'No.' He softened his denial by brushing his chin across the top of her head. 'Would it help if I carry you facedown across my lap?'
His suggestion horrified her. She pictured herself flung over his knees with her head hanging down on one side of the stallion and her feet dangling down on the other, and she thought she might die of mortification then and there.
What a wonderful way that would be for her to meet his followers. 'I cannot imagine what you think to help with your suggestion. I'm perfectly fine, thank you. I merely thought a walk would be invigorating on such a fine day. Forget I mentioned it.'
She had placed pride above comfort, just as he had expected her to do. He moved his hand under her skirts to find out for himself the extent of her injury. He considered stopping to take a look, but quickly discarded the idea. Getting her cooperation would take him an hour, and in another ten minutes, they would reach the division between the lands and be home at last.
His touch felt like a caress. Still, she didn't like it. She went completely still and whispered, 'Remove your hand.'
'You've got a fair-sized bruise, don't you? Does it hurt?'
'It doesn't hurt at all. Please remove your hand. It's embarrassing.'
Connor conceded.
'An Englishman would give his wife a little sympathy,' she muttered.
'I'm not English.'
'No, you're not,' she agreed. 'May I ask you questions about your home?'
'Yes.'
'First, please tell me when we'll reach your land.'
'Look to the rise above you and you'll see my sentries watching us.'
She immediately straightened her appearance. She ran her fingers through her hair to get the tangles out, bumped Connor's shoulder as she smoothed her curls behind her, fixed the pleats of her plaid to her satisfaction, and pinched color into her cheeks.
'What in God's name are you doing?'
'Pinching myself.'
He told himself not to ask. He did anyway.
'Because I don't want to look pale.'
He shook his head. He had never heard of anything so preposterous.
'How long before we reach your fortress?' she asked.
'Very soon.'
'Do you mean to tell me we live close to Alec and Jamie?'
'Yes.'
'Will I be able to visit as often as I wish?'
'Yes.'
Her enthusiasm made her forget her pain. He explained he hadn't built his home in the center of his property, but near the edge of his brother's land, instead. She assumed he'd done so to please Alec.
The MacAlister soldiers let out a cheer in greeting when their laird raised his hand.
'Do they always cheer you when you return home?'
'No, only when I've been away a long time.'
'How long were you away then?'
'Almost three weeks.'
What had he been doing all that while? She was just about to ask him when she remembered the blue paint on his face. She promptly changed her mind. If she found out he'd been raiding, her good mood would be ruined. She'd ruin his as well because she would feel compelled to let him know what she thought about that barbaric pastime.
She noticed how the soldiers stared at her when they rode past, and even though she smiled at them, they didn't smile back. She started worrying in no time at all.
'Will your followers dislike me because I was supposed to marry MacNare?'
'No.'
'None of the six soldiers we just passed smiled at me.'
'Of course they didn't.'
'Why not?'
'Because you're my wife. They'll honor you.'
'And if I'm not worthy of their honor?'
'You are.'
She thought that was a very thoughtful, kind thing to say to her, and since Connor wasn't a thoughtful or kind man, she immediately became suspicious.
'Why?'
'Because I chose you.'
'I chose you, remember?'
'You like to argue with me, don't you?'
She didn't believe his question merited an answer. 'Will I like your home?'
'Of course.'
'I can't wait to see it. Is it as appealing as Alec's home? I won't be disappointed if it isn't,' she hastened to add. 'I don't need it to be grand. Is it?'
Her enthusiasm made him smile. 'Yes, it's just as appealing as my brother's home.'
'You're proud of it, aren't you? I can hear it in your voice.'
'I suppose I am.'
'Is the hall as large as Alec's? I won't mind if it isn't.'
'Because you don't need it to be as large.'
'Yes.'
'I cannot say for certain if it's as large. I've never taken the time to notice.'
'What makes your home so appealing?'
'It's secure.'
What did secure have to do with appearance? 'But what does it look like?'
'Invincible,' he answered.
She wasn't getting anywhere with him. She would have to wait and see for herself, she decided.
He thought he'd told her everything she needed to know. Although he felt his home was invincible, there was still work to be done on the wall. He was going to reinforce the wood with stone as his brother had suggested, and add yet another platform on the northern peak.
Brenna's excitement mounted as they rode along, and her mood was so improved, she couldn't stop smiling.
Connor's mood darkened as soon as the ruins of his father's home came into view.
'Who lived here?' she whispered as she stared at the charred remains of the vast structure.
'My father.'
'Did he die there?'
'Yes.'
'Did you live there with him?'
'Yes.'
The coldness in his voice told her he didn't want to be questioned about his past. She had every intention of finding out everything she could about her husband so she would be able to understand how he had become such a hard, rigid man, but she knew she would have to be patient and undemanding, or he would never open his heart to her. She would first prove to him that she could be trusted, and eventually he would soften his attitude and begin to confide in her.
She couldn't stop staring at the destruction. Even after they had ridden past, she leaned into Connor's side so she could look behind him to study it.
