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breasts, her nipples poking through the cloth. Pulling the dress up the best she could, she followed him, trying not to limp. The rocks were wet and slippery and he caught her around the waist as she slipped. Alexander half carried her to a stony stretch of beach.
    Just as they reached it, Kenna was surprised to see four riders, leading two additional horses, appear at the far end of the beach. Her cousin Emily was one of the riders, and her horse’s bridle was held by James Macpherson. She sent Kenna a despairing look.
    “The abbot and Diarmad are on their way to see the MacDougall,” James told them. “We should get on the road, as well.”
    Kenna stood in the cold sand, staring at them and shivering. Darkness was only a couple of hours away.
    “Now?” she demanded. “You have no right to endanger Emily’s safety . . .”
    Whatever else she was going to say withered on her lips as Alexander stripped off his shirt and walked to his horse.
    His waist was narrow, his shoulders wide. His skin was bronzed from the sun. Kenna watched the muscles ripple across his powerful back and suddenly felt warmer. He wrung out his shirt and pulled it back on.
    One of their men dismounted and brought a horse to Kenna, ready to help her. She shook her head and stepped back.
    “Nay, I am not going anywhere.”
    “You heard James,” Alexander said, climbing onto his horse. “We’re getting on the road. Now.”
    “I cannot travel like this,” she said. “My dress is soaked. I have no shoes. I need to change my clothes.”
    “You missed your chance for all that.” He tossed her a tartan blanket. “You can fashion an
arisaidh
of sorts from this, I imagine.”
    It was the same plaid that Alexander wore. She threw it back at him. “You’ll never see me wearing that. I want a dry dress.”
    “Take yours off. I’ll wring it out for you.”
    She sputtered and then stared at him in disbelief.
    Alexander motioned to the others. “Go on, all of you. We’ll catch up.”
    Emily sent her a desperate look over her shoulder as they rode off.
    The evening sun broke through a cloud. Beams of light framed the man and the massive charger. But Kenna would not allow herself to be intimidated by the two beasts.
    He grabbed her mare’s bridle.
    “I’m cold, truly,” she said. The wet blouse felt like a sheet of ice against her flesh.
    Alexander’s gaze strayed from her face to her breasts. He reached down for her. “I know how to warm you. You’ll ride on my lap.”
    She reached for her belt and was happy to find she still had her dagger after the fall. She took it out and flashed it at him.
    “You ever try to hold me that close again,” Kenna threatened, climbing onto the mare, “and you’ll have more holes in you than a tinker’s vow.”

Chapter 4
Would you have me speak after my custom,
    as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
    Alexander wished his horse could match the speed of Kenna’s tongue.
    She cursed. She complained. She called him all sorts of names. She repeated how brilliant it would be once she was back at Glosters Priory, so she never had to lay eyes on him again.
    He would have believed her if it were not for their kiss. He’d surprised her, and her response had been enthusiastic, in spite of herself. It killed him to end it so abruptly. But he had his answer.
    Alexander led their group. Kenna and Emily rode behind him. James and their two men brought up the rear. They were still on MacDougall land, so they could not stop at an inn or at any crofter’s cottage where Emily might be recognized, either. The full moon had risen over the distant Trossachs. The temperature continued to drop and the air was downright cold. He was relieved that Kenna had accepted a blanket from James when they’d caught up to them. He wanted her to learn a lesson for acting so foolishly, but he didn’t want her catching her death.
    Kenna spurred her horse ahead until they were riding abreast. “Why the devil are you moving so fast?