Page 38 (1/2)

A athered on the side of the hill Mothers sat on the ground with their babies perched on their laps, while fathers stood behind, talking to one another The older wo work, but they, like everyone, were too busy watching Lady MacAlister to pay any attention to anything else All of thehly enjoying themselves as they watched, transfixed

Every one of them was clearly deood distance away from his enraptured clan, then caht before hi could have prepared hi the black, she was also riding bareback, and saints be praised, she see a fair job of it No, no, not fair, he realized, she was actually quite reht as a staff; her head was held high, and she was riding with the skill and expertise of a MacAlister warrior, yet with the grace and elegance of a deity at the saolden hair flew out behind her as she and the beast glided over the landscape, and when he heard the sound of her laughter, his heart swelled with pride over her a accomplishment He knew the truth then; he was just as demented as everyone else

He noticed the piles of hay strewn about, knew Quinlan had tried to avert disaster by putting down the cushions to ease her falls, and though Connor thought that was clever of hi to tear hi her on, and it wasn't until he noticed Quinlan frantically waving his hands at Brenna and vehe his head that Connor was able to pull himself out of his stupor and put an end to this madness before disaster struck

He didn't understand, or even suspect, what she was going to do until it was too late Connor started down the hill just as the black jumped the first mound of hay Brenna didn't even appear to be jarred by the first leap, but she nearly went crashing to the ground with the stallion's second jump

Connor sis apart, and let out a piercing whistle

The black's head immediately came up He'd heard the command above the roar of approval froed directions

Brenna couldn't understand what had coet the horse to turn back He raced across the hill, turned, and began to climb

She understood why anear the crest, his hands on his hips, his legs spread apart, wearing an expression that didn't leave any doubt at all as to what he thought about her perforo the opposite way Heaven help her, she even begged Willie to take mercy on her

The stubborn horse refused to obey her no matter how much she pleaded with hi stop directly in front of hisdown close to the horse's ear to let hiht about his behavior "Traitor"

Connor heard He knew better than to say a word to her now, because in his present condition, once he got started, he wouldn't be able to stop his

Brenna knew froiven hiht She didn't dare There was soested she'd better not try to calm him down just yet

She decided to pretend she didn't notice his anger It was a bad plan, but then, she couldn't think of a better one now

She straightened up and tried to look cheerful

"Are you pleased withfull well he wasn't pleased at all; he was furious, and that was that Still, there was always a hope, faint though it was, that she could bluff her way through the stor inside her husband

She expected hi He didn't even touch the reins He si back toward the stables

Willie ht side, looking very pale, as though he'd just seen a frightening vision; if he'd spared her a glance, she would have asked him what had happened Then Quinlan appeared on her left side, panting frolance up at her either, so she couldn't ask him why in heaven's name he was so complacent

It wasn't until they reached the stables that Connor finally spoke He ordered Crispin to remove his wife from his stallion's back and wait by her side while he had a ith Quinlan inside

The second the doors were closed behind theht where you are," he ordered

"Would you like me to take your stallion off your hands?" Davis asked "He seeitated by your tone of voice"

He allowed Davis to take the reins before turning to Quinlan "Start explaining"

"Nothing I can say can possibly justify my conduct You have only one recourse open to you, Laird You must remove ry, not stupid," Connor snapped "Can't you control one wo in charge when it's your turn Now tell me, were you out of your mind to let my wife take such a risk? Everyone else seems to be How could you let this happen?"

"Let it happen, Connor? You've got to be jesting I would have hadyour wife cooperate I've done nothing but second guess her and try to outwit her for the last teeks, and all et Quinlan to stop when he noticed Davis was trying to stroll out the back door yet again

"Davis," he roared "If you go out that door, you won't die happy Coiving you so more?"

"I do I want you to answer so if I were you," Quinlan suggested "You'll only end up ry than you already are"

"That isn't possible Now, Davis, as you know, I listen before I act"

"I do know it for a certainty," he agreed

"Did o inside the black's stall and put the bridle on him?"

"No, she didn't"

"Who did"

"I did"

Connor's eyelid began to droop "I see Did you knoife planned to take him out?"

"I did," he answered "She's the reason I went inside with the bridle in the first place"

Connor happened to notice Quinlan's grin, shot hiht about that, and then directed his attention on Davis again

Quinlan couldn't possibly stop s

"Explain why you would do such a thing so that I won't continue to believe you're demented"

"Her smile, Laird, and that's the sorry truth of it"

Connor blinked "Her smile?"

Davis nodded "Her smile was my reason fro, but I'll never say it out loud because it would sound disloyal, and I'ht to add with a nod

"Her heart?"

"Her heart is as pure as an angel's, and so is her swith it, but I' there is Mi'lady isn't like all the other ladies hereabouts She thinks like a man, a clever man, and hoas I to know? She never once lied to me No, Laird, she didn't"

"Then why did you allow her to take the black?"