“Am I still the best?”
“Even better than before. I like how we can be playful together again. I missed that.”
“I did too. The last time we rode out with Blaine and Rose, I felt horrible because I was so jealous of the way ye and Rose teased. I wanted that to be me again.”
“It will be. I’ll dump pine needles on ye anytime.”
“It’s a good thing I love ye.”
“Aye, ye do. As much as I love ye.” Thor kissed her before they frolicked. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d done that. But they raced each other, saw who could dive the deepest, splashed more water at one another, and made love twice more before they were too tired to continue, and Thor noted their fingers were more wrinkled than an old man’s bollocks.
“I canna remember enjoying a day more than this. Thank ye, Thor.”
“I ken we canna do it every day, even though that’s what I wish. But we can enjoy it whenever we have the chance.”
They waded out of the water, and Thor used his plaid to dry them before they dressed. Greer realized she’d entirely forgotten about the guards, who’d stood watch the entire time. However, her brow furrowed when they stepped back onto the path.
“We were gone long enough that the ones at the keep kenned to come and relieve them. They took their horses back with them.”
“We were really out there that long?”
Thor peered up at the sky. “At least two-and-a-half, mayhap three, hours.”
“I dinna believe that.”
“I told ye, ye were the best distraction. Mayhap I’m the same.” Thor tapped her on the backside, pushing her a step ahead of him. She gathered her skirts in one hand as she waited for him to catch up. Then she reached behind him and pinched his arse. She took off running back to the keep. She squealed when he snagged her around the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder. He landed three playful smacks on her backside. “What shall I do with ye wife?”
“I can think of plenty.” Greer waited until they were in their chamber, then they tested each of her suggestions. They arrived halfway through the evening meal.
CHAPTER14
Every day they spent together made it easier for Greer to accept her new life as Thor’s recognized wife in public and his lover in private. She flourished, no longer trapped by her fears, relishing the independence the decision not to doubt Thor gave her. Thor spoke to Blaine about the women who accosted Greer before she had the chance to address it with Rose. She knew Rose called the women into Blaine’s solar, and he sat beside her, holding her hand, as Rose made it clear she had no tolerance for that kind of behavior toward anyone. If the women wished to remain employed within the keep, they would keep a civil tongue in their head lest Rose cut it out.
After a sennight spent together, Greer returned to helping Rose with the chatelaine duties. Thor returned to the lists and his men’s teasing. They made no comments about Greer or hinted at her past. But they made plenty of jests at his expense, questioning whether he was man enough to keep such a beautiful woman’s attention. He took the jokes about his prowess in stride since it was a reminder that he and Greer not only reconciled but found happiness and fulfillment together.
However, their good cheer didn’t negate the lingering worry about the Gunns and the English. After a sennight and a half, Thor could no longer ignore the question why nothing more had happened. He didn’t believe either party gave up. It made him anxious about what they plotted. He didn’t want the Keiths to face two separate enemies or an attack from both sides combined.
“Thor, we havenae talked aboot what we’ll do if the English or men from ma clan return.” Greer worried about the same thing as they sat together in the garden. She frowned after she spoke. “Nae ma clan. The Sinclairs are ma clan. Men from the Gunns.”
“Do ye say it that way because ye dinna want to hurt ma feelings or because ye dinna feel like a Gunn anymore at all?”
“Nae at all. Just like it was easy to stop referring to Edgar as ma father, I find it easy to nae speak of them as though they’re still ma people. I ken they arenae all bad, and nae all of them have forsaken me. But as a whole, they have. If the clan council hadnae been as bad as Edgar, they would have removed him and found someone else. They could have ended that family line and began a new one. They kenned what he allowed, and they supported his efforts to harass other clans. I’m nae ready to forgive that. I want to one day, so I dinna live with this anger, but I’m nae there yet.”
“I’m worried aboot the same thing. It makes me suspicious aboot why naught has happened. Besides seeing the riders once, there hasnae been any disturbance. Blaine’s patrols along the Sinclair and Mackay borders havenae seen aught. The patrols along the Gunn border havenae seen anyone coming or going from Gunn Castle since the battle nearly two moons ago. Mayhap a messenger got past, but nay party has.”
“What are they waiting for? For us to be complacent?”
“Mayhap. Or they’re waiting for us to venture back to Dunbeath.”
“Do we have to ride? Couldnae we take birlinns?”
“I thought aboot that. Blaine’s offered to let us borrow one. It may come to that.”
“How much longer can we stay here? I ken ye canna stay for forever. Ye have duties, and I’m eager to begin mine. I want to go to ma new home. I’d rather learn how people will treat me now than continue to worry aboot it.”
“Are ye scared they will reject ye because ye were a Gunn?” He was careful to use the past tense.
“Aye. Do they ken I helped yer clan?”
