“I haven’t lied to you.”
“You haven’t told me anything.”
She lifted her own hands in a gesture of impatience. “There’s nothing to tell you?—”
“I imagine there is.”
“Look, I was trying to say thank you?—”
“The truth would be a nice thank-you.”
“I told you?—”
“Tell me what you told my father that made him choose you for this marriage.”
What was he accusing her of now? “Go to hell,” she told him evenly. “I’m sorry that you don’t like anything about this.” She started walking by him. She could mount a horse by herself.
Except that he wouldn’t let her. Even as she passed him, he caught hold of her around the waist, lifting her with ease, and setting her firmly upon Nutmeg. His hands lingered upon her as he looked up at her.
“I like the nights,” he drawled.
She felt herself blushing. “What a pity, then, that we couldn’t stay home. That we’re now on a trail into Sioux country with one full-blooded Oglala, another mixed race, and ten cows! And we just won’t be able to have a half second alone.”
He started to laugh, mounting up on Tor beside her.
“Lady Douglas, surely, you’ve heard! Where there is a will, there is a way. My dear, just where do you think little Indians come from?”
“You’re impossible. You can’t begin to think that we’ll have a moment’s privacy?—”
“I imagine we’ll have quite a bit of privacy, actually,” he assured her. “There is no more beautiful country than that whichsurrounds the Black Hills, and I’d be greatly remiss if I did not see to it that you enjoyed the absolute glory of nature all around us.”
“What an incredible man! You’re ever so good to me!” she exclaimed sarcastically.
He walked Tor around her roan, facing her. “Well, Lady Douglas, I didn’t want a wife, but I acquired one. And once something is in my possession…well, I do my best.”
“Thank the Lord. In your possession, I just know that I’ll be completely safe.”
“Thank the Lord, indeed. I can promise you safety, my love, because I’d kill any man, red or white, who tries to take what is mine.”
The intensity of his words sent a shiver of unease shooting within her. He wasn’t a man to be crossed.
Well, she didn’t intend to cross him.
“Aren’t you in a hurry to get moving?” she demanded.
He shook his head slowly, a satyr’s smile curving into his lips. “Not anymore.”
“What?” she demanded.
“Not anymore.”
“You’ve been as impatient as a prowling cat all day and now?—”
He pointed to the sky. “The sun will be setting soon. We’ll have to catch up with Willow and Sloan tomorrow.”
“But—but—they’ll be waiting. They’ll be worried. They’ll be expecting us, they’ll?—”
“I told Sloan that if we ran into darkness, we’d catch up with him tomorrow. They’ll wait.”
