She brought him over to the settle and served his meal. With his dark hair plastered against his head and wrapped in a blanket, he looked like a small child. His rare golden eyes were the only part of his face which belied that impression, for instead of shining and lively, they were lifeless and flat.
She hated the cruelty that had resulted in his condition, and longed to hold him to her heart and try to make his life better. With a new sense of power surging through her, she set about to do just that.
She sat closer to him on the settle than was warranted, but he seemed to make no complaint. Soon his long hard leg was pressed up against the length of hers. Clad in only her soaking breeches, he was able to feel her long firm thigh and calf, and had to admit he felt some acute stirrings of temptation.
As soon as Alexander told her that he had had enough to eat, she got up to make coffee and clear away the meal. When she returned with the coffeepot and cups on a tray, she sat down close to him, and put her arm around him.
"What's that for?" he asked softly, when she had placed a light kiss upon his cheek.
"No reason. Lots of reasons? I don't know. A thank you for you being here with me. A thank you for helping with the shearing and the carding and spinning. Anything you wish."
"Because we like each other?"
"I'm not so sure about the word like. It's pretty timid."
"Admire, then. Respect. Trust. Esteem," he supplied.
"Because we're close friends, and would like to get even closer," she murmured.
He swallowed hard. "Yes, that's a good way of putting it."
She kissed him on the cheek again.
"But Sarah, you know what I told you last night."
"I did. And while I'm no expert, I would like to think there might be something that I can do to help. I mean, I know there are certain things that paid companions-"
"Good God, what are you saying?" he exploded, leaping up from the settle.
She caught his arm to stop him from stepping into the hearth. "I'm simply pointing out that what happens between a man and woman isn't just all the responsibility of the man. The couple can both enjoy and, um, participate, can they not? You don't have to be some great hero who sweeps me off my feet."
"Hah! I can barely sit a horse," he gritted out.
"Well, then, let's sweep each other off our feet."
"Sarah, I don't think--"
"That's right. Don't think, just feel," she urged.
He let out a deep, heartfelt groan and pulled her to him at last. "I want to. The Lord knows how I want to. But--"
"Then you shall. Come, my love."
She took his unresisting hand and led him to the bathroom.
She opened the hot and cold spigots, and the tub began to fill.
"Really, I don't think you should-"
Sarah stretched up and kissed him. His arms tightened around her, and his heart began to hammer in his chest.
"I'm not sure about this," he whispered.
"I am."
He sighed and kissed her again. "All right, I'll surrender myself to your gentle ministrations."
"I shall try to be tender, but you need to teach me, help me."
"I'll do my best, though I know little enough myself apart from instinct. Now turn around for a minute."
He reached over and turned off the taps. He stripped off and sat in the tub. He placed a small towel over his loins, and then said, "There. I think I'm ready."
She turned and saw his back fully for the first time. It was crisscrossed with scars, and with one mark where a bullet had lodged itself in his shoulder. It was worse than she ever could have imagined. She felt almost sick looking at him, thinking what he had suffered. But without a moment's hesitation, which she was sure he would have sensed and taken umbrage at, she picked up the sponge and soap and began to lather him all over.
She worked on him with her bare soapy hands, massaging his aching muscles, feeling to make sure that he didn't have any new wounds from his fall.
"Gosh. Did you break this rib?"
"Old injury. Fell out of a tree."
"How old were you?" she asked in a casual tone.
"About ten. Crooked collar bone too."
"Yes, I see it. Nice tattoos, though. A lot smaller than my brother's and his friends."
"Excuse me?" he gasped.
She laughed to hear him sounding so shocked. "Sorry. It is not as bad as it sounds. They all tear their shirts off and show them on special occasions. We've walked in on them a few times."
"We?"
"Their wives and I. And Thomas's sister Elizabeth, who's a few years younger than me. A lovely girl."