Jamie didn't seem to notice. 'Daniel carries a sword. I noticed that right away.
Perhaps, since the two of you are such good friends, he might take time to instruct you in the proper use of the weapon. I'm told it can be most effective in battle.'
Alec's forehead dropped to the saddle. Jamie couldn't see his face because he was turned away from her, but his shoulders were shaking.
He was obviously overcome with gratitude.
Jamie was feeling proud of herself. She had just offered him a branch of friendship and he had accepted it. Their situation would certainly improve now.
In time he just might forget she was English and begin to like her.
She walked away from her husband, for she wished to spend a few minutes with Mary before they started out on their journey again. Now that she had figured out how to get along with her husband, she thought she'd share her expertise with her sister. She certainly wasn't going to mention last night, though. No, Mary would have to find out all about that part of marriage from her own husband. Perhaps, Jamie considered, Mary had already found out.
Jamie felt as if she'd just discovered the secrets of the world. Kindness begat kindness. One didn't bite the hand that was patting one, now, did one?
'Jamie? Come here.'
His command was a little too brisk for her liking, but she held her smile and walked back to Alec's side. She stared at his chest, waiting to hear what he had to say.
Alec tilted her chin up. 'Are you all right, wife? Will you be able to ride today?'
She didn't understand what he was asking. 'I'm fine, Alec, really.'
'You're not too sore?' Alec persisted.
The immediate blush told him she now understood what he was asking. 'You aren't supposed to mention that,' she whispered.
He couldn't resist. 'Mention what?'
Though it didn't seem possible to him, her blush intensified. 'My-my being sore,' she stammered out.
'Jamie, I know I hurt you last night.'
He didn't sound overly contrite to her. God's truth, he sounded downright arrogant. 'Yes, you did hurt me,' she muttered. 'And, yes, I am sore. Are there any other intimate questions you wish to put to me?'
He squeezed her jaw, forcing her to look up at him again. And then he lowered his head and brushed his mouth against hers. It was such a tender kiss that Jamie was all but undone. Her eyes filled with tears. Now he'd give her the praise she so desperately needed to hear.
'If I think of any I'll let you know,' he announced before he let go of her.
'Think of any what?'
A rock could hold fleas longer than she could hold on to a thought. 'Any other intimate questions,' he said.
She stood where she was while Alec swung up into his saddle. 'Come now, Jamie.
'Tis time to ride.'
'But what about Daniel and Mary? Shouldn't we wait for them?'
'They left over two hours ago,' Alec answered.
'They left without us?' she asked, her voice incredulous.
'They did.'
'Why didn't you wake me?'
Alec held his grin. His wife looked thoroughly disgruntled. Wisps of curly hair had already separated from her braid. The strands floated around her face and down the nape of her slender neck.
She looked lovely.
'You needed your sleep,' Alec told her, his voice suddenly gruff.
'They didn't even say good-bye,' Jamie said. 'It was a rudeness, don't you suppose, Alec?' She walked over to Wildfire's side, paused to give her horse a whispered word of praise and a good pat, then gained the saddle. She grimaced against the ache that motion caused. 'Are we going to try to catch up with them?'
Alec shook his head. 'They've left the north road by now.'
Jamie couldn't hide her disappointment. 'How long must we travel before we reach your home?'
'Three more days.'
'Three?'
She looked disgruntled again. 'Three if we set a brisk pace, wife.'
'In the opposite direction from my sister?'
Before he could answer her, she whispered, 'I'm never going to see my sister again, am I?'
'Don't look so upset, Jamie. Mary's home is just an hour's ride from us. You may see her as often as you like.'
His explanation didn't make sense to her. 'We go for three days in the opposite direction, you tell me, yet Mary will end up only an hour's ride away when we finally reach your home? I don't understand, Alec. You do remember where you live, don't you?'
'There are clans friendly to Daniel and he must therefore pass through their lands, just as there are clans friendly to me, Jamie. I must also stop to give greeting as laird over the clan Kincaid.'
'Why couldn't the four of us-'
'There are also clans who would give their collective hide to see me dead.'
She could certainly understand that, she decided. If Alec acted as impatient with the clans as he was now acting with her, he would certainly collect a lot of enemies. 'And Daniel is friend to some of your enemies?' she asked.
Alec nodded. 'Then why do you call Daniel your friend? Your enemies should also be his if he's loyal to you.'
He gave up. He knew she still didn't understand. 'Do we have many enemies, Alec?'
'We?'
'I'm your wife now, I would remind you,' she answered. 'For that reason, your enemies are now mine, aren't they?'
'Aye, they are,' he announced.
'Why are you smiling? Do you like having so many enemies?'
'I'm smiling because I've just realized you have the makings of a true Scot,' he answered. 'This pleases me.'
She gave him a magnificent smile. Alec immediately guessed she was up to mischief. He'd already noticed that when her eyes sparkled the way they were now, she was about to give him a clever retort.
He wasn't disappointed. 'I'll never be a Scot, Alec. But you, sir, well you have the makings of a true English baron. This pleases me.'
He didn't know why he laughed, for she'd just insulted him mightily, but he did laugh all the same. He shook his head over her comment and his reaction.
'Remember this conversation, Jamie. One day soon, you'll see the error in all your opinions.'
'All my opinions, Alec?' She frowned at him, then added, 'I think I'm beginning to understand why we have so many enemies.'
She ended their conversation by nudging Wildfire into a full gallop, deliberately taking the lead away from him.
She ignored him when he called out to her, determined to make him stay behind her today. Let him choke on the dust from the lead horse.
Alec was suddenly at her side. He took hold of Wildfire's reins. He never said a word to her, just turned her mount around and tossed the reins back to her.
'Well?' she asked.
'You were going the wrong way,' Alec told her, his exasperation obvious. 'Unless of course you were thinking of going back to England.'
'I wasn't.'
'Then your sense of direction is yet another-'
