Page 20 of Never Marry a Highlander

Chapter Eight

TheridefromClythCastle started off pleasant, but it didn’t take much time for Lorena to begin to shift on her horse.With the previous night’s activities, she was sore in a place where she hadn’t been sore in a long time.Of course, her soreness after a bout with Avery had been more from bruises and other hurtful actions than the true lovemaking she’d had with Craig.

But she still hurt from the unfamiliar activity.

Unfamiliar was very true.Her husband took time with her, kissed her, caressed her, mumbled words in her ears, then brought her to a point that she’d never been before.And for certe a place she wanted to visit again.

“Is all well, lass?”Craig rode up alongside her, concern written on his face.

“Aye.”She wasn’t about to act weak in front of him or subject herself to his kindness.She wanted to stay as far from him as she could.Except when she didn’t want to stay far from him.Leaving her very confused.

He moved his horse close to her and lowered his voice.“If ye are sore from last night, ye can ride with me, I’ll put ye on my lap sideways.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped and pulled back so he was forced to ride ahead of her.

She’d seen the quick flash of hurt in his eyes, but she ignored it.It was probably her imagination.He didn’t care for her, nor she for him.They were both forced into this, and they needn’t pretend anything but tolerance.

‘Twas only an hour or so later that she railed at herself, shifting in her saddle.She could be comfortably seated in Craig’s warm lap instead of suffering the pain she’d brought upon herself by her stubbornness.Right about the time she was prepared to humiliate herself and ask to ride with Craig that he held up his hand.“We will stop for a short while.”He glanced at her and she thought for a minute he was thinking about her discomfort, but pushed that idea away.

Before he could help her down, she leapt from the horse and immediately fell to the ground in a heap of embarrassment.

Instead of laughing at her which she’d expected, he reached his hand out.Glowering at him, she took his hand and still stumbled again once she was on her feet.He encircled her waist with his strong arm and moved her forward.“I think ‘tis a good idea to rest for a short time on that log and then walk a bit to ease yer muscles.”

She nodded and preparing herself with a snappy remark, she stopped, realizing she wanted to keep him out of her heart, but she didn’t want to appear a shrew in front of his men.“Thank ye.”

He raised his brows in surprise, most likely expecting some sort of remark but she was too sore and tired to continue.After a little while, she felt the need to relieve herself and stood.Craig was in a conversation with his men, so she went off by herself.

The area where they’d stopped was a quiet peaceful spot somewhere near the Gunn border.The longest part of the ride would be once they crossed over to MacKay land.A good two-day ride would be needed to reach Dun Ugadale.

After taking care of her needs, she walked to a small creek not far from where she stood and washed her hands and face.The cool water felt good on her skin.

“Lorena!”

She jumped when Craig called from behind her, no more than a few feet away.

“Ye scared me, Craig.I almost fell into the water.Whatever is amiss?”

He strode up to her and glowered.“Ye were missing.Ye canno’ wander off by yerself.‘Tis dangerous.”

She reared back.“Dangerous?These are my clan’s land.”

He took her by the arm and moved her forward.“And close to the MacKay border.There is always a great deal of fighting in this area.”

“Then why did we stop here?”

“I thought I was doing ye a favor since ye are obviously in pain, but ye would ne’er admit it.”

She yanked her arm away.“I need no favors from ye.”

Craig stopped and placed his hands on his hips.“What is wrong, Lorena?What have I done that causes ye to give me yer sharp tongue?”

She poked her finger into his chest.“Ye dragged me away from my home.”

“The home where ye were mistreated and beaten?The home where ye said when we left that ye would miss no one and no one would miss ye?Were the memories so wonderful that ye prefer to live there?”

“I prefer to live where I choose, not where men decide I should live.”She walked off, but he grabbed her by the hand.

“Ye must have known from the time ye were a bairn that who ye married would no’ be yer choosing.And ye would live where yer husband said.”