Free Highland Stone by Sloan McBride Page B

a final critical assessment of her appearance before leaving the room. There were butterflies in her stomach. She knew she shouldn't feel too excited. This ride might lead nowhere, but the anticipation kept her hopeful. Anything she could learn was better than what little she knew. If the ride went well, she might even broach the subject of the MacLeod talisman, and their beliefs of how the talisman worked. She'd been closed mouth about the subject for fear it would add to the suspicions that she was here to do the MacLeods harm. Lately, the whispers about her had tapered off.
    When Kara arrived at the stables, her heartbeat picked up and the butterflies turned to dive bombers. Alaxandar stood talking to the stable hand, his stallion waiting next to a beautiful mare. This can't be happening.
    Alaxandar walked over to the mare. "Ready?"
    "What happened to Cuilén?" Her tongue stumbled over her teeth. "I mean, I thought Cuilén was taking me."
    A slow smile crept across his face and his eyes twinkled. "I offered to go in his stead."
    Her stomach sank. He held out his hand, the same hand that just last night had caressed her body and made her pant. Oh, Lord. Kara moved toward him.
    "Have ye ridden before?"
    She nodded in the affirmative.
    "Face the horse," he told her.
    She turned toward the horse then felt Alaxandar grip on her waist. "Wait," she yelped then reached between her legs to grab the skirt and pull it through. His quizzical look amused her. "So I can straddle the horse." Alaxandar's eyes turned darker and her cheeks burned. She really needed to think before she opened her big mouth. She wondered what they had done with her jeans.
    He lifted her onto the back of the animal and handed over the reins. Alaxandar mounted and nodded to Cuilén, who stood in the doorway with arms crossed and a big grin. Kara stuck her tongue out at him as she rode past. His laughter echoed across the bailey.
    Kara and Alaxandar rode in silence for a while, sharing only an occasional glance which was fine. She studied the fields of wild raspberries and elderberries. There were apple trees alongside the trail. The Highlanders managed quite well in the warmer seasons with the fruits. She itched to analyze the soil content and study the rock formations. With that information, she might be able to make helpful suggestions to plant crops, thereby providing more food and in turn, create less need for raids.
    At the top of a huge hill they stopped and looked out over the glen. "I can smell the heather, and the flowers are so pretty." Kara sighed.
    "This be good land," Alaxandar said. He dismounted and helped her down so they could walk a while.
    "Where are we?"
    "If we ride hard that direction for half a day," he pointed to the southeast, "we would be on MacKenzie land."
    "What about that way?" She pointed north.
    "That be Ross holdings. Ye never did tell me where ye come from," Alaxandar prompted.
    Yep, those dive bombers were getting a workout today. "I came from there," she said, and pointed west.
    "Ye came from the Minch?" He tilted his head.
    Minch, Minch, what the hell was Minch? "Uh, huh. I came from the Minch."
    Alaxandar frowned. It would explain much if she had come from the Minch on some sort of sailing vessel.He still couldn't understand why she would journey alone.
    Sunset fast approached. "We need to start back," he said and walked around to help her mount. While he held the reins she bent over to pull the skirt between her legs providing him with a view of her posterior. Instantly, his cock enlarged. Wicked visions of throwing the skirt over her head, grabbing her hips, and thrusting into her over and over made him growl.
    "Did you say something?" she asked as she straightened.
    "No." His cock was so hard now he could bang it against a tree and be better off.
    Without further comment, he gripped her waist and all but threw her atop the mare. A creamy bare leg brushed his arm. Before he did something stupid, Alaxandar slapped the