The others followed suit, all swiveling their heads toward him. And not a one looked shocked.
Or even surprised.
Truth tell, they all grinned.
Well warned, Marmaduke kneed his horse before they could bedevil him anew. Digging in his spurs, he urged his mount into a thundering gallop and tore off in the direction whence they’d come, his horse’s drumming hooves echoing the hammering rhythm of his heart.
“By all the gods!” Ross called out a short while later, pointing. “Looks like you charmed that one, but good.”
Following Ross’ outstretched arm, Marmaduke spotted her – a lone female rider, bent low over her horse’s neck, and swiftly closing the distance between them.
“’Fore God,” he breathed, his heart near to bursting, scalding heat blurring the vision in his good eye.
Leaving his men to stare after him, he spurred ahead across the winter-stubbled ground, meeting her halfway. He swung down from his saddle before she’d even reined in. His men reached them just moments later, their wild shouts and hoots bringing a furious blush to his lady’s face.
The little dog peeking at him from a leather pouch tied to the back of her saddle, made his heart pound even faster. Leo’s presence had to be a good sign.
Striving for a semblance of dignity – lest indeed she’d only come to tender her farewell – Marmaduke ran a shaking hand over his singed, wind-blown hair and strode up to her.
“Lady,” he addressed her, damning himself for a sentimental fool when a tear leaked from the corner of his good eye. “What brings you this way?” he managed, his throat almost too thick for him to speak. “Did you come to bid us a safe journey?”
Sliding down from her horse’s back, she came toward him, the smile on her facealmostbanishing his demons. “And you, my lord,” she countered, “are you not riding in the wrong direction?”
Something in her shining eyes, and the catch in her throat, allowed Marmaduke’s hope to soar.
Even his men’s bawdy jaunting ceased as, gathering near, the leering loons followed the exchange with unabashed nosiness. Wheeling around, Marmaduke swept them with his most wicked glare, but they only laughed.
To a man, they threw back their ugly heads and guffawed to the heavens.
And at the sound, the utter joy behind it – their undeniable belief that she’d chased after them for the one reason Marmaduke himself was too afraid to believe – something inside him cracked open and his demons, every last one of them, took flight.
With a great flutter of black wings and all the doubts that had ever plagued him, the whole host of them were caught up by a sudden, peculiarly strong gust of cold, wintry air and whisked away.
Be gone and harry him no more, the wind seemed to call after them. But then the chill gusts slackened and his men’s chortles and hoots began to sound suspiciously wet and sloppy.
When Gowan blew his nose and dashed a meaty hand across his bearded face, Marmaduke knew he’d won the day…and his lady.
For his men were rough-hewn but no fools.
Drawing back his broad shoulders in best champion fashion, Marmaduke turned to his wife. “I was not riding in the wrong direction, I was returning for you,” he admitted. “I told you I always do.”
“And I was coming to join you on the journey,” she gave back.
“It is a rough journey, my lady.”
“A lady who loves never fears a spot or two of roughness, my lord.”
Marmaduke blinked. “What are you saying, Caterine?”
She smiled. “Do you not know?”
“I would hear the words,” he said, his heart swelling, already flooding with joy.
“As you wish.” She glanced at his men, then apparently uncaring that they gawked, she gave a little cry and flung her arms around his neck, clung to him.
“I love you,” she said, her words strong and loud enough for his ear-straining friends to catch every privy word. “I believe I have since the day you rode into Dunlaidir and kissed my hand so gallantly,” she confessed, running her fingers through his less-than-perfect hair, pressing so sweetly against him, he feared he’d melt at her feet.
He’d consigned himself to never seeing her again, never again feeling her supple curves crushed against him.
