Ransom

'I think I have a right to know. You did say your impure thoughts were about me, didn't you?'

'Yes.'

'Well then? I want to know what I was doing.'

She closed her eyes. 'You were kissing me.'

'That's it? Nothing else?'

'What did you expect?'

'A whole lot more,' he said. 'Where was I kissing you?'

'On my lips,' she answered. 'Now will you stop this-'

'Nowhere else?' he asked, sounding disappointed again. 'Shall I tell you about some of my fantasies about you?'

Her eyes widened. 'You've had… thoughts… about me?'

'Of course I have, but my daydreams are far more interesting.'

'Is that so?'

'Would you like me to tell you about them?'

'No.'

He laughed and ignored her protest. 'You weren't wearing anything in my fantasies. No, that's not exactly true. You were wearing something.'

She knew she shouldn't ask, but she couldn't stop herself. 'What was I wearing?'

He bent down and whispered into her ear, 'Me.'

She jerked back and pushed against his chest with both hands. 'Oh, Good Lord,' she cried out. 'We're both going to land in purgatory if we continue this sinful conversation. How could you know what I look like without my clothes on?'

'A calculated guess,' he answered. 'You're perfect, by the way.'

'No, I'm not.'

'Your skin's silky and smooth, and in my fantasies, when I lie between your soft-'

She clasped her hand over his mouth to get him to stop. His eyes sparkled with pure devilment. He was outrageous, and perhaps it was that very trait that drew her to him. Brodick had somehow managed to free himself of all restrictions. He didn't seem to care what anyone else thought about him, and he didn't particularly want to impress anyone.

She wished she could be that free. 'Being with you is a… liberating… experience,' she whispered.

'That wasn't so bad, was it, milady?'

Gillian jumped at the sound of Dylan's voice. 'I beg your pardon?' she asked as she slowly removed her hand from Brodick's mouth. He grabbed it and kissed the palm. Shy all of a sudden, she pulled her hand back before Dylan caught up with them.

'The ride down wasn't so bad, was it?' Dylan repeated.

She glanced up at the rocks, shook her head, and burst into laughter. 'No, it wasn't bad at all.'

A few minutes later, she was once again riding her own horse. Deciding to take the lead, she nudged the mare into a trot, and as she passed Brodick and Ramsey, she called out, 'You used trickery.'

'Yes, I did,' he admitted. 'Are you angry with me?'

She laughed again. 'I don't get angry. I get even.'

Unbeknownst to her, she had just recited the Buchanan creed.

Chapter Nineteen

Ramsey Sinclair's home was majestic. It sat atop a plateau rising up in the middle of a magnificent valley that was bordered by steep cliffs on one side and lofty, rolling hills on the other. A glistening carpet of grass, sprinkled with the new sprigs of heather the wind had planted, covered the land for as far as the eye could see, and the scent of heather and pine drifted on the afternoon breeze and blended with the pungent aroma of smoke pouring from the thatched cottages. The laird's massive stone castle towered protectively over the houses that dotted the landscape beneath it, and a wall of timber and stone circled the perimeter of the entire community, offering safety to the clan within.

The heavy, iron-hinged gates opened, and Ramsey and his guests entered his estate. A resounding cheer echoed around them as soldiers came running to greet their laird. A fair number of young ladies also came running.

Immediately Gillian was surrounded by Brodick's overly protective guard. Aaron moved in front or her, Dylan and Robert positioned themselves beside her, and Liam rode behind.

As impossible as it was for her to see much of anything with the guards' wide shoulders blocking her view, she still tried to look at every face in the crowd. Though it would be wonderful, as well as miraculous, if she could find Christen immediately, Gillian knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Yet each time she spotted a yellow-haired woman, her heart leapt with that impossible hope.

Brodick and Ramsey had dismounted and were now surrounded by soldiers. Gillian patiently waited for Brodick to remember her.

'Do you see him, milady?' Dylan asked in a low voice.

'Him?'

'The traitor,' he whispered.

'No, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking for…' she said as she once again tried to search through the crowd. 'Not yet,' she whispered back. 'There are so many here…'

'Most of Ramsey's men aren't here,' Dylan explained. 'They are most likely still training in the field behind the castle. Aye, I'm certain they are, or Gideon would be here to greet his laird.'

While Gillian continued to look over the crowd, a few curious and bold MacPherson soldiers, wearing their clan's plaid, moved closer to get a better look at her. One young, foolish man dared to step a little too close.

Black Robert nudged his mount forward, forcing the man to step to the side or be run over. In a voice dripping with venom, he ordered, 'You will stop staring at the lady.'

The burly soldier glanced at his friends, then turned back to Robert with an insolent sneer on his face. 'Or what?' he challenged.

Robert wasn't impressed with the man's bluster. Before the soldier realized his intent, Robert leaned down, grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up to eye level.

'Or I'll break every bone in your body.'

The MacPherson soldier was a big man, but Robert had lifted him as though he weighed no more than a twig. The remarkable feat of strength astounded her. And so did his poor manners. 'Robert, please put that boy down.'

'As you wish, milady,' Robert grumbled.

Brodick happened to turn just as Robert sent the soldier flying. The man landed in the center of his friends. Shaking his head, Brodick threaded his way through the crowd, but stopped in front of the prone and dazed MacPherson. 'Robert?'

'I didn't like the way he was staring at milady, Laird.'

The soldier tried to get up, but Brodick put his booted foot on his chest to hold him down. 'How was he staring at her?'

'With insolence,' Robert answered.

'She's very beautiful,' the soldier said somewhat defiantly. 'If I want to look upon her, I will.'

Brodick glanced down at the man and began to apply pressure on his chest with his foot. 'Yes, she is very beautiful,' he agreed pleasantly. 'But I don't like it when any other man stares at her.' Increasing the pressure until the soldier's face was bright red and he was gasping for breath, Brodick added, in a decidedly menacing voice, 'I don't like it at all.'

Ramsey appeared at his side. 'Let him up,' he ordered. Brodick stepped back and watched as the soldier regained his feet. Then Ramsey stepped forward and shoved the man so forcefully he landed on his backside again.

'You will apologize to Laird Buchanan now,' he roared.

'Buchanan?' he gasped. 'He's Laird Buchanan? I didn't know…'

Ramsey took another threatening step toward him. The soldier scrambled to his feet and blurted, 'I apologize, Laird Buchanan. I will not ever look upon your woman again. I swear it on my father's head.'