The queen smiled.This was too easy.“Tengold sovereigns.”
“Ten...”Lindsey arched a brow.The queen didnot play for small stakes.“Aye, Majesty.”
“Then let the race begin.”
The queen wheeled her mount and entered themaze, with Neal by her side.Just behind her rode Lindsey, with Ianbeside her.Though the queen and Neal turned left into the firsthedgerow, Ian caught Lindsey’s bridle and urged her to turn right.They rode at breakneck speed through the maze, twisting and turningwith amazing skill.
“I believe we are lost,” Lindsey called tothe man beside her.
“Nay, my lady.Trust me.I have an instinctfor such things.”He pointed to a turn ahead, and they took itwithout pausing.
Within minutes they had broken free of themaze and reined in their mounts.It was several minutes more beforethe queen, with Neal by her side, came thundering toward them.
As they pulled alongside, Mary said wryly, “Isee that my young stable master knows more about this maze than I.”She leaned over and patted his hand, a gesture that caused him toblush clear to his toes.“He bade me turn right, but I refused,thinking I knew better.That misjudgment caused me the race.”
She glanced at Lindsey.“It would seem that Iowe you ten gold sovereigns.”She dug the coins from her pocket.“Will you grant me the opportunity to win it back?”
“Aye, Majesty.Name your skill.”
The queen paused, deep in thought.
Ian’s voice interrupted.“The woods, Majesty.Let us race through the woods to the far side of the island andback.The first ones back shall be the winners.”
Lindsey shook her head.“Nay, Majesty.Jamiewould not be pleased if we were to ride that far without him.”
“Are we children to be watched over by awetnurse?”Ian asked.
Ian’s words had their desired effect.Thequeen could not ignore a challenge, no matter how dangerous.
With a glittering smile she said, “I haveNeal; you have Ian.What could possibly happen on such a sunny mornas this?”
“Please, Majesty,” Lindsey pleaded.“Waituntil another time.”
“Nay.I demand the chance to win back mygold.We ride,” Mary called, wheeling her mount.
Lindsey hesitated a moment, then followed.Beside her, Ian MacPherson could hardly contain his delight.
ChapterNineteen
As the darkness ofthe forest closed around them, Lindsey felt a sudden chill.Thoughts of her last adventure in the Highland forests filled hermind.With an effort she brushed the gloomy memories aside.Thiswas nothing more than a morning jaunt.She would be back at thecastle in time for Mistress Macnab’s midday meal.
As she began to follow a well-worn paththrough the woods, Ian clutched her reins.
“Nay, my lady.This way.”
“If we leave the path we will be lost.”
“Did I not tell you that I have an uncommonsense of direction?Trust me.”
Without waiting for her reply he veered offthe path and plunged into the darkened forest.Lindseyfollowed.
The foliage was so thick they had to picktheir way carefully over fallen logs and around muddy bogs.Thefarther they rode, the deeper grew the forest, until it seemed toclose around them, shutting out all light, all sound.
Ian held several thick branches aside andreined in his mount, allowing Lindsey to move ahead of him.As shedid, her horse stumbled down a sharp ravine, sending her flyingthrough the air.She landed with a dull thud on the spongy,moss-covered floor of the forest.
For several moments she was too stunned toreact.Then, quickly getting to her feet, she was dismayed to seeher horse galloping ahead of her through the thick foliage.
“Nay,” she shouted.“Halt.You mustwait.”
