Page 39 of Return to Wildsyde

“Ye brother has been scared out of his wits for ye,” Lyall added briskly, not wanting her to think he had cared overly much. He was just doing the decent thing, that was all.

“Of course. He must have been worried. Well, thank you for coming.”

Lyall nodded, turning his attention to Murdoch. “Ach, ye poor gowk. What am I to do with ye?” Looking up, he saw where the wire had been nailed into the fence post, twisted it about his hand and pulled. It came free easily enough, which was something. He looked back at Murdoch with a sigh, hating that his occasionally faithful friend was in pain. “I reckon we had best get ye home, a chuilein. Ma and Sheenagh will have more luck with taking the wire off ye. I suppose I will have to hold ye down while they do it aye, so don’t go getting ideas about biting me. It’s nae my fault ye are a wee eejit. Perhaps ye will heed me and bide at my heel now, aye?”

Murdoch made a grumbling sound in response and Lyall looked up to find Luella staring at him in astonishment.

“What?” he demanded.

She bit her lip and shook her head. “Nothing,” she said, but he thought she was smiling.

“He understands me just fine,” he retorted defensively. “Come on, Murdoch. I must carry ye now.”

Murdoch whimpered but did not protest as Lyall got up and lifted him into his arms. He walked to where his horse was quietly cropping grass and Luella followed him.

“Up ye get,” he said, gesturing to his horse.

She paled and shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Do ye nae want to learn to ride like ye brother?” he asked dryly.

“Not like this, and that isn’t a side-saddle,” she added, with an indignant lift of her chin.

“Now is nae the time for splitting hairs. Ye are wet through, and Ma will have my hide if ye catch yer death of cold. Put yer foot in the stirrup now.”

She glared at him, and Lyall sighed. “I need to get Murdoch home.”

“I’ll walk,” she replied, firmly.

“Ye will nae walk, for it will be dark soon and ye will stroll off the cliff’s edge in the dark or break yer ankle in a rabbit hole. Ye will ride Jupiter.”

Luella glowered harder. Lyall sighed. “Please.”

“I can’t! He’s too big,” she exclaimed, and he saw the anxiety in her eyes.

“He’s big, aye, but he’s a gentle giant, I promise.” As if on cue, and to prove his point, Jupiter turned and nuzzled at Lyall’s arm. “Aye, I know ye are a gentleman. She does nae mean to insult ye.”

“Do you have conversations with all your animals?” she asked incredulously.

“Aye, and why not?” he retorted. “They’ve a deal more sense than most humans I know, and they dinnae blether on about nothing, either. Now, put yer foot in the stirrup. Nae, the other foot… that’s the way.”

Lyall watched with amusement as she tried to reach up and grab the saddle to haul herself up. Corsets could not make this a simple task by any means. She tried again, giving him a delightful view of slender legs, petticoats, and frilly drawers. He didn’t look away.

“I can’t do it,” she protested.

Lyall shifted Murdoch which was no mean feat as the dog weighed a ton. Carefully, so as not to hurt the animal, he managed to free his arm and put his hand on Luella’s lovely behind—not above enjoying the moment—and shoved. Up she went, landing in the saddle with a squeal.

“Now, take Murdoch,” he said, heaving the big dog carefully up to lie over the horse’s back.

Murdoch did not like this idea one bit and struggled anxiously.

“Shut yer pus!” Lyall commanded, not unkindly, and Murdoch subsided with a pitiful whimper.

“Yes, Murdoch, he is a bully,” Luella whispered, stroking Murdoch’s head sympathetically. Lyall grinned, swinging himself up behind her.

“Now who’s talking to animals?”

She gave a little disdainful sniff. “I like Murdoch better than you,” she said with dignity.