Read Online In the Highlander's Bed by Cathy Maxwell - Free Book Online
Authors: Cathy Maxwell
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fingers of her bound hands, needing to circulate the blood in them. The bonds were not too constrictive, but resting her hands in one place for hours had given them cause for complaint.
“MissConstance sounds foolish and fussy,” he countered.
“It sounds proper,” she answered.
He made a dismissive sound. “Why stop there, lass? Why not have us call you Queen of All She Sees?”
She pretended to consider the suggestion. “That would be fine…and aren’t you touchy when you don’t have sleep.”
His brows came together in a frown. “I don’t need sleep.”
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She hummed thoughtfully and his scowl deepened.
“I wasn’t being sarcastic,” he replied. “I thought that was how you did consider yourself.”
“Humor, Mr. Lachlan?” She shook her head. “It’s not your strength, especially when you haven’t had sleep.” And then, before he could comment, she instructed him primly, “I don’t mind being plain Constance. I’m a free-thinking woman. An American.”
She liked the sound of her declaration, and realized that even though she was kidnapped and going in the opposite direction of her ship, at least she wasn’t stuck in that overbearing school. She was wearing her moccasins, and when she had the chance, she’d free herself of this fussy ball gown. She could slouch her shoulders and laugh loudly and speak her mind…
Suddenly, her situation didn’t look that difficult. She was on her own. Freedom was a heady thing.
Of course, there was the pesky problem of Lachlan and his band of Scots, but certainly she could think of a way to escape. With the dawn came a new day and a host of opportunities—
“Why are you smiling, lass? What mischief are you cooking up in that balmy head of yours?” Mr.
Lachlan asked.
“What makes you believe I’m thinking of anything?” she countered.
He shook his head in disbelief. “Since my path has crossed yours, there hasn’t been one second your mind was idle.”
“Even when I was asleep?” she wondered, pleased with his assessment. She shook her head. “Please don’t tell me you prefer women who lack nimble wit.”
“Slow women are more amenable.”
“Butless entertaining,” she retorted.
She startled a laugh out of him. The sound was obviously so rare, the others came alert and pushed their horses closer. Thomas the giant mumbled, “What is it? Is she being a pain in the arse again, Gordon?”
“Thomas,” Lachlan said in warning. “Constance is our guest.”
“No, I’m not,” she said. “A guest may leave.”
“Some women don’t understand we don’t want to hear them yap,” Thomas said.
“That’s not true, Thomas,” Constance said gamely. “We understand. We just enjoy irritating you.”
Robbie and Brian burst into laughter. But Gordon—because that’s how she wanted to think of him—held up his hand. “We’ll stop here for a spell.”
“It’s about time,” Thomas grumbled, and the others agreed. They slid from their horses, stumbling a bit as their legs became accustomed to bearing their weight again.
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Gordon didn’t stop. He nudged his horse through the trees, moving away from his men. A minute later they came upon a trickling stream.
Constance wondered if he’d known it was there or if they had happened upon it by chance.
He dismounted. “You will want a moment of privacy to see to your needs.”
Privacy.A magic word. “Thank you,” she murmured, knowing here was her chance to escape.
Gordon took her by the waist and swung her down. Like Thomas and the others, her legs had trouble adjusting to being on solid land, while Gordon seemed unaffected. Really, the man appeared invincible.
He kept his hand at her waist to steady her. It was a gentleman’s gesture, a kindness. And yet there was something protective in his touch, too.
“MissConstance sounds foolish and fussy,” he countered.
“It sounds proper,” she answered.
He made a dismissive sound. “Why stop there, lass? Why not have us call you Queen of All She Sees?”
She pretended to consider the suggestion. “That would be fine…and aren’t you touchy when you don’t have sleep.”
His brows came together in a frown. “I don’t need sleep.”
Page 35
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She hummed thoughtfully and his scowl deepened.
“I wasn’t being sarcastic,” he replied. “I thought that was how you did consider yourself.”
“Humor, Mr. Lachlan?” She shook her head. “It’s not your strength, especially when you haven’t had sleep.” And then, before he could comment, she instructed him primly, “I don’t mind being plain Constance. I’m a free-thinking woman. An American.”
She liked the sound of her declaration, and realized that even though she was kidnapped and going in the opposite direction of her ship, at least she wasn’t stuck in that overbearing school. She was wearing her moccasins, and when she had the chance, she’d free herself of this fussy ball gown. She could slouch her shoulders and laugh loudly and speak her mind…
Suddenly, her situation didn’t look that difficult. She was on her own. Freedom was a heady thing.
Of course, there was the pesky problem of Lachlan and his band of Scots, but certainly she could think of a way to escape. With the dawn came a new day and a host of opportunities—
“Why are you smiling, lass? What mischief are you cooking up in that balmy head of yours?” Mr.
Lachlan asked.
“What makes you believe I’m thinking of anything?” she countered.
He shook his head in disbelief. “Since my path has crossed yours, there hasn’t been one second your mind was idle.”
“Even when I was asleep?” she wondered, pleased with his assessment. She shook her head. “Please don’t tell me you prefer women who lack nimble wit.”
“Slow women are more amenable.”
“Butless entertaining,” she retorted.
She startled a laugh out of him. The sound was obviously so rare, the others came alert and pushed their horses closer. Thomas the giant mumbled, “What is it? Is she being a pain in the arse again, Gordon?”
“Thomas,” Lachlan said in warning. “Constance is our guest.”
“No, I’m not,” she said. “A guest may leave.”
“Some women don’t understand we don’t want to hear them yap,” Thomas said.
“That’s not true, Thomas,” Constance said gamely. “We understand. We just enjoy irritating you.”
Robbie and Brian burst into laughter. But Gordon—because that’s how she wanted to think of him—held up his hand. “We’ll stop here for a spell.”
“It’s about time,” Thomas grumbled, and the others agreed. They slid from their horses, stumbling a bit as their legs became accustomed to bearing their weight again.
Page 36
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Gordon didn’t stop. He nudged his horse through the trees, moving away from his men. A minute later they came upon a trickling stream.
Constance wondered if he’d known it was there or if they had happened upon it by chance.
He dismounted. “You will want a moment of privacy to see to your needs.”
Privacy.A magic word. “Thank you,” she murmured, knowing here was her chance to escape.
Gordon took her by the waist and swung her down. Like Thomas and the others, her legs had trouble adjusting to being on solid land, while Gordon seemed unaffected. Really, the man appeared invincible.
He kept his hand at her waist to steady her. It was a gentleman’s gesture, a kindness. And yet there was something protective in his touch, too.
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