He pulled her down onto her back as he rolled onto his uninjured shoulder and stared at her. His eyes flitted from her forehead to her eyes to her nose and lingered on her lips. She bit back an excited gasp. The fire softened the burgeoning beard on his face but flashed orange in his irises. Before she knew what was happening, he brought his lips down on hers. She opened her mouth in surprise, and he took full advantage.
Abby’s brain clouded, and a low roar buzzed in her ears. Her mouth opened wider, and her arms slithered around him,her hands splaying across his hard, broad back. She wanted to get as close to him as she could. She wanted to push her body right into his. Heat like a sunny Californian day seeped through his muscled back and straight into her arms. His whole body was afire. Her skin burnt with passion as a deep well of desire fueled her core.
A voice screamed in her head,Stop him!Although the logical part of her brain knew he was only kissing her to make a show of their love for the benefit of the MacDonalds, she was enjoying it way too much. She couldn’t let it go on any longer, so she tried to end the kiss without making a scene.
But he deepened the kiss.
She dug a fingernail in the crook of his neck.
He let her go and sputtered. “What did ye do that for?”
“Shh.” Abby glanced at the wagon. There was no movement. “Remember?” she whispered. “I said no funny business.”
Iain growled. “It is no funny, no at all.”
“Well no one’s looking at us any more, so there’s no reason to continue pretending.”
He regarded her for a moment and while a hint of desire still clouded his eyes, he acquiesced and moved back.
Abby thought she heard a soft sigh but couldn’t make out his features in the dark to see his expression. Before she could say anything, he rolled his back to her.
She snuggled down beside him, trying to keep a gap between their bodies. Having to keep up the pretense she was married to Iain was unleashing feelings she didn’t want to feel. She had to go back home, and Iain had to return to his home. There was no way they could get involved, even if it was only physical. It would be wrong, so, so wrong.
Abby awoke during the night with Iain throwing his hands about and rolling his head from side to side. He shouted something in ancient Gaelic. She placed her hand onhis cheek. No wonder he felt so hot during the kiss; he was burning up. How could she not have noticed? And now he could be getting delirious.
She quickly filled a bucket with ice-cold loch water and, dunking in a clean cloth, began wiping Iain’s now-sweating face. She cooed soft calming noises close to his ear as she worked.
After about twenty minutes of her ministrations, he settled enough to sleep quietly. Exhausted, Abby slept, too, but it wasn’t long before Iain began thrashing about again.
Three times during the night, Iain’s fever sent him into some horrible nightmare. Abby did what she could, cooling his skin and soothing him with her voice, but each time, his convulsions, if that was what they were, got longer. The last time, somewhere close to dawn, it had taken Abby over an hour to calm him enough that he slept somewhat peacefully again.
Once the morning showed up disguised as dark clouds, she made up her mind. It was too risky to travel in an open wagon. She had to find somewhere dry and warm where she could tend Iain until he was well. She refused to let the flickering thought of him dying take hold in her mind.
The night before rose unbidden in her thoughts. The rush of passion as his skin touched hers had to be because of her heightened emotions, because she was scared and so out of her depth in that time. She was terrified that if she stayed any longer, she would either lose her mind or her heart. Neither was a scenario she wanted.
She gazed at him. She would make him well again, get the device back, and go home.
Abby put the wet cloth on his forehead. If only she could get him to a modern doctor. He needed antibiotics. What could she do? Nothing but make him comfortable and watch and wait. It was ridiculous. She shook her head. If she had theblasted time device, she could take him home, guarantee his safety.
He could die, and she would be alone. In this era, people died more often than not with the smallest ailments.
She decided to rebuild the main fire so at least he would be warm.
“You look terrible,” Mary said at the sight of her. “Are ye sick?”
“I’m not, but my husband has a fever.” Abby looked up at the threatening sky. “We need to find somewhere dry. Even if he stayed in the wagon, the jostling would cause him pain.”
Colin and his sons were already packing up the wagon. Mary stood up and put her hand on Abby’s arm. “You must stay with us until we get to Inverell. There be doctors there. It is too dangerous out here.”
The day before exploded in Abby’s mind. Mary was right; she couldn’t very well haul Iain across the country alone in the hopes that they would find somewhere to shelter. As if to cement that assumption, rain began to fall. She gave a slight shake of her head. At least the canvas wagon cover would keep them dry. A stuffy wagon was better than staying out in the miserable weather alone.
Abby ducked her head yes. “Thank you.”
Colin and his youngest son, Tavis, carried Iain to the wagon, and Abby poked as many blankets as she could under Iain to help cushion the wagon’s jerky movements.
It rained steadily all morning, and Abby watched the isolated country pass by.
She was about to give up searching for a likely building, when she spotted something some distance to the left of the road. “What’s that?” She pointed to what looked like a dilapidated farm building of sorts.
