'My wife has a temper,' Alec admitted, smiling.
'I wish some of it would rub off on Mary. The woman acts like a frightened rabbit.'
'I was in the midst of tracking down Angus's attackers when I was informed of this problem,' Alec said, turning the topic.
'We heard what happened,' Daniel answered. 'What say I ride with you on this hunt? I understand the mountain barons were responsible?' Daniel asked, referring to the band of men who'd been cast out of their clans and had formed a unit of their own. They were called barons because it was a title the English valued, and therefore the most offensive name the Highlanders could come up with. It was fitting as well, for like the English, these mountain men were also blackguards who fought without honor or conscience.
'You're welcome to come along, Daniel, but first you must take Mary home. You can catch up with us near the Peak.'
Neither Alec nor Daniel spoke again until they'd reached Alec's home. Jamie was standing next to her sister in the center of the courtyard. She smiled when she saw her husband until she got a good look at his face. Her smile faded away then.
'Oh, God, Daniel looks as if he wants to kill me,' Mary whispered, moving closer to her sister's side.
'Smile, Mary, it will confuse him,' Jamie instructed.
Alec dismounted and slowly advanced toward his wife. He certainly wasn't smiling. God's truth, his expression could have curdled milk. Jamie took a deep breath. 'Have you finished your hunt, Alec?'
He ignored her question. 'Did you give Lady Ferguson sanctuary?'
'Sanctuary?' Jamie repeated. 'I hadn't quite thought of it in that light, husband.'
'Answer me.'
The anger in his tone burned her like a hot iron. Jamie's temper ignited. How dare he criticize her in front of their guests? 'Mary asked me if she could stay here, and I gave her permission,' she said. 'If you want to call it sanctuary, then by all means do so. I would protect Mary.'
'Protect her from her own husband?' Alec asked, looking incredulous.
'When the husband happens to be an unfeeling clout, aye,' Jamie answered. She paused to frown up at Daniel, then turned back to her husband. 'He has abused her tender feelings, Alec. What would you have had me do?'
'I'd have you mind your own affairs,' Alec snapped.
'He was cruel to her.'
'Aye, he was,' Mary shouted, catching her sister's fever. 'If it isn't convenient for me to stay here, then I'll find my way back to England.'
'I just might lead the way,' Jamie muttered. She folded her hands together and waited for Alec to respond to that threat.
'You'd end up in Normandy,' Alec predicted.
Before Jamie could answer, Alec turned to Mary. He glared at her until she left his wife's side; then he hauled Jamie into his arms. His grip was like steel.
Jamie didn't resist, knowing how futile that would be. Besides, she'd just spotted Father Murdock standing on the steps, watching them.
She certainly didn't want a man of the cloth to think she was unladylike.
'I'm not going home with you, Daniel,' Mary shouted.
That challenge didn't go unanswered. Daniel moved with astonishing speed for such a big man. Before Mary could let out a full scream, she found herself face down over her husband's lap in the saddle.
Jamie desperately tried to maintain her dignity through this monstrous situation. Poor Mary was draped over the saddle like a sack of barley. It was a humiliation, aye, but Jamie still wished Mary wouldn't carry on so. Her bellows of outrage were drawing even more attention to her sorry plight.
'I can't stand idle while he shames her this way,' Jamie whispered.
'Oh, yes you can,' Alec stated.
'Alec, do something.'
'I'm not going to interfere and neither are you,' he answered. 'Mary's getting off lightly, Jamie. Daniel's temper is almost as fierce as my own. Your sister has disgraced her husband.'
Jamie watched Daniel and Mary until they'd disappeared across the planks.
'He won't really hurt her, will he, Alec?'
Her fear was very evident. Alec thought it unreasonable. 'He won't beat her, if that's what you're worrying about,' he answered. 'Mary's his problem now.'
'She forgot her horse.'
'She won't be needing it.'
Jamie was staring up at Alec's mouth, remembering what it felt like to be kissed by him. It was such a foolish thought, especially now, what with Mary's problem still to be solved, but she couldn't seem to help herself.
'Perhaps I shall take her horse over to her tomorrow,' Jamie said, wondering how she could get him to kiss her again.
He let go of her and started to walk away. She didn't want him to leave just yet. 'Alec? You said Daniel's temper was almost as quick as your own, yet you told me you didn't have a temper. 'Tis an odd contradiction, don't you think?'
'You misunderstood,' Alec answered. 'I told you I wouldn't lose my temper with you.'
He started down the hill. Jamie picked up her skirts and chased after him. 'When do you lose your temper, then?'
He couldn't resist the temptation. His wife was so incredibly easy to bait. He didn't turn around because he didn't want her to see his smile. 'When it's something that matters to me. Something important.'
Her gasp made his smile widen.
'Jamie?'
'What is it?' She sounded as if she wanted to throttle him.
'Don't inconvenience me again.'
It was the last insult she was going to take from him. 'Look, Kincaid, it isn't necessary to harp on the fact that you find me so vastly inferior. I understand your meaning clearly,' she announced. 'If I were to run away, you wouldn't even come after me, would you?'
He didn't answer her.
'Well, of course you wouldn't come after me. I'm too insignificant to bother with?'
'No, I wouldn't come after you.'
Jamie had to lower her gaze to the ground lest he turn around and see how much his words had hurt her.
Why did she care if he came after her or not? The man was a Scottish barbarian, she reminded herself.
'I'd send someone after you.' He finally turned around and caught her in his arms. 'But since you aren't going anywhere, the question isn't important, is it?'
'I'm beginning to dislike you immensely, Alec Kincaid.'
'You really should do something about your temper, English.' He brushed his hand across her cheek. 'Try to stay out of trouble while I'm gone.'
It was as much of a good-bye as she was going to get, she supposed, when he mounted his steed and left her staring after him.
Her hand touched her cheek where Alec had stroked her.
Then she straightened her shoulders and jerked her hand away.
She almost hated him. Almost.
She remembered he'd given her permission to rearrange his kitchens. It was only a little chore, she realized, but it was still a beginning. He would come to depend on her eventually, when he saw how much nicer his home was going to be.
Jamie straightened her shoulders and started up the hill. She'd best get started right away.
She smiled with new enthusiasm. Alec had given her a duty.
