Free King of the Isles by Debbie Mazzuca Page B

, she told herself, noting they now appeared to be riding in the middle of the pack. Fallyn and her sisters rode just ahead of them, and every so often her friend sent an encouraging look in her direction, which after the fifth time was beginning to wear on Evangeline’s nerves. After all, she was doing remarkably well.
    Suddenly, they veered to the right. Evangeline gasped, sliding sideways off the saddle. Anchoring herself on Bowen’s stunted wing, she righted herself, only to have the wing sweep down. With all of Evangeline’s weight on Bowen’s weak side, the steed was thrown off balance and crashed into the horse on their right, who then slammed into the horse beside him. Jolted by the force of their contact, Evangeline lost her balance. With a panicked shriek, she fell off Bowen—dragging Aurora with her.
    Evangeline tumbled from the sky at a breath-stealing speed. The wind ripped Aurora from her arms. Blinded by her hair, Evangeline clawed desperately at its strangling hold. If she couldn’t see Aurora, she wouldn’t be able to flash her back to Bowen. Powerful hands latched onto her and, with a thump, she landed in someone’s lap.
    “What the bloody hell were ye doin’?” a familiar voice asked. For once she was happy to hear Lachlan’s deep brogue, even if his question was asked in a decidedly aggrieved tone.
    Realizing she alone sat in the comfort of his embrace, she shoved her hair from her face then leaned backward over his arm to search for the little girl. “Where’s Aurora?”
    His arm tightened at her back and he gave her an exasperated look. Jerking his chin to the left of them, he pulled her upright. “No thanks to ye, she’s safe. Bowen went after her, snatched her up with his teeth, then tossed her onto his back,” Lachlan said with an admiring shake of his head.
    “Good ... that’s good.”
    “Aye, ’tis. Now, do ye want to explain to me what happened, because from what I can see the bairn has no problem retainin’ her seat, whereas ye ...”
    From the way Aurora weaved the steed in and out of the other riders, it was obvious Evangeline couldn’t blame the child for the mishap. She searched her mind for a plausible excuse, only to blurt out, “I’m unused to wearing attire such as this. The trews are ... well ... they’re slippery, and I simply slid off the horse.” Discomfited as she was, she tried to ignore the thickly muscled leg beneath her bottom and the powerful arms that held her.
    “Unlike yer robes,” he said dryly. “And here I thought ye were annoyin’ the beast and he decided to toss ye.”
    She frowned. “How could I annoy a horse?”
    “I doona ken, but ye’re verra good at bein’ annoyin’, so it wouldna have surprised me.”
    “If that were the case, your steed would be trying to toss you.”
    “He couldna, I’m too good a rider. That’s it, isna it?” He angled his head and studied her face. “Ye have no experience and ye’re afraid.” His tone gentled.
    “I am not afraid,” she protested a little too vehemently, striving for calm before continuing, “I have never had reason to ride before is all, and I’d much prefer to transport myself to the Far North.”
    At that moment, Aurora whizzed by, performing a series of intricate maneuvers that had Evangeline’s belly lurching, and the thought of getting back on Bowen, even if she glued herself to the steed, held little appeal. She lifted her hand, determined to do as she said.
    “Nay, ye doona.” He took hold of her fingers. “Ye’re no’ goin’ in on yer own.”
    “I’m not getting back on Bowen.”
    “Nay, ’twill be safer fer all of us if ye ride with me.”
    Evangeline was tempted to refuse but knew she had to choose her battles carefully. He was a king, after all, and she had to admit, the confident and commanding manner in which he handled his steed calmed her jangled nerves and queasy stomach. She just had to find a way to ignore the feel of his hard warrior’s body pressed to