“I am none the worse for wear, my laird and master,” she added breathlessly. She was breathless from laughter, not exertion. “A poor jest. I see that now. Forgive me.” She started toward him, for he seemed unable to close the distance himself. “I assure you I am as adept at falling as I am at riding. You cannot learn the one without the other.”
Jamie headed for the horse, but she stopped him as he passed and threw her arms around his neck.
“Thank you, Sir Jamie. Thank you for sharing your joy with me and allowing me to feel like a child again. I haven’t felt ashappy for an eternity.” She suddenly looked worried. “I hope you will share him again someday.”
“Certainly, my lady, if the Commander allows it. But I own I am more worried that he will not welcome anyone else on his back again.” He laughed, but his worry was real. The horse shoved him away, then nuzzled him immediately after. And the next bout of laughter was pure relief.
“He is a clever lad to prefer you,” Kenna called out.
Jamie shook his head. “I must beg ye to stop addressing Queenie ashe.”
“Queenie?” she said as she bent and peeked beneath the horse’s belly, then back at Jamie. “How wonderful!” Then she curtsied to the horse. “My apologies, Your Highness.”
“My lady,”Tearloch said, drawing her attention. “If ye’ll mount the other horse, perhaps we will see our homes before the sun sets again—and while we still remember the way.”
Kincaid brought the animal forward and Tearloch used the excuse to put his hands on her waist. Breathing was forgotten when her gaze rose to meet his, and the meadow and all its occupants were forgotten.
“Before the sun sets again, ye say?” Duncan said, from atop his mount. “By the time ye finished makin’ moon-eyes at each other, I worry we will have forgotten the way!”
Tearloch could feel many envious eyes on him, and the sensation reminded him of the discussion around the campfire the night before. She’d been as honest with the others as she’d been about trying to escape again—she was honestly considering trading her virtue to accomplish her ends.
He couldn’t let that happen. And he knew just how he could ensure it did not—take away what she planned to barter. He had two choices. The first was to steal it from her. The second…the second was to make her believe she no longer had it.
Malcolm’s parting words were clear. Bring my sister home—whole and healthy. His pointed look made his meaning clear. No anticipating the marriage vows. Keep his hands to himself.
But considering how sheltered she’d been in a fort of women only, how ignorant might she be?
It was worth discovering. And even if she couldn’t be convinced he had taken her prize, he could still lead his men to believe he had, and that was the point. Soon after they arrived, word would spread, and the men of Lochahearn would believe the same—that no matter what they heard, there was nothing left to offer.
His honor might suffer some tarnish, but as long as she was his, in the end, he could stomach it. He would know the truth, that he had honored his King’s wishes.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Kenna was sure this was now a stranger pinning her between himself and the horse. Tearloch had transformed into a man without care. Besides the genuine smile, the deep line that typically lingered between his brows was gone along with the furrows meant to intimidate the rest of the world. There was no glower, no suspicion behind his eyes. Some secret excitement left no room for anything else.
He was suddenly years younger than she had first suspected. Or at least this stranger was.
And this stranger, she did not trust.
He finally looked away and bellowed. “All to horse! And away with ye! Lady Kenna and I will follow anon.”
No one moved. Horses stamped their impatience. The men only stared at the pair of them. Kenna was equally confused.
She shook her head. “Only a moment ago, you complained?—”
He laid a finger on her lips to keep her from finishing.
Duncan cleared his throat and hollered, “Ye heard him, lads. Let’s to home!” Then he shooed the others out of the meadow toward the road. Jamie mounted Queenie and prodded her, but the animal paused in passing to nuzzle a laugh from her.
“Go on, now.” Tearloch said to the horse, pushing the giant head away. “’Tis my turn.”
Jamie scowled at the man, something she thought was unwise to do to one’s leader. But Tearloch only smirked. Had the two men changed skins?
The young man opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it and spurred his horse away, but not before giving Kenna a fleeting look of pure pity.
“Whatever have you done to the boy?” When she noticed her laird and master still held her tight, she asked, “Do you mean to lift me onto the saddle, sir? Or do you mean to dawdle?” The next words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Is your wife not anxious to have you home as well?” Embarrassed, she looked away, though she still hoped he would answer.
“I have no wife. Yet.”
