Though he was loath to admit it, he was exhausted.
'Ramsey promised me he'd talk to her today, but he didn't.'
With a loud yawn, he said, 'He's a busy man, Gillian.'
'I know he is. People are constantly hounding him with problems, and the women here won't leave him alone. They make up all sorts of petty worries just so they can talk to him. It must drive him to distraction. Still, he promised me, Brodick, and he has until noon tomorrow to speak to Christen.'
He didn't want her to stop talking because he loved the husky sound of her voice.
'What else happened today?'
'I hid from Father Laggan,' she confessed. Brodick laughed, and she had to wait until he'd stopped to ask, 'Did you perchance have an opportunity to speak to him?'
'Yes,' he replied. 'He had a hell of a hangover.'
'Ramsey got him drunk on purpose, didn't he?'
'Laggan was already well on his way, but Ramsey helped.'
'That's a sin,' she decided. 'Why did he do it?'
'Because he's my good friend and he knew that one way or another, I was going to take you to my bed.'
She put her hand on his shoulder, noticed how tense he was, and began to rub his muscles. He groaned with pleasure, and so she pulled her gown up, straddled his hips, and used both hands to work the tension out of him. 'Damn, that feels good.'
She was also feeling relaxed, and she realized it was because she had shared her day with Brodick. 'What did you do today?'
'I went home.'
'But you told me your holding is a long way from here.'
'I rode hard,' he said. 'But it was past sunset by the time I got back.'
'What did you do at home?'
'Settled a few problems,' he said.
She remembered another bit of news to share with him then. 'Do you know what Bridgid told me today?'
'What's that?'
'A woman tried to sneak into Ramsey's room… at least that's what Bridgid thought. So she went in after her, and the sinful woman had taken her clothes off and was going to… you know.'
Grinning, he said, 'No, tell me.'
'Seduce Ramsey, of course. Bridgid threw her out and made quite a scene. Now she's furious with her laird because he bluntly told her he had invited the woman to share his bed. If he's going to have women parading into his bedroom every night, Bridgid's made up her mind to leave.'
'And where will she go?'
'We discussed that very problem on the way to chapel. We wanted to light a candle for Gideon's father and another one for Ramsey's soul. Bridgid is convinced he's on his way to purgatory.'
The heat of her thighs pressed against his was starting to interfere with his ability to concentrate. 'Why would you light a candle for Gideon's father? You don't know the man.'
'Because the poor man took a turn for the worse. Bridgid heard Faudron tell Ramsey so when he was explaining why Gideon has been delayed. Faudron and Anthony will share the commander's duties until he returns.'
'You've got a good heart, lass.'
'Wouldn't you light a candle for me if I were dying?'
'Do not talk about such things. I would not let you die,' he said vehemently.
She leaned down and kissed his shoulder. 'I told Bridgid she could come and live with the Buchanans. She tried to hide her reaction to my suggestion, but it was obvious she was horrified by the idea. Isn't that peculiar?'
'It would be a difficult adjustment for her. Ramsey treats his followers like children. I don't.'
'I won't have a difficult adjustment.'
'Yes, you will.'
'No, I won't, because you'll be there. I don't care where I live or how I live as long as you are by my side.'
He was humbled by her faith and love. 'Now that I'm married, I'll have to make some changes,' he remarked.
'Such as?'
'You'll probably want a home.'
'You don't have a home now?'
'No.'
'Where do you sleep?' she asked, trying not to sound appalled.
'On the ground. I much prefer it to a soft bed.'
'But what do you do when it rains?'
Her voice sounded strained, and he knew she was having difficulty staying calm. Her hands weren't rubbing his shoulders now; they were pounding them.
'I get wet.'
She began to pray he wasn't serious. 'What about your followers? Do they also sleep outside?'
'Some do, but the married men live in cottages like this one with their women.'
'Why doesn't their laird?'
'I've had no need for one.'
'You do now. I don't want to sleep outside.'
'You will sleep with me.'
'Yes, but I want a home.'
'Like Ramsey's?' he asked.
'No,' she answered. 'It doesn't have to be grand. One just like this cottage would be nice.'
She stopped rubbing his shoulders and traced a crescent-shaped scar below his right shoulder. 'How did you get this?'
'I don't remember. It happened a long time ago.'
'It must have hurt,' she said. She kissed the jagged gray line, noticed his muscles tightened, and kissed him again. Then she stretched out on top of him and put her head down on his shoulder.
He groaned. 'You're killing me, Gillian.'
'Am I too heavy for you?'
'That isn't what I mean. If you don't stop wiggling, I'm going to make love to you, and I know you're tender.'
The heat radiating from his body warmed her. 'Not so very tender,' she whispered. 'And you weren't worried about that during the night.'
'Then you remember? I thought you slept through it.'
She knew he was teasing her. 'Yes, I did sleep through it. It must have been a dream that made me scream.'
'Aye, you were screaming,' he agreed, smiling over the memory. 'I made you burn, didn't I?'
'How would I know? I was asleep.'
She began to stroke his arms, loving the feel of him. 'You're so hard,' she whispered.
She was far more accurate than she realized. He was hard from wanting her, but he was pleased by her boldness and curiosity.
'Brodick?'
'Yes?'
'Could we… if you're not too tired and you didn't have to move… could I…'
'Could you what?' he asked.
She finally got up the courage to get the words out. 'Could I make love to you?'
