“Definitely has spent too much time with Mrs. O’Neal,” he said to the empty room and lay back against his pillows.
It would be a few more days before he could return to his plan to court her. He hated to admit it but his body was not quite up to doing much. Iain promised himself he would be careful, would baby himself no matter how much he would hate it. Then he would get right back to courting Emily and he would not be needing her help to see him down the stairs.
Chapter Eighteen
Iain waited as Mrs. O’Neal packed a basket for him. He intended to take Emily on a picnic. It was a sunny, warm day, and he wanted to take advantage of what could be the last of such days. It was also one of the things he had written on his list of things he could do to woo her and he felt he now had the strength to do that. His brothers had their moment of hilarity over his list for which he had thrashed them soundly. He also knew that they thoroughly approved of him courting Emily.
“How long should one court a woman?” he asked Mrs. O’Neal, and pretended not to notice how she rolled her eyes.
“Until ye have won her,” she answered, and set the basket on the table with enough force to make him jump. “And I don’t mean just into your bed.”
“Ah. I ken your opinion on all that. All my brothers told me.” He stood up and picked up the basket. “It is why I am working hard to woo her.”
“Ye have done this backwards.”
“Been told that, too,” he said, and walked out.
He found Emily in the stable saddling the mare he had gotten for her. She had named it Fancy and it made him smile. Iain set the basket near the doors and walked over to her, bending to kiss her neck then dodging out of the way when she jumped and her head went back. Seeing her pleasure over both mare and saddle had brought him a lot of pleasure, and the blushing gratitude she had offered had been very hard not to soothe with a lot of kisses.
“Careful, lass,” he said, laughing softly. “Nearly broke my nose there.”
Emily blushed. “I am sorry. You startled me.”
“I ken it. Bad thing to do to a lass who has been hunted. I am here to take ye on a picnic.” He pointed toward the basket. “Mrs. O’Neal packed us a basket.”
“That was very nice of her. You are going to take me on a picnic?” She went to the basket and peeked in. “Good heavens, the woman packed enough for a small army.”
Iain laughed and picked up the basket. “I thought we could ride out to that place on the trail ye like.” He set the basket down again as he saddled his horse and then hung the basket from his saddle. “Are ye willing to come with me?” He walked over to her and held out his hand.
Emily laughed and placed her hand in his. “Lead on, sir.”
He set her in her saddle then swung up into his own. For a while they rode side by side, saying nothing, simply enjoying the day. It was probably one of the last warm, sunny days they would be able to enjoy, Emily thought, as there were too many signs of the coming fall to ignore. She lifted her face to the sun and savored its warmth.
“Fall is coming,” said Iain.
“I was just thinking the same. The only thing I do not like about that is that fall is followed by winter.” Emily smiled at him. “I suspect that does not trouble you hardy Scots as it does me.”
“Nay too fond of the cold, actually. That is why we put in so many fireplaces.”
“I did not think there were that many.”
“Nay, ye probably grew up with one in every room. It is a lot for a shepherd’s house.” He smiled when she laughed. “Took a large bite of the money we had brought with us plus three beds made by Matthew and two rugs woven by Robbie. Mabel has one of those fancy iron stoves in her shop and we have been working on a trade for it with her. A little trade and a little money.”
“That must be fun.” Emily laughed. “I bet she drives a hard bargain.”
“Ye have no idea, but we are close.”
When they reached the spot on the trail, Iain secured their horses and helped her down a short path to a flat grassy area at the side of the gorge. The sound of the water was soothing and the water glistened in the sun. He spread out a blanket and set the basket down before he sat. Then he patted the spot on the blanket right by his side. Emily grinned, shook her head over his antics and sat down.
“I did not see this spot when I rode by,” she said. “I thought there was nothing but rocky cliff.”
“Hard to see unless ye go right up to the edge and even then ye can be distracted by the water. So, let us see what Mrs. O’Neal put together for us.”
They spent a pleasant hour eating Mrs. O’Neal’s fried chicken, a crunchy salad, and fresh bread and butter. There was some apple pie and she had even put in a jar of fresh cream to top it with. Emily groaned when she finished her pie and fell back on the blanket, her hands covering her stomach.
“I ate too much. You will have to haul me home in a cart,” she said.
Iain smiled a little as he put the things back into the basket. He wondered if she even realized she had called his house home. It had been said so easily, so unconsciously, he knew she felt it and that suited him just fine. Finished with packing the basket he set it aside and lay down beside her, turning on his side so that he could look at her.
