Read Charming the Chieftain for Free Online Page A

despite the splendor of her surroundings, the relentless hours on horseback merged the impressive landscape into a muddle of color. Desperate to break the tedium, she decided any subject no matter how trivial matter would be a welcome relief. She cast about in her brain for an innocuous topic, until a curt command to his horse provided an opening.
    “Uhm, Chief?”
    “Aye?”
    Undaunted by his resigned air, she continued, “By what name do you call your mount?”
    He hesitated for so long she thought he wasn’t going to answer, and then mumbled the reply. She turned sideways, uncertain she heard correctly, but he righted her seat quick enough.
    “Did I hear you a-right? You did say Honeybush?”
    Stalwart in his silence, she forged ahead regardless, determined to have an exchange of words.
    “Is that not the name of an herb?”
    He sighed long and hard. “Aye, ’tis also the name of my mount.”
    She swiveled to look at him, “Surely you jest.”
    “Unfortunately, ’tis God’s own truth.”
    One giggle escaped, then two, until she ended with a snort of laughter over his pained expression.
    “Hmm,” she began once she reeled in her mirth. “There’s a story there, I think. No one would have the audacity to christen such a regal beast Honeybush, unless … No,” she shook her head, “it’s of no use. I cannot begin to guess the reason. Now, you have no choice save to recount the tale in its entirety.”
    He looked ready to balk, yet, she noticed a slight smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.
    “Pretty please?”
    His eyes held hers for what seemed an eternity. A fissure of awareness dimpled her skin, as she imagined him leaning in to steal a kiss.
    Why do I feel this way, and does he feel it, too?
    A cacophony of calls from a murder of crows passing overhead broke the enchantment. Cheeks burning, she scooted forward the same moment he awkwardly launched into his account.
    “I … ah, as a foal, Honeybush fed on patches of the herb growing in quantities around the paddock. My older brother, Addis, plagued me by dubbing him Honeybush. Now, ’tis the one name he answers too.”
    The smile in his voice warmed her, but confused her as well. On the one hand, he presented an aloof, distant demeanor, and then in one afternoon revealed a thoughtful, caring man. A subtle shift brought her further back between his thighs. His body was heavy, warm and broad as it loomed over hers, and she could not help to think how easy it would be to — she squeezed her eyes shut determined to abandon a thread of thought that would only cause heartache.

Chapter Six
    Sweetbriar.
    Three days of continual travel except to tend to the basest needs and the lass’s hair still smelt of the bloody flower. The familiar fragrance evoked images of his home, and he knew he would never think of the Lowland’s thriving woodlands and high peaks without recalling her every word and expression, too. A powerful urge to bury his nose in her caramel-colored locks hit him with the force of a ballista. He shook his head in disbelief. That such an acid-tongued female induced the tiniest twinge of desire blindsided him. He wasn’t certain he even liked her, and he certainly did not need the added distraction of pursuing such a prickly woman. Too many precarious situations vied for his attention. He could not afford to lose focus now.
    Moreover, painful experience taught him that women, especially beautiful women, found his facial scars too repugnant to disregard. They wanted a man equal to their beauty. Although, a few made it quite plain an unsightly appearance might be overlooked if there was a title to gain. Hell, Fiona would have the banns read before nightfall if he made her an offer of marriage. Tam took it upon himself and nagged him daily to take a wife and provide an heir. Quite aware that in these modern times it wasn’t a requirement to like his wife, much less love her, but he admitted only to himself, he wanted something different