“Aye,” he patted the smaller horse. “We are too heavy for Lambo for the full day’s ride. Twill be a long journey, and uphill for much of it. Tis alright, Princess, I will keep the reins.”
I was frowning, and my throat tightened. “I’m just… not that good at it. I don’t want to.”
He gave me a patient look. “I ken. But I will guide the horse the whole time, I will hold the reins. Ye will be safe.”
I crossed my arms. “What if I fall asleep? I’ll fall off!” I huffed. “I don’t like this at all.”
He was chewing his lip. “I daena ken, ye can ride with me if ye must sleep, but untilthenye must ride on yer own.”
“I feel a nap coming onright now.” I felt like a petulant child, but honestly none of this was okay with me and riding a horse through the Scottish highlands was not at all on my plan.
He exhaled. “Princess, tis for the safety of the horse, ye ken?”
“Fine. But I want you to know, Torin, none of this is bymychoice. I didn’t ask to come here, I was kidnapped. You put me in danger. I had a nice life, a great car, and didn’t have to ride horses by myself through the middle of nowhere.”
He said, “I ken.”
“No you don’t ‘ken’. Not really. I haven’t had a bath indays,Torin. This absolutely, unequivocally, horriblysucks.”
He laughed. “Och, ye are spittin’ mad.”
“You’re damn right. I’m pissed.”
“Just because ye must ride alone? Tis somethin’ even bairns can do.”
The horse stamped, ears flicking back, seemingly irritated with me. I glared at it. “I truly doubt that… Bairns are babies?”
“Aye, but mostly weans.”
“Weans, like how old?”
The corner of his mouth went up. “Verra wee. Ye are much larger, tis why ye must be considerate of the horse.”
“Torin! Are you calling me fat?”
His grin spread. “Nae, Princess. I am sayin’ ye are nae a bairn.”
I said, sharply, “Theonlything getting me through this disaster was that I was going to be relaxed, possibly sleeping, and now you’re saying that I’ll have to be constantly stressed out because I’m going to be on the back of a giant animal who doesn’t like me much?—”
The horse swung his head and looked right at me.
I pointed. “See?”
“Och, he daena like ye because ye are speakin’ verra unfairly on him.” Torin patted Ferrari’s neck.
“Lambo is tired from the long ride yesterday, Ferrari needs tae feel useful. Ye will get up on his back and ride for as long as ye are able, then ye can join me on Lambo’s back. Tis fair.”
I pouted.
He patted the back of the horse. “Mount up.”
“Fine.”
I put my hands on the saddle. Torin pushed me upward. Ferrari shifted — I squealed. My skirt turned. The plaid twisted.
I had to wriggle to sit up. I raised my chin. That had been embarrassing, butfine,at least I was up. My thighs ached, but the tunic was dry today, one good thing.
Then he scooped up Dude, who trotted up with perfect timing, as if summoned by my squeals. Torin tucked the cat neatly into Ferrari’s saddlebag. Dude blinked at me, unimpressed.
