Page 29 of Rose
“I know they don’t measure up to the hands of a wealthy woman.”
“On the contrary,” Tristan began, taking hold of her hand once more, “this is the hand of a strong woman, a woman who has worked and fought for herself and those she loves. You should look at your hands and feel proud, Rose. I know I do.” He then saw a ring of gold with delicate detailing and a large oval sapphire. “There is no ring that could match the beauty of your hands. Still, it would please me to see this on your finger.”
Eyes downcast, slowly Rose extended her hand. He slid the gleaming sapphire onto her finger, and for a moment, they locked eyes. Suddenly, he found himself without words. His mouth felt dry. There was something so intimate in the motion. It struck him to his core.
She stood unmoving. If she breathed, he could not detect the rise of her chest, nor did she blink. Then, suddenly, she took a small step back before slowly easing her hand from his grasp. When their fingertips touched, she paused for an instant as though she did not truly wish to break the contact. But a breath later, she dropped her hand and squared her shoulders. “What is next?” she asked. Her tone carried a casualness that did not reach her eyes.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, indeed. I…I…” His mind still fixated on her hands, on her sky-blue eyes, on her soft red curls lifting in the breeze. He raked his hand through his hair. Then he started to laugh at himself. “Suddenly, Rose, I don’t remember what comes next. I can’t even remember my own name.”
She smiled, and the tension fled her shoulders. “I think we have already established that yer name is Tristan.”
“That’s right,” he said in jest. “What would I do without you, Rose?”
“Marry Lady Roxwell is my guess.”
He shivered playfully. “It is all coming back to me now.”
She smiled. “Did ye not mention something about a ride in the countryside?”
“That is what I forgot.” He turned to the vendor and gave the man extra coin to deliver the items to the Messenger. Then he offered Rose his arm. “Do you ride?”
Rose shook her head as she wove her arm through his. “Not particularly well.”
He stopped and smiled down at her. “You can man a small vessel, but you cannot ride a horse?”
She raised her brows. “Is that a problem?”
“Not at all, you are just a very interesting woman.”
“Interesting,” Rose said, tasting the word. She smiled. “I like interesting.”
With the sun now shining directly overhead, the market had grown crowded. He held tightly to her hand while he led her through the throng of shoppers and vendors toward the outskirts of town. When they arrived at the stable, the young master brought them a chestnut mare.
Tristan swung up into the saddle. Then, he reached down to her. She squealed as she soared through the air.
“Ye surprised me,” she said when she landed in his lap.
He smiled. “Good, because you surprise me constantly.” He nudged his horse in the flanks. Once they cleared the town gates, Rose gripped his arm tighter.
“Faster, Tristan,” she cried.
“Now, now, Rose,” he said in her ear. “Robert gave me strict orders not to push you too hard. Whether you know it or not, your body is still healing.”
“Save yer caution for yer next wife,” she teased and took the reins from his hands. “Come on, lass,” she said to the mare and snapped the reins.
“You little minx,” he said, laughing. He held her tighter, pressing her against his chest. He savored the feel of her warm curves as they galloped across the field.
“To the sea,” she shouted, before steering them toward distant cliffs,
He tensed as the cliffs approached. Still, she thundered forward. Just as he was about to intervene, she pulled sharply on the reins, bringing them to an abrupt halt. Below them, white crested waves barreled toward the coast.
He expelled the breath he’d been holding. “For a moment, I thought you were planning on trying to fly.”
She turned her head and looked back at him, her eyes dancing. “I’ve never done that before either.”
He eased the reins from her grip. “Why don’t we save that for another day. For now, we should be heading back. The new crew has likely arrived, and we must make proper introductions.”
“Oh yes,” Rose said, imitating his English accent. “I would like to present Captain Tristan Thatcher and his wife, Rose Thatcher.” She turned to him then. “Ye know, this could be quite fun.”
He smiled. “I’m already having a grand time.”
