Page 26 of The Piper's Pursuit

He put his hand on her shoulder. For the first time she didn’t flinch, she only stood very still.

Her shoulder was surprisingly thin and fragile. He made sure his grasp was gentle as he bent slightly so he could look her in the eye.

“You and your mother are not safe with Hennek. Come with me to Hagenheim. My father will—”

“I won’t leave my people. At least fifty of Hamlin’s children have been either killed or stolen away, and if they are alive, I must find them.” She lowered her voice to a fierce whisper. “I cannot leave until I discover what happened to them.”

She was so determined, so courageous.

He’d never wanted to kiss a woman so much in his life.

Eight

Katerina’s insides trembled at Steffan’s warm, gentle hand on her shoulder. But she wouldn’t let him know how much she longed to have someone to trust, how she longed to trust Steffan. How had she become so attached to this man in so short a time? Men were not trustworthy. How daft would she have to be to fall into the same trap her mother had fallen into?

But she was practically holding her breath to see what he would say next.

“I am not leaving without you.” He leaned slightly toward her. “I shall stay close until we both find out what is happening here.”

Did he mean that? Or was he only making her think he cared and wanted to protect her? She would start to trust him, would let down her guard with him, and then what? If he was a good man, Hennek would kill him, but if he wasn’t... he would only hurt her.

Fear gripped her, rising into her throat and cutting off her breath. Her voice was hoarse as she choked out, “I don’t need your help.” She hurried away down the cobblestone street.

But what if she was wrong? Her stomach sank at the brusque way she treated him after he had said such protective things. But her fear was stronger. It kept her feet moving at a fast pace and her head from turning to see if he was coming after her.

When he didn’t appear at her side as he had before, her eyes stung. Was she actually what her stepfather had called her years ago, when she was too young to understand what he was talking about?“A temptress and a cruel minx.”

After talking to her priest, she realized she was not a temptress at all, nor was she cruel. But the words seemed stuck in her mind forever.

Steffan, although he’d had opportunities, had not tried to take advantage of her and had not called her names or blamed her for his own depravity. Instead, he had stepped in front of the beast to protect her. Now he was offering to stay close to her to once again protect her.

Her heart pounded against her chest. What should she do? Did she dare to trust him? Fear tried to choke her again as two opposite feelings warred inside her. She stopped, turned around.

Steffan was still standing where she had left him. He was staring back at her.

She took a step toward him and her hands shook. She took another step and another, her knees wobbling.Bad things will happen to you if you let a man help you. You will hate yourself for trusting him.

But she didn’t stop. She walked all the way back to him, her heart pounding, stealing her breath.

What would she do if he smirked? Laughed at her? She would feel like a fool.

He didn’t move, and his expression was sober as he watched her come closer and closer. She sucked in a wispy breath.

“It is dangerous.” She stopped and forced another breath into her tight chest. “But if you wish to come back with me... to help me discover what is happening to the children... I would be glad of the help.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Good. Yes.” He straightened his shoulders. “I would like to help.”

Their eyes locked for a moment, until Kat had to look away, afraid he could tell that she was having trouble breathing. She said a quick, silent prayer that God would keep him safe from Hennek.

Steffan fell in beside her as they started walking back toward the home she’d shared with her mother and Hennek since she was eight years old.

Would she soon be free of Hennek? Of his cruel ways of oppressing Mother and his even more cruel threats? If God was willing, she would make sure she and her mother never had to cower to him again. She would find a house for her mother and her, and she would provide for them herself. They could live off the game she shot, and perhaps Mother could be a clerk in a shop. Kat also had a hidden stash of money in her room that she got from selling small game, although it wasn’t enough yet for a house. The biggest obstacle would be convincing her mother to leave him.

But what about Steffan? She’d always prided herself on never trusting anyone. And yet she was already beginning to trust Steffan—a little. Even though she’d probably regret it. Well, she would never let him take advantage of or use her. Not now. Not ever.

The sight of Johannes hurrying down the street toward them jolted her out of her thoughts. Katerina went to meet him.

“Fräulein, you said to let you know if Bridda said anything else.”