The Heather Moon by Susan King

likely she means to circle around to Merton along that road."
    William looked down at the ground, as he had seen Tamsin do just before she rode off. An arrangement of stones and lines in the dust caught his eye. "What is that?" he asked.
    Archie peered down. "Stones, Will Scott."
    "More than that. Gypsies leave signs for other bands of gypsies to recognize. I have seen similar markings in the road before, though each one differs. Tamsin surely knows what this one says. She took the left fork for a reason." He looked up. "I think I'll find a gypsy camp in that direction—and your daughter as well."
    "That could be, though I dinna know what those markings mean. She does have some canny 'Gyptian tricks." Archie glanced at William. "As ye may find out."
    "I have scant tolerance for gypsy tricks just now," William said. "But I must find the lass."
    "Go to, then. I've just been treated to two days o' Musgrave's sorry hospitality. My belly is empty, and my headcrack pains me sore. I'm riding on to Merton. If she's gone to Johnny Faw and that gypsy lot, she'll return home to Merton when she's ready. She does what she wants, that lass, but she always comes back to her da." He smiled. "Be patient, lad."
    William sighed and looked along the empty road. "I dinna have the leisure to wait upon her whim," he said.
    "But ye gave yer word to Musgrave to hold her for a fortnight, and ye'll do it, hey?"
    William thought Archie looked oddly hopeful. "You seem eager to obey Musgrave's wishes of a sudden."
    "Jasper knows I'm a disobedient sort, 'tis why he threatened my lass. I dinna want her in his keeping. But yer custody o' my Tamsin is a different matter."
    William looked at him. "Why?"
    "Ye said ye would keep her safe."
    "Aye," William said slowly. "Why do you want me to keep her at all? She's run from me. I would think you'd applaud that."
    "I do applaud her spirit. But I have my reasons to want her in yer custody." Archie paused. "I dinna know why ye support a man like Musgrave, but I'll wager 'tis secret games o' some sort. Politics, and suchlike, which I dinna care for, myself."
    William eyed him steadily. "I have my reasons as well."
    "And I'll ask nae questions. I trust ye for a man o' yer word and I'll hold ye to it. Ye said ye'd keep the lass well."
    William inclined his head, studying Archie. The man's eagerness in this made him wary. "I think you might have some plan of your own, Archie Armstrong."
    "Me? Och, my thinking is simple, man. If ye keep Tamsin, Musgrave will think I'm doing what he wants," he said blithely.
    "Ah," William said. "And will you?"
    Archie paused. "I willna do what that coney orders. But I want my lass safe, so I want her wi' ye."
    "You intend to break your word to Musgrave."
    "Word given under force and duress is meaningless. When I give my word in honor, I keep it. But I willna do what Musgrave demands. Nor that sneakbait rascal, King Henry."
    "You take a great risk."
    "Aye. And I will trust ye to say naught to Musgrave." Archie watched him. "I see yer father strong in ye, lad. Nae just in yer bonny face, but in the help ye gave to me and my lass. And I think yer heart is as loyal and good as was Allan's. Am I wrong?" he asked softly.
    William looked away, his throat tightening. He felt gratitude wash through him, sudden and deep, bringing him to the surprising brink of tears. Archie, who had known Allan Scott better than most, had given William a precious part of the father he had lost with but a few honest words.
    He strove for his voice. "If you wish to go against Musgrave," he finally said, "'tis your matter, and I'll say naught of it. And I'll keep your lass safe at Rookhope for so long as must be."
    "Aye, then." Archie nodded. "I'll take her back when Musgrave loses his interest in keeping a hold over me."
    "That may never happen," William said wryly.
    "True," Archie said with a little grin. "Then ye needs must keep her, hey." He grew solemn. "Musgrave may go after me when he finds I dinna support King