She was certain now he was jesting with her. The picture of naked warriors riding their mounts into war made her laugh with delight. 'So they just throw off their blankets and-'
'Aye, they do.'
'Alec, you must think me naive indeed to believe that fool's story. Do quit your jesting, please. You're being rude by half ignoring your men for so long.'
After making that pronouncement, she turned her back on him, leaned against his chest, and forced a serene expression for the soldiers they passed on their way up the hill.
It took a mighty effort, what with the shameful thoughts Alec had just put into her head.
'You must learn not to give orders, wife.'
He dropped his chin to rest on the top of her head as he whispered that order.
It was a gentle rebuke. A shiver of pleasure rippled through her stomach. 'I would like to do the right thing, husband, and so should you. Rudeness is never acceptable by anyone's measure, even a Scotsman's.'
A shout echoed through the trees when they reached the second clearing. Alec jerked on Wildfire's reins as soon as she started fussing, then dismounted. He left Jamie on his stallion and led both horses toward the throng of waiting soldiers.
My, but she was nervous. She folded her hands together so his men wouldn't see how much they shook.
A blond man about Alec's size separated himself from the others and walked over to give greeting to his laird. The man's good looks made her think he was related to Alec. She assumed, too, that he was Alec's second- in-command and a friend as well, for he actually embraced his leader and slapped him mightily on the back.
The loud whack would have felled her to the ground, but Alec didn't even shrug.
The burr in the soldier's voice was so thick Jamie couldn't catch every word.
She heard enough, though, to blush in reaction. The two giants were taking turns insulting each other. It was yet another odd habit, she supposed.
The talk turned serious then. She could tell it wasn't good news the man was giving her husband. Alec's voice had taken on a hard edge, and a scowl had settled on his face. He looked furious. The soldier looked worried.
He didn't pay any attention to Jamie until they'd reached the inner courtyard.
Then he tossed Wildfire's reins toward the men circling them and turned to lift Jamie to the ground.
He didn't even glance at her. Jamie stood at his side while he continued his conversation with the soldier.
Alec's men seemed to be divided in their curiosity. Half the number stared intently at her, their scowls suggested they didn't like what they were seeing.
The other half circled Wildfire. They were smiling. And just what was she to think about that?
Wildfire didn't like the attention she was getting any more than Jamie did. The nervous horse reared up, snorted her displeasure, and rudely tried to trample the men trying to catch hold of her reins.
Jamie instinctively reacted. Like a mother whose child was being naughty, she immediately sought to stop the budding temper tantrum.
She moved too quickly for Alec to catch hold of her. Without a thought to her audience, Jamie skirted her way around her husband and his stallion, nudged two big soldiers apart, and rushed forward to soothe her baby.
She stopped when she was just a few feet away from her pet. Jamie didn't have to say a harsh word. She simply held out her hand and waited.
Wildfire immediately ceased her tantrum. The wild look left her eyes. While the warriors watched in open fascination, the proud white beauty trotted forward to receive a touch from her mistress.
Alec suddenly appeared at Jamie's side. He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her up against his side.
'She's usually very docile,' Jamie told her husband. 'But she's tired, Alec, and hungry, too. Perhaps I should take her-'
'Donald will see to that task.'
She didn't want to argue with him in front of his men. Alec took Wildfire's reins, spoke in rapid Gaelic as he gave instructions to the young man who'd just rushed over to him.
Donald was a mite young to be stable master in Jamie's opinion. Yet as soon as he announced that Wildfire was a fine horse indeed, Jamie decided to trust his capabilities. He obviously knew good horseflesh when he saw it. He had a gentle voice, too, at great odds with his flaming red hair and complexion, and an easy smile that made her want to smile back.
Wildfire hated him. The fussy horse tried to push her way between Jamie and Alec. Donald proved determined, however. When Alec added a harsh command, the stable master was able to gain complete control. He led Wildfire across the yard. Jamie watched, feeling like an anxious mother being separated from her baby.
'She'll settle in.'
Alec's remark irritated her. So she and her mare were the same in his eyes, were they? He'd said the same thing to her. Horse and wife. 'She might,' Jamie answered, stressing the word 'she.'
They started walking toward the steps leading to his castle doors. Alec still hadn't introduced her to his men. She wondered about that oversight a long minute, then decided he was waiting for the right moment to do it properly.
They reached the top of the steps before he finally paused. He turned around, forcing her to follow with his arm still anchored around her shoulders.
He let go of her then, accepted a plaid from one of his soldiers, and draped it over Jamie's right shoulder. As soon as that action was accomplished, silence filled the courtyard. The soldiers placed their hands over their hearts. Their heads were bowed.
The moment had arrived. Jamie stood as straight as a lance, her hands at her sides, waiting to hear the wonderful speech Alec would give his men. He'd have to give her praise now, she told herself, whether he wanted to or not.
Jamie told herself to remember every single word so she could pull the speech out of her memory and savor it whenever Alec irritated her.
It was a short speech, over and done with, in fact, before she realized it.
Alec's voice rang out over the crowd when he shouted, 'My wife.'
My wife? That was it? He had nothing else to say? When he continued to keep silent, she guessed he was finished. And since he'd spoken in Gaelic, and she'd already decided against letting him know she understood his language, she couldn't very well let him see how irritated she was over his abruptness.
When Alec gave the signal, his men drew their swords. Another great shout echoed throughout the courtyard.
Jamie edged closer to Alec, then bowed her head and made a curtsy to his soldiers.
Their renewed cheers startled her. Alec thought she might be a little intimidated. She looked overwhelmed by all the attention.
'What did you say to them, Alec?' she whispered, knowing full well what he'd said. As soon as he answered her, she thought to tell him that he really should expound upon his introduction.
She never got the chance to enlighten him, however.
'I told them you were English,' Alec lied. He threw his arm around her shoulders again and, as was his disturbing habit, literally hauled her up against his side. God's truth, he treated her just like a satchel.
'And that, of course, is the reason they're cheering,' Jamie countered. 'Because I'm English.'
'Nay, wife. 'Tis the reason they're screaming.'
He was outrageous. Jamie shook her head.
'What think you of my men?' he asked, his tone serious now.
She didn't look at him when she gave her answer. 'I'm thinking they all have swords, Kincaid, and you don't. That's what I'm thinking.'
The woman had grit, all right. Alec grinned in response to her barb.
The soldiers were openly staring at her. Alec knew they'd have to look their fill. It would take them time to get used to her appearance. In truth, he was still having difficulty with that task.
The soldier Jamie had guessed was Alec's second-in-command rushed up the steps at his leader's beckoning. He stopped in front of Jamie, waiting for an introduction.
'This is Gavin, wife. He's in command whenever I'm away from home.'
