Chivalrous Captain, Rebel Mistress. Diane Gaston

if I left you here alone.’

      That was not what he meant. He meant a woman could not wander alone through a countryside that might be teeming with French soldiers.

      She glanced away, but finally she met his gaze again. ‘We must stay here until you are well enough to ride. I have your pistol and your sword in case these people try to hurt us and I have some coins to pay them for food. We shall just have to take care.’

      His strength had failed him. He might have started the previous day as her protector, but at the moment she was acting as if she was his.

      He could not allow it. ‘I can ride.’

      She gazed at him firmly. ‘No, Captain. You must lie down again. Let me help you.’ She moved to his side, wrapping one of his arms around her shoulder so that he could lean on her while she lowered him to the floor.

      ‘No.’ He wrenched away. ‘Cannot do it. Must get you to safety.’ He tried to ignore the pain and the spinning in his head. He could endure a few hours on a horse.

      He took a step, keeping one hand on the stable wall.

      ‘Captain,’ her voice pleaded.

      ‘I will saddle the horse.’ He stepped out of the stall. His horse walked up to him. He grabbed her mane to steady himself.

      But the room turned black.

      The last thing Allan felt was the hard surface of the barn floor.