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“Aye,” Jacob said as they rode at the back of the procession heading to the Keep. “They never were in the same room, were they?”
“Nay, they were nae. That is why I daenae want to rush things with Elena. I will nae be able to live wit’ myself if I had to see that anger every day for the rest of my life.”
“But she hates ye,” Jacob said. “Ye picked that life. Might as well make the most of it.”
“There is more to a marriage than the bedroom activities,” Gabriel snapped.
“Are ye sure about that? Because to me, those bedroom activities are what keeps a marriage thrivin’. Deny yerself too long and ye’ll shrivel up and die.”
Gabriel’s hand flashed through the space between them and cracked against Jacob’s arm. The sound caused the others to glance at them a moment. Instinctively, Jacob reached to soothe the sting Gabriel left with his swipe.
“That hurt,” Jacob said mockingly. “Did anyone tell ye, ye hit like a lassie?”
“Ye want to test that theory?” Gabriel asked playfully. “Because I can take ye right here. Ye ken I can.”
“Naw, I’d rather have ye take out yer frustrations on someone else, perhaps even someplace else.” Jacob wiggled his eyebrows. Before Gabriel could take another swing at him, Jacob took off.
Gabriel dug his heel into the horse’s flank in pursuit. It didn’t take long before they were over the glen and racing through the stone archway of the wall around the Baxter Keep. Gabriel pulled on the reins causing his horse to come to a stop.
“Ye came back empty handed? What kind of hunt did ye go on?” Georgia asked as she grabbed her boys before the horses plowed into them.
“Yer uncle has the stag,” Gabriel answered as he slipped off the saddle and landed hard on the soft black soil. “He’ll be comin’ around in a bit.”
“A stag, huh? Well, suppose there will be food for the trip tomorrow,” she said with a smile. “Elena mentioned yer leavin’ in the mornin’ to celebrate wit’ the Murphys.”
Gabriel’s chest tightened as he brushed his hand over the horse’s neck. A servant rushed to his side, eagerly taking the reins from him.
“If that is what she wishes, then that is what we shall do,” Gabriel said unaffected by the sudden news. He had thought they were to stay the whole week with Elena’s family. But hearing she was ready to leave seemed to him like a good sign.
“Where is Elena?” he asked, trying not to sound too eager to see her. Georgia tilted her head toward the entranceway.
“In the study,” she answered. “Wit’ Ayda.”
“Thank ye,” Gabriel said as he climbed the steps with Jacob on his heels.
“Who’s Ayda? Elena has so many family members it’s hard to keep up wit’ all of them, ye ken,” Jacob said as the sound of their footsteps bounced through the nearly vacant Keep.
“Elena’s youngest sister,” Gabriel answered as they moved through the hallway and stopped short. Sitting on the long plush couch with a book in her hand, Gabriel spotted Elena.
“Ye ken, a woman who can read will be the hardest to tame,” Jacob teased. Jacob’s laughter suddenly went silent. Gabriel glanced over to his right as Jacob’s eyes widened and his mouth parted. A smile lingered on Gabriel’s lips as the young Ayda took her place beside Elena.
“Introduce me,” Jacob said rather brashly.
“Ye ken Elena,” Gabriel said with a smirk.
“Nae yer wife, her sister. Introduce me. For I must ken a lass as fair as she.”
“What are ye, a poet now?” Gabriel jabbed Jacob with his elbow and chuckled.
“Please,” Jacob begged.
“Fine,” Gabriel tugged his vest down, trying to make himself a bit presentable. Strolling into the study, Gabriel cleared his throat to catch Elena’s attention.
“Aye, I ken yer there,” Elena said without lifting her eyes off the book in her hand. “I can smell ye from across the room.”
“What is the matter?” Gabriel asked, moving to stand in front of Elena as he flashed a wink at Ayda. “Do ye nae like horses? They are God’s most trustworthy creature. More loyal than even a dog.”
“I like horses, especially ones that can run and gallop. Although it is a pity about havin’ to put a lame horse down, suppose it is the same for a dog too,” she said, flipping the page of her book.
