She shrugged, lifted one leg to the other side, settled herself and took hold of the horse's mane. "As you wish."
He was back on his horse and headed off again before he realized she had just won the first battle. She wanted to ride her own horse and now she was. He ran his fingers through his blond hair and closed his green eyes.
Ten minutes later when he looked back, she had both her hands on her head holding it. He stopped, moved her horse up next to him, leaned over and opened his arm. She didn't hesitate to wrap both of hers around his neck and let him lift her into his lap. She lowered her arms and again folded her hands.
He lifted her chin so he could see her face and noticed a tear roll down her cheek. "Does the pain cause your tears?"
"I have never been injured before. My mother would know how to ease it; she helped my father when his face was hurt."
"What did she do?"
"She put a cold cloth on it."
"Then we will do the same. We are not far from a loch and we will stop there for the night."
"May I touch you now?"
His heart was beginning to melt and it was a new experience. He felt protective, caring and worried all at the same time. And for the first time in his life, he doubted his own self-control. He was supposed to protect her, not fall in love with her. Kevin was right, she had the power of a thousand Highlander warriors all wrapped up in one little tear. He cupped his hand around her head and gently put it against his chest.
*
Blair and Charlet got to the loch a little sooner than he expected. He halted the horses, lifted her down and then paid more attention to the horses than to her. He let them drink and then set them free to graze on the tall grass.
She hadn't said a word in hours, but she wasn't crying or holding her head anymore. He noticed when she walked into the trees and wondered if she would try to run. But, it would get cold soon and whether she liked it or not, she needed his extra plaids and the warmth of a fire.
The trees were even further apart than at noon and she was not pleased. She kept right on walking and expected him to come get her but he didn't. She wondered if he bothered to bring any food. Then she heard something in the forest. She thought it was Blair and looked back, but he was still in the clearing building a fire. She couldn't see or hear anything more, but just in case, she turned around and went back.