He sat down, with his back resting againstthe trunk of a gnarled tree, taking great pains to see that he wasnot touching her.“Sleep now.I will keep watch.”
Her lids fluttered and without any furthercoaxing, she drifted into sleep.
Beside her, Jamie felt a sudden quickening ofhis pulse.As he watched her, he thought about the women he had metat the court of Queen Mary in Edinburgh.From their earliest yearsthey had been made aware of the many ways to please a man.Theirdress, their manner of speech, their flirtatious behavior left nodoubt as to their intentions.Yet not one of them had ever arousedhim like this artless innocent.There was a tenaciousness about herthat touched something deep inside him.
Jamie felt a sting of annoyance at the wayhis thoughts continued to center around the female.He had no rightto such thoughts.He was a man on a mission.And that mission didnot include indulging his own pleasures.With a muffled oath heturned away and closed his eyes, determined to blot out allthought.
* * *
Lindsey awoke to a heaviness against her arm.Her cloak was pinned firmly to her side, preventing her fromrolling over.Turning her head, she saw Jamie dozing beside her.She felt a rush of anguish as her thoughts tumbled around.
She remembered crying out, struggling asstrong arms embraced her.In her fearful state she had relived herworst nightmare.This was not the first time she had battled thesefears.But the attack by Argus had brought on a new round ofsuffering.
With a flood of embarrassment she realizedthat she may have revealed her most intimate secrets to thisstranger.And then a new thought intruded as images flooded hermind.She had fought him.Fought like one possessed.And he hadheld her with great tenderness as he sought to comfort her.
How foolish she must have seemed to one likeJamie, accustomed to a life of danger and intrigue.Howchildish.
For long minutes she lay watching him,struggling with a warring of emotions.
A lock of shaggy hair fell across hisforehead.It was oddly appealing, and she found herself wanting tobrush it aside.She watched the slow, steady rise and fall of hischest and found her own breathing growing rapid.She studied theway his lashes cast dark shadows across his craggy cheeks.
Suddenly his eyes opened and she foundherself staring into those fathomless depths that always seemed tocarry a hint of danger.
“So, my lady.Do you feel rested?”
“Aye.”She felt the heat stain her cheeks andwas grateful that the canopy of trees shielded the late-afternoonsun from his eyes.She did not want to be caught staring at thisman from such close quarters.Nor did she want him to see theremnants of pain she suffered.
“Do you feel well enough to travel?”
“Aye.”She paused a moment to swallow.“Youmust think me a whimpering child, my lord.Forgive me for myrantings while I slept.I am not usually so foolish.”
“Foolish?”Seeing the color that flooded hercheeks as she turned away from him, he touched a hand to hershoulder.
Her tone had a husky quality to it.“I knownow it was you who held me while I fought and behaved in a mostuncivilized manner.”
“Lindsey.”He turned her, forcing her to meethis dark gaze.“What you experienced at the hands of the highwaymenwould have shocked the sensibilities of any woman.I can see fromthe cuts on your hands and from the bruises you sustained, howbravely you struggled against your captors.You need make noapology, my lady.”His tone softened until his words were barelymore than a whisper.“Even now, when I think of that man soilingyou, my blood runs hot with the need for vengeance.”
His touch, his words, were so tender, shefound herself responding despite the lingering dread.
“I thought I could escape him,” shewhispered.“In fact, I made it all the way to the horses before Iwas caught.”
“Were you not bound?”
“Aye.”
“Then how did you free yourself?”
“I found several stones imbedded in theearth.In my desperation I rubbed my hands against them until theropes unraveled.”
That would explain the torn flesh.
“And the leader?”Jamie’s eyes darkened.“Didyou see him?”
“Nay.My eyes were covered.He spoke only ina strange whisper.”
“Then we must pray that your father’s menwere able to detain him when he approached them for a ransom.”
Jamie’s gaze roamed her face, still warm fromsleep, and came to rest on her lips, pursed in a little pout.Onceagain he felt the tug and was forced to deny it.
