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she agreed with his terms. There were several more questions which were concerned with minor details. He answered them quickly and then excused himself to run his errand.
    Since the carriages were coming from the same livery stable where Gabrielle had boarded her horse, when Jason left to summon the transportation for the others she hurried to catch up with him. "I didn't realize I'd be the only one to bring my own horse," she commented anxiously, hoping she had not caused the young man a problem he'd not foreseen.
    Noting her troubled expression, Jason halted abruptly, but he had to let several people pass them on the sidewalk before he could reply. "One more horse matters little. Miss MacLaren, and I'll be happy to pay the bill for his stay last night. We can simply tie him behind one of the carriages if you'd rather not ride him today."
    Gabrielle considered his question thoughtfully before she replied. ''If the others will be riding in the carriages I should too, since it will afford us the opportunity to become acquainted."
    Surprised she'd have thought of such a good point when he hadn't, Jason promptly agreed, but when the groom brought out her horse he could only gape. Rather than the gentle gelding he'd imagined her to own, the animal was so high spirited a stallion the frightened lad could scarcely hold him. Gabrielle, however, took the reins and by talking softly to the magnificent animal soon stilled his anxiety with no more than abundant affection and a calm, gentle touch. After only a few moments her stallion seemed sufficiently reassured by her return to stand at her side without further complaint.
    Embarrassed that the horse had behaved so badly, Gabrielle

    quickly apologized for him. "He is unused to being away from home as you can see, Mr. Royal. He is not usually as nervous as this. Unfortunately, there was no way for me to explain to him yesterday afternoon that he had not been abandoned.''
    Jason found it difficult to believe so slightly built a young woman could possibly handle such an animal, but the stallion was standing quietly now as she stroked his velvety soft nose lightly. A roan, his reddish brown color was only slightly lighter than his mistress' hair. He had four white stockings and a white blaze that gave his glossy coat a handsome accent. In all respects, he was as great a beauty as his mistress.
    "What do you call him?"
    "MacLaren's Sunrise is his name, but I've always thought that a bit pretentious and prefer to call him Sunny instead," Gabrielle explained with a smile. She was very proud of her horse and could tell by Jason's interest he was favorably impressed.
    "Sunny he is then." Jason continued to give the stallion an admiring glance while he waited for the carriages to be brought to the front of the stable. "How did you manage to convince that overprotective aunt of yours to allow you to ride this beast?"
    At that question, Gabrielle gave him a disapproving glance from beneath her thick fringe of dark lashes. "Naturally she preferred that I hitch him to our buggy, but he is a fine mount and gives me no trouble." She did not expand upon her aunt's opinions, but it was apparent she felt the woman had been as wrong about Sunny as she had been about everything else.
    "I'm glad to hear it. However, if he's too much for you I'll insist you ride a more docile horse and we'll use Sunny to pack provisions." Jason had no intention of wasting the animal's obvious strength when it could be put to a good use.
    "You'll do no such thing!" Gabrielle responded indignantly.
    With an impatient sigh, Jason responded tersely. "Miss MacLaren, as I believe I told you, I am in charge of the entire

    wagon train and if youMl not promise to obey my orders you'll be left behind!'' Jason put his hands on his hips, determined that he'd damn well end any argument promptly.
    Gabrielle took a deep breath before trying to speak in a more responsible tone. ''You know how much this trip means to me. You needn't