Sin darted away from the women, to the back of the stable.
The I-told-you-so look from Braden was such that Maggie almost laughed. Until the youngest of the women headed straight toward her with a swing to her hips and look in her eyes that told Maggie exactly what the woman was after.
Her.
Oh, bother me! She’d better move—fast.
Maggie started for the stall behind her, but tripped and fell.
“Och, now,” the girl said as she bent over Maggie and pressed one pale hand to Maggie’s forehead. “Do you have a boo-boo I need be kissing?”
The girl’s lips were dangerously close to her own as the girl pressed her breasts against Maggie’s arm.
Seeking a way to pry the hoyden off her, Maggie curled her lips in disgust.
“Uh, nay,” Maggie, said, dropping her voice an octave as she struggled to roll out from under the girl. “My boo-boo is just fine. Thanks.”
“Now, ladies …” Braden sidestepped Tara’s outstretched arms. “What would your Da be saying if he caught you out here?”
Tara backed him against the wall.
Undaunted by Braden’s evasive tactics, Tara laughed. “Oh, he’d be after the lot of you for sure. But he’s off asleep already. Now …” She grabbed his plaid and pulled his face closer to hers. “How bout another taste of those sweet lips of yours.”
Braden ducked and twisted out of her clutches.
Maggie was appalled. Never in her life had she seen such. Braden had been right about the women.
Mo chreach! They were in serious trouble.
Just as the girl reached to grope Maggie, strong arms pulled Maggie back.
In one fluid motion, Sin lifted her from the ground, tossed her up on a horse and smacked the rear of the beast. The horse shrieked, then bolted from the stable at a dead run.
Struggling to bring the horse under control, Maggie panicked.
The horse flew into the woods with the bit between its teeth. She pulled at the reins, but the horse paid her no heed as it dashed through limbs that clawed at her body, threatening to knock her out of the saddle. Her heart pounding, she leaned forward and latched onto its neck, praying she didn’t fall off and kill herself.
It was probably a good five minutes before Sin and Braden caught up to her and brought her horse under control. Braden leaned over and took the bridle in his hand, then used his horse to slow hers down. Her heart still pounded in her ears as she gave a quick prayer of thanks for the deliverance.
“Are you all right?” Braden asked her.
Still too terrified to speak, Maggie took deep breaths and nodded.
Braden patted her arm comfortingly, then turned on his brother with a furious glare. “Och, man, what have you done to us now?”
“I saved your bloody arse. What do you think would have happened had the women discovered Maggie wasn’t a lad? Were you ready to explain?”
A tick started in Braden’s jaw. “Now, we’ll be hanged for horse thievery!”
Sin shook his head. “I left more than enough gold for these nags. Their owners will be thrilled to have it.”
Maggie watched as some of the tenseness faded from Braden. “My thanks, then.”
Sin shifted in his saddle and cast a pitying glance to Braden. “You know, little brother, it seems to me you must live in eternal hell. I can’t take you anywhere that the women don’t seize upon you like the last morsel of their last supper.”
Braden reached up and raked his hand over his own neck. “Aye, I just wished you’d acted sooner. That Tara had nails like a hawk. I swear, I think I’m bleeding.”
It was then Maggie realized the truth of Braden. He wasn’t just a conscienceless rapscallion out to seduce any woman he found. Indeed, other than a little flirting, he hadn’t really done anything to make Tara pursue him.
