Jamie straightened up as he finished buckling his belt, then slipped on surcoat and gloves. After their exertions he was finally beginning to feel cold in the early morning air. He watched his new-found partner finish arranging her apparel too, and smiled pleasantly. "I feel a touch of chill, what say we make for the next village westwards? A warm inn and hot food would be welcome."
The young woman tossed her head in derision. "Gods, have I taken up with such a soft companion? Sir, I have food in my saddle bag, and I can cook passing well. Gather up some wood, whilst I prepare kindling and strike a spark."
He looked at her sharply. Opened his mouth to admonish her for taking such a tone with him, but decided against raising the issue for now. The taking of her had left him in an easy mood. He wandered out of the clearing and had soon gathered a good armful of fuel. As he returned, he smelt a trace of smoke and saw the sputtering flame as she pocketed her steel and flint. She laid small twigs over the burning leaves, and soon the larger branches could be added too. The merry fire began to warm them. They sat on their haunches and warmed their hands, feeling the heat on their faces.
He glanced towards her. Saw the ruddy light pick out redness in her hair where he had thought it dusky. Saw the glow of her cheeks. He exhaled deeply and thought back over all their encounter yet again. What an attractive picture she made! Hah! He would tame this wild vixen. She thought he would dance to her tune? And God knew she was pretty, lithe, wanton, and knowing enough to inflame his passion. Yet he thought she would find him less malleable than she imagined. He had a steel within, masked by his pleasant manner. And if she wanted a challenge, she should have it! She thought to tame him? He would tame her! He watched her. Saw when she became aware of his attention, and though feigning ignorance of it, she moved, leaning back, deliberately stretching, catlike in her luxuriously flowing motion. Oh! His heart jumped, loins leaped. Sweet Jesus! She moved him. But he knew her game. Knew she was playing with him, provoking him. He smiled.
She turned to him, her smile warm and open. "Sir. Jamie. How come you to be in this profession? Would you tell me?"
He sighed, his face creasing somewhat, looking suddenly older than his thirty years. "It is not a profession I have followed all my life. Far from it. Do you really wish to hear the story?"
"Yes." She sighed. "It would please me to know a little more of you, if our paths are to run together for a while."
He was silent for a space, staring into the flames. She watched him keenly, wondering what he was thinking.
He leant back and started to speak, still staring into the flames, his tone dreamlike, monotonous, low, yet somehow compelling. "I was born of wealthy parents. They brought me up well. I expected to help my father with our small estate, and indeed I did so for a few years. But father was taken in by dishonest 'friends'. They persuaded him to invest beyond his means in a venture, importing wine from Portugal. That fell through when the ship was intercepted and impounded. It seems they were not quite legal about their business, though father had not been made privy to that fact or he'd ne'er have got involved."
He paused a moment. Joanna continued to study his face intently. While he was staring into the fire, she could observe without his being conscious of it. He was quite handsome, the nose perhaps a little overlarge, but the features pleasant despite his current sadness. And the scar on his cheek gave him a slightly rakish look.
He continued suddenly. "Well ... the short of it is, he lost almost all his land. He was left with enough to get by, he and mother. But their estate is much fallen. That was three years ago. I was not likely to make much of a living at land management after that, so I decided to embark on a little project. I thought I would just tide myself over with one robbery. None harmed, and myself with enough gold to travel and seek better fortune. So I held up a coach and was fortunate in my takings. I gave a little to my father, and spent the rest much quicker than I had intended. I gambled with acquaintances made in the taverns I was frequenting, and lived well. So I held up another coach. It was only after the third I finally admitted to myself that I was become a highwayman by profession. So now I keep myself in reasonable comfort. I am not good at discomfort!" He smiled wryly, and she nodded, but said nothing, not wishing to break the spell.
He breathed deep. "Well, that is how I came to choose this particular profession. And truth to say, I enjoy much of it. Slinking about, using my wits, moving around the country, meeting some rather interesting characters in the inns, all that is good. Of course, I do not much like frightening my victims. And I especially do not like fighting those who will not submit. Yet I have managed not to kill anyone." Once more he gave that wry smile, as he turned towards her.
"So you see. Though I choose a dishonourable manner in which to earn my living, I am not without some honour. My own formulation of it anyway!"
She smiled warmly. "Aye Sir. And I too have a certain honour. Though you may think me a whore for the language I use on occasion, and my knowledge of the arts of loving, I am no such thing. Yet my mother was." She broke off as she saw his embarrassed expression. He was remembering how he had disparaged her earlier when she had demonstrated her whore-house vocabulary.
She continued. " ... no matter... you did not know it Jamie. I am not hard on those I rob. Those who have little are free to keep it. And I too have harmed none. Well ..." and here she looked pointedly at his crotch, and laughed, "... none seriously - in making my living."
He joined in her laughter, looking rueful. "Bested by a woman! I hope my friends do not come to hear of that!"
