Page 42 of His Forgotten Highland Bride

“Mayhap we could go for a walk instead?”

A walk with Ronan? “Very well.”

They secured their weapons back with the horses and followed the path into the cool forest. She paused to look down at his leg. “Did you remember to stretch it out this morning?” she asked.

“Aye. I followed your orders, and it doesn’t trouble me much today.” She looked up to see if he was reluctant to admit she’d been right, but he merely smiled down at her.

“Still,” she said. “We shouldn’t walk far. I did say you should let it rest.”

“Ye did. And then you kicked me in the very leg that was injured.”

Her eyes went wide again as he chuckled. She opened her mouth to apologize again, but he raised his hand to stop her.

“I’m only jesting. You didn’t hurt me.”

“You’re certain?” She felt horrible.

He smiled at her again and shrugged. “Maybe I should have feigned a bit of pain so you would tend to me again the way you did yesterday. I enjoyed it more than I should have.”

He looked at her unashamedly, and she met his gaze. He’d liked her touch. She imagined the surgeon hadn’t thought to rub the sore muscles. She paused and looked back at him, remembering the day before when he’d grasped the blankets and pulled them across himself.

Was he… Yes, he was flirting with her. But why? She was standing before him in men’s clothing. He couldn’t possibly have liked her touch in that way. She swallowed down the many questions that came to her lips and ignored him instead. “Should we sit over there on that downed log? I brought food if you’re hungry. I generally break my fast out here rather than in the hall.” Not wanting to miss a moment of the time she could be alone in the woods.

“I’ve already eaten,” he answered. “But I would be happy to join you.”

They settled on the damp wood, and she pulled the oatcakes from her pack. She offered one to him, and he took it. She pulled the cork from her flask and offered it to him.

She focused on her meal for the next few minutes and what she might say to the man next to her. She could feel his curiosity like a living thing sitting with them in the calm of the dense trees. She wanted to move the conversation back to how he’d felt when she’d touched his bare leg. She had not been unmoved by the action herself. It was strange for all the times she’d touched people she helped heal; she’d never felt the tingle of anticipation she had when she’d stroked the muscles in Ronan’s leg.

She’d indeed kept at it much longer than necessary, but she would never admit to such.

“You say you cut Ewan’s face,” he stated rather than asked.

His words caused her to jump. They were so far from where her thoughts had traveled. So it was back to this. She squared her shoulders, ready to defend herself. “Aye. I did,” she said with no little amount of defiance. Let him judge her for it.

“And ye banished him from the clan without food, water, or a weapon.”

“Aye. I have already said as much.” Again, the words nearly snapped with annoyance.

“What you haven’t said is why.”

“You haven’t asked.”

“I am asking now.” He raised his brows, and she knew it was time to share her story.