AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He did not deign to answer this. Large hands gra
sped her tiny waist and placed her on the horse as he mounted behind her. The touch unleashed an intense flutter somewhere below her stomach.
Here they were again, mimicking the first day. She wished she could throttle him!
As he turned the horse, she looked back longingly. Would she ever make it home again? A disheartening emotion threatened to take over her. She would not allow it. She would find a way sooner or later. Unmarried.
Silence dominated their ride. She tried hard not to be too conscious of him touching her, with little success. It become more and more difficult to suppress this… this thing he fomented in her.
After a quick luncheon, they continued in a sedate pace for the horse carried two. They still avoided talk.
A breeze wafted from north announcing a chilling night.
The sun was not warm, but it illuminated the highland landscape. They left the last village behind and now prairies, lochs and brooks embroidered the road side with that fresh grassy tang. Her gaze took in the scene, moved by how beautiful it could be. Never in her life would she be able to live far from this land.
Hours elapsed when the horse faltered. Instinctively, he held her safe as he pulled on the reigns. His arms around her yet again produced a nefarious effect. Infinitely worse than on that first day. Getting off, he helped her down to the road.
He bent to examine the horse’s hoof. “The shoe is damaged.” He said, putting the hoof back on the ground. “I rode too hard.” His hand raked his sable hair with tension.
“We will walk in that case.” She started along the road, carrying her small sack. A childhood spent with brothers in a manor made her an agile lass.
Not hearing him move, she gyrated back. He gazed at her quizzically. “You do not mind?”
“I see only prairies and woods on this part.” She waved her hands. “Nothing else to do.” She set foot on the road again, this time he followed her pulling the horse.
The sun approached the horizon. Soon they would need to stop for the night. The manor lay not so far, half a day’s walk, she calculated.
~.~.~
Weariness began to weigh down on her. The frustrated attempt of an escape, coupled with the tiring journey and a suffocating irritation with the man following her did not help an easy-going mood.
Several times during the day, a fierce impulse to run away threatened to overcome her despite the crystalline foolishness of it. Her patience was wearing thin right at that moment.
They found a clearing in the woods not far from the road. Taran tethered the horse near the rushing brook and untied the provisions.
The brisk walk left her feeling hot, so she took off her cloak and hung it on a branch with her small sack.
His green gaze spotted her. “We have to share the blanket.” He opened the side saddle bag. “I did not have time to pack much more.”
She wished she found the idea disgusting, wished the shiver which ran through her meant aversion, that her eyes bulged with absurdity. None of these were reality. She ditched the warning of her mind and its insistence in finding out what exactly it meant for fear the irrationality of it won the day. And won over her. All that came to her, thus, was a blush that had little to do with repulse and oh so much to do with something she preferred to ignore altogether.
Those improper thoughts must have shown on her face because he braced his legs, fists on his lean hips. “If the idea disgusts you, you should not have placed yourself in this situation.”
Anger bubbled just below the surface. “What did you expect?” She replied vehement. “It is my prerogative to regain my freedom.”
Fire darted from his wolf-like stance. “Your prerogative is to comply with the Laird.”
“The McKendrick, you mean.” She acquired a mocking posture.
He chuckled derogatory. “After you marry, I will rule you.” The glint on his piercing eyes neared smugness.
The idea of him ruling her caused all kinds of chemical reactions in her insides. None pleasant. Aversion, vexation. And another one that melted down her belly with a positively wicked trait.
His talk of marriage boiled her irritation. “How dare you think you will one day be my…” she scowled at him openly. “Laird?” This came dripping with contempt.
This seemed to shake his cool. He had been immobile until then, but his strong legs stalked towards her, eyes keeping her hostage.
“Do not think you will go launching yourself on the roads ever again!” A strong behest as his hand pointed there energetic.
