Page 23 of Scottish Rose: Coira

“You’re trembling, Coira.”

“I’m s-sorry,” she said. “I feel so cold all of a sudden.”

“Then, let’s get you home.”

They emerged from the water dripping wet, and hurriedly put on their shoes. Coira didn’t bother to don her wet hose. Once outside, lightning flashed across the sky. Coira jumped and clung to him at the next crash of thunder. Then the rain started to fall.

“Coira, I want you to ride back with me. I’ll tether your horse to mine.”

“Thank ye, Lance.” Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I dinna mean to be so afeard. I thought I was over the bad memories. But when ye brought me to Liddel Castle and I saw the cages as well as Sir Philip, everythin’ became worse.”

“I’m sorry, Coira.” He reached out and gently brushed the tears from her cheeks. “I never meant to hurt you.” He started to think about the conversation they’d had. Coira said castles and land didn’t matter. She had grown up living off the land and in a tent. How could she be satisfied living that way and with gypsies? The girl was amazing.

He hoisted her up into the saddle as the rain poured down around them. Then he pulled himself up behind her, wrapping his arms around her to stop her trembling and to keep her safe and warm.

He started thinking about what else she’d said. She told him that all that mattered was the people he loved and not to take them for granted. Had he taken it for granted that she would want to live at Liddel Castle? He had only been trying to give his new wife everything she deserved. Suddenly, he wondered if, mayhap, his values had been misplaced.

“Coira, I have something I need to tell you.” He decided he didn’t want to keep secrets from her and would tell her what he did. Aye, he would explain to her that keeping the castle was all that mattered to him before, but now he realized that what she said was true. She was more important to him than any castle or land. His heart broke every time he thought about Coira being kept a prisoner in a cage!

Thunder boomed again, and her fingers dug into his arm. Her body shook harder. Perhaps, he should wait until they were back at the castle and dry. Aye, he wouldn’t upset her anymore right now. He needed her to calm down first before he told her anything that might upset her.

“What is it, Lance?” she asked.

“It’ll wait,” he said. “Let’s pick up the pace and get back before it rains any harder.”

Chapter 10

Even through Coira’s fear of storms, she felt safe in her husband’s embrace. Her body still trembled, but it was more from being wet and from the cold. They rode through the castle gates just as the sky opened up turning into an even harder downpour.

“Get inside and into dry clothes,” he told her, dismounting and reaching up to help her from the horse. “Have Zara help you. I’ll meet you in my solar. Jack? Jack,” he called out. “Where are you?”

“Here I am, my lord,” said Jack, running from the keep, stopping to nod at Coira. “Lady Coira, how was your ride?” he asked.

“Egads, you fool, tend to the horses,” spat Lance. “This is no time for pleasantries.”

“Lady Coira!” Zara rushed out to meet them. “You are soaked to the skin. I had no idea the rain was that bad. Come, we’ll go inside and get you into dry clothes.”

Once inside the solar, Coira changed into dry clothes while Zara made a fire in the hearth. “Give me those wet things,” said Zara, waddling over and taking them from her. Zara looked down at the clothes in her hands and shook her head. “Where are your hose?”

“Oh, that,” said Coira, running a towel over her wet hair. “My hose are in the travel bag.”

“Something tells me that you were doing more than just riding and eating food on the grass.”

“We were, Zara,” she admitted. “Lance took us to a cave with a pool of water inside.”

“And?” Zara raised a brow.

“And . . . I pushed him in.” Coira giggled and continued to dry her hair.

“Then you jumped in after him?”

“Nay, of course no’,” she said, bringing the towel over to the fire as well. “He pulled me in. We kissed and would have made love if the storm hadna scared me.”

“Coira, I am starting to think being married has changed you in ways that I don’t understand.”

“What’s no’ to understand?” Coira smiled, feeling warm inside just thinking about her husband. “Lance is a kind, carin’ man. I feel guid about myself around him. I feel safe when I’m in his arms and I ken he would never hurt me.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Zara mumbled under her breath, but Coira heard her.