“I dinnae ken yer meaning.”
“My meaning is that I don’t know how to ride a horse,” she said, enunciating clearly. “I mean obviously, I’m riding a horse right now and really, how hard can it be? But I’ve never actually had to get on one before and I wouldn’t want to start with one as big and angry looking as these ones are.”
The disbelieving look on Rhys’ face faded away and he threw back his head, laughter belting out over the soft sounds of travel. “Ye think me a fool, lady? To trick me into giving ye freely the means to yer escape?”
“No, and believe me, if I ever try to use reverse psychology on you, you won’t see it coming.”
“Yer speech is most strange, lass,” he said, shrugging out of his long-sleeved jacket. Leaning over, Rhys tossed it over her shoulders. “As is most everything about ye. Cover yerself, lass.”
“I thought we went over this. I am covered.” Scarlett stuck her arms into the garment any way, lacing up the front. The sun was shining brightly and she had no desire to add the sting of sunburn to everything else she had to bear that day. “Since you’re being so accommodating, I don’t suppose I can just get down off this thing and walk for a while? I mean if this is as fast as we’re going to go and all?”
“And set ye free to run? I cannae take that chance however much it might please me to please ye.”
A soft sigh deflated her brief rise in spirits. However much it might please him, there were many things Rhys wouldn’t be able to provide. Like a way home. Some things were more precious than freedom.
“Dinnae look so aggrieved lass. We’ll stop for the night ‘ere too long has past,” he offered in consolation. “It takes time to secure a proper camp.”
“Not the only reivers in the night, huh?” she asked caustically and was rewarded by another mischievous grin.
“I do like ye, lass.”
“I’m sorry I cannot – ”
“Rhys!” A deep voice boomed and both Scarlett and Rhys looked up to find that Laird had left his place at the head of the train and was riding back toward them with a thunderous look on his face. “Why did ye untie her?”
“No one enjoys a journey bound to a saddle,” Rhys explained.
“Tis no’ a journey meant for her enjoyment. She’s a prisoner.”
“We dinnae ken what she is yet,” Rhys countered. “She might hae been the Lindsay’s prisoner for all we know.”
Both looked at her as if they expected an answer but Scarlett couldn’t answer their questions when she didn’t have any answers herself.
“Relax, Laird, I’m not going anywhere,” Scarlett said with light nonchalance as if she were already bored by their bickering, hoping to diffuse a battle for the alpha male.
However, Laird’s expression hardened even more. “I cannae believe that as easily as my brother who is to often taken in by a bonny lass.”
“You think I’m bonny lass?” Scarlett asked dryly as if that was all she had absorbed of his words.
His jaw worked visibly, clenching and unclenching as he fought back his anger. Well good! It just didn’t seem fair to Scarlett that she should be the only one upset by the entire situation.
“Keep an eye on her,” Laird barked at Rhys. “Dinnae let her innocence put ye at ease. If she escapes, ‘twill be yer arse.”
7
“We’ll stop here,” Laird announced, lifting a hand as they arrived at the bank of a wide stream. Bonelessly slouched over in exhaustion, Scarlett’s roused herself at his welcome words.
“Oh, thank God,” she muttered, almost falling off the saddle as it halted. Hour after hour of riding along being rocked, jolted and shaken had seemed interminable while the sun hadn’t seemed to get any lower. It was like being in a very slow, very old roller coaster car as it rattled up a steep incline. No, an excruciatingly sluggish roller coaster.
Cormac dismounted and came to help her down but Laird was there first. Though he looked none too happy about it, he held up his hands. She might have preferred her guard or Rhys to help her down, but Scarlett she was too exhausted to care at that point. She fell into his arms gladly.
Jellied knees wobbled and gave way. Her legs and hips screamed in protest as she straightened them for the first time in hours. Thankfully, he was as solid as a rock as she clung to him, taking her weight as if she were a ragdoll. She felt like one. It was humiliating to feel so weak but for that moment, cradled against his chest and with his strong arms wrapped tightly around her, Scarlett felt…
What? Good? Safe?
Ha! She was none of those things. “Uh, thanks,” she said, looking up at him only to find him watching her solemnly. For a moment something in his silvery eyes arrested her before her gaze slid away and he lowered her the rest of the way to the ground.
Hobbling away, Scarlett rubbed her backside. “How do you do that all the time? It’s exhausting.”
“Ye act as if ye’ve ne’er traveled,” Laird said, handing the reins of their horses over to an eager teenage boy who Rhys had pointed out as Laird’s squire, Aiden.
“I haven’t. I mean, I have but not like that.”
Laird snorted out his reaction to that as if it weren’t possible. Scarlett again considered telling the truth of her situation but dismissed the urge. More than likely, the truth wouldn’t get her anywhere. Especially with him. Besides, she had more pressing issues on her mind. “Uh, where is the… uh… where can I… you know?”
“Wherever ye care to, lass. We arenae choosy.”
Laird waved a hand around and Scarlett felt a flush crawl up her cheeks as she noticed a number of kilts lifted within her field of vision. “Might I find just a little more privacy than that?”
“Ha! So ye can escape?”
“So I can
