Page 38 of The Lady of Her Highland Clan

Clyde squeezed her arm. "It's alright, lass," he said. "Ye’re still here."

Opening her eyes fully, Fiona properly saw where “here” was. To her surprise, she was not in her bed, but outside, on the top of a hillock with Clyde. It took a moment or two for her to remember fully everything that had happened.

"Oh," she said. Now that she remembered, she began to feel embarrassed. She had been riding much too fast. No surprise that poor Lizzie May had thrown her off!

Lizzie May! Looking around, Fiona checked for her horse. But Clyde was already one step ahead of her. Patting the tired mare down, he smiled.

"She's braw," said Clyde, stroking Lizzie May, The horse was nuzzled next to him, glancing inquisitively to Clyde's larger stallion. "She just needs a wee rest. Like her rider..."

"Och, I am braw too," said Fiona primly. She began to move. The world spun a little unsurely. Clyde stopped her.

"Ye are nae," he said. "But ye will be. We will wait a while."

He smiled patiently, but Fiona frowned. Now she remembered everything. Looking at the position of the sun, she looked up with urgency.

"It's noon. We will nae get there afore dark if—" she began, but felt Clyde's firm hands upon her.

"Dinnae fash," he said with a grin. "After all, we did bring all the things tae camp outside." His eyes flickered pertinently to her.

"Thought ye didnae want tae," she replied as sharp as a tack. Now she was smiling. Looking up at Clyde, she watched amusement ripple through him. Then he nodded.

"Aye, well maybe ye were right about that, I grant ye," he said with a slow smile. "But perhaps ye should listen tae me when I say that maybe ye need tae take it easy for a while."

"Pish," said Fiona, immediately shaking herself free of him. She could feel herself sinking into him and getting far too comfortable in his flesh. Realizing she needed to do better, Fiona pulled herself aside, dusting herself down and smiling.

"Thank ye for helping me," she said a little primly.

Instinctively, Clyde backed away. She could feel the heat of his body still upon her. His fragrance lingered in the air around him. But this was too much. She could not be that close to him without giving in.

And she was in no mood to give in!

Suddenly, Fiona's fighting instinct was back with a vengeance. She didn't feel completely right, but there was no way she was admitting it. Instead, she took stock of her horse.

"I think ye’re good tae go, lass," she said, patting down Lizzie May. Beside her, Clyde stood and watched, a concerned look on his handsome face.

"Aye," he said slowly, in a tone that suggested the opposite. "But why dinnae ye give her a rest an' let her follow behind...there's room for two on my horse."

His eyebrows arched up, making the intention of his offer clear. Fiona bristled. All sorts of thoughts raced through her mind—none of them the right sort!

"Nay," she said, but politely. Feeling around her shoulders, she pulled up her shawl. Then she stood, shoulder to the wind, with her hair dancing around her. "But we should set off. Lizzie May is fully recovered."

"Hmm," said Clyde unsurely. He lingered awhile around the tree, his eyes glancing in as if he did not want to leave her. Fiona felt her heart pang.

"Alright," he said eventually. Then something came into his light-green eyes. "Well, I chalk up a win, then..." His voice trailed away, but his eyes looked triumphant.

Now mounting Lizzie May, Fiona's brow furrowed.

"Och," she said with a grin. She was smiling but still serious. "That's nae fair. Ye only got ahead because—"

"Because I was too fast, aye, I ken," said Clyde, with a little flare in his eyes. His mouth bared a grin, but she could tell that he was bothered. Fiona bristled a little too. A strange mixture of exasperation and desire fizzled through her.

Deep inside, she sighed. She did not know what was going on with her head anymore. Since she had fallen, things had been jumbled and strange. One thing she did know, though, was she was not going to let Clyde get the upper hand.

"Och, ye've got a bigger horse, o' course it's faster," snapped Fiona. "That's nae fair, it's nae like for like." Her lips pulled into a tight grin, but it only lasted a second. Then she returned to neutral.

"Like for like, what's that?" he said. Now he was standing beside his horse, running his hand through his thick, dark hair. Fiona had a sudden desire to run her hands through it, too, and then some.

A flash of them in transit, together, on the back of Clyde's stallion, raced through her, and she could not help being exhilarated by it. From inside her, a voice chided. Why had she turned his offer down? Riding behind Clyde could be fun.