Page 30 of Highland Seduction

They may know this terrain better than he, but Tor’s training served him well that day. It was only as he turned to watch all four of them ride north that he allowed himself to look away, toward Ainsley.

“I’ve no’ . . . ye were . . .” She blinked. “I’ve seen my brother and his men in training. But . . . how?”

He mounted, eager to put as much distance between them and the reivers as possible.

Tor knew what she was asking. But instead of answering, he began to ride instead. His hands shook, though she’d never notice. Gripping the reins, he breathed deeply, cursing himself for a fool for not listening to his brother, and hers. Thanking the heavenly Father for keeping them safe. And not daring to offer her the truth. How had he so swiftly bested four armed reivers?

Because I was protecting ye.

Chapter 17

“If we continue to press, we could reach the next town to sleep.”

“Nay.” Ainsley did not wish to keep riding into the dark. “I can stop.”

Since the incident, they’d hardly slowed down at all, Tor looking over his shoulder, as had she, much of the day. Ainsley knew well they would sleep among the stars tonight. Their reward, reaching Berwick by nightfall on the morrow.

“Ye’re certain?”

Her backside sore, stomach protesting the one quick meal of bread and cheese they’d had midday, Ainsley nodded. Their pace had not lent itself toward conversation, but when it had, she and Tor spoke of their arrival in Berwick and plan for finding Marta and Ian.

Neither said aught of kissing. Or jealousy. Or any other such topic of consequence. Instead, Ainsley tried to elicit the same feelings for Tor she’d first had in the hall during the wedding. Not the fluttering in her stomach or awareness of her own heartbeat when he gazed at her. But the one of hate directed at him and his kinsmen for years of animosity toward her clansmen. Of disappointment in their laird for not fighting harder for her sister. The ones that made Tor as unworthy of being a husband as any man alive.

But they refused to come.

Instead, they were replaced by visions of him jumping from his horse, confronting four men without hesitation. Of his smile across the table as they drank ale and he spoke of pleasure and her first kiss. Of him now, looking for a safe place for them to bed for the eve.

“This is the king’s land,” he said. “Though ’tis too dark to hunt, it should be safe enough in there.” He pointed to a thicket off the dirt road on which they traveled. “We will make a small, enclosed fire for extra caution.”

She rode behind him, the trail narrow and lined with branches that continually threatened to dislodge her. Tor caught and broke most of them as he rode, and Ainsley was thankful. But some refused to cooperate.

“An enclosed fire?”

As they stopped and began to set up camp, he explained that by digging a hole in the ground their fire would be less visible. Thankfully, they still carried provisions from the inn. As always, Tor worked quickly, his capable hands starting the fire as she led the horses toward the sound of water. They were near a running stream, and though it was dark, the moonlight guided her. Tor had told her to wait, that he would water the horses. But she wanted to do this herself. He was nearby; she was safe.

Ainsley kept repeating that to herself as she splashed her face and eventually returned to camp. Tying both mounts to a tree, she rejoined her husband, who had brought two logs to the fire. He handed her the remainder of the bread and cheese Neil had given them, and they ate in silence.

Every time Ainsley looked up, Tor was watching her.

“How did ye know those reivers planned to rob us?”

He finished chewing and said, “He dismounted without warning.”

“I dinnae believe even my brother could have handled them as well as ye.”

Tor smiled. “I believe he could. Broden Shaw may be a bastard, but he is a fine warrior too.”

Ainsley so disliked Tor’s opinion of her brother. “MacAdder threatened clan war if my brother didnae agree to wed Rhona to him. He regrets it, more than ye know.”

“No’ more than Royce.”

She could not keep the bitterness from her voice. “Ye would no’ say that if ye knew how Rhona was treated by her husband.”

“I do know, and am sorry for it, lass. No woman should have to endure what Rhonda did.”

It was not her story to tell, but Ainsley also needed him to understand. “He did more than beat her, Tor.” His brows drew together. She continued, “MacAdder mistreated her in many ways. She hasnae spoken to my brother since she returned, as ye know. So nay, I dinnae believe Royce regrets the union most. Nor does my brother,” she added quietly. “That honor goes to my sister.”

“Who has no’ forgiven Broden. But ye have done so?”