Jaime's hoof was still clear of infection the next morning and he said it didn't hurt quite as much. Although it did feel funny when he tried to set it down. When Juan showed up a bit later with a supply of sulfur, he watched as I packed it in the space I had scraped out the day before. This made it a bit easier for Jaime to put his foot down for moving around, though he still couldn't put weight on it for long.

Once that was done, Juan and I went walking amongst all the other horses, giving us privacy to talk. The horses were as happy to see him as they were to see me, and he greeted them easily, stroking them and talking to them.

"Juan, I have another secret I want to share with you. Oliver and I weren't on our way to see my parents. We were actually trying to find this camp, to find the general. I'm a spy for France and Oliver is a French soldier. We were sent here on a mission."

"Why are you telling me this? Is it another test?"

"No, not at all. I'm telling you because I was thinking that you might like to come back to France with us. Later, we can arrange for your loved ones to join you there."

"You just met me yesterday and you have told me two huge secrets and make this invitation. I do not understand why."

"Because you have a huge secret of your own that can get you killed by your people. I understand that very well. And I don't need to know you for years to know you're a good man. Seeing you with Jaime yesterday and watching you as we've been walking has told me a lot. Animals are great judges of character, plus I'm lucky enough for them to actually be able to tell me what they think of someone."

"I suppose I should ask what your mission is concerning the general. That would probably help me decide."

I nodded in understanding. "We aren't here to kill him. We're to kidnap him and bring him back to France for questioning about Spanish troops and military secrets."

"You and Oliver have a plan to accomplish this? Why isn't Oliver with us?" he was suddenly suspicious.

"Several reasons." I reassured him. "The main one being that I have a plan I haven't told Oliver about yet. It is almost guaranteed to secure the general with hardly any fighting, but I know he will not approve of it. I want to wait until the last possible moment to let him know the details. I hope to have your and the horses' support to get him to follow through with it."

"And do you really think I would be welcome in France?" Juan changed the subject, so I figured I had reassured him on that count.

"I'm sure of it. The King and council may have some questions for you, but then you can go anywhere in France you want or even another country if you prefer."

There were tears in his eyes as he suddenly grabbed me in a hug and held me for several minutes, both of us surrounded by the horses.

"It's bad enough I have to compete with all the different animals for her attention. Don't tell me I have to deal with you, too." sighed Athos.

Juan let me go and started babbling, trying to explain. "Oh no, I wasn't - I mean, Rina is a lovely woman, but - I would never - she isn't -"

Athos and I both laughed and I spoke to Juan in the same calming tone I used with panicked patients. "Juan, he's teasing you. Something he doesn't do with many people unless he likes and trusts them. Relax."

Then I looked at Athos and my tone changed. "And you, don't do that to the poor man. He was just thanking me."

"Quite a thank you. What for?"

"I told him the truth about why we are here and asked if he would like to come back to France with us."

"I see. And when were you going to discuss this with me? We haven't even sat down to make plans for returning to France."

Juan softly said, "I'll just let you two talk about this in private and see you later."

I gave him a smile as he and the Spanish horses left. Only Roger and Kim stayed for the discussion between Athos and I.

"Kay, what the hell are you doing, telling him that? For all you know, he's going straight to the general right now." Athos growled as he tried to give me one of his angry looks.

I waved him off. "Don't even try the look on me, you know it doesn't work. And considering Juan's secret and his reaction to my invitation, as you saw, I doubt he's going to say a word to the general or anyone else. He dislikes the man more than we do."

Roger and Kim both snorted and nodded their heads. Athos gave them a dirty look, which was no more effective than one he'd given me. "How would you two know? You're only agreeing with her hoping to get treats."

Roger nodded again and pulled his lips open in a horsey grin, but at the same time he nudged Athos for head rubs. Athos tried to maintain a stern face and ignore him, but Roger persisted until Athos gave in with a sigh. As he rubbed Roger's favorites spots, he said, "Fine, he is a good man. But we haven't even started talking about a plan. And we have to figure out how to get the general away from those soldiers he always has around him. I know you can fight, but there's still a limit."

"Actually, I've been thinking on that, and I may have an idea. I just want to go over a few more things in my head before I tell you about it. Okay?"

He wasn't happy with it, but knew not to push me more at the moment. He pulled me into a hug very different from Juan's, whispered, "You are infuriating at times." then changed the hug to a deep kiss. That kiss led to another and then another, each one deeper and longer than the last.

After quite some time, we finally managed to separate and headed back to camp in search of food. Time was running out before I would have to implement my plan and hope it was too late for him to react.