Page 14 of A Highlander's Bride

They both dismounted, guided their horses to the water andrubbed them down with grass. Again Daniel was impressed with how Lady Beth immediately began the procedure, not waiting for him to take care of her horse as most lasses would.

He decided it was time to take a chance.

Once she was finished with the horse, she turned to him, brushing her hands off. He stood only about a foot away and said nothing, only studied her. She looked up at him with confusion. Before she could say anything, he cupped her face in his hands and lowered his head.

Her lips were as sweet and soft as he’d thought they would be. So far she hadn’t kicked him in uncomfortable places or bit his lips, so he took the kiss further, sliding his tongue along her lips until she opened. Warmth, sweetness, softness.

Tentatively, she touched her tongue to his. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her plush body until he could feel her heart pounding against his chest. Unfortunately, she pushed him away and stood there, her breath coming in gasps. “Why did ye do that?”

Not sure himself since ’twas not planned he shrugged. “I doona ken. It just seemed like the thing to do.”

She touched her lips with her fingertip. “I think we should return to the keep.”

What he wanted to do was grab her again and kiss her until neither one of them could breathe, but he was certain this time he would get kicked or slapped in the face.

“Aye.” He moved to her and hoisted her onto Tiger, then mounted Atlas, turning to lead them back to the open fields.

They rode slower than before, not speaking to each other, but at least she wasn’t threatening to tell her da. Then again, she would not do that because he would demand they marry immediately.

After about another five minutes, he said, “Are ye all right, lass?” He couldn’t stand the silence.

She stared straight ahead. “Aye.”

He tried to think of something else to say, but couldn’t, so he remained silent.

“Ye see that hedge up ahead?” She finally spoke to him, and everything seemed normal.

“Aye. I see it.” He’d sailed over that shrub many times.

She looked at him with humor in her eyes. “Let’s jump over it.”

He shook his head. “I doona ken, lass. ’Tis an unfamiliar horse ye’er on, and that hedge is taller than it appears from here.”

“Are ye afraid, then?” she said with a smirk.

“Nay, I’ve done it dozens of times but I doona think ye should do it.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized he should not have said that. Lady Beth was not the type of lass to be told what to do.

Or what not to do.

She looked at him and grinned. He groaned when she kicked her horse’s sides and raced toward the hedge. He followed but purposely stayed back so as not to distract her. He frowned, not liking the way she was approaching the hedge.

He held his breath as she sailed over the hedge cleanly and landed on the other side. She turned the horse and started back over again. He didn’t think that was a good idea because the angle for the jump was off.

“Nay, doona try that!”

Either she didn’t hear him or chose to ignore him. She flew over the hedge, lost her balance and went flying from the animal’s back, landing in a heap, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop.

“Beth!!”

Chapter Six

His heart inhis throat, Daniel jumped from his horse and ran to where Beth lay on the ground. He felt around her head first, but it didn’t appear she’d had a head injury. Her ankle was bent and tucked underneath her leg. She was out cold.

He picked her up and strode to their horses. He shifted her around and smacked Tiger on his rump. Daniel knew he would return to the stable. He walked to Atlas and holding onto Beth, put his foot in the stirrup and swung his other leg over the horse, settling them both. He looked at her and she was still out.

He kicked Atlas’s sides, and left for the castle. He rode as fast as he could, not wanting to tire his horse much more after their ride already. He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted the castle.

Daniel rode into the outer bailey. “Get the healer and have her come to Lady Beth’s bedchamber immediately!”