He said those words, but she could tell he didn’t mean them. He thought she was insane. Well, she had been called worse. Mayhap if he thought her a bit light in the head, he might be swayed to turn his back while she went on her way.
It was a thought...
He led her from the cave.
“Have you ever been to England?” she asked as she hastened her steps to keep up with his long, dangerous stride. “My mother says London is a dirty place that is hot in the summer and very crowded.”
Ewan groaned aloud as he secured the door to his home. This was going to be a long trip if she insisted on prattling the whole way there. Already his head felt as though it would splinter.
He turned and found her so close to him that he almost ran her over.
She blushed rather prettily, then moved aside. “Will we be off, then?”
Grimacing, he rubbed his forehead with his hand.
“Have you an ache in your head?”
He paused and opened one eye to look at her. “Aye.”
“Here.” She took his arm and led him to sit on a rock off to the side. “Sit down and let me help.”
Mistrustful, he grimaced. “What can you do?”
“You’d be amazed. My father says ‘tis a gift the good Lord gave me to alleviate the damage I cause to those who have to suffer my tongue.”
Ewan frowned even more at her words as he sat down. “Is your father always so harsh with you?”
“Nay, he’s a good man. I just tend to unnerve him from time to time.”
He gave a short snort at that, not doubting it in the least. This woman could try the patience of Job himself.
As soon as he was seated, she ran her hands through his hair, massaging his scalp.
Och now, that felt rather nice. Her hands were warm and gentle and her fingers deftly soothed the pain from his head.
Before long, he found himself greatly relaxed and much calmer. The tight band of pain loosened.
A man could get used to this. And for the first time, he noticed the pleasant scent of her. She smelled of fresh lilacs and warm sunshine. A scent that was as fetching as the lady herself.
She was a pretty little maid. Her brat had fallen down around her shoulders to form a shawl while she tended him. Her long blond hair fair glistened and her figure was trim and ample enough to be well worth a good tupping.
His body reacted instantly to the thought of her underneath him. Ewan sucked his breath in sharply as he hardened against his will.
“Here now.” He rose to his feet. “Enough of this. We have a trip to make.”
“Is your head better?”
“Aye,” he said gruffly. It most definitely was. However, it was his other region that now pained him.
Clearing his throat, he headed for the small trail that would lead them down the mountain to the stable where his horse was kept.
Nora followed after him, all the while noticing the ease with which he moved. The manly grace. He was tall and strong and as sure-footed as any man she’d ever seen.
When he wasn’t snarling at her, he was actually quite handsome, even with his thick whiskers covering his face.
His curly black hair needed a combing and for some reason she couldn’t fathom, she wanted to offer to brush her fingers though it to remove the becoming tangles.
He reminded her of some great, hulking bear, what with his massive form, snarling tones and gruffness.
