She tried to believe she had a future, yet she didn’t feel she did, not deep down inside. She felt as if she had absolutely no control over anything that was happening to her.
With an eerie suddenness the air grew still. She glanced up and could almost see the stars freeze and the golden moon turn silver.
As if the someone had just called out his name, Eachann MacLachlan rode over the hillside. At first he was nothing but a dark silhouette riding the air like some legendary midnight image galloping out from Sleepy Hollow.
His mount jumped a stone fence and thundered down the hillside. Closer and with amazing speed and grace. It was a sight that took her breath away.
She barely found that breath, caught it quickly when he and his horse turned sharply and rode toward the bridge. Right at her. She didn’t run, because for some reason she thought he might be trying to scare her. She didn’t know how she knew it, but she just did.
He reined in the horse and just sat there, high in the saddle, looking at her as if he wasn’t surprised to find her there.
She met his gaze unflinchingly. She started to say something, but for the life of her she couldn’t think of anything to say.
He swung a leg over the front of his saddle and slid to the ground with a horseman’s ease. He closed the distance between them and stood there looking down at her.
She thought for one crazy minute that he might just grab her and kiss her. And for that same crazy minute she wanted him to.
“You’ll freeze to death out here dressed like that.”
She shook her head. “I like the bite in the air. It’s a relief.”
He smiled then, one of those smiles that should have warned her. “Are things getting too hot for you around here, George?”
“Hardly,” she lied.
He just laughed, then braced a boot on a rock and rested his arms on his knee as he stared out at the bridge and the pond. After a moment he looked around, then said, “It’ll freeze over soon. The winter’s coming early this year.”
She didn’t respond, there was nothing to respond to. She didn’t really care about the weather, never had to unless it kept her from doing something she wanted to do. She stood there next to him and wondered what he was thinking. What he thought when he looked at her. What he thought when he looked at his children. “Tell me something.”
“What?”
“What do you do all day while you pay me to take care of your children?”
“What do I do?”
“Yes.”
“I work.”
She nodded and waited for him to explain. When he didn’t she asked, “What do you do, MacOaf?”
“I breed and raise horses. Like Jack, there.” He straightened and clucked his tongue twice and the horse walked over to stand next to him. He stroked Jack’s muzzle, then turned to her. “He’s sired four colts this year.”
“Four?”
“Aye.”
She nodded. “I see. And who takes care of the colts?”
“I do. And when they’re here, Will and Fergus help me in the stable. Why?”
She took a deep breath. Someone was going to have to hit him over the head to make him see what he was doing to his children. “I think if I told you, you still wouldn’t understand.”
He gave her an odd look, then just shrugged it off. He straightened and grasped the reins. In one incredibly graceful movement he swung up into the saddle. “It’s getting late and cold.” He held out his hand. “Here. I’ll give you a ride back to the house.”
She just stared at his hand.
He turned his foot. “Step on my boot and I’ll pull you up.”
