Page 46 of Highland Steel

“I think I’d like to try that. Can you practice with me?”

“Me? Ye want me to spar against ye again?”

“Just so I can learn the new technique.”

“Sure, why no’?” Logan gladly pulled his sword out of his sheath, and once again sparred with Rhoswen. She was good, and her sword lightweight, but he had to be careful because he didn’t want to hurt her. One slip from him, and he could take off her dainty little hand if he wasn’t careful.

She tried it twice, and wasn’t able to succeed.

“This is harder than it looks,” she said with a frown.

“Mayhap it’s because I ken it’s comin’ and ye canna surprise me. The element of surprise is essential while performin’ this move.”

“I really enjoyed making love with you last night, Logan. Do you remember when you kissed my . . . nipple? It made me squirm.” They continued to spar as she spoke.

“Now that ye’ve put that thought in my head, I’m squirmin’, lass,” he said in a sultry voice, his eyes traveling down her chest, envisioning her perky breasts right through her clothes. Right when his eyes met her chest, he realized his mistake.

“Hah!” she shouted, using the move he’d shown her, disarming him and sending his sword up into the air.

“That wasna fair,” he said with a chuckle, reaching up and catching his sword by the hilt, keeping it from hitting her. “Ye cheat. Ye purposely distracted me with yer words.”

“And you fell for it,” she said proudly. “How did I do?”

“No’ bad,” he said with a smile and a nod. “Ye are a fast learner.”

“I’m a fast learner with other things as well.” She put her sword back in her scabbard and reached up, kissing him quickly on the lips. “Thank you, Logan. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I have really enjoyed staying here at the MacKeefe camp. I could get used to living in the Highlands, I think. My brother likes it as well. I’m just not sure about my sister, yet. She is still having a hard time.”

Logan put his sword into his sheath, feeling sad. He’d seen the way Rhoswen had changed since she’d been here. The girl opened up, and smiled a lot. When he first met her, she was frightened and gullible and then she had the cold-hearted demeanor of her father. But now, she was changing for the better. Rhoswen was a brave woman, and was taking over the role of leader of her family.

“Let’s go for a walk up in the hills,” he told her. There is somethin’ I want to talk to ye about.”

“All right, let’s go.” Rhoswen wanted to ask him about helping her on her mission, not to mention she wanted to see if she and her siblings could stay at the MacKeefe camp indefinitely since they no longer had a home. “There is something I want to talk to you about as well.”

“I want to show ye somethin’ I think ye’ll like, lass.”

“What’s that?”

“There is a large patch of bluebells bloomin’ for as far as the eye can see. It’s a beautiful sight and smells guid, too.” His eyes twinkled as he told her about it. Logan seemed to find excitement in every little thing he did. She liked that about him. He had such a passion for life.

“Does it smell better than roses?” she asked playfully, subtly reminding him of his rose candle in the shed.

He blew a puff of air from his mouth and waved his hand in front of his face. “Nothin’ is better than roses. Except mayhap Highland heather. Or the scent of ye.” He leaned over and sniffed her hair like a dog, and kissed her atop the head.

“Me?” she asked, laughing at his flirtatious nature. They strolled hand in hand, climbing to the top of the tall, green hill. “Logan, you make me laugh. I like a man with a sense of humor. It’s refreshing. I didn’t see that at all in the Englishmen back in Yorkshire.”

“I mean it, lass. I go crazy with yer bonnie scent.”

“How can you say that with a straight face?” she asked him. “I’ve washed but haven’t even had a proper bath since I’ve been here. I probably stink like a pole cat.”

“Then ye should try bathin’ in the loch with me,” he told her, waggling his eyebrows when he said it. “That will solve the problem.”

“You mean get naked and bathe where the fish will bite my arse?” she asked, giggling again.

“Aye. And if they dinna bite it, I promise ye, I will!” He bent down and pretended like he was going to bit her butt. Or at least she thought he was pretending. With Logan, one never knew.

“Logan, stop it!” She hit him and he winced, acting like it hurt.

“Och, lassie, ye punch like a man.” He rubbed his shoulder where she’d hit him.