By the end of the next hour, Katie finally walked out to him. She lifted his arm and forced him to put it around her. "Anna started stealing things. We might not have realized what she was doing, but one of the men noticed her hips were wider leaving than they were coming back. Her horse outran her guard five times in the last two days. She has hidden things in the forest somewhere."
"She planned this?"
"Not this exactly, but she would have gone soon anyway. At least, they are not totally without. She has a bow and arrows, two daggers and three plaids that I know of. They will be fine."
"Does she know how to sneak up on her prey?"
"She can split an apple in half with an arrow and from a considerable distance." Katie hugged her brother. "Anna didn't seem interested in doing anything except walk every inch of the grounds. I think now she was trying to find a way out, in case you..."
"In case I tried to force her into my bed." He closed his eyes. "She told her mother she loves me. Was she lying?"
"Nay, but she said loving you hurt too much. That was when you were gone and she was worried about you."
"Now she is gone and I am worried. She is right, love hurts too much."
"Come inside, all we can do is pray love will bring Anna back."