He made a sound in his throat, “Ah… ye will like her. She shares yer stubbornness and sharp mouth. I swear, I havenae rested fer a day since that brat was born.”
“Ye say that, but yer tone is lovin’. Ye care fer her deeply too.
Duncan made another disgruntled sound aimed at her comment about his sister. “If ye tell her that, I will deny ye.” He shifted as she chuckled.
“How about yer parents, are they alive and well?”
“Me faither… barely. He has been ill fer a few years.”
Her hands wavered over his, then intertwined with his fingers. “I’m sorry. It must be difficult fer yer family. I have been wondering why he’s nae here with ye. Is there any hope fer his recovery?”
“The healer is enthusiastic but each time I see him… anyway, tis hard to see a once agile laird mostly confined tae his bed. I want tae share the healer’s hope. He’s still alive.”
“Aye,” she concurred with her head lowered. “He is.”
Duncan shut his mouth but he held her closer. Too soon for Duncan’s liking, Bryce hollered from the front. Ahead, he could spot the sparkling water and the field. He alighted and helped Jo down. The former cross look he had always received from her was gone. Duncan took that as a good sign. Bryce had reined his horse and approached them.
“Is it how ye remember it?” Bryce asked, nodding around the area.
Duncan did the same and finally shook his head. “More open.”
He wanted Jo to have some privacy to wash herself, but that would be difficult now.
Bryce’s eyebrows knitted together as Duncan shot a glance at Jo. He nudged his friend. “Somethin’ goin’ on ‘ere?”
Jo flushed pink, “where dae I unpack?”
Duncan wanted to clobber his friend. “Dinnae mind that…” just as he spoke, a couple men came toward them. They began to offload Duncan’s tent and the necessities. “How does it concern ye?”
“Ah, so tis like that?” Bryce continued, a shadow of a smile gracing his wide lips.
Duncan frowned at him, “What in the hell are ye talking about?”
Bryce stepped back, startled by Duncan’s ferocity. “Me mistake. Jo, while yer tent is set up, join us tae drink. And forgive me earlier manners.”
“Tis naethin’” Jo assured them. “An’ tis tae be expected, seein’ as a certain someone willnae let me ride alone. I fear he still thinks I might run.”
Bryce laughed and Duncan found that he was unfairly wronged. Also, how did he end up on the bad side? He grunted something but the pair did not hear him nor bother to. Jo left with swaying those curvy hips, the ones that’d been tormenting him. The ones that were untouched by any man before him.
Bryce directed her to sit with a hand on her waist and Duncan gaze reddened like the setting sun. His mouth twisted. Stiffly, he turned away. He was accosted by Craig and a couple other men, drawn into a discussion about Clan Hay and the reception they would receive. Although the name of the clan was not mentioned. There was a tacit agreement within the men to keep it from Jo. The clans had put too much effort in protecting themselves to be so easily discovered.
Naturally, Craig was worried about the laird. He was like a second son to the man. He expressed his lack of faith in the healer. Despite the depth of the conversation, involving hisfather’s death, Duncan’s gaze sailed across several heads to find the woman, with her head tossed back, laughing heartily.
There was a taste of vinegar in his mouth. Jealousy was an ugly emotion, one he was not really familiar with.
“Ye ken,” Craig said, glancing around him. “I didnae agree with Bryce about this place at first. ‘Tis actually better hidden than I imagined.”
“Aye,” came Duncan’s distracted reply.
Craig huffed out an annoyed breath and waved his hands in front of Duncan. “Just feckin’ go, afore I lose me temper.”
The man stalked off, leaving Duncan with his mouth agape. He recovered quickly though and marched over to the group laughing together. At his approach, space was created beside Jo. He met her eyes and his heart stilled. It was inhuman, the way her eyes sparkled. The flush on her high cheekbones bolstered her wild beauty. Her full lips, red and succulent, curved slightly upwards. He had an insane urge to run his fingers through her hair.
He was like a man lost and drowning.
He had to focus on the mission at hand but it was getting increasingly difficult not to toss it all and drown in her arms.
“What,” Jo asked.
