now, she decided. Her foolish worry about her appearance was yet another contradiction floating around in her head. She knew she wasn't being logical about Harrison. She couldn't make herself look at him just yet. Granted, he had all but scared the curl out of her hair when he'd gone after Bickley and his friends, but then, ten minutes later, she hadn't been able to stomach watching Catherine flirt with him.
She must still be befuddled from hitting the side of her head against the post.
Harrison couldn't stand the silent treatment any longer. He moved her hair out of his way and leaned down close to her.
'Are you in pain, Mary Rose?'
'No.'
'You need a physician,' he announced. 'I could ride to Hammond and get one.'
'I don't need a doctor,' she assured him. 'I feel fine, really.'
He gave her a little squeeze. 'Try to relax.'
A few minutes later he whispered her name again with that intoxicating brogue of his, and she suddenly wanted to sigh and shiver at the same time. She diligently resisted both urges.
The hit on her head must have knocked her senseless. She was angry with Harrison, wasn't she?
'Why won't you look at me? Did I scare you?'
He sounded amused. He was being kind and considerate now and very, very sweet. She wanted to kick him.
She wouldn't answer him. Harrison let out a sigh. 'Forget I asked,' he said. 'I must have been mistaken.'
Several more minutes passed in silence. Guilt finally forced her to tell him the truth.
'You weren't completely mistaken. I wasn't afraid of you. I was afraid of what had happened to you. You told me you could take care of yourself, but I didn't believe you. I don't like men who fight.'
'You must hate your brothers then.'
'I love my brothers. I don't love you.'
He knew she didn't love him. Of course she didn't. Still, it bothered him more than he cared to admit to hear her tell him so.
'I'm still not certain what came over me,' he said.
'Are you given to spells, Harrison?'
She sounded genuinely concerned. He tried not to laugh. 'I don't think so. When I picked you up in my arms, something snapped inside me. I can't explain it. You were limp and bloody, and I couldn't tell if you were breathing. I didn't know…'
She was astonished by what he was saying. She couldn't stop herself from interrupting. 'You picked me up? Dooley said you did, but I didn't believe him.'
'You were out cold,' he explained. 'So you can't possibly remember. You were in danger of being trampled by the horses. I had to do something to protect you. I know, I was a little late getting to you, wasn't I? You were sprawled out on the ground and you weren't even trying to protect your head, for God's sake.'
The memory of seeing her in such a helpless state made him shudder.
He instinctively tightened his hold on her, and she realized Harrison had been afraid.
'After you picked me up, what did you do?'
'I noticed you were still breathing before I lifted you off the ground. I should have calmed down then, but I didn't. Something snapped inside of me. I put you down where I knew you'd be safe, and then I went after the bastard.'
She was barely paying attention to what he was saying now. She was too busy gloating. Hadn't she told him they were very alike? And my, how he'd argued with her. She remembered every word he'd said. She also remembered quite clearly how appalled he'd looked.
She wondered if it would be rude to say she'd told him so. It was about time he admitted she'd been right.
'So you, in fact, didn't take time to think about the situation? You just reacted, didn't you?'
He knew exactly where she was headed with her question. He gave a shrug and tried not to smile. Lord, she was clever.
'I didn't say I was…'
'Yes, you did say. You got your philosophy a little turned around, didn't you? You remember. First with your heart, then with your head.'
'It's the other way around.'
'I know,' she answered, a smile in her voice. 'I think you must have forgotten. Do you realize what a lovely compliment you've just given me?'
'Really? You just insulted me.'
She laughed. She obviously wasn't the least contrite. The sound of her joy reached her brother, Cole. He nudged his horse forward so he could ride alongside them. He immediately noticed how close Harrison was holding his sister. He appeared to be hugging her.
'Aren't you holding Mary Rose a little too tight for respectability?'
'Mind your own business, Cole,' Harrison said.
Mary Rose smiled. Cole looked startled. He wasn't used to being sassed by another man. All her other guests had been too timid to talk back to any of her brothers. Harrison wasn't like anyone she'd ever known before.
Cole decided not to press the issue. He turned to his sister. He gave her a wide smile. She thought he was trying to be sweet, a rarity for him. When he continued to smile, she realized something else might be the cause.
'Why are you grinning at me like that?' she asked suspiciously.
He wasn't about to tell her the truth. His poor sister looked downright pitiful. Her hair was practically standing on end. The blue and white ribbon was dangling down the front of her neck. Dried blood caked her forehead and her chin. There was more on her neck. She was going to have heart palpitations when she looked at herself in a mirror.
'I'm happy you're feeling better,' he told her.
He continued to ride by their side. Mary Rose wanted him to leave her and Harrison alone. She wasn't finished making Harrison tell her how he'd felt. He wouldn't say another word as long as Cole was hanging around. She needed privacy all right, and there was only one sure way to get it.
'I'm not feeling better.'
'You just laughed. I heard you.'
'I was delirious. I'm in terrible pain. Have you forgotten what happened to me? My head throbs and my hip is…'
She didn't need to go on and on. Cole took off. She watched him take over the lead and let Travis trail behind him. Douglas stayed well behind the group so he could protect their backs from any surprises.
'Now then, what were you telling me?'
'Mary Rose, I'm really concerned about you. Are you in terrible pain? You need a doctor,' he once again insisted.
She patted his hand. 'I'm fine, really. Now I remember,' she continued. 'You just can't help it, can you, Harrison?'
'You're sure you're all right? You sounded so weak and ill when you were telling Cole how poorly you felt. I'm really going to have to insist you see a physician,' he said again.
She patted his hand. 'It's sweet of you to worry. I'm fine, really. You can't help it, can you?'
'Help what? Being sweet?'
She smiled. 'No, you can't help caring about me.' Now he would tell her what he was feeling in his heart. 'Of course I care about you. I care about your brothers too. You all took me into your home and fed me. You gave me a bed and…'
'Pat them and feed them, and they'll be forever beholding.'
'What did you just say?'
'Never mind.'
'Are you going to look at me?'
