He looked at her as though she were daft, which she could very well be.
“We can,” he said, “but the Camerons will branch out come morning, if nae before.”
“You really think…” She stopped. Rory had already explained all about idiotic male pride. “Then how are we going to get home?”
“We will go north.”
“North? But that is in the opposite direction.”
“Aye. We will head to MacDonnell lands, then circle around to the MacPhersons’ and Murrays’.”
“How long will that take?” When he didn’t answer, she asked again. “How long? A day or two?”
He shook his head. “More like a fortnight.”
“Afortnight?”
“If the weather holds.”
“If the weather holds.” Lord help her, she was sounding like a parrot. “What are we… Where will we… I mean, how can we travel together for two weeks? Or…more?”
He hesitated, then took a deep breath. “To keep ye safe, it would be better if we declare we are handfasted, as I said earlier. Ye will be mine, and nae one will question us then.”
Juliana stared at him, and then she began to laugh as hysteria rose in her throat. The irony of saving herself by doing exactly what she didn’t want to do was madness.
…
Rory watched her uneasily, wondering what could possibly be laughable about his proposal—a word that made him shudder, considering she was the last woman he was compatible with. He supposed he should be grateful that she hadn’t slapped him outright. He frowned. The lass was practically bent over, clearly finding the whole thing hilarious. He didn’t think the idea wasthatfunny. He had simply suggested that they act like a couple in public, but it was a wee bit of a sore point that she could not stop laughing. The lass didn’t have a weakness in her head, not with the sharp retorts she always made to him.
When the sound changed and turned to a high keening, he grabbed her shoulders and gave her a shake. Her eyes widened, and he saw that look of apprehension in them before she jerked away. She started to put her hands up defensively and then suddenly dropped them.
“Are ye all right?”
For a moment, she looked around as though she wanted to bolt, then she slowly nodded. “I…I am fine.”
He didn’t believe that. She’d never seemed like one to succumb to vapors or any other odd maladies that befell some women. Yet, when he’d kissed her, she’d looked fearful. And now she acted as though she wanted to defend herself. Maybe she thought he was going to take advantage of her? The thought made him grimace. He’d never forced himself on a woman. He didn’tneedto.
Besides, this wasJuliana, the woman with a viper’s tongue…although the image that flashed through his mind of her tongue just now had nothing to do with how sharp her words were. Instead, his wayward mind wondered what would have happened if he hadn’t stopped the kiss when he did. His cock twitched, and he pushed the thought firmly aside. He was obviously in need of rest as much as his horse, since he wasn’t thinking straight.
“Mayhap we need to find a spot where we can get a bit o’ sleep before we move on.”
Her eyes widened again. “But you said we should move on so the Camerons do not catch up to us.”
“Aye, but neither of us has had any rest in near two days. Ye must be tired.”
“I…am…but I do not want to be caught.” She fished for something in her cloak and pulled out a knife. “I do not want to have to use this.”
Rory glanced at the blade and managed not to laugh. It was one used for cutting meat in a trencher, not very big and not overly sharp. He supposed it could do some damage, but it would hardly kill a man. Then he frowned. Was she sending him a message as well?
“Ye are nae planning to use that on me, are ye?”
She took a step back. “I do not want to—”
“Good.” He took a step forward, grasped her wrist, and applied pressure to a spot between her thumb and forefinger. Her grip on the weapon loosened immediately, and he caught it.
“Give that back! You cannot do that!” She scowled at him. “I have a right to protect myself!”
He grinned. “Ye are sounding like your old self now.”
