She behaved as if shed been enslaved in her lifetime or perhaps had something to hide that she didnt want anyone to discover. Both of those scenarios would explain her behavior. Caleb kept those observations to himself though because, in the end, it really wasnt any of his business unless her secret, if there was one, put him in danger. As she moved, his eyes focused in on the arm in question and memories of their first touch flashed through his mind. Aside from his mouth, it was perhaps the first time hed touched a woman for something other than pleasure and he found that he liked it. The comfort another person could bring was unmeasured at times and in that simple touch, he believed theyd brought each other a small measure of comfort though he couldnt have said why. It was just a feeling he had based on the way his body currently felt, as if it was high strung and charged at the moment. Nodding his heads to her words, he smiled. Im a capable woodsman he murmured and knots come with the territory. Im afraid I dont have any medicine on me though I do have some back at my cottage. Herbal treatments had been of the earliest lessons his mother had taught him, explaining that the life of an isolated mountain man would be tough and he would need to know how to treat his own ailments. He had meant to bring some with him but the need to hunt had been to strong, overriding his good sense. When she spoke again, his head cocked to the side and a small smile slid into place. Such an odd way to speak, he thought, with words and sentences that were so formal. Perhaps she was considered royalty wherever she was from it would certainly explain the weird language and the behavior but if that was the case, what was she doing way out here? Glancing down at the plate, he slid it towards her with his hand, then stopped and pulled away. Feel free he answered with a nod. I have more where that came from if you want it. He paused them, letting his eyes study her for a moment before searching the darkness, his ears listening for anything out of the ordinary. When he looked at her again, his face was grave. I have no idea why you are out here, nor why you are injured, but I dont feel right leaving you here by yourself. Remembering her stubborn pride, he quickly added more. Im sure you can take care of yourself but my mother would kill me if I didnt at least extend my offer of help a second time. I have a cottage up the mountain slope a ways. We can be there in 6 or 7 hours from here. You are welcome to stay there until you heal and then I can escort you wherever youd like to go. His offer made, he took a sip of water and watched her, wondering what she would say next.