“I think I made myself clear last night,” Finlay said with a thin smile as he mounted and nudged Hurley down the road. “This conversation is finished. Come, Kyla.”
Kyla smiled lightly at Roderick, inclining her head toward him, then tossed a leg over Cadarn and turned her, following Finlay down the well-worn path. When she caught him, she did have one thing to make clear.
“I’ll not be summoned, Finlay,” she said.
“Pardon me?”
“‘Come, Kyla.’ I’m not a child, nor a dog.”
He sighed. “It appears I still have much to learn about having a wife.”
“It appears you do,” she said with a laugh, lightening the moment, shocked as she was that he didn’t try fighting her on this.
“Where to, first?”
“I thought we could start along the shore and work our way around the borders of the property today,” he said, sweeping a hand out in front of him as he pointed to their destination. “We’ll see the crofts another day so you can get a better understanding of how they are laid out. I know you are familiar with them, but perhaps you’ve never taken a close look at their crops and systems. Today will give you an overview of the land available and what it can be used for.”
“That sounds agreeable. I’ll meet you at the large birch near the shore!” Kyla laughed as she urged Cadarn forward into a gallop, streaking down the hill to the shoreline, looking back to see if Finlay was following. He stayed still for a moment, staring at her racing off, but then finally he seemed to collect himself—or Hurley made the decision for him, she couldn’t be entirely sure—and then they flew down to the hill after her.
Together they rode along the shoreline, making quick work of their route on the strength of their well-bred horses. When they had finally circled the area they discussed, they reined in, and Kyla realized they were close to the MacTavish property line. She didn’t know what compelled her, but she surprised herself with the next words out of her mouth.
“I’d like to show you something,” she said, and, at his nod, led him deep into the woodland, to the place she had come so often to contemplate her own life. It had been some time since she’d been here and returning felt like coming home.
When they reached the clearing, she looked back at him, feeling the wide grin on her face. She was surprised at the fact that she was excited to share this with him. This had always been her place, but now, today, it was a place she would share with him forever. He gifted her with a small smile in return, seeming to pick up on her excitement and anticipation.
She pushed back the curtain of leaves that hid the entrance to the clearing, and entered before moving aside for him to come after her. She watched his face as he took in the beauty of this den in the forest. He looked around him, his gaze not missing the long grasses leading to a small pond, a wide rock beside it perfect for soaking in the sun that streamed through the leaves of the birch overhead. The trees cast just enough shade to make this haven private, their leaves now a reddish gold.
“This is beautiful,” he said, looking around at his surroundings, clearly in awe. “How could such a place exist so close to my lands and yet, in all of my years I have never happened upon it?”
“Isn’t it lovely?” she asked as they dismounted and she began to roam the place, her fingers trailing along the grasses. “This is where I come to tune out everything and just focus on my thoughts. Rory knows of this place, but seldom comes here—only if he has a need to find me. Otherwise, it is simply me, the rabbits, the deer, and the ducks.”
She twirled around, her skirts flowing in the slight wind and melding with the grass that became swept up in their rotation. She tilted her head back, closing her eyes as the sun beat down on her face. Her lips curled into a smile as she enjoyed the warmth, her mouth parting to breathe in the crisp air of the day.
Suddenly she stopped rotating as strong, hard arms came around her, fingertips sinking into her hair, which lay around her shoulders, while Finlay’s rough yet gentle hands roamed over her. Kyla pulled her tilted head back to meet his, and smiled into his serious eyes as she planted a sweet kiss on his lips. He kissed her back with equal measure, and soon they were as lost in one another as she usually was in her thoughts when she came here on her own.
Now, instead of being alone here with only her musings and the animals for company, it was a small world that contained only the two of them. Finlay took a plaid from his saddlebag and spread it on the soft ground below them before gently easing her backward.
“What do you have in mind, husband?” she asked with a low chuckle. “Nothing too improper, I hope?”
“Would you rather not?” he asked, as serious as always and Kyla smiled at him.
“I’m teasing. Only… it just may be a little chilly out here.”
“Not to worry, lass,” Finlay replied, now with a mischievous grin of his own. “I’ll keep you warm.”
She loved it when he smiled. The dimple in his left cheek, so often hidden, would appear, and it gave her such joy to see him happy.
Her thoughts soon flew from her head, however, as he leaned down and kissed her once again, his other hand working at pulling her skirts high enough for him to gain access to her most tender of places.
“I think it’s time we had our picnic lunch,” he said, his eyes wicked.
“Oh?” she asked, her mind hazy.
