Page 102 of Moon Craving

tended to talk more than men, often filling a peaceful silence with unnecessary verbal

noise. Abigail was the first woman he had met who might actually speak less than his

warriors.

"I did not need a horse."

"Perhaps you should reconsider that notion." She paused, giving him a look from

between her lashes. "Considering the fact that your soldiers returned with game and you

did not."

Everyone around the fire went silent at his wife's innocent observation, waiting for

his response.

He wasn't about to admit that his wolf had spent the morning preoccupied with a

woman who had responded with naught but fear at his presence. He frowned at her,

letting her know he had no intention of justifying his failure to return with game.

"Perhaps it was forgetting your plaid that caused your lack of success. You scared

the prey away." The edges of her lips curled upward, though her expression remained

demure.

She was teasing him. His shy little human wife dared to tease the Sinclair. The look

of astonishment on Earc's face and subtle mirth on Niall's said they realized it as well. The

other men wore a mixture of trepidation and concern, clearly mistaking his wife's words as

criticism.

"Highlanders have been hunting without covering for as long as they have claimed

these lands."

"Hmm . . . ," she replied noncommittally.

"Are you worried about my ability to provide for you?" he asked, keeping his

expression hard and unreadable.

Crossing her arms she gave him an arch look that about had him falling backward.

"Maybe I am." She wasn't buying his pretend annoyance, not even with worthless English

gold coin.

A gasp from one of his warriors said they had though.

"You needn't concern yourself, lady. Our clan provides for the laird as he provides

for us," Niall said, adding his own bit to bait Talorc.