Page 47 of Saved By the Cruel Highlander
“Then I am a lucky lass,” she said. “Ye took me to the market two days ago, and now ye are takin’ me out again.”
“I want to ken ye afore the weddin’,” Elias said.
As he looked at her, he realized that it wasn’t only the prospect of another kiss and more but also the prospect of being in her company.
“It’s a braw day to go ridin’,” Holly admitted.
“I’ve had them pack us a basket for luncheon,” the Laird said. “Let’s get goin’.”
When they entered the stables, the stable hand ran over and greeted them. Two horses had been saddled, the Laird’s steed and a smaller horse that might keep up with him if Holly could ride well. Elias helped her up onto her horse before he mounted his, then led them out of the stables.
They trotted out of the stables, through the open area to the right of the courtyard, and then through the main gates. Elias took it slow over the first half mile of the road and then looked back at Holly. He nodded to her and smiled. When he looked back ahead, he flicked the reins and geed up his horse.
His steed obeyed the command and took off, its hooves thundering on the packed earth. The Laird rode at half speed, testing his wife-to-be, and when he glanced behind after a few minutes of riding, he saw her still shadowing him.
Elias smiled some more. She could keep up with him so far. He pushed his horse a little faster, its hooves kicking up clouds of brown dirt. When he reached the meadow, he steered his horse to the right and onto the grass.
The beast liked the softer ground, and its head bobbed up and down as it gained speed. Yellow and white daisies sprinkled the grass, and small tufts of longer grass grew upward in patches. Elias pushed on toward the heather-covered foothills, putting the castle far behind him.
When he got to the top of the short incline, a crystal loch lay in the short distance, surrounded by trees on one side, a mountain towering over it in the distance beyond. The gray-purple peak of the mountain was perfectly reflected in the water. A large ring bubbled in the water; something was down below. Behind the loch, a stag was eating grass. It lifted its head, likely still chewing, and looked over at the Laird. He stared back for a second before turning his horse to face the way he had come.
Holly rushed toward him on her horse, laughing as she got there. Elias pulled on the reins and steered his horse past her before circling her.
“Nae bad,” he commented, before pulling on the reins to urge his horse forward again.
He heard Holly’s joyful screams as she tried to catch up to him, but the wind roaring in his ears drowned out their exact meaning. He had never felt more free when he rode his horse. Free of his duties as Laird, free of the past, free of the stares, and free of the knowledge of what he had done.
He didn’t shirk his responsibility as a laird and knew the people respected him, but it had been thrust upon him instead of chosen. At times, he doubted himself.
But not that morning. As his horse hit top speed, he didn’t have a care in the world. The morning was cold, but the beast was warm, and nothing else needed to make sense.
He often went out riding by himself to clear his head, but his head was equally cleared with Holly accompanying him. He could still see her face in the market when he had bought her the ribbons, and he knew he had done something good.
I’ve never been one to think of meself as good. I’m strong, fair, protective, just… but can I be good?
Elias urged his horse on, taking them to the water. If it got warm enough later, he might go for a swim. He wondered if Holly would join him. She had certainly matched him in many ways so far.
He brought the horse to a halt and led it to the water to drink. He crouched down beside his steed and cupped his hands in the water to quench his thirst. He took a last handful of water and splashed it on his face to cool himself. Then, he took his horse back to a tree and tethered it.
Holly joined them a moment later.
“Ach, ye’re here,” he called. “I was just about to go back. I finished the picnic and everythin’.”
“Och, ye are a rotter,” she shouted back.
Elias smiled and helped her down from her horse, taking her by the waist, their bodies close as he lowered her onto the ground.
Patience, Elias. Ye have the whole day.
From the way she looked at him, he could see that she wanted exactly what he was prepared to give her. He let go of her and took her horse to tether it to the tree, beside his steed. Then, he returned to her with the basket.
“I took a drink from the loch,” he said. “It’s crisp and fresh.”
“Aye?” Holly asked. She looked at him, wondering if he was jesting with her.
Elias raised his eyebrows in response. Holly took it as a sign that he was being honest, and she went down to the water while he unpacked the blanket and food. Elias almost burst out laughing when he saw her on all fours by the water’s edge, getting her face close and scooping the water up with one hand.
Two thoughts came to his mind. The first was what a positively brilliant rear she had. The second was that if he ran over there and nudged her ever so gently with his boot, she would plunge face-first into the water. He decided against it, sure that she would not find it as funny as it was in his mind.
