He was sitting up with his head in his hand.
Then he was moving his shoulder, gingerly, carefully, and from his body movements he looked to be in a great deal of pain. What the hell was he doing here?
I watched him for a few moments. He wasn’t in a hurry. He just sat out there as the sky cleared, as if the storm had never happened. He shook his head and looked dazed.
Though he was big and armed he looked kind of lost and helpless.
Cooper’s voice played in my head:You are such a pushover, Lexi.
Oh yeah? Well, he’s not asking for my help, if I’m offering then that’s fine…
Then I added out loud, “I will carry the gun though, I’m not crazy.”
I walked down the stairs to the main floor.
Little crazy, not calling the cops… why you not calling the cops, Lexi?
My only explanation was that it felt like that would cause trouble for Torin and that was likely the dumbest reason in the world to not call the cops on a trespasser.
When I crossed the porch he turned to look.
I said, loudly, “I’m armed!”
“Och aye, ye ken, Mistress, tis tae be expected.” He started to stand up.
“Don’t get up! I’m armed, Torin, you stay down!” I crossed the lawn with the gun pointed at him, my hands shaking. I got within about fifteen feet and said, “Why the hell are you on my land again?”
“Mistress… och I hae forgotten yer name, Mistress—” He was squinting and his expression looked like he was in a great deal of pain.
“Lexi.”
“Mistress Lexi, I daena ken why I am on yer land again, tis an unfortunate mistake for which I am deeply distressed.”
“What does any of that mean? Where is your car, how did you get here? Did you walk from the hospital? Did you sleep out here last night?”
He rubbed his temple. “Och nae, if I understand yer meanin’... nae, none of that.”
He was wearing the fur-trimmed cloak that now in the light I could see was dark blue wool, the grey fur was thick and wild looking, over his pale yellow linen shirt. He had embroidered green knot-patterns at his cuffs and down the front of his shirt, and he was wearing a blue, green, and red tartan kilt. A hot and sexy kilt. In his position, I could see his knees.
At his shoulder was a round silver brooch, engraved with more Celtic knots and in the center there was a small, raised stag.
Finally, notably, he was armed with a knife and a sword that each had leather wrapped hilts and jewels on the handle. He seemed rich, but in a very older version of rich.
And he had that weird metal object leaning against his thigh.
I gestured with the gun. “What is that thing?”
“I honestly canna tell ye, Mistress Lexi, tis called a vessel. Tis the only one in the world and I daena ken how tae explain what it does — dost ye hae any food and drink? I am desperately hungry.”
I said, “You must think I’mcrazy, Torin, if you think I’m inviting you into my house and offering you food and drink.”
“I am nae a scoundrel. I am a gentleman of honor. I find m’self on foreign lands and I am desperately hungry. I need a bite tae eat so I can think through m’predicament. Send yer guard tae surround me. I will remain outside yer walls, away from yer private chambers.” He raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his brow.
I narrowed my eyes.
Then I lowered the gun. “If youpromisenot to move I will go inside and get you a drink and some food, but if you try to follow me, Torin, I will shoot first and ask questions later.”
He nodded. “Aye, Mistress Lexi. Though if I could remove the cloak, tis swelterin’.”