Free To Protect and to Cherish by Becky Riker

comfortable.”
                  Jillian nodded, “It was kind of him.”
                  A knock sounded on the door.
                  “Come in,” Jillian called, assuming it was the housekeeper or a maid.
                  “Are you nearly ready?” Slade stepped into the room wearing riding clothes.
                  Jillian noticed as Erin’s hands stilled.
                  “I am not,” the mistress knew she needed demonstrate a respectful attitude toward her husband, “but if you can bear to come in and wait, I am certain Erin will be finished soon.”
                  Slade did come in. He pulled the chair from beside her writing desk over to her side and sat himself upon it.
                  “I should have asked my sister to find you a hat to match.”
                  “I have a straw bonnet that will look quite nice with it,” she smiled at him, “but I thank you for the consideration.”
                  Erin pushed a few more pins into place.
                  Jillian recognized the final pat, “Thank you, Erin.”
                  “Anything else, milady?”
                  “No, thank you, Erin. I will call you when I return to the house.”
                  Erin curtseyed and left the room.
                  Jillian turned toward her husband, “Thank you for the gown. It is lovely.”
                  “It looks lovely on you,” he turned her thanks back around to compliment her. “It appears to fit nicely.”
                  Jillian flushed at his mention of the fit. It certainly was not something a gentleman should say to a lady, but she supposed it was proper within a marriage.
                  “Shall we go find our mounts?” he rose and extended a hand to her. She put her fingers in his and followed him out the door.
                  The groom was ready with their horses.
                  Jillian grew nervous as they approached the pair, “Will your groom think it scandalous for me to ride this way?”
                  Slade leaned toward her ear and kept walking, “My groom is not paid to judge my actions or yours.”
                  She wasn’t comforted; she pulled him to a stop and waited for him to look at her, “But will I bring you shame by doing this, Slade? Servants will talk, you know.”
                  He took both her hands in his, “Gossip is not tolerated in our home, Jillian. It is – and has always been – grounds for dismissal,” he leaned a bit closer, “Besides, I believe you will so captivate my staff that they will all think anything you do is charming.”
                  Jillian doubted it, but she knew she would not convince him otherwise.
                  “Peter,” Slade nodded at the groom.
                  Slade held his lady’s horse and assisted her into the saddle, “This is Gacela. She may prove to be too tame for you, but we will begin with her.”
                  Jillian smiled, “I believe I prefer an animal as tame I can find.”
                  He handed the reins to her, “Do you feel comfortable?”
              She nodded, amazed at how true it was.
                  He mounted his own horse and they rode down the lane together.
                  Jillian was surprised by how time flew. They rode by the workers in the field, across small streams, and through a stretch of woods.
                  She wondered if there was any chance she would ever learn these paths. Every turn took them to a new scene.
                  She mentioned as much to him.
                  “I hope you are not considering riding out on your own, Jillian,” he spoke seriously. “You