Cursed by Bandits (Once Upon A Curse)

10. Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

A s we entered his home, Tuck greeted us with a nod, his eyes immediately fixating on me. Despite the warmth emanating from the roaring fire in the stone fireplace, a chill ran down my spine and settled in my bones. Tuck’s scrutiny felt palpable, his gaze assessing my every movement with a keen intensity.

“It seems you’ve made a decision,” Tuck said, his tone neutral but directed at me.

I felt the weight of his judgment, knowing his anger had lessened when he realized I was ignorant of my father’s passing. But there was still an unspoken challenge lingering in his gaze, a silent demand for me to prove my commitment to Lockersley and its people. He didn’t know I was determined to prove myself, to show just how deeply I cared for the place I called home.

“It’s food from the party I didn’t want.” Despite the urge to fidget under Tuck’s gaze, I maintained my composure, refusing to succumb to any of the doubts I was feeling. I reminded myself that my intentions were pure, and I had nothing to hide. With resolve burning through me, I straightened my posture, lifting my chin as I met Tuck’s gaze head-on. There was no wavering in my stare, no hint of doubt in my expression. “I need to deliver it all tonight and be back in the keep before dawn and my uncle awakens. I have too much to do to get caught this early on.”

My gaze swept across the room until it landed on a spacious armchair tucked away in a corner. Ignoring the less inviting seating options, I skirted around wooden tables and other furniture in my path. Finally reaching my destination, I sank into the plush cushions of the armchair, relief flooding through me as I threw one leg over the armrest. Sitting was an instant relief to the ache in my feet that throbbed from the hours of dancing earlier.

“I see.”

That’s all Tuck said. His silence made me squirm in the chair. It had me questioning whether my act of confidence was a good idea. Maybe my nonchalant attitude was a step too far.

“Come on, Tuck, I know you’ve got people in place to make this happen. And you would never turn down the free food for the people in town.” Milo leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

Tuck looked from me to Milo, shifting the weight of his unclear expectations away from me.

“This isn’t even the first time you’ve done this. Quit acting like it is,” Milo said.

I sat straight up in the chair. “What do you mean, not the first time?”

Milo and Tuck turned towards me and looked at their feet sheepishly.

“You see, Tuck and I . . .”

“Milo has arranged . . .”

Jane held up her hand. Both men stopped talking. “One at a time. Who wants to go first?” She lowered herself down until she was perched on the edge of a chair. “No, since Tuck took Rowan to task when she arrived back, Milo, you can tell us what the two of you have been up to.”

Milo cleared his throat. “It’s pretty simple. I’ve made arrangements for food to be delivered to town after one of your uncle’s banquets. There’s always so much extra. But your uncle refuses to send it to town, even though it’s the right thing to do and what all the other lairds do after large parties.”

I sunk back into the chair. “So this would have happened without me. I’m not doing anything to help the town. How do you get it all organized?”

Milo ran his hand through his hair, sending his dark curls off in every direction. “It’s not that hard. There are quite a few people that work in the kitchen and live in town. They help move the extra food to the side. I load it up and lower it down. Tuck is normally waiting at the bottom with the cart. The two of you beat us to it tonight.” He walked towards me, moving as if the furniture in the room didn’t exist. He stopped behind the chair I occupied.

I was incredulous. “That’s why you were there? I thought you followed me.” The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. Hearing them, I winced. I didn’t intend to sound so self-centered.

Milo laughed. “The thought had crossed my mind—if only to see the trouble you were going to get yourself into.” He bent over until his lips were next to my ear. “This was a happy accident.”

I couldn’t suppress the shudder that moved through my body.

Tuck wiped his hand over his bald head as he cleared his throat. “While it’s fun to listen to you two, we have other things to get done tonight. Milo, go get Will and Erin. Rowan and I need to talk. Jane, I’m not sure what you would rather do.”

“This sounds like plotting.” I rubbed my hands together. “Jane stays. She’s an asset during any plotting session. Plus, it saves me from having to tell her everything later on.”

Milo left with a brief nod, and I couldn’t help but watch him go. There was something about the way he moved that captured my attention when I was fifteen. It would seem very little had changed since then.

I turned my gaze back to Tuck as the door closed. “Clearly, food isn’t enough to make a difference.” I rubbed my hands together. “We need to find something that is.”

“I’ve had an idea for a while, but nobody’s in a position to carry it out.” Tuck sat across from me, his fingers steepled under his chin.

I twisted my braid around my finger. “That’s where I come in. You mentioned some of this earlier. I want to do more than observe, though. I need to do something that will help people now.”

“Rowan, you don’t have to change everything all at once.” Jane clasped her hands in front of her. “Maybe take a moment to settle in, grieve. ”

“I would rather honor his legacy than grieve his death.” My tone was laced with steel.

Tuck nodded. “Your father would be proud.”

My eyes welled with tears at his words. It happened so fast I could barely blink them away. “I don’t know what to do, though. I just know I have to do something.”

“It’s the taxes that are causing all the problems. Your uncle has raised them three times in the past six months. He sends the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Jocelin Montfort, out every week to collect. Montfort takes any and every bit of coin there is, stating that we are all still in arrears and that he will be back next week.”

“That’s awful. No one should have to live like that,” Jane said.

I stood. “This is why I have to do something.” I was feeling twitchy, the need to take action of some sort consuming every part of me.

Even though my attention remained fixed on Tuck, a part of my mind registered Jane’s movements. I sensed her rising from her seat, her actions blocked from my view as I remained focused on Tuck.

Tuck watched me, his gaze analyzing every move I made. “Spying on your uncle isn’t enough for you? ”

As I met Tuck’s gaze, his question echoed in my mind, prompting thoughts to tumble through my head, one on top of another.

Was spying truly enough?

The answer came swiftly: no.

But the more important question that continually ran through my head was, why didn’t it feel like it was enough? I mulled over the sense of inadequacy that gnawed at me, the feeling that my efforts were too passive, too inconsequential in the face of the challenges ahead.

Despite my resolve to do something, I couldn’t shake the sense that it wasn’t enough to make a meaningful difference. The thought weighed heavily on my mind, fueling a growing sense of restlessness and discontent. A feeling I wasn’t used to and did not like.

My resolve hardened as I stood there. I had already decided to do something, but now I knew it had to be more than bringing extra food to the town. My people needed coin. I refused to remain idle while they suffered under my uncle’s rule. It was time to take a more proactive role in shaping the future of Lockersley and helping my people.

“It feels too passive. I need to do something that helps the town now.” I felt Jane’s hand on my shoulder, pushing me back into the chair .

“You’re impetuous, and I love you for it. But if you want things to change here, you need to take a moment. Do the research to determine what we should do first,” she whispered into my ear as I sat back down.

I sighed, twisting my hair. Tuck sat back, suddenly relaxed. The intensity I had felt earlier was gone. “Tomorrow, Montfort is collecting. What if it was stolen back?”

“No.” Jane stood in an instant. “Come on, Rowan, we’re leaving. Stealing is out of the question.”

I held up my hand. “Let’s hear him out.” Jane started to speak, but she stopped when I looked back at her. “There’s a plan in the works already. That much is clear.”

Turning back, my eyes fell on Tuck. I leaned forward, ready to hear whatever he was going to say.

The friar shifted in his seat, his watchful gaze shifting from judgment to something I couldn’t read. “It’s not completely worked out. We’ve been stuck because we need an unknown. Will wanted to be the thief, but his size would give him away. I’m too old. And Milo, well, he can’t see without his spectacles, which presented a few problems.”

The words leapt out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I’ll do it. ”

“You don’t even know what he expects you to do.” Jane crossed her arms. “Don’t agree to things before you have all the information.”

“Jane, you know I have to do something. And my father would have wanted this. I can feel it.” I grabbed her hands. “Trust me. This is right.”

Jane shook her head but sat back down. She pursed her lips but kept her mouth shut, for now. I knew I was going to hear more about this once we were back at the keep.

“You want me to do this? I need to do things my way.” I tapped my foot on the floor. “This means I’ll be the one stealing. If I get caught, my uncle’s hands will be tied. He’s not going to want the world to know his niece felt the need to take from him. Not that I’m going to get caught.”

Tuck moved in his chair, opening his mouth to interrupt me, but I wasn’t done yet. I shook my head.

“You need to get me schedules and routes. Whatever information you have, I want it and more. I have the skills to take this on, and even a story to explain my actions, but I would prefer not to have to test this theory.”

The door swung open. Milo and Will’s weary figures appeared framed by the doorway, silhouetted against the darkness behind them. I ignored their interruption and pressed on with determination, addressing Tuck .

“I need to go over all your research and do some more on my own,” I declared, my tone resolute and unwavering.

Milo’s laughter rang out, breaking through the tense atmosphere. “Are you suggesting preparation before taking action? That doesn’t sound like you at all.”

Jane’s attempt to stifle her laughter with a cough only served to annoy me. I felt the urge to glare at her. I opted to ignore her instead, unwilling to be derailed from my purpose.

Turning my attention back to Milo, I fixed him with a steely glare. “Stop acting like you know me.”

Milo turned to Tuck, ignoring me. “Did you tell her Montfort is coming around tomorrow?”

“Of course he did. Why do you think we’re talking about this now?” I responded before Tuck could.

Will moved through the cottage, his size overwhelming the small space. He sat in a chair between me and Jane that was too small for his large frame.

“Do you think you can stop the collection tomorrow?” Will grabbed my hands.

I looked into his gaze. Every fiber of my being wanted to say I could do something by tomorrow. But that was only a few hours away. It wasn’t enough time, was it?

“Looks like I’m robbing a carriage tomorrow. What do I need to know that you haven’t already told me?”