Page 28 of Never Marry a Highlander

They would spend another night outside before they would reach Dun Ugadale tomorrow, late in the day, Craig had said.It couldn’t be soon enough for her.

Unfortunately, they spent the day sniping at each other.She was, admittedly, grouchy from hour after hour of riding.She hated that she had to ask Craig to stop so she could relieve herself.The man must own a bladder the size of Skye, since he always asked the same question, “Can ye not hold it for a while, we just stopped a little bit ago.”

“Nay.I canno’.Do ye think I like asking ye to stop when ye give me such a hard time about it?”

“That’s because ye’re a woman.”

“I have no idea what ye mean by that, but impressed I am with ye no’ being as dumb as I thought.”

And back and forth they went.

The sun was low in the sky when she shouted to him.“When will be stop for the day?”

Even though he was ahead of her, and she was staring at his back, she could feel him rolling his eyes.“If we want to make it to Dun Ugadale by tomorrow, we have to put more time in today.”

She kicked her horse so she rode up alongside him.“I want to stop now.”

“Ye always want to stopnow.”

“Aye.I have needs.And one of them is to get off thisbluidyhorse!”

He shook his head, mirth in his eyes.“’Tis no’ fine language coming from a lass.”

She was tired, hungry, and annoyed.“Aye, so it is.I suppose Helena ne’er uses foul language.”

He turned to look at her.“What does Helena have to do with ye wanting to stop?”

She gritted her teeth.“I was referring to language.”

Craig ran his fingers through his hair.“Lorena MacKay ye do a fine job of making me crazy.”

“Doona call me that.I am Lorena Gunn MacKay.”

“What ye are is a foolish lass who clings to a name that’s brought ye nothing but pain and sorrow.”

She suffered in silence for about five minutes, then said, “I am stopping now, husband.If ye doona wish to join me, that is fine, and I will see ye at Dun Ugadale tomorrow.”She pulled up on her horse and stopped.

Craig turned and glared at her.“Ye will do what I say.”

“Nay.”

He rode up to her.“Ye are the wife.I am the husband.Ye do what I say, and I say we will ride a bit longer.”

She felt the tears starting to gather in her eyes, but she would rather slide a dirk across her throat than let him see.Instead, she slid from her horse, surprised that her legs stayed under her and stood, feet apart, hands on her hips.“I am no’ riding any more today.”

Craig’s eyes moved back and forth, and she wondered if he was considering tossing her over his shoulder as he’d promised once before.As she watched, he jumped from his horse.

She backed up a bit before he said, “Verra well.We will stay here, but if ye complain tomorrow about how much longer we must ride than today to reach Dun Ugadale, I will tie a cloth o’er yer mouth.”

It was a quiet supper as they ate the food Craig had purchased in a small village they passed through earlier in the day.‘Twas cheese, fruit, cold meat, bread and fresh butter.Lorena had never enjoyed a meal as much.

She began to feel drowsy as soon as she swallowed the last bite.“I guess we will sleep out here.No tent, no bothy.”

“Aye.Unfortunately, that is true.”He gestured to an area that was somewhat hidden by a group of trees, forming a small cove.“I will lay down my plaid and wrap the both of us in it.See if ye can make a pile of leaves while I tend to the horses.”

Yawning the entire time, she kicked and carried leaves into a pile.By the time Craig came back from dealing with the horses full darkness had arrived.

“’Remove yer kirtle and blouse, you will be warmer without them.”Were she not so tired, she would have objected to again being told what to do, but weary enough where she only wanted to sleep, she took the garments off, leaving her in just her shift.

Craig unwrapped his plaid, leaving him in a leine and laid the garment on the pile of leaves.He waved at it.“Wife.”

She laid down, and he joined her.He wrapped the plaid around them, but if it hadn’t been for the warmth from Craig’s body, she would have shivered all night.

There was no touching, caressing, or fondling this night.Craig fell asleep almost as soon as he laid down.She joined him right afterward.