“Lass, how could I have moved yer horse? I’ve been next to ye since I arrived.”
I knew he had nothing to do with it, but the irony was so ridiculous it made me almost believe in those mischievous Highland fairies Cooper spoke of.
“I don’t know, but how else do you explain it? He was most certainly here earlier. I checked on him this afternoon.”
“Lass, do ye no see the rope there? Ye doona know how to tie him properly. A strong wind came through, and he decided he’d rather seek warmth in his stable than wait around for ye, no doubt. ’Twould be what I’d have done. I wager ye’ll find him back safely at McMillan Castle.”
“You’d do best to stay away from any more wagers. You’re not very good at winning them.”
He glared at me under amused eyes. “I still have some time yet to win. And it seems yer horse has seen fit to give me assistance. I must remember to stop by the stables and give him an apple in thanks.”
“This isn’t going to happen, Adwen. Why don’t you just lend me your horse and go back inside for the night? I’ll return it in the morning.”
As if in answer, the horse gave a loud huffing noise, and Adwen chuckled at my question.
“Even if I said aye, Bullwick here wouldna allow it.”
“Fine. I’ll ride Orick’s.”
“Orick’s horse is more difficult than my own.”
“I’ll borrow Gregor’s.” I threw out every suggestion I could grasp at—anything that would keep me off of that horse.
“Without asking. Are ye saying that ye wish to go back inside and disturb them? What if his wife is already sleeping?”
Of course I wasn’t going to disturb Isobel, and Adwen knew it. I pouted, crossing my arms as I allowed myself to fume. I took some time fighting against the cold as I searched for an answer. Eventually, as I stared up at the animal’s great size, an idea came to mind.
“Okay, I’ll ride with you back to the castle, on one condition.”
“What’s that, lass?”
“You will ride in the front. I get the back.” I smiled, satisfied and tickled by the image in my mind.
“I canna allow that, lass.”
“Well, that’s fine with me. Then, you just go back inside and lie to Gregor and tell him I’m back at the castle. Tomorrow morning, he can find my frozen corpse outside.” I sat down, leaning against the side of the inn for effect.
“Do ye truly expect me to believe that ye will stay there all night? Ye are no capable of it.”
I ignored him, closing my eyes to the cold and settling in for a battle of willpower. Adwen had no idea what he was up against—I had a head as hard as stone and a ridiculously stubborn temperament.
I don’t know how much time went by, but long enough for my nose to start to burn from the cold and my knuckles to stiffen so that I could scarcely move my joints, before Adwen cracked.
“It will place wrongful pressure on the horse, lass, for us to sit so.”
I didn’t want to hurt the horse and, as I looked the creature over once more, I highly doubted that it would have. Still, I was no equine expert and I didn’t wish to risk it.
“That horse is as big as an ox and I hardly weigh anything, but fine. I don’t want to take my anger at you out on the animal.”
Apparently colder than he allowed himself to show, he wasted no time mounting the horse and extending a hand so that he could help me up.
He lifted me with ease but, as soon as he sat me down in front of him, he shook out his shoulder dramatically.
“I think ye are heavier than ye believe yerself to be, lass.”
I knew he joked but I elbowed him in the ribs as hard as I could. “Shut up, Adwen. Just bring me to the castle.”
*
Much to my surprise, he obeyed my request for silence most of the way back to the castle and kept his hands to himself as much as he could while holding onto the reins. In the end, I broke the silence.
“You’re being very well-behaved. Thank you.”
“I am no an animal, Jane. I’ve never taken anything that was no offered me. Ye are both the first lass that I’ve asked to bed outright and the first to reject me. Forgive me for disbelieving yer sincerity when ye did so.”
“How is that possible? Who goes their whole life without being rejected? It may not feel like it now, but I assure you, I did you a favor. A good hit to the ego is healthy now and then.”
He laughed, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down my ear. I had to bite down on my lip to keep from squirming in front of him.
“Aye, mayhap so. I feel half the man I did this morning. ’Tis verra humbling.”
We broke the small hill leading up to the McMillan Castle pond, and I could see Eoghanan’s outline standing near the entranceway and next to it the small outline of Cooper. I felt myself sigh and pulled my brows up in confusion.