Chapter 21

NORA TOOK THE Philosopher’s Stone out of the false bottom of her saddle bag and sighed. She had to give Jack something. She wouldn’t get anything in return if she didn’t. But what did she tell him? He’d never believe the truth, even if she could reveal it. They would never work well together if there wasn’t trust between them.
All during the morning meal, Nora could feel Jack’s frustration. She didn’t want the tension between them, but rather wanted them to be able to get to know each other. Boston was a long distance to travel in silence. She ensured the elixir was still secure—that she would absolutely not tell him about.

Standing, she turned back to the fire where Running Bull and Jack spoke together quietly in their Shawnee tongue. She had heard them speak both English and Shawnee but had no way of knowing if they were discussing her or not when they only spoke their language. She tended to feel that that was just their natural inclination when together. Being fluent in French, she would only speak it when she was around French-speaking peo-ple, as English was her natural language.

Nora approached the men slowly, giving them plenty of time to acknowledge her presence. It didn’t really matter how quickly she moved, as soon as she took one step, Jack’s eyes locked on her. His skills were sharp as a blade, and he never missed a thing. It made her feel safer traveling with him, even if his constant presence irritated her at times.

She stopped just short of him and held out her hand, presenting the stone to him. He paused for a minute before gingerly taking it from her.

Nora tried to remain calm. Over time, she had let Ben and Mr. Jefferson handle the stone, but had never willingly handed it over to anyone else. She didn’t know Jack. She didn’t know that he wasn’t hired by Rogan in some elaborate, well-planned plot to gain her trust and then take this most precious object. Things could go very badly for her now. Instead of snatching the stone back in the next instance like she wanted to, she forced herself to let out the breath she held. Jack wasn’t go-ing to steal it.

“That is what Rogan wants,” she said, finally.

“Why?” Jack asked, turning the gem around in his hands. Nora noted that Jack held the stone as if it were a religious arti-fact. He seemed almost awed by it.

“Look at its beauty,” Running Bull said. “Man has fought over material things since the dawn of time.

“It’s priceless,” Nora said, neither confirming nor deny-ing Running Bull’s statement. “Rogan wants it—has killed for it.”

“Why does he want it so badly?” Jack looked up at her but still did not return the stone. Nora noted that he also did not relinquish it to Running Bull.

This was where things got risky. Nora wanted to stay as close to the truth as possible but didn’t want to put herself in the position of more questions. She thought carefully before she continued.

“Well, it’s one of a kind, to our knowledge,” Nora began. “That alone makes people covet what others own. It was given to me—entrusted to me.”

“Was it taken from Rogan and then entrusted to you?” Jack asked. “Was it ever his to begin with?”

“No,” Nora said firmly. “I am no thief. It never belonged to him.”

“Do you know why he might want it?” Jack asked. Nora should have known that Jack wouldn’t be satisfied with just some of the answers. He would want all of them, but she wasn’t willing to give them to him. Those answers were reserved for her Warrior, and while that could very well be him, she needed to be sure before she divulged too many details.

“I do,” Nora nodded. “But please believe I cannot share that information with you now. It is too dangerous for both of us. I have to maintain a level of secrecy, sir. If I find there is a pressing need to give you more information, then that is some-thing I will consider at the appropriate time. But Lord Rogan is after this very valuable, very rare stone. He will kill for it.”

Nora watched Jack consider the stone and hoped what she gave him was enough.