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"I guess so," she said.
"Maybe virtue and a better life is a goal worthy of such means," Sebastian said.
"From what I've seen in life, a man who preaches a better way at the cost of the truth is a man who wants nothing more than for himself to be the master and you the slave."
"I see what you mean," Sebastian conceded. "I guess I'm fortunate not to have had dealings with such people."
"Count your blessings," Tom said.
At his table, Je
Their grins had much in common with Tom's.
"Most fun we've had in a while," Joe said.
"Not only that," Clayton added, "but we can't thank you enough for keeping Tom busy so we could spend a couple days visiting the palace. About time Tom gave us a break."
Tom put a hand against Je
Behind Tom's wagon, Je
"Our horses!" Je
"Sure did," Tom said, beaming with pride. "Found Irma this morning when she came to the market with another load of sausages. She had the horses with her. I told her you'd promised to come see me today before you left, so she was glad to have a chance to get them back to you. All your supplies are there with them."
"That's good luck," Sebastian said. "We can't thank you enough. We're in a hurry to get going."
Tom gestured to Je
Je
Tom frowned. "Betty?"
Je
"I'm sorry, Je
"Do you know where Irma lives?"
Tom's head hung. "Sorry, no. She showed up this morning and she had your horses and things. She sold her sausages and waited around for a while before she said she had to get on home."
Je
Tom shrugged. "I don't know. Couple hours ago?" He glanced over his shoulder at his brothers. They both nodded.
Je
A glance to Sebastian's face confirmed it.
Tears stung her eyes. "But… didn't you find out where she lived?"
Tom's gaze sank as he shook his head.
"Didn't you ask if she had anything else belonging to us?"
He shook his head again.
Je
Tom shook his head.
"But we promised her money for watching our horses," Je
Still looking at his feet, Tom said, "She told me she was owed money for watching the horses. I paid her."
Sebastian pulled out money, counted out silver coins, and held them out to Tom. Tom refused it, but Sebastian insisted, finally tossing the money on the table to settle the debt.
Je
Tom looked heartbroken. "I'm sorry."
Je
Now, she could think only of Betty bleating in distress. If Betty was even still alive.
"We can't stay," Sebastian answered softly to the pleading look she gave him. "You know that as well as I. We have to be on our way."
She looked back to Tom. "But I told you before, about Betty." Desperation drove into her voice. "I told you that Irma had our horses and my goat, Betty. I told you-I know I did."
Tom couldn't meet her eyes. "You did, ma'am. I'm sorry, but I just forgot to ask her. I can't lie to you and tell you anything else or make an excuse. You told me. I forgot."
Je
"We have to get going," Sebastian said, checking his saddlebags and securing the flaps. "It's going to take time to work our way through the crowds and out of here."
"We'll give you an escort," Joe said.
"People get out of the way of our big draft horses," Clayton explained. "Come on. We know the quickest way out. Follow us and we'll get you through the crowds."
Both men pulled a horse over so they could step up on a barrel and mount up bareback. They deftly guided the huge horses out of the narrow way between the stands and barrels without so much as jostling anything. Sebastian stood waiting for her, holding the reins to their horses, Rusty and Pete.
On her way past, Je
"Thank you for helping me," she whispered. "I'd have been lost without YOU."
Tom smiled then. "My pleasure, ma'am."
"Je
He nodded. "Je
Je
He stuffed his hands in his pockets as his gaze sank to the ground once more. "Safe journey to you, Je
"Steel against steel," she said, not even understanding why, but it somehow sounded right. "You helped me in that."
Tom smiled then, with a look of intense pride and gratitude.
"That he may be the magic against magic. Thank you, Je
She patted Rusty's muscular neck before putting a boot into a stirrup and boosting herself up onto the saddle. She cast the big man a last look over her shoulder. Staying with his things, Tom watched as Je
Sebastian, flashing a heated scowl, leaned toward her. "What was the big ox babbling about magic?" he whispered over at her.
" I don't know," she said in a low voice. She let out a sigh. "But he helped me get you out."
She wanted to tell him that Tom might be big, but he was no ox. She didn't though. For some reason, she didn't want to talk about Tom to Sebastian. Even though Tom had been helping her to rescue Sebastian, what they had done together for some reason felt very private to her.
When they finally reached the edge of the marketplace, Joe and Clayton waved them a farewell as Je