CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Kate almost hit her hand three times the next day, she was so distracted. She kept looking over to the spot where her stolen horse was tethered, happily chewing on grass and old oats. The first time it happened, Thomas laughed and told her to be careful. The second time, he frowned.
This time, he stopped in the middle of forging a set of horseshoes, letting the flames dull back down to an orange glow.
“No, don’t stop because of me,” Kate said. “If you stop working the metal, it will—”
“I know what it will do,” Thomas said. “But I’d rather waste the effort than have you break all your knuckles swinging a hammer blind.”
Kate didn’t want that either, but she was willing to take the risk if the alternative was letting the smith down. She wasn’t going to ruin his work ju
