Part 12 (1/2)

”I don't expect Collin tae trouble her, being that he hasna yet received her dowry, but nonetheless, I don't trust him. I don't like the way that he has been looking at my wife,” Devon said, eyebrows knit together angrily as he thought of his brother.

”So, ye've taken to the la.s.s?” Brennan questioned, struck by the possessive manner in which Devon had claimed ”his wife.”

”Verra much,” Devon smiled, slightly embarra.s.sed. ”Ye ken how it is. I've seen ye with Leti,” he chided.

”Women have a way of doing that to ye,” Brennan smiled back.

”If ye sense danger, or any situation arises while I'm away, take her from the keep. I think that Lochaven is the safest bet, well protected as it is. Kate could hide there in safety while ye get word to me in the field,” Devon said, jaw set sternly, voice serious. ”I'll not have the la.s.s harmed by my brother,” he said voice ringing with threat.

”She will be safe in my care,” Brennan promised as he cuffed Devon heartily on the back, seeking to a.s.sure his friend.

”I trust ye, brother. I ken that ye'll keep her safe.” Devon nodded, securing the deal.

”I think that it might be you that needs my protection,” Brennan said, looking over Devon's shoulder towards the keep. ”Because here comes yer precious wife, and she looks like she's about to kill ye,” Brennan warned as he watched Kate approach, the anger evident on her face.

I was mad as h.e.l.l as I stomped towards to two warriors. Good thing they had their weapons, because they might need them shortly. I walked directly up to my husband, stood to my full height and placed my hands on my hips. ”When were you going to tell me?” I demanded surprised by the intensity of the anger in my voice.

”Tonight. I didna want ye fretting,” Devon said matter-of-factly, meeting my glare with one of his own.

”You a.s.shole!” I stomped my foot violently on top of his, grinding my heel into his toes.

He didn't even flinch. ”Are ye done?” he asked.

”Done with what?” I asked, fuming with emotion. I wanted to kill him.

”With yer tantrum.”

”Devon McClain, I am your wife! How could you possibly not tell me that you are leaving for war tomorrow?” I shouted surprised by the emotion that rang from my voice.

How could he leave me here? Leave me here alone?

”I said that I didna want ye worrit. Ye'll be safe, I've taken care of everything. I wouldna leave ye without protection,” he said firmly as he motioned for Brennan to leave us alone to hash this situation out privately.

”Protection isn't what I'm worried about, you oaf! I'm worried about my husband leaving for war! You could be killed, and then what would I do?” I sniffled, and wiped my now running nose on the sleeve of my dress in a most unladylike fas.h.i.+on.

”Is all of this about me? Yer worrit about me returning to ye in one piece?” He asked, chuckling slightly.

”Ummhmm,” I mumbled, sniffling again. ”And I'm mad as h.e.l.l that you didn't tell me as soon as you knew that you were leaving.”

”Oh, Kate,” he said, as he reached forward and crushed me against his chest. ”I'm sorry that I didna tell ye,” he whispered against my hair as he stroked my neck and held me close. ”I promise ye that I'll be fine. I'm not used to answering to anyone besides myself. I'm sorry for my oversight. Ye must ken that this is what I do, battle is what I've done my whole life. Rest a.s.sured that I ken how to return in one piece.”

”Promise?” I whispered against his chest.

”Promise.” He said as he raised my chin up so that I could look at him. ”I'll be fine,” he smiled. ”It's nice to know that someone cares, though.”

”More than you can imagine,” I said, looking up at him. ”I need you to tell me things like this. I don't like being the last to know.”

He bent down and settled his lips on mine, an act of apology that needed no words. I knew that he felt bad about not telling me and I felt the anger that I had held towards him dissipate from my body with the touch of his lips. He broke away from me slowly, hovering so that our lips nearly touched as he looked into my eyes, searching to ensure that he had in fact been forgiven.

”I'm sorry,” he whispered as he nuzzled my nose with his. He could read me like an open book and I knew that my eyes no longer harbored any anger or resentment. Content that he had been thoroughly forgiven, he pecked me again on the lips and grabbed my hand.

”Let's go then la.s.s. I leave at first light and I want tae spend the rest of my time before I go with my beautiful wife,” he said as he gathered me up against him and started to walk towards the stables, shoving his sword into his belt with his free hand. ”I had planned to take ye out for a riding lesson this afternoon. Are ye game?”

”No,” I said honestly, enjoying the warmth of his body as we walked together. I had divulged that I was terrified of horses, having been thrown from one and injured badly at a young age. Devon being a confident horseman and a self professed lover of horses had taken my fear of them on as a challenge, vowing to teach me to ride, whether I wanted to learn or not.

”Let me rephrase that,” he chuckled, knowing now that I was not a lover of horseback riding. ”Will ye partake in a lesson if I keep it short? Ye ken that I'll feel better when ye can at least sit a horse without fallin' off.”

”Only if I get to choose what we do later,” I smiled seductively up at him.

”How could I say no tae that?” he kissed the top of my head and ushered me through the doors of the great stable.

Jaime the stable man saddled Stanley and a much smaller mare and tied them to a post in the stable. Stanley whickered softly and raised his head at the sight of his master. He nuzzled Devon in the chest and stomped his foot, ready to go out for a ride. Devon patted the stallion's strong neck, and scratched him behind the ears. He loved his horse and it was clear even to the casual observer that the horse returned his affections.

I surveyed the small mare that I would be riding. She didn't look threatening at all, in fact, she looked like she was about to take a nap. Her head hung down low and she swayed slightly from side to side as her eyes melted closed. I hated to disturb her.

”This is Biscuit,” Devon said, untying the mare's reins and looping them over her head. ”Let me help ye up, la.s.s,” he said, holding out a hand towards me.

I walked toward him and took his hand. He offered his other hand as a footstool. I put my foot into his hand and he hefted me up and into the saddle. I took the reins and held onto the pommel so hard that my knuckles turned white. I could feel my blood pressure rising and the horse hadn't taken a step.

Devon swiftly mounted Stanley and kicked him into motion, clicking his tongue so that Biscuit reluctantly spurred into slow motion and followed along.

”Ye can make the clicking sound with yer tongue or kick her slightly to get her going. She'll not go tae fast mind,” he instructed over his shoulder.

My blood pressure began to rise as she lurched into motion. I was terrified of horses, except when I was riding with Devon. Longingly, I wished that I was on his lap now. I bit my lip, noticing how handsome he looked seated confidently upon Stanley.

How does he do this to me?

Biscuit ambled after Stanley, looking pathetic next to his ma.s.sive form. Devon gave me instruction as we rode side by side, telling me how to steer left or right or bring the horse to a stop by pulling the reins toward myself. I began to feel a bit more comfortable now that I knew how to steer and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Biscuit indeed would oblige me and heed my instructions. Devon led me through a trot and a slow gallop and again I felt my blood pressure rising, but I was proud that I remained atop the horse.

I wanted to please Devon by being a good student. Only for him and the reward of his encouraging smile would I subject myself to learning to ride a horse. I would face my fears for him.

”McClain!” we heard yelled from behind us in greeting, and we simultaneously turned to see Jaime approaching astride a large gray horse. He pulled up along side Devon, horse lathered from exertion from chasing after us.

”What's amiss?” Devon questioned, sensing that something was wrong.

”Information from our spotters, the Camerons have moved their camp. Thought ye would want tae ken right away, might help ye with preparations for tomorrow.” Jaime said, breath spilling forth as a white cloud in the chilly early winter air.

”What details have ye?” Devon asked, glancing from Jaime to me and then back to Jaime.

”They've moved tae....”

”La.s.s, why don't ye ride on up ahead, yer doing just fine. I'll catch up with ye when we're done here,” he said, cutting Jaime off mid sentence.

I made the clicking sound with my tongue as Devon had instructed, spurring Biscuit into motion and she obediently ambled forward. I hated to think of my husband going off to war and I was glad to have permission to leave this discussion of the details and plotting of the McClain clan's first move. I pulled my cloak around me, balling it up around the pommel of the saddle so that I could hold both with one hand. I held the reins with my left hand, fingers numb and stinging with the cold of the early winter air. My breath came in billowy clouds, curling into the gray air that had the distinct feeling of impending snow.

Feeling more confident, I kicked Biscuit into a trot and she hesitantly began to pick up speed. I hoped that Devon was watching and that he would notice that I was improving in my horse riding skills. Biscuit began to veer to the left as there was a small pond coming up in front of us. At the last minute, I decided to jerk her reins to the right, choosing to stay to the right of the pond so that I would not go out of Devon's path of sight.

Biscuit did not agree with my split second change of plans and her front legs locked up beneath me. As she came to an abrupt stop that I was not expecting, the momentum threw me up and over her head and I was flying through the air! I landed with a large splash right in the pond, and the icy cold water took my breath away.