Taking in her satisfied expression as she relaxed back into his arms, Galen smiled slightly. "Feel better?"
"Aye." Kyla produced a smile of her own for him, then sighed and said apologetically, "I am sorry to have trialed you so."
"'Twas no' a trial."
"Oh, nay," she agreed dryly. "First you had to play nursemaid on the boat and then you have had to carry me all this way. But 'twas not a trial."
"Aye, well, mayhap 'twas," he murmured thoughtfully and Kyla's heart sank, until he continued. "Aye. In truth it was a trial. Especially having to cart ye about on this horse. Holding ye close. Yer body pressed against mine, rubbing against me with the motion of the horse."
"I am fair sorry, my lord," she murmured, feeling a hunger of a different sort steal through her at the husky words he spoke.
"Aye, well and sure enough ye should be, me having been neglected so long."
"Neglected?" Kyla gasped in disbelief, for it was fair shameful how much attention he had gotten before this trip. She was no expert, but felt sure to commit the bedding twice and thrice a night was fair sinful. Excess was never good.
"Aye, and have I not been poor and lonely all this time between yer being ill and then sleeping?"
"Ah, me," she said wryly. "I suppose I have been shamefully remiss of late."
"'Tis good of ye to admit to it."
Kyla arched one eyebrow at that and suddenly sat up straight in front of him. "I shall do better than that, my lord. I shall correct the problem," she promised silkily, mischief crossing her face briefly as she glanced about to be sure none of the men riding with them were close enough to see what she was about.
Satisfied that she was hidden from prying eyes by the curve of his arms, Kyla turned back to her husband and bit her lip as she considered how to carry out the thought that had occurred to her. She meant to tease him a bit, but modesty gave her pause for a moment before she overcame it and slid her hands to his chest to begin running them lightly over his linen-clad chest.
Galen stiffened slightly in surprise at that, but made no protest, curiosity and a queer excitement keeping him silent and still as she smoothed her hands over his body through his clothes. He truly did not believe she would do much more than that. He had noticed that until he stoked her desires, his wife was shy and reserved when it came to such matters. With that thought still echoing in his head, Galen gasped and stiffened up like a wooden doll when she suddenly delved one hand beneath his tartan, running it lightly across the sensitive skin of his hip and thigh, before closing it around his sudden arousal.
"B'Gad!" His head whipped about to be sure no one could see what she was doing. To his relief, the men all rode some distance behind.
Sucking in another gust of air, he turned back to peer at his wife sharply when she slid her hand along his swollen length. "What the Devil be ye doing?" he demanded, shocked. Was this his sweet flower of a bride handling him so? And out in the woods for all to see?
"Paying you some sore needed attention, husband," Kyla murmured innocently, sliding her hand to the base of him once again.
"Stop that!" Galen cried in dismay, grabbing at her hand and pulling it out of his tartan as he felt his desires surge within him.
"But you said I had neglected you, husband. I would--" Her words came to an abrupt halt when he turned to gesture at the men riding behind them.
Kyla straightened abruptly in his lap as the men suddenly surrounded them.
"Me wife wishes to ride her own horse."
Kyla blinked at that stern announcement from her husband, but had little chance to comment as Tommy untied the reins of the extra horse from his saddle and urged the animal up beside them. Galen then lifted Kyla and swung her onto the beast. His First then placed the reins in her hands and Galen caught her chin with one finger and turned her to face him.
"Stay close. If we're attacked, stay at me side. Understand?"
She nodded once and he bent forward to give her a quick kiss, then released her and straightened in his own saddle, urging his mount to move again.
Kyla stared after him for a moment, then shifted on her mount's back and urged him into a trot. Galen had been shocked by her brazen behavior, but he had also been aroused by it. Surprisingly enough, she had also managed to rouse her own passions and she was now looking forward to lying in his arms again. There was only an hour or so of daylight left. They would stop soon, she assured herself. Then they could wander away from the campfire and--
"Your thoughts seem pleasant."
Kyla gave a start at those words and turned to blink at Lord Shropshire. "Gilbert. I had not realized you were with us." Actually, she really had not noted any of the men with them but Tommy. Now she glanced about, taking in the fact that Gavin, Angus, Duncan, and Robbie were the only other riders with them. A frown began to pluck at her brow then, for truly it did not seem a very large party. Why, she had had an escort of some sixty men when the MacDonalds had attacked--and they had been swiftly defeated.
Reading her expression, the Englishman murmured, "I suggested your husband bring the rest of his men, as well as my own, but he refused. He seems to think that speed is more likely to keep you safe than strength."
Kyla stiffened in her saddle, aware that she was being disloyal, if not in voice, than at least in expression with her brief doubts.
"Well then, my lord, it must be so," she announced firmly with a nod. "My husband is a most successful warrior. Why, did you know that I had an escort of sixty men on the way to Scotland? 'Tis true. Catriona sent forty of her own men and twenty MacGregors met us at the border and still Galen and twenty of his men managed to defeat them. The MacDonalds are fierce warriors, know you? Why I warrant if we were attacked by twenty...thirty...even fifty warriors, these men could fight them off."
Tommy and Galen exchanged a glance as they overheard her staunch defense of his decision, then he slowed his mount until his wife's animal rode beside his own. "In truth, wife, I had thirty men with me."
"Aye, well, still, you were out-manned," she said firmly, then turned to Shropshire to add, "Catriona's men were wearing mail, and all of them on horseback, while Galen and his men were afoot." She nodded firmly to emphasize that, then smiled sweetly. "Never fear, my lord, Galen will keep us safe."
When Shropshire stiffened, looking taken aback at the suggestion that he had feared for his own safety, Galen and Tommy both burst out laughing before spurring their mounts to more speed.
Frowning, Kyla glanced from the backs of the two men as they pulled out in front to Shropshire's disgruntled expression. Then, recalling Galen's order to stay close, she shrugged her curiosity at their reactions aside and urged her horse into a canter.
Kyla shifted on her mount and glanced nervously toward the dark trees surrounding them. She had the distinct impression that they were being watched. It was the only reason she had not as yet commented to her husband that they should stop for the night. He obviously knew that they were being followed, else he would have stopped to make camp by now. It had been full dark for over an hour, the path only dimly lit by a full moon. Surely he would have stopped by now were it not for those eyes she could feel trained on her back?
Sighing, she glanced edgily around again and urged her horse up to her husband's side, nudging Tommy's mount to the side in the process. Responding to the man's startled glance with a sweet smile, Kyla turned to her husband. "Think you they will attack?"
Galen gave a start at that. "What?"
"Attack. Think you they shall attack?"
He merely peered at her as if she were mad for a moment. "Who?"
"The people following us," Kyla explained patiently, then, "Think you I am so unaware that I did not notice them as well?"
Frowning, Galen shook his head. "There is no one following us."
Kyla blinked at that. "What mean you there is no one following us? I can feel their eyes on me." Her gaze narrowed now. "Do not play me false, sir. Obviously you are aware of their presence, as well, el
se you surely would have stopped for the night by now?"
Galen shook his head once more and straightened in his seat. "Nay. We are not stopping for the night."
"What mean you we are not stopping for the night?"
When irritation flickered across his expression, Tommy quickly explained. "We thought it safest to travel straight to Forsythe, me lady. We can rest once we are safe within its walls."
Kyla's jaw dropped at that. It was a moment before she had regained herself enough to say, "But you said it had been two days and a night since we had left the boat."
"Aye." Both men agreed easily enough.
"But you--Did you not rest the night?"
"Nay."
"Well..." Kyla blinked. "What of the horses? Surely they need rest?"
"We changed horses this morn at a village."
Kyla's gaze shifted to the woods around them again before she pointed out, "But the horses have been riding through the day and now into the night. They will be tired."
"We'll change them at the next village," Galen informed her calmly.
"Aye, but if they are tired, how shall we outride our pursuers now?"
He scowled at her irritably. "There are no pursuers, wife."
"Aye, there are," Kyla responded grimly.
"I tell ye, there are no pursuers. I am a warrior. We are all warriors. We have instincts and are trained to be alert for such things and--"
"And I have rested well these past two days, while you have not, husband. Has it not occurred to you that your weariness may have dulled your instincts?"
"Nay. I--"
"I tell you we are being trailed."
Galen scowled at her, then glanced at Robbie when he said, "She may be right, me laird. I have felt fair uncomfortable for a bit now, but was too tired to place a name on me discomfort. I may have been sensing we had company."
Eyebrows rising, Galen turned toward Tommy questioningly. His First shook his head unhappily. "I don't know. I'd dozed off in me saddle. I was only startled awake when Lady Kyla moved up between us. I do sense something in the air now, but that may just be nerves."
"'Tis the same with me," Galen muttered, peering about the clearing.
The other men shifted their gazes about now as well, then Duncan grumbled. "Well, if there is aught out there, why do they not attack?"
"They may fear we would make a break for it," Shropshire murmured, joining the conversation. "If they have been following us and only recently caught up, their horses may be tired as well, and unlikely to keep up with ours." He raised an eyebrow at Kyla. "How long have you sensed we were being followed?"
"'Twas well ere dark when I first sensed them," she admitted quietly.
"The longer they hesitate, the more their horses will tire," Angus reasoned.
"Mayhap there is somewhere up ahead that they think they'd have a better chance of catching us ere we can outrun them," Duncan suggested thoughtfully. "As I recall from me trip to Shropshire when I carried Lady Kyla's necklace and yer message there, the path narrows not far ahead. Just ere a river."
"Aye, it does," Galen agreed grimly.
All were silent for a moment, then Gavin ventured, "Perhaps we are not being followed."
"We are," Kyla put in staunchly.
"Can we not avoid the spot to be certain?" Robbie muttered, tending to agree with his lady now. "Surely there is another route?"
"Aye," Galen murmured. "We could turn south to Stafford, but it adds a day's travel to our trip."
They all fell silent again, then Shropshire leaned forward, resting his arm on the pommel of his saddle. "Lord Stafford is an old friend of mine. He would most likely put us up for the night."
Galen thought it over briefly, then nodded. "Be ready. If we are being followed and their plan was to attack at the pass, they'll not be pleased at our change of direction." With that, he took up Kyla's reins and turned sharply toward the trees on their right. As quickly as that, the men closed ranks around them. Gavin and Tommy urged their own mounts into a run, taking up position at their mistress' side, Angus and Robbie closed in on Galen's flank, and Duncan and Shropshire closed in behind as they tore off the path in a charge for the trees.
They had barely crashed into the trees when Kyla's claim that they were being followed was proven true. She didn't notice at first. Unprepared for the abruptness of Galen's actions, Kyla was kept busy just trying to maintain her seat. But once she had regained her balance in her perch somewhat, she took the time to peer about, anxiety rising in her as they broke through the underbrush into the woods and she saw horsemen scattered about. Two of them were directly in their path and scrambling to get out of the way, but she spied at least a dozen more to the side who were hurrying to cut off their escape.
Of course, these men had been as unprepared for Galen's abrupt turn in direction as she herself had been and were too slow to be able to stop them effectively. However, they did manage to cut them off somewhat, in effect making a funnel, leaving only a small space open, just wide enough for Galen and Kyla's horses to slip through. Tommy, Gavin, Robbie, Shropshire and Angus were forced to a halt, however, to confront the mounted men suddenly in their path. With Galen holding her reins and guiding her horse forward, Kyla was free to peer over her shoulder to watch anxiously as the men fought their way through the foes who had slowed them. There were only four opponents really, their comrades were a bit slower and therefore several lengths behind, but approaching quickly. The MacDonalds did not give them the chance to arrive to assist their fellows, Duncan and Shropshire assisted in making short work of their enemies, then the others turned to continue on after their lord and lady.
Kyla was just releasing the breath she had been holding when the expressions on all six men's faces warned her all was not well. Their combined dismay sent a chill through her as she turned to see that the four men they had just finished dealing with were not the only threat. A fifth man was charging from the side. Straight for her, she saw with a horror that doubled as she recognized him.
It was the MacGregor.
Chapter Eighteen
For one second, Kyla sat frozen in her saddle. The MacGregor was charging down on her. The men were too far away to be of assistance, and Galen, half a horse-length ahead of her own mount, had not yet seen the danger. When the MacGregor's expression suddenly changed from determination to triumph as he leaned forward in his saddle to pluck her off her mount, however, she was finally moved to action and jerked her dirk from her waist to slash at his reaching hands.
He pulled back instinctively at that, barking a half-angry, half-startled yelp. Blood poured from the deep, straight wound she had given him across one palm, but his expression set into grim lines and he reached to grab for her again.
Panic welling inside her, Kyla grabbed desperately for the reins Galen held. Giving them a sharp tug, she managed to reclaim them from his startled grip and regain control of her own mount.
Gripping the ropes tightly, she slammed her heels into her mount's flanks, at the same moment pulling back hard and to the side on the reins, forcing his head back and up. The beast responded exactly as she had expected, wheeling to face the MacGregor, rearing as it did, hooves pawing desperately at the air and striking out toward the man's mount.
One moment he was reaching for her and the next the MacGregor was tugging frantically at his own reins as his horse jerked to the side, rearing in an attempt to avoid the deadly hooves that were now slashing at it.
Now aware of the situation, Galen spun his own mount back to her side. He caught her about the waist and dragged her onto his horse as she started to tumble from her rearing mount. Then he drew his sword from his sheath and raised it to meet his enemy, but, eager to avoid Kyla's still pawing beast, MacGregor's horse had already turned away and was doing its best to escape the area altogether. None of MacGregor's shouts or sawing on the reins could stop the animal's mad dash away through the woods.
Galen muttered something Gaelic as they watched their nemesi
s escape, then glanced at his men as they arrived and circled him and Kyla, their own gazes trained on the MacGregors who had been closing in. The men were now hesitating, unsure whether to attack or go after their leader. Unwilling to do battle while Kyla sat before him, Galen took advantage of their hesitation and swung his animal back to the south, charging off through the trees again, his men hard on his heels.
"Lady MacDonald, perhaps you would like to follow me? I shall show you to your room and you may wash up ere we sit down to table."
Kyla peered blearily at the woman holding out a hand toward her, then glanced uncertainly back at Galen who still sat his mount. She had dozed off against his chest about an hour after they had evaded the MacGregors, only to be awoken an hour later to find herself being set on the ground in the Stafford bailey. At least she presumed this was the Stafford keep. That was where the men had decided to head before leaving the path and crashing through the MacGregor party.
"Go."
Kyla frowned up at her husband when he muttered that word. It was the first thing he had said to her since dragging her from her rearing mount. He had been in a foul temper ever since the incident. It had only taken one look at his black expression to see that. She had thought at the time that silence while he worked through his anger might be the wisest approach. It seemed the passing of time had not improved his mood any.
Deciding that hauling off and punching him in the kneecap that rested directly before her eyes most likely would not improve the situation, Kyla heaved a sigh and turned to trail Lady Stafford into her castle. The men followed the woman's husband to the stables.
"Fetch a bath for Lady MacDonald," Lady Stafford murmured to a servant as she led Kyla through the keep doors, then glanced back at her apologetically. "I hope you are not offended, but I am guessing by the look of you that you have been traveling quite a while. I thought a bath might...refresh you somewhat."
Kyla glanced down at herself at that delicately phrased comment. She was layered with a film of dust from the ride. The lovely ivory gown Galen had dressed her in ere disembarking the ship was now somewhere between beige and tan and her skin was a most unattractive gray-brown shade. Kyla grimaced wryly. "Aye, my lady. I fear it has been several days since I have been out of these clothes, let alone seen water. I would be most grateful for a bath."