Before she could think, her open hand flewtoward his face, but he caught it an inch from her intended target.He grinned, but there was little humor in it. A feral grin, that'swhat it was, as if he wished to bite her. Mayhap she wanted him to.Her heart skipped a beat and excitement raced through her.Parbleu!He had turned her into a lusting wanton.
She yanked her hand but he would not releaseit. Instead, he watched her closely and drew her hand toward hismouth. Her breath halted as she waited to see what he would do. Herhand fisted of its own accord. He inhaled against her skin and drewthe back of her hand across his smooth lips and the scratchystubble, his warm breath heating her. A thousand chills raced upher arm toward her breasts. Finally, he pressed a wee kiss to herknuckles. Saints, his lips were so hot, so sensual. Her heartbeatthumped against her throat.
"Chief!" One of the younger men on horsebackraced into camp and leapt to the ground.
Releasing her, Dugald stood and facedhim.
"There were more highwaymen, but they musthave fled when they realized their cohorts were killed."
"How many?"
"At least ten. Mayhap more."
"Saints." He glanced at Camille, thenaddressed the guard. "'Twill not be safe to camp here. We should beable to reach Rornoch by dark if we leave now. Round up the otherscouts and tell them we're leaving."
***
After riding several hours, they stopped neara different loch and dismounted to relieve themselves while thehorses drank from the loch and eagerly picked grass.
As Camille crouched to wash her hands in theicy water, Dugald told Rufus to watch her while he talked to someof the scouts. Clearly, he no longer trusted Owen to keep her undercontrol since she'd borrowed his horse earlier in the day. Butsurely Dugald would not suspect her of fleeing here, so far fromhome and with highwaymen on the loose.
Rufus's scraggly red beard and his rovingeyes annoyed her, but she tried to ignore him. She was glad for thebulky plaid blanket tied around her waist and pinned together overher chest. As clothing went, 'twas ugly as beggar's rags, but shedid not need to look appealing out here.
"Are you hungry, m'lady?" Owen called.
Standing, she spotted him kneeling in theweeds and high grass near the edge of the loch. What was he doing?Frowning, she headed toward him, Rufus following. Owen's mouth wasalready smeared with something red.
"What are you doing?" Camille asked.
"Eating strawberries, of course. Do you wantsome? Since we didn't get to roast our grouse, these will have tosuffice until we reach home."
"Oh." Indeed she was hungry. "Are you certainthere's enough for me?"
"Aye. I'm not such a pig." He chuckled.
Crouching, she picked a ripe strawberry andpopped it into her mouth. "Mmm, delicious and sweet."
Owen nodded. "Wish it was strawberry preserveon hot buttery scones instead."
"Oui, that would be good." But she wasjust as happy with the fresh berries, a rare treat.
They were small but she picked a handful andate them quickly. Dugald was in a hurry to get home, regardless ofwho was starving, and 'twas doubtful they would be here long. Afterfinishing the first handful of berries, she picked more anddevoured them. Saints, they were scrumptious.
"Time to mount up!" Dugald ordered, fartherup the hill.
'Twas just as she'd expected. She ground herteeth while his men ran to do his bidding… all but Rufus, whoregarded her with a frown.
What would the bossy chief look like pickingberries and eating them? Grinning, she motioned to him.
Muttering—no doubt cursing her—he headedtoward her. "'Tis time to leave, as I said."
"Have some berries, Dugald. They'redelicious," she offered merrily, curious as to how he wouldrespond.
"I don't want berries. I want to get myhostage behind my walls as soon as possible."
His hostage? She narrowed her eyes. Ofcourse, that was how he regarded her. His concern over her possibleinjuries earlier was merely to appease his own guilt.
"I'm hungry and your men are hungry," shetold him firmly. "You could at least allow us to eat our fill,since you cannot provide us food this day."
