''Tis the truth,' she said. 'Would you like me to show-'
'No.'
'Don't yell at me, Alec. It's upsetting Wildfire.'
'It's you I want upset, wife,' Alec returned. 'Give me your word.'
'Oh, all right, then,' Jamie said. 'I give you my word. Are you happy now?'
'I am.'
'Then please remove your hand from my leg. Your grip is painful.'
'Wife, do you know how close you are to real jeopardy?'
She didn't look at all worried by that threat. 'Alec?'
'What?'
'How long have you had that tic in your cheek?'
He didn't answer her.
'Her arrow ain't near the others,' the young soldier named David called out. The eager boy picked up Jamie's shoes and offered them to her. Jamie thanked him and quickly put them on.
'Of course my arrow isn't near the others,' she told the soldier.
'You knew you'd miss?' he asked.
'I didn't miss,' she countered. 'You'll find my arrow in the very center. Go and fetch it for me please.'
David ran back down the hill to the target. He let out a whoop of laughter.
'She's right,' he shouted. 'Her arrow is in the center.'
Jamie was watching Alec when that statement was shouted. She ignored the men's cheers. Her husband's reaction was a little disappointing. He merely raised an eyebrow.
'Gavin? I want ten more men riding with you,' he shouted.
The soldier immediately turned his mount back toward the stables.
'Jamie, you've forgotten something,' he said when she tried to take the reins back in her hands.
'Oh…' She immediately started to blush, then motioned him closer and leaned down to kiss his brow.
He couldn't hide his exasperation. 'I meant you forgot your saddle,' he told her.
'I don't like it, Jamie argued. 'It's too new. It makes me stiff, Alec.'
'Marcus, get my wife one of my old saddles. Why didn't you tell me you could ride bareback? I thought you unskilled. You did fall off your mount today.'
'I didn't tell you because you would have thought me unladylike,' she answered.
He had to smile over that foolish statement. 'I could never think you were unladylike.'
She smiled. 'You're forever reminding me,' he added. 'I should have realized you were skilled,' he admitted then. 'Beak told me you were the only one who could seat the mare. Still, he added that you didn't ride often.'
'He was protecting me,' Jamie explained. 'He thought you'd be more considerate if you thought I wasn't properly trained.'
Alec grinned. 'Jamie? Don't ever kiss me the way you just did.'
She thought he meant not to show any affection in front of his men. He motioned her toward him with the crook of his finger again and when they were almost nose to nose, he whispered, 'Kiss me like this.'
He didn't even give her time to smile. His mouth settled on hers in hard, hungry demand. She didn't open her mouth quickly enough to please him, but his low growl gained her full cooperation. His tongue drove inside just in time to taste her sigh.
She didn't hear the men yelling their pleasure at being witnesses to such a blatant display of passion. Alec heard them, however, and reluctantly eased his mouth away.
Jamie looked totally confused. He was arrogantly pleased that he could so easily rob her of all her thoughts, then realized he was holding her in his arms. He didn't recall taking her off Wildfire's back.
They both smiled. 'You've wasted enough of my valuable time,' he told her.
Jamie laughed. The sound of soldiers riding down the hill turned her attention then. 'Why must I have so many soldiers accompanying me?'
'They also like to hunt,' Alec replied. He let her slide to the ground when a soldier tossed him the saddle he'd requested. Jamie held the reins while Alec adjusted the straps around the mare's belly. He lifted her onto Wildfire's back.
'Have a good ride, Jamie,' he told her.
'I won't be coming back empty-handed,' she announced.
'I know you won't,' Alec told her.
She really didn't like skirting the truth this way, but she deliberately let Alec believe she was hunting food. Besides, she thought to herself, he'd settle in once he'd gotten over his initial bluster. He'd make a proper father, too.
Jamie turned back to Marcus when they'd reached the drawbridge. 'Which way, Marcus?' she called out.
'The west, milady.'
Wildfire was in a full gallop when Marcus gained her side. He motioned her to follow his lead, then made a half-circle, backtracking from the way they'd started.
Marcus was polite enough not to mention her poor sense of direction. Gavin, however, took great delight in reminding her.
Jamie was too pleased with both men to take exception. They hadn't told Alec what her true destination was, after all, and she was most thankful for their silence. She didn't care if it had been deliberate or not.
Alec kept telling himself he wasn't worried, but he found himself pacing in front of the hearth after dinner was finished and his wife still wasn't home.
No, he wasn't worried. Marcus and Gavin would keep her safe. She'd be home any minute now. When the sun was completely gone, then he'd worry, he told himself for the tenth time.
He had used the time of separation well. As soon as Jamie left, he had called for his mount and gone directly to Helena's clan. He'd spent several hours talking with the cousins who remembered Helena, and had learned some rather interesting facts about the woman who'd found marriage to him so foul she'd ended her life in desperation.
He found Father Murdock as soon as he returned and spent a good long while listening to his opinions. The priest was clearly amazed that his laird was now speaking of his dead wife. He hadn't even mentioned Helena's name since the day of the burial. The laird's questions were perplexing to him, but he knew better than to try to find out exactly what Alec was looking for. It wasn't his place to question.
Now Alec paced a path in the great hall while he sorted through the information.
Jamie, having just returned to the castle, stood at the top of the steps, waiting for Alec to notice her. She was just about to call out to him when he suddenly turned around.
He was so relieved to see her that he gave her a good frown.
She retaliated by smiling.
He noticed her skirt was swaying back and forth, then saw the dusty little face peeking out at him.
Gavin and Marcus flanked Jamie. They were both staring down at the child.
Jamie took a deep breath and reached for Mary Kathleen's hand. 'Come and meet your father,' she whispered to the little girl.
Mary Kathleen didn't want to cooperate. Alec's size obviously intimidated her.
Her golden brown eyes were as wide as round trenchers. 'He's going to love you with all his heart,' she promised.
Before the little girl could shake her head, Jamie clasped her hand and led her down the steps.
Alec didn't have any idea what was going on. The barefoot cherub was wearing his plaid, though, indicating she belonged to a Kincaid. The ill-fitted piece of blanket was wrapped around her and tied in a knot below her chin. Alec couldn't remember ever having seen her before.
She was an appealing little girl with a mop of honey-colored curls that hung lower on one side of her face than on the other.
'Who is this?' Alec asked.
'Your daughter.'
'My what?'
