Page 17 of Scot of Deception
But as she glanced at him over her shoulder, she found that he was already gaining on her, catching up if not with ease, then without too much trouble. He moved with precision, like only a skilled rider could. Kathleen was a skilled rider herself, and so she could recognize that in him, this innate talent that gave him an edge.
When he caught up with her, Kathleen expected him to yell at her, to force her to stop, to do anything other than keep up with her pace, the two of them riding side by side. There was no smile on his lips; as always, he was serious, betraying no hint that he was enjoying this race. And yet, there was something in his gaze that told Kathleen he was. There was a certain kind of spark, something she hadn’t seen in him before.
As she gazed at him, she couldn’t help but think how handsome he was when he was not frowning.
The realization brought her to a sudden halt, and she quickly pulled her horse to a stop, stunned by her own thoughts. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably, reality crashing in like a wave and leaving her breathless and embarrassed.
She was a young woman and she was no stranger to desire – intense, unbridled, unmistakable.
And inconvenient. If Kathleen had to spend the rest of the journey near Blaine, then she couldn’t be thinking about him like this. She already knew that her fate would be similar to Fenella’s. One day, probably soon, her parents would choose a man for her, no matter how much the thought may appall her. And said man would not be Blaine or anyone like him.
“Everythin’ alright?” he asked, and though Kathleen could tell he wanted to prod, she was glad that he didn’t push. Unlike her, Blaine seemed to know his limits and when to stop.
“Aye,” she said with a firm nod. “Let us go.”
Once again, Blaine fell into step next to her, the two of them riding side by side down the path. Kathleen’s heart was still beating wildly, threatening to jump right out of her throat. Itwas the proximity, the knowledge that he was right there, within arm’s reach. But despite her doubts and fears, this proximity was also what reassured her. With Blaine by her side, she felt safer, protected. Had she been alone, she would be looking over her shoulder constantly, waiting for the moment someone would attack her, even if there were no clear signs of danger.
She didn’t know how Blaine did it. She didn’t know how he could spend all his waking hours looking over his shoulder, eyes tracking every movement those around him made.
But Blaine was strong, skilled, capable. He was the kind of steady presence that Kathleen could lean on. So far, he had shown her nothing but respect, giving her all the space she had demanded without much protest. What he had told her the previous day was true; he could have easily forced himself on her, taking advantage of her if he wished and yet he had saved her from other men who wanted that exact thing.
The only reason Kathleen still didn’t trust him fully was that Blaine was hiding something from her, even if she couldn’t even begin to imagine what that could be. Trusting him blindly and readily would only be a foolish mistake.
Nevertheless, she trusted him enough to keep her safe. She trusted that he wouldn’t hurt her. He was much like her horse—dependable and steadfast, though both of them did not quite communicate with words.
And yet her horse decided that was the precise moment it would betray her. With a neigh and a buck, Kathleen found herself thrown off her saddle, flying through the morning air.
CHAPTER NINE
“Kathleen!” Blaine shouted as he leaped off his horse, the creature staying put where he had left it. The moment he had seen Kathleen fly off the saddle like that, his blood had run cold and his heart had stopped, his entire body anticipating disaster.
“I’m alright!” Kathleen called and it took Blaine a few moments to spot her where she lay on the ground. She was on her back, waving her hand high above her head to help him locate her. Her horse seemed to have calmed itself, though it was keeping the weight off the front left hoof, stomping gently back and forth. “I’m alright… I’m nae hurt.”
Blaine wasn’t so quick to believe that. A fall from a horse was bound to leave some bruises, if not cause much worse damage.
Rushing to Kathleen, Blaine knelt next to her on the ground and helped her sit up. His gaze hovered over her body as he searched for signs of serious injury, but he could find none. She was not bleeding—not visibly, at least—nor did she seem to be in much pain as she moved.
However, neither of those things guaranteed she was unharmed.
“What happened?” he asked as Kathleen made to push herself off the ground. Blaine offered his hand to her, helping her stand, and she dusted herself off, straightening her cloak. “Ye’re too good o’ a rider tae fall like that.”
“I dinnae ken,” Kathleen said with a small, worried frown as she dragged her gaze to her mare. “She threw me off but she’s never done such a thing afore. She’s always been a gentle beast.”
As she spoke, she made her way to her horse, placing a hand on its flank while moving around it to calm it. Blaine followed her, looking at the horse much in the same manner as he had looked at Kathleen when he was trying to see if she were injured, his gaze scanning the length of its body.
“It must be the leg,” he told Blaine as he watched the beast. He walked past Kathleen and crouched down next to the horse, gently and carefully lifting its leg to look at the hoof that seemed to be bothering it.
Sure enough, there was something lodged there.
“I think it’s a piece o’ glass,” he said as he traced his fingers over the foreign object.
“A piece o’ glass?” Kathleen gasped, falling to her knees next to Blaine as she leaned closer to get a better look. Before she could get too close, though, Blaine was quick to push her back, making sure she kept her distance.
“Ye’ll get kicked,” he warned.
Kathleen ignored him completely. “Will she be alright?”
Her genuine concern for her horse was sweet but at the same time, it frightened Blaine to have her this close to the horse’s hoof. One kick and she would be flattened to the ground before she even knew what had hit her.
