Page 5 of Almost a Countess

Not sure if she was amused or annoyedby the stranger’s jovial tone, Dora nevertheless brought Gretchento him. “Can I help you in some way?”

“Just hold the lassstill.” He grasped the pommel and leaped into the saddle, his kiltflying out in a red arc before he landed with a grunt. His eyeswidened then he winced.

“Are you all right?” Hecertainly looked uncomfortable.

“Fine.” The word came outcurt as he cleared his throat.

The way he shifted in the saddle, heseemed anything but. “Did you hurt your ankle?”

“Nae.” He grinned andgingerly pulled his right leg around until it rested against thepommel. Breathing heavily for a moment, he finally blew out abreath and reached a hand toward her. “Give me the reins, and I’llhelp ye up behind me.”

Staring at the hand, Dora hesitated.The moment she surrendered them to him, he could ride away onGretchen, leaving her to walk the long two miles home, easy preyfor animals, both four- and two-legged.

Her suspicions must have shown in herface, for the man withdrew his hand and looked at her sternly.“Though I dinna look it at the moment, I am a gentleman. I give yemy oath I’d no’ strand ye in the middle of nowhere on a hotafternoon with the soldiers lurking about.”

“How do I know you’re agentleman?” Although she suspected he spoke the truth, all shereally knew was he was Scottish and an escaped prisoner. But shecouldn’t risk the walk home. Her fear of this Lieutenant Scarlethad grown with each report she’d received today until the merethought of being caught alone by him made her shiver. Better thedevil you knew, if only slightly.

“How dae ye know I’m no’?”His eyes held more than a touch of impatience. “Fine.” He extendedhis hand to her once more. “Ye can hold the reins while I pull yeup.”

This could be the mistake of her life,but they needed to be gone before the soldiers appeared. She’dtrust to God her attempt at a good deed wouldn’t incur a punishmentand worry about the consequences later. Trying not to show him hertrepidation, Dora grasped the reins in her left hand and took hiswith her right.

He clasped her hand in an iron grip.“When I say go, ye need tae jump.” A glance at her skirts brought afrown to his face. “Willna yer habit be in the way?”

Of course it would, but she couldn’tvery well take it off. “This obviously isn’t going to work.” Nowwhat was she going to do?

His gaze hardened, and he sighed.“Like it or no’, ye’re going tae have t’ trust me,lass.”

That was the last thing she wanted todo, but she’d committed herself to this path when she’d allowed himto mount the horse. So beggars could scarcely be choosers. “What doyou propose?”

“Tie the reins tae thepommel.”

Against her better judgment, Dora didas he asked.

“Noo, lean over and pullthe back o’ yer skirts through yer legs and tuck them intae thewaistband.”

Horrified at his suggestion, Dora puther hands on her hips and glared at him. “I will do no such thing.You’d have me wearing—” Breeches. She couldn’t even say the word tohis face. She’d die of embarrassment if he saw even the shape ofher legs.

“Lassie, there’s simplynae other way tae get ye up on this horse. Nae rock nor tree stumpI can spy for ye t’ mount from. If ye do as I say, ye’ll fashion agarment that will allow ye tae ride astride.” He scanned thelandscape. “We are pressing our luck with each passingminute.”

In that, he spoke truth. The shortshadows of early afternoon showed plainly on the ground before thetrees. They needed to be on their way. But his suggestion wasscandalous. With her skirts bunched up that way, he’d surely seenot just their form but her legs themselves.

“If ’twill persuade ye,my lady, I promise tae keep my eyes forward at all timesonce ye’re up behind me.” He grinned, wickedness in his eyes. “Wordo’ a gentleman.”

“We still haven’tdetermined that you are a gentleman. And I’m not ‘my lady.’I’m just Miss Harper.”

“Then Just Miss Harper, Ivow tae keep yer modesty intact—as long as ye get on thehorse.”

Regretting now not riding off andleaving the stranger in the creek, Dora bent over, grasped the backof her petticoat skirt and tugged it through her wide-spread legs.As expected, the fabric rode up her legs, revealing the calf aboveher half-boots all the way to her knee. However, now she was ableto move more freely than she ever had before. Quickly, she tuckedthe fabric into the skirt’s waistband, although whether it wouldstay there without pins, she had no idea.

“Good.” The strange manhad pointedly averted his eyes. “Noo, put yer foot in the stirrupand hop up behind me.”

“I can’t. It’s too high.”That was the reason she’d not been able to remount byherself.

“I’ll slip my foot out andye can lower the stirrup.”

Pursing her lips, Dora stared up athim, annoyed beyond belief. “Don’t you think if I knew how to dothat, I’d have remounted my horse long ago and been home bynow?”

With a growl, he seized her arm andlifted her straight up. The stranger’s strength was astonishing.Despite her surprise, Dora managed to stab her foot into thestirrup, pushed up and threw her leg over Gretchen’s broad back.She landed with a hard thump that rattled her teeth, but she wasmounted at last.