“What’s so funny?” Monty asked.
She didn’t turn around, lowered her head a little instead before admitting, “The airs your ward puts on.”
“Utterly silly, I agree, but let’s not tell him I think so.” He suddenly put an arm around her shoulders, causing her to stiffen, remembering that he’d done the same thing yesterday. But today he was merely turning her toward Snow before he let go of her and asked, “I don’t suppose you packed another hood in your bag that I could borrow for m’self? I’m wary of eating out in the open like this where any passerby can ogle me.”
“Then eat inside the coach. You don’t need to keep me company out here.”
“Nonsense. We will be spending all too much time in that vehicle, and besides, the least we can do is provide you with excellent company at mealtimes when you’re willing to risk life and limb for our protection.”
She managed not to laugh. He’d done all the life-risking so far. “Sorry, I traveled light, with only a few sets of togs, and didn’t think an extra cloak would be needed.”
The moment he sat down on the blanket Arlo had spread on the ground, she headed off to find a tree. Returning a few minutes later, she slowed her step, since Charley still wasn’t there. She located him in the field to the north walking around. Arlo had joined him, and the two appeared to be talking, not thinking about food yet. Before she reached Monty, he suddenly stood, a pistol in each hand. But he wasn’t pointing them at her.
She followed his threatening gaze to the road they had just traveled and saw her tardy guards finally approaching.
“Put your weapons away!” she yelled at Monty. “They’re with me.”
Chapter Eleven
“WITH YOU? HOW CANthey suddenly be with you when they weren’t?”
Vanessa ignored Monty’s question and hurried over to the Scots. “Why are you so late?”
Donnan dismounted. “Calum stood guard last night, so he needed a few hours’ sleep—”
“I was volunteered, and those few hours were a pittance,” Calum cut in with a grumble.
“—or we would’ve been here sooner, lass,” Donnan finished.
She heard Monty laughing behind her. “About bloody time that was settled.”
“Bloody hell, Donnan,” she snarled. “Didn’t you see him approaching?”
But Monty was still gloating behind her. “I knew it! My instincts about women never fail me.”
She swung around to glare at him. “Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, has changed, so keep your ‘I told you so’ to yourself!”
“Ah, but this”—he pushed back her hood—“you don’t need anymore.” And then with some surprise as he stared at her face, he added, “This beautiful spring day doesn’t hold a candle to you—Nestor.”
He laughed again, infuriating her so much she swung her fist at him. She got in one blow because he was too busy staring at her face, but then he put his hands on her upper arms to stave off another.
That’s when Donnan stepped in. “Get yer hands off her or ye will be feeling mine.”
Monty didn’t look worried, despite the Scot’s size, but he did remove his hands from her person. He even sounded amused when he pointed out, “The wench put her hands on me first, and rather roughly, too.”
“She’s not a wench, she’s—”
“Donnan MacCabe, not another word!” Vanessa cut in sharply.
Looking at Donnan for a moment, Monty remarked, “And this explains who you were actually guarding last night.” And then his eyes dropped to Vanessa. “Brothers you neglected to mention?”
“Brothers, yes, but not mine,” she said. “We’re distantly related, though, on my father’s side. We were separated—”
But Donnan interrupted, “The wee lass objects tae our protection, threatened tae lose us if we didna stay oot o’ sight, but we’ve always been close enough tae hear her call oot.”
That was the last straw! Monty had no business intruding on her conversation with her guards—who kept saying too much.
Glaring at Monty, she said rather sharply, “Do you mind? This is a private conversation.”
