Page 46 of Highland Sky

“Especially if we end up fallin’ through the roof.” He rubbed his shoulder. “I ken from experience how much that smarts.”

“Then it’s settled,” she said, standing up. “Ready to get to work?”

Once again, he wasn’t sure if she was talking about thatching or coupling. “Is this the trick question now?”

“Here,” she said, shoving the leggett into his hand. “The roof doesna need more thatch. It doesna really need a thing at all.”

“Then why are ye givin’ me this?” He held up the block of wood that looked like a paddle, secured to a short pole.

“If we dinna do a thing, I canna take the thatch in exchange,” she told him. “So, we’ll smooth out the thatch that’s here with the leggett, and do a little trimmin’ with the knives around the apex and the eaves. That should be enough so that when I tell them we repaired their roof, it willna be a lie.”

“Whatever ye say.” Nash started using the leggett to hit the ends of the straw, pushing them upward to create a pitch on the roof. Kellina worked quickly trimming the edges. After an hour or two, there was really nothing else they could possibly do. They had touched up both the roofs of the mews and the kennels.

“I think we’re done,” he told her.

“Done with the roofs, at least.” She looked over at him and smiled. His heart picked up a beat.

“I think bein’ here is doin’ wonders for yer disposition, Wife.”

“What did ye say?” She didn’t sound happy.

“I’m sorry. I shouldna have said that. I just meant, it’s nice to see ye smile and laugh. I didna mean ye have a sour disposition or anythin’ like that.”

“I was talkin’ about ye callin’ me Wife. I dinna like it. Can ye just call me Kellina instead?”

“Och, is that all? Certainly, Kellina.” He held out his hand and helped her to the ladder.

“I suppose if there’s really no work to be done, we should load the wagon and head back tomorrow,” she told him.

“Oh, there’s work to be done,” he assured her, thinking of coupling with his new wife. “But no one said it had a thing to do with roofs.”

*

“Egads, ye stink!”North told Nash an hour later, right when Nash was getting ready to join Kellina for a walk, and hopefully to make love.

“What? I do?” Nash held up one arm and then the other, sniffing his armpits. “Bid the devil, ye’re right. I do stink. This canna be happenin’. No’ now. I’m goin’ for a walk with Kellina and then we’re supposed to make love.”

“Really?” North looked as if he didn’t believe him.

Nash helped North brush down the horses in the stable. “Ye heard what I said.”

“Did ye two actually schedule the act of couplin’? Isna that supposed to be more . . . I dinna ken . . . more spontaneous?” North looked horrified at the thought of it.

“Probably, but it was her idea and I wasna about to shoot it down,” Nash told him, running his hand over the horse’s neck, snuggling his face up to it, giving it a quick kiss.

“Ye dolt! That’s a horse, no’ yer wife,” spat North. “What are ye doin’? Practicin’ kissin’ a mare?”

“Nay, of course, no’. I just like animals, that’s all.”

“If ye’re that hot and bothered that now ye’re kissin’ horses, ye’d better go cool off in the loch, Brathair.”

“Guid idea.” Nash put down the brush, and gave the horse one last pat on the side.

“God’s eyes, really?”

“I mean – no’ that I’m hot and bothered,” explained Nash. “I’m goin’ to jump in the loch to wash off the stench. If no’, Kellina will never get close enough to me to make love. If ye see her, tell her I’ll meet her down at the loch in fifteen minutes.”

“All right. Whatever ye say.”