She lifted her gown from its place in the sunand suddenly knelt in the grass, examining it closely.With hishands firmly clenched by his sides, Jamie forced himself to turnaway.He would go below stream and take a plunge in the cool river.Hopefully the cooling water would have the desired effect.
* * *
Lindsey examined her gown.Though much of theblood had been washed away, there was no way to mend the torn andtattered bodice.She knew that the sight of it would cause herfather much grief.But there was nothing to be done about it.Shehad neither needle nor thread.She would simply have to hide insideher cloak until she could exchange this gown for one in hertrunks.
Pulling the gown over her head, she smoothedit down and gathered the torn bodice into a semblance of modesty.Over this she pulled on her cloak.
There was nothing to be done with the tanglesin her hair.Running her fingers through the damp strands, shetossed her head, sending her hair cascading in waves down herback.
When Lindsey returned to the fire, Jamie hadprepared a hot meal.He looked up and noted that the color was backin her cheeks.Her limp was much less pronounced, and her cloak wasdraped modestly around her.
All her precautions, he realized, were fornaught.He would never be able to forget the sight of her as sheemerged from the river.The body she kept so cleverly concealedfrom his sight was already clearly imprinted on his mind.An imagethat would torment him forever more.
Lindsey noted the beads of moisture thatglinted in Jamie’s hair.As he handed her a tankard, she inhaledthe clean, fresh scent of river water.
For the first few moments they broke theirfast in awkward silence.It was Jamie who finally spoke.
“Your father will be much concerned.”
“Aye.”Lindsey kept her gaze averted, tryingnot to stare at the wide expanse of Jamie’s shoulders.
“If we do not return soon, he will no doubtsend riders to fetch us.”
“Aye.”She glanced up, then, seeing his gazefully upon her, lowered her gaze to the ground.
Jamie wished he had the eloquence of theorators at court.Perhaps then he could break through this wallthat seemed to separate them whenever they tried to make simpleconversation.
“Your father is very protective of you, mylady.”
He looked up to see color flood her cheeks.By the gods, he said the wrong thing.He wished he could cut outhis tongue.
“I did not mean—” He stopped abruptly thentried again.“If I had someone as lovely as you depending upon me,I would be every bit as protective.”
Lindsey blushed to her toes.
Jamie tossed the contents of his tankard intothe flames, feeling his frustration grow.It was impossible to talkto this female.He turned away, but her words stopped him.
“Have you no one depending upon you, JamieMacDonald?”
He turned back.Her eyes met his for thefirst time.He knelt and tossed a branch on the fire.“There aremany who depend upon me.But none I can all family.”
For some strange reason that eased her mind.Not that she cared whether or not he had a wife and bairns.But thethought pleased her.Jamie MacDonald was a man alone.
“But what about Brice Campbell, the HighlandBarbarian?Is he not your family?”
“My foster father.He took me in as a boywhen my entire clan was destroyed in battle.”
“You have no parents?No brothers orsisters?”
He shook his head.
Lindsey tried to imagine what it would belike to have no one.No adoring father.No brothers to tease, tolaugh with, to weep over.She felt a stab of pain around her heart.For the first time, instead of seeing him merely as the HeartlessMacDonald, she began to see Jamie MacDonald as something fardifferent.
“And Brice Campbell?Has he a family of hisown?”
“Aye.A lovely wife, Meredith.And weebairns.”Jamie’s eyes lit, and Lindsey was amazed at how he wastransformed.His voice softened.“She will give him many fine sonsand daughters.”
“Men.”She laughed, and the sound of herlaughter warmed him.“You sound just like Donald.He thinks everyfemale in our village would like to give him children.”
