Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
"Where are we goin'?"
Ada's voice carried across the courtyard as Magnus tightened the girth on his stallion. The morning was cold and clear, the kind of day that made Barra's rocky landscape look beautiful despite being harsh.
"Ridin'," Magnus said without looking up.
"I gathered that much. But where tae?"
"Around the island. Ye need tae ken the land if ye're goin' tae be lady here." Magnus finished with his horse, moved to check Ada's mare. "There are paths ye should ken. Places tae avoid. Hidden routes in case of emergency."
"In case of emergency?" Ada's eyebrows rose. "What kind of emergencies are ye expectin'?"
"The kind that happen when ye rule an island full of stubborn Norsemen and suspicious Highlanders." Magnus gave the mare's saddle a final check. "Dae ye need help mountin'?"
Ada's chin lifted, that stubborn gesture he was beginning to recognize. "I can ride perfectly well, thank ye very much."
She proved it by swinging into the saddle with practiced ease, settling herself without any fuss. Magnus felt a flicker of approval. At least he wouldn't have to worry about her falling off every time the path got rough.
They rode out through the gates, past the village, toward the wilder parts of Barra's coast. Magnus kept the pace easy at first, letting Ada get comfortable with her mount.
"That path there," he said, pointing to a narrow track that wound up into the hills. "Leads to the northern villages. If ye ever need tae send word quickly, that's the fastest route."
"And that one?" Ada gestured to a barely visible trail disappearing into a ravine.
"Smugglers' route. Leads down tae a hidden cove. Useful if ye need tae leave the island without anyone kennin'."
Ada looked at him sharply. "Why would I need tae dae that?"
"Ye wouldnae. But it's good tae ken anyway." Magnus urged his horse forward. "Come on. I want tae show ye the eastern cliffs before the weather turns."
They rode in companionable silence for a while. The wind whipped across the open ground, carrying the salt-smell of the sea.
Magnus found himself watching Ada more than the path, the way she sat her horse, confident and natural. The way her blonde hair escaped from its braid to whip around her face. The way she didn't complain about the cold or the rough terrain.
"Ye're a good rider," he said.
Ada glanced at him, surprised. "Thank ye. Me faither at least made sure I could ride properly. Said a lady who couldnae sit on a horse was useless."
"Yer faither's an arse."
A startled laugh burst from Ada. "Aye. He is."
"But he was right about the ridin'." Magnus steered his stallion around a patch of loose scree. "Ye've got a good seat. Natural."
"Are ye actually givin' me a compliment, husband?"
The word husband sent an unexpected jolt through Magnus's chest. "Dinnae let it go tae yer head."
"Too late. I'm already insufferably pleased with meself."
Magnus felt his mouth twitch. "Careful. Pride comes before a fall."
"Is that a threat?"
"An observation."
They reached the eastern cliffs, sheer drops that plunged straight down to churning gray water. Magnus dismounted, helped Ada down despite her protest that she could manage herself.
"This is the edge of Barra," he said, gesturing to the expanse of sea stretching to the horizon. "If ye keep goin’ north, ye reach Norway. Me ancestors came from there, generations ago."
Ada moved to stand beside him, carefully keeping back from the edge. "Dae ye ever think about goin' back? Tae Norway?"
"Nay. This is me home now. Has been fer longer than I've been alive." Magnus picked up a stone, tossed it over the cliff. "But sometimes I wonder what it was like. Fer them. Leavin' everything they kent tae sail into the unkenned."
"Brave," Ada said quietly. "Or desperate. Maybe both."
"Aye. Maybe both."
They stood together in silence, watching the waves crash against the rocks far below. Magnus was acutely aware of how close Ada stood. Close enough that he could reach out and touch her if he wanted to.
Close enough that the wind carried her scent, herbs and clean linen and something uniquely her.
"We should keep movin'," he said, stepping back before he could do something foolish. "There's more I want tae show ye."
They remounted and continued along the cliff path. Ada kept pace easily, her mare nimble on the rocky ground.
"Ye're goin' slow fer me sake," Ada observed.
"I'm goin' at a reasonable pace."
"Ye're worried I'll fall off."
"I'm worried yer horse will stumble and we'll both end up in the sea."
Ada's eyes gleamed with challenge. "I'm a better rider than ye think."
"Are ye now?"
"Aye. In fact—" Ada urged her mare forward, moving ahead of Magnus on the path. "I'd wager I'm faster too."
Magnus felt something loosen in his chest. Was she actually challenging him? "Ye want tae race?"
"Why nae? Unless ye're afraid of losin' tae a woman."
"I'm nae afraid of anythin'." Magnus nudged his stallion forward, drawing even with her. "But if we're racin', we should make it interestin'."
"What did ye have in mind?"
"A wager. Whoever wins gets one wish. Anythin' they want, within reason."
Ada's cheeks flushed, from the wind or excitement, Magnus couldn't tell. "Anythin'?"
"Within reason," Magnus repeated. "Dae we have an agreement?"
"Aye." Ada gathered her reins. "Tae that stand of trees there?"
"Aye."
"On three?"
Magnus nodded. "One."
"Two."
They both shouted "Three!" at the same time and kicked their horses into a gallop.
Ada shot forward immediately, her mare lighter and quicker off the mark. Magnus let her have the lead for a moment, enjoying the sight of her bent low over her horse's neck, her braid flying behind her.
Then his powerful horse surged forward, eating up the ground with long strides. Magnus drew even with Ada, then began to pull ahead. He could hear her laughing, actually laughing, as she urged her mare faster.
They were neck and neck as the trees approached. Magnus leaned lower, his stallion responding to the slight shift in weight. Victory was close. He could taste it.
Then Ada's mare stumbled.
One moment they were racing side by side. The next, the mare's foreleg caught on something—a root, a rock, Magnus didn't see what. The horse went down hard, pitching sideways and Ada flew from the saddle.
Magnus's heart stopped.
He hauled on the reins so hard his stallion reared. Ada hit the ground and rolled, momentum carrying her straight toward—
"No!"
She went into the stream with a tremendous splash.
Magnus was off his horse before conscious thought, hitting the ground running. The stream wasn't deep—maybe waist-high at most—but it was fed by mountain runoff. Freezing. Deadly if she stayed in too long.
He plunged in without hesitation.
The cold was a physical shock, stealing his breath. But he ignored it, focused only on reaching Ada. She was struggling to stand, coughing and sputtering, her skirts tangled around her legs.
"I've got ye." Magnus grabbed her around the waist, hauling her against his chest. "Are ye hurt? Did ye hit yer head?"
"I'm fine—" Ada's teeth were already chattering. "Just cold."
"Ye're freezing." Magnus half-carried, half-dragged her to the bank. "We need tae get ye out of those clothes. Now."
"What? Nay, I cannae."
"Ye'll die of cold if ye stay in wet clothes. Dinnae argue." Magnus was already unfastening his cloak with one hand, keeping the other arm around Ada to hold her up. "Get behind this. Strip everythin' off."
"I cannae just strip here."
"Now, Ada!" The fear in his voice came out as anger. "I didnae jump intae a freezin’ stream just tae watch ye die of cold on the bank!"
Ada's eyes widened at his tone, but she nodded. Magnus held his cloak up like a screen, turning his head to give her privacy while keeping the heavy fabric between her and the wind.
Behind the cloak, he heard wet fabric hitting the ground. Ada's breathing was ragged, punctuated by violent shivers.
"All of it," Magnus said. "Everythin' has tae come off."
"I'm tryin'…" More sounds of struggle. "Me fingers are too cold, I cannae dae it."
Magnus closed his eyes, fighting for control. "Tell me when ye're decent."
"There's a blanket, in me saddlebag."
"I'll get it in a moment. Are ye out of the wet clothes?"
"Aye. But I'm, I'm freezing."
Magnus turned, keeping his eyes carefully above her neck level. Ada stood behind the cloak, naked except for the heavy wool fabric she'd clutched to cover herself. Her lips were turning blue, her whole body shaking so hard she could barely stand.
"Come here." Magnus pulled her against his chest, wrapping both his cloak and his arms around her. "I need tae get ye warm."
"Ye're soaked too."
"I'm used tae cold water. Ye're nae." Magnus rubbed her arms through the cloak, trying to generate heat through friction. "God, ye're like ice."
"I'm sorry, I shouldnae have…the race was foolish."
"The race was fine. The stream was bad luck." Magnus tightened his arms around her, felt her press closer instinctively. "Just try tae stop shakin'."
"I'm—I'm tryin'."
Magnus rubbed harder, his hands moving up and down her arms, her back. Trying to bring warmth back into her frozen body. He was acutely aware that she was naked beneath the cloak. That only thin wool separated her skin from his hands. That if he moved wrong, touched wrong, the cloak would slip and—
He forced the thoughts away. This was about keeping her alive, not about his own desire.
But God, she felt good pressed against him. Small and soft and utterly vulnerable.
"Better?" he asked, his voice rougher than intended.
"A—a little."
"I need tae get the blanket from yer horse. Can ye stand on yer own for a moment?"
"I—I think so."
Magnus reluctantly released her, keeping the cloak wrapped around her shoulders. He moved quickly to where Ada's mare stood cropping grass, retrieved the blanket from the saddlebag.
When he returned, Ada was still shaking violently, her knuckles white where she gripped the cloak.
"Here." Magnus wrapped the blanket around her over the cloak, then pulled her back against his chest. "This'll help."
"Ye're—ye're shakin' too."
"I'm fine."
"Ye're nae fine. Ye're as wet as I am." Ada's teeth chattered. "We—we should both dry off."
"I'll dry off once ye're warm." Magnus rubbed her arms again, felt her lean more heavily against him. "Just let me take care of ye."
They stood like that for several minutes. Magnus holding Ada, rubbing warmth back into her frozen limbs. Ada pressed against his chest, slowly—so slowly—stopping shaking.
And somewhere in that time, Magnus became aware of other things.
The way Ada's body fit against his. The soft sound of her breathing. The curve of her waist beneath his hands, the way her hair smelled even soaked with stream water.
The fact that she was naked. Right there. In his arms. Nothing but wool and his own failing self-control between them.
His body responded before his mind could stop it. Heat flooded through him, pooling low in his belly. He felt himself hardening against her, felt desire spike so sharply it nearly stole his breath.
No. Not now. Not like this.
Magnus pulled away abruptly, putting distance between them before she could feel what was happening to him.
"Magnus?" Ada's voice was confused. Hurt. "What’s wrong?"
"Ye're warm enough now." Magnus turned away, adjusting his wet clothes to hide his body's reaction. "Get dressed. We should head back before ye catch a chill."
Behind him, he heard Ada's sharp intake of breath. When she spoke, her voice was small. "Did I—did I dae somethin' wrong?"
"Nay."
"Then why did ye dae that?"
"Just get dressed, Ada."
Silence. Then the rustle of fabric as she moved to gather her wet clothes.
Magnus focused on his breathing. On the cold wind against his face. On anything except the woman behind him struggling back into soaked garments because he was too much of a coward to admit he wanted her so badly it hurt.
"I'm decent," Ada said finally.
Magnus turned. She stood wrapped in the blanket, her wet dress clutched in one hand. Her hair hung in dripping tangles around her face, and her expression was carefully neutral.
But he could see the hurt in her eyes. The confusion.
She thought he'd pulled away because he didn't want her. Because touching her had been distasteful somehow.
The exact opposite of the truth.
"That wasnae a fair race," Magnus said, forcing his voice to remain steady. "Yer horse stumbled. We should try again."
Ada shook her head. "Ye won fairly. I was the one who challenged ye, and I was the one who fell. That's on me, nae ye."
"Ada."
"What's yer wish?" She lifted her chin, that stubborn pride back in place. "Ye won the wager. So what dae ye want?"
Ye. I want ye. Want tae strip away that wet dress and the blanket and lay ye down right here and show ye exactly how much I desire ye.
But he couldn't say that. Couldn't do that. Not when she was still recovering from near-freezing. Not when she already thought he found her undesirable.
"I havenae decided yet," he said instead. "I'll let ye ken when I dae."
"Fine." Ada moved stiffly toward her horse. "We should go. Before I actually dae catch a chill."
Magnus helped her mount despite her protest, then swung onto his own stallion. They rode back toward the keep in silence, the easy camaraderie from earlier completely shattered.
And Magnus cursed himself for being a fool the entire way.