Page 28 of Desire of a Highlander

“Right. Great. Um... When?”

Ronan glanced around. “No time like the present, eh? Let me get cleaned up and we can be on our way.”

“You mean right now?” Elodie blurted. “I mean, yes, great. Thanks.”

Ronan took off his leather apron, then dunked his head in a vat of water in one corner, throwing back his head and sending water droplets everywhere. Then he pulled a shirt over his head before leading Elodie round to the stable where Angus was busy eating from a manger. The big horse snorted in greeting and began prancing, eager for exercise.

“Stop that,” Ronan told the horse. “Behave yerself for Elodie, will ye?”

Elodie watched with something like amusement as Ronan saddled the horse, chattering to him all the time. The horse, for his part, seemed to love the attention and kept gently nibbling at Ronan’s clothes whenever he got the chance. When Angus was saddled, Ronan gave her an exaggerated bow.

“After ye, my lady,” he said, indicating the saddle.

Elodie looked up at the giant horse. “Um. How do I get on?”

Ronan knelt and cupped his hands together. “Here. I’ll boost ye up.”

It wasn’t dignified. As Elodie put her foot into Ronan’s cupped hands and then scrambled up into the saddle, she was very glad nobody else was there to see it. She was also very glad she was wearing a long, billowy dress so she didn’t end up flashing her backside at Ronan or anyone else that might happen to be passing. She settled herself in the saddle, and Ronan swung up in front of her.

As they set out, she found herself looking around for Faye, wanting to say goodbye to the healer, but she was nowhere in sight. A twinge of regret went through her at that.

They followed the road up out of the valley and onto the moorland beyond. Elodie tried very hard not to think about how broad Ronan’s shoulders were or how much she wanted to put her arms around his waist. Just to help her keep her seat of course. No other reason.

Bran and Skye trotted beside them, occasionally disappearing into the heather before reappearing moments later, noses stuck to the ground, tails wagging. The morning was bright and clear, with a fresh breeze blowing from the south. It seemed a world away from the storm that had brought her here, or the world she was returning to, for that matter.

Ronan glanced over his shoulder. “Ye are awfully quiet.”

“I’m thinking.”

“That’s a dangerous pastime.”

She laughed. “Is that your professional opinion?”

“It is.”

“Based on what expertise?”

“Years of observation.”

“Of yourself?”

“Especially of myself.”

She laughed again. Ronan smiled, a quick grin that made his eyes sparkle. An odd warmth spread through her at the sight. He turned back to face the front, and Elodie took a steadying breath. Get a hold of yourself, woman.

“Angus really is a fine horse,” she said, just to have something to say.

Ronan patted the horse’s neck. “Aye. But dinna let him hear ye say that. He’s arrogant enough as it is.”

“Not exactly a blacksmith’s horse.”

His smile faded slightly. “No.”

“You’ve had him a long time?”

“Since he was a colt.”

There was something final in his tone, suggesting she was getting close to subjects he didn’t want to discuss, yet she couldn’t help probing. “Where did you get him from?”