“That just shows you that I am much smarter thanMakyn.”
Tess tried to not be affected by his low rumble oflaughter, by his warm breath caressing her ear.
“Makyn is still nervous. We need to approach hervery slowly and quietly.”
“Do they all have a name?”
“Only the animals that I decide to keep.”
“Very insightful. The thought of having a ‘David’skewered and roasting over the fire is not very appetizing.”
“It could be worse.”
“How?”
Tess moved away from him. “We could have a ‘Colin’roasting over the fire.”
“In that case, I feel much, much safer having aname.”
“And another thing, you should remember that inapproaching sheep, never look at them directly.”
He was beside her again. “Very well.”
Tess felt his hand take hold of hers. Stunnedmomentarily, she turned and looked at him.
His eyes were sparkling with mischief. “I thought itmight be helpful for you to look atmeaswe approach her.”
He was simply too handsome for her comfort. “And whyshould I want to do such a thing?”
He shrugged. His smile was warm enough to meltthrough a sea fog. “Perhaps because I enjoy looking at you.”
“And why shouldyouwant to do such athing?”
“You are beginning to ask far too many questions.”He shook his head. “You might pick up my good habits…and not justthe bad ones.”
“You have good habits?”
“Some,” he said softly, his blue eyes searchinghers.
Tess’s heart pounded wildly in her chest as she felthis gaze brush over her face. In sheer panic, she took a half stepback.
“I…I think Makyn is calm enough now for…for us totend to her.”
Colin’s eyes had turned a smoky blue—almost gray—andTess felt her heart hammering in her chest. She wasn’t sure what heintended to do, or what it was that shewanted. Stopping,though, seemed to be the best course.
He seemed to read her thoughts, and his friendlysmile returned. “Very well. You lead and I’ll follow…or just tellme what to do.”
“I’ll catch and hold her. You spread the salve onher feet. Or we can do it the other way around, if you like.”
Of course, she could have done the whole thing byherself, but she suddenly didn’t want him to go away.
“I don’t think my stomach will allow me to get tooclose to that cauldron. Tell me what to do, and I’ll catchher.”
She took him by the elbow and brought him a littlecloser to Makyn. “Without looking at her, get a bit nearer. Whenshe is within your reach, quickly reach out and grab the wool underher chin. Just tip the head upward. This will keep her off balanceand easy to hold. Now if she turns her back to you, just grab herby the rear flank.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll bringthe medicine to you.”
As Tess went for the cauldron, she could hear themuttered curses erupt from the Highlander, followed by a loudcomplaint from Makyn. When she turned around, she almost laughedaloud at the sight of man and sheep tangled together on the groundby the wall.
“I don’t know which of us is winning this battle,”Colin muttered when she settled beside them. “But please make sureyou put that foul faerie brew on thesheep’sfoot.”
