Page 65 of Queen of Sherwood

That was the other thing: It was hard being the only woman here. I was second-guessing myself every step of the way, just when I thought I’d escaped that misery.

As much as I hated Maid Marian, she did add an element of the fairer sex to these negotiations. Even if she couldn’t be trusted, she had a measure of weight behind her. She was an ambitious woman, and everyone knew it. Which meant she was listened to.

Then I suppose I need to be more ambitious.

“And run our soldiers—what few we have—thin?” Little John asked. There was no sarcasm or condescension in his tone, just simple facts. “It will be hard to protect two camps at once from invaders.”

“But not impossible,” I said.

He gave me a small smile, the thread of his brow flattening. “Aye, little star. Nothing is impossible with you at the helm.”

Sadly, I was starting to lose faith in his words of encouragement—in myself—even if he believed them. “Please. I can’t even wrangle my own command tent. How am I supposed to convince everyone that we’re on the right path?”

Friar Tuck said, “The folks only need to use their eyes to see, Robin. You’ve done your part.” He gave me an encouraging smile as well, which looked oddly similar to John’s. “We wouldn’t be gaining new recruits on a daily basis if people didn’t see hope when they came here. The community you’ve always wanted.”

That boosted my confidence a bit.

Will said, “Aye, you’re much better at this whole hope-giving thing than Little John ever was.”

John snorted and shouldered Will a few feet away from the table. “Fuck you, lad.” They both chuckled, which made me smile. “You’re not wrong though,” John admitted.

“I daresay it’s the most important quality in a leader, the hope-giving thing,” Alan said, wanting to join the fray of niceties aimed at me.

I supposed I’d bask in them for a minute, just so I could drown my doubts away.

“We can return to our camp east, if needed,” Robert said.

“No,” I shot back quickly, shaking my head. I put a hand on his shoulder. “I told you the Oak Boys were welcome here. We’ll need you in the coming battles.”

My brother nodded firmly and winked. “We’ll be ready, sister. Especially with Will’s help in training up the regiments.”

“I’m only useful with a blade,” Will said, shrugging. “Because I’m clearly not of any use in this tent.”

I rolled my eyes.

Uncle Gregory, always stern and unsentimental in situations as these, knocked his fist on the table lightly to get everyone’s attention. “I’m glad you’re all appreciating my niece’s finer qualities, but none of that answers the current predicament we—”

Low chatter swelled outside the tent. It became loud and noticeable enough to cut Gregory off, filtering in through the tarp, and he furrowed his bushy gray brow.

“What’s going on out there?” Little John asked, moving from the table to the tent flap.

Before he could reach it, the flap flew open. Rosco stood in the way, eyes wide. “Hoy, lordlings, generals, ye ain’t gonna believe this.”

I blinked at the lanky, fast-talking lad. “What’s going on, Ros?”

“See for yourself.”

I shared a quick confused look with my men, then we exited the tent together. They followed in my footsteps, and once I was outside, I noticed rustling and movement coming from the back of camp. I squinted to see what was happening.

A large group had congregated near the south of camp. Some of the people were parting to let others through.

Once I got closer I saw a shock of red, curly hair, and my pulse launched to my throat.

It can’t be.

Next I heard voices shouted joyously, which confused me even more.

“Jimmy! You’re back!”

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