Chapter 4
It almost sounded like a joke. There was no humor or emotion in his words, for the seriousness of his tone made it impossible. But the irony was there.
And Leana, of course, caught it in the air.
She furrowed her brow and narrowed her eyes. Sparks flew from her blue orbs, but her annoyance only amused him.
“Very funny, Sir. But I daenae accept.”
“It would be much easier for both of us if ye did,” Kenneth reasoned, waiting for her to catch up. She seemed to be walking slowly on purpose.
“Perhaps, but I have nay intention of makin’ it easy for ye,” she grumbled.
Kenneth stopped to look at her, and she immediately took a step back at the unexpected movement.
Does she think she’s talkin’ to a peasant?
Apparently, Leana was incapable of controlling her temper once it flared. Unfortunately, that was something they had in common.
Therefore, his next words were firm.
“Ye will serve me in me castle for a month, and then ye will be free to go. If ye do what I ask, I will give ye everything ye want.”
“There is nothing I want more than me freedom.”
“Very well. Ye’ll have it in a month.”
“I want it now,” Leana insisted.
God, give me patience!
“I’ll pay ye in gold,” he offered, though he assumed that she was not a lass to be bought.
“I’m nae interested in gold.” Leana held his gaze stubbornly.
Kenneth sighed deeply, obviously annoyed. He raised a hand to his long, dark hair and ruffled it. He had to keep trying to reason with the lass. It was either that or throwing her over his shoulder.
She is as stubborn as she is bonnie.
“If nae by choice, then by force. But either way, ye will stay. Ye might as well decide to do it as me guest,” he warned.
Time was running out, and he wasn’t going to play this game with her any longer.
But of course, it wasn’t a game for Leana. And just as she had said, she was determined to make things difficult for him.
“But ye’re nae me Laird, so ye cannae make me do anything,” she countered.
“True,” Kenneth acknowledged, nodding quietly as he looked at the young, fearless lass. “But me men can. Remember, I always have the option of keepin’ ye in me castle, whether ye want it or nae.”
She huffed out a breath. She looked as tired of the argument as he was. But she did not look defeated.
“Ye’re too stubborn,” she hissed.
“So are ye,” Kenneth returned as they continued walking.
He did not take his eyes off her. He knew full well that the lass wouldn’t hesitate to flee again at the slightest opportunity, so he didn’t let up, and she didn’t seem to let up either.
Together they walked side by side to where the men were saddling their horses. The rain had begun to subside, so it was no longer a nuisance to them, but the cold had set in.
Everything was damp, which might make the journey slower, as the ground would be muddy and slushy. But Kenneth hoped to make it back to the castle before sunset.
That is, of course, if the stubborn, beautiful lass would stop resisting everything he did or said.
“Me Laird, everything is ready,” one of the men announced as Kenneth approached the horses.
“Can ye ride, Miss Beaton?” he asked.
Leana raised an eyebrow at him. “Aye,” she replied simply.
But he could read more on her face. If he handed her the horse’s reins, she would not hesitate to use that advantage to escape.
Suppressing a sigh of frustration, Kenneth handed the reins of the second horse to one of his men. “The lass will ride with me.”
“I’m perfectly capable of ridin’,” Leana protested immediately.
“I ken. And that’s what worries me,” he pointed out.
This time, he was not going to let her choose. From now on, they would do things his way, for he had no intention of wasting any more time.
So, he approached his horse—a huge, dark steed—and took the reins, ready to go.
If they set off now and kept up their pace, they would reach the castle soon.
But before he mounted, Kenneth noticed something, and only then did he remove his cloak and drape it over Leana’s shoulders.
Evidently, she was not going to make that easy for him either.
“What do ye think ye’re doin’?” she hissed, trying to shrug off the cloak.
In a bid to stop her, Kenneth grabbed her hand, causing her to jerk up her head and search his gaze.
“Ye’re soakin’ wet and cold,” he said, for he had noticed the way her lips had turned slightly blue. “And me cloak is much sturdier than yers.”
“I daenae need it,” Leana stated defiantly.
“Daenae fight over everything, lass. Just accept the cloak before ye get sick.”
She did not like the order, that much was obvious, but she made no protest. With a grunt, she adjusted the garment around her shoulders as Kenneth pulled her closer to the horse.
Without waiting for her permission, he grabbed her by the waist. His hands fit perfectly in the narrow and curvaceous shape, and his fingers almost brushed her navel. She looked up at him, uncomfortable and slightly frightened, but he simply lifted her into the saddle and then climbed up after her.
For a moment, Kenneth waited, thinking that she might start complaining again. But she didn’t. She just inched back a little, her hips bumping against his briefly as she tried to make herself comfortable. Then, she adjusted her cloak, so he couldn’t see her face.
I’m goin’ to go mad if I have to ride with her like this for hours…
That was not far from the truth. Their bodies didn’t touch, but Kenneth knew he wouldn’t be able to resist that fleeting caress without wanting more.
Fortunately, Leana’s temper brought him back to reality.
“Ye’re seriously goin’ to keep me prisoner for a month,” she huffed, more than indignant.
“As me guest,” he reminded her as he took up the reins. His men, like him, were ready to leave. “I need ye only to do yer job.”
“And what is that job?” Leana asked.
She turned slightly to look him in the eye, but he did not answer. Instead, he urged his horse into a gallop.