Jamie said nothing as he stepped down from his mount. One of the stable boys rushed over to take the reins and lead his away. When a second arrived to do the same for her horse, he waved him off.
“If ye wish, lass. I’ll show ye the stall.”
He motioned forward. Clutching the reins, she followed him to the last stall on the left, which had thick wooden planks as a half-wall divider between the other stalls. She led the horse inside. The floor was packed earth covered in hay. Faint sunlight filtered through the narrow slits in the stone wall. On one side of the stall was a bucket of oats. On the other, a water trough with fresh water.
Jamie remained in the doorway of the stall and watched with a curious eye as she unbuckled the girth strap. The horse shifted once the strap hung loose, adjusting to the sudden freedom. She moved to the horse’s left and grabbed the pommel and the cantle, ready to lift off the saddle off the horse. When she tried, though, she realized this was no modern-day Western saddle. This was a lot heavier.
Jamie moved into the stall, his feet shuffling the hay. She sensed his presence behind her.
“Allow me?” he asked.
She turned her head and met his gaze. He was looking at her intently. A heated flush crept up her cheeks. She took a step away and allowed him to lift the saddle without effort. He placed it over the low half-stall wall.
Brianna removed the saddlecloth and draped it over the wall. Then she ran her hands over the back and sides, feeling for any sign of chafing or soreness.
“Ye really do care for them, don’t ye?” There was wonder in his voice.
“I do. When I took riding lessons, I loved helping. Brushing her,bathing her, or whatever needed to be done. I even mucked the stalls.”
It was a time in her life she hadn’t thought about in so long. A memory long buried.
“Why did ye stop riding?” he asked.
She inhaled a deep breath, expelled it. “When Evie and Chloe were born, things changed. The house we lived in wasn’t big enough. My parents wanted to move. We’d be too far away for me to take lessons anymore. So, I had to give it up.”
It was hard to hide the twinge of sadness in her voice.
“I’m sorry ye had to give it up.”
“Me, too.”
She unbuckled the bridle, but the horse jerked its head as she tried to remove it, causing the buckle to jerk out of her hand. The rough edge of the buckle raked across her scarred palm, leaving behind a gash and well of blood. She sucked in a sharp breath, releasing the bridle.
“Och, ye’re hurt. We best go wash that out.”
She clutched her wrist as she cupped her hand. “It’s not bad.”
“Come on then. The stable hands can handle the rest.”
He clutched her by the elbow and led her out of the stable back to the keep. In the great hall, he pointed to one of the chairs.
“I’ll be back,” he said.
She perched on the edge of a chair, holding her hand palm up in her lap and waited in the silence. It was a relief to be to be in the great hall without her sisters. She heaved a sigh, knowing she had likely further damaged her relationship with Chloe.
Jamie returned a moment later with a bowl, a pitcher, and Evie on his heels. Her face was pinched with worry as she carried long strips of linen.
“Let me see your hand,” Evie demanded. She placed the strips of linen on the table and took the seat next to her, holding out her hand.
Brianna gave her a sidelong look. “Since when didyou get so bossy?”
Evie pressed her lips together, holding her hand out, waiting for Brianna to comply. “Since I had to be in charge of things. Show me.”
Huffing out a breath, she placed her hand in Evie’s. She peered down at the small cut with a critical eye as if looking for something. It had already stopped bleeding.
“Did you touch the keystone when you cut your hand?”
What an odd question. “No.”
