CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Ye’re spoilin’ them.”
The kitchen yard smelled of wet stone and yesterday’s cooking fires as Ragnar stepped toward Isolda, who was surrounded by three wolfhounds, two terriers and a scruffy mongrel.
She jumped, nearly dropping the bread she’d been tossing to the dogs in front of her. “They looked hungry.”
“They’realwayshungry, lass. ‘Tis their life’s work.” He said as one of the dogs raised an expectant paw at her. “Seems ye’ve won yerself admirers.”
“Was there somethin’ ye needed?” she asked. “Or did ye come out here just tae criticize me relationship with yer hounds?”
“Dae ye ken how tae ride.”
She didn’t look up. “Aye?”
“Aye?” Ragnar leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed. “Since when?”
“Since I was eight.” She tossed another scrap and a grizzled wolfhound missing half an ear caught it mid-air. “Me faither insisted.”
“Sidesaddle?”
“’Tis how ladies ride.” Her hand paused.
“Nae around these parts.”
She looked up, her eyes flashing. “I’m quite aware of where I am.”
“Then ye ken,” he said evenly, “that if Douglas decides tae come fer ye, yer fancy sidesaddlin’ willnae help ye much.”
Her hands stilled completely. The dogs sensed the shift and pressed closer. “’Tis still a form of ridin’.”
“Och, aye. Just like pourin’ water on yer head is still a bath.”
“That’snaethe same thing. I’ll be just fine if I need tae?—”
“Prove it, then. Get on a horse and show me this fine ridin’ of yers.”
Her chin came up, eyes sparking and Ragnar had to bite back a smile.
“Now?”
He glanced up at the dogs, who’d started nosing around her feet again. “I’m sure the mutts would understand if ye abandoned them fer a wee bit.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “I willnae need tae flee. Ye’ll be there protectin’ me. Or is that nae part of this arrangement?”
“And if I’m elsewhere? If somethin’ separates us?” he pushed off the wall, stepping closer. The dogs’ ears pricked up but they didn’t scatter. Ragnar crouched beside her, close enough that the wolfhound pushed his massive head under his hand. “I’d sleep better kennin’ ye could handle a horse if it came tae it, if ye ever needed tae flee this keep?—”
She threw the last piece of bread harder than necessary and the scruffy mongrel yelped dramatically as it bounced off his nose. “If I wanted tae hear the same thing over and over I’d go stand next tae the kirk bell.”
“Well, if ye’d just stop avoidin’—”
“I’mfeedin’the dogs.”
“Nay. Ye’re learnin’ how tae ride astride. Right now.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Ladies dinnae ride astride.”
Ragnar stood, offering his hand.
