Page 19 of Wild Highland Rose
With a terse nod, Fingal headed off in the direction of the ruckus. Cameron was just thinking of following when he heard a cracking sound from the other direction. Spinning around, he turned in time to see the ancient ladder split in two as Marjory tried to climb down.
Adrenaline kicked in and Cameron raced to the building, ignoring the jarring pain in his head. Marjory struggled for a handhold on the roof, managing finally to dig her hands into the sod, leaving her precariously swinging back and forth from the edge of the thatch. Cameron was torn between genuine concern and amusement. He choked back a laugh.
Marjory glared angrily down at him. "Dinna just stand there gawking. Do something."
"Is there another ladder?"
"Nay." The word broke off abruptly as her hand slipped from the roof, broken pieces of sod raining down on his head.
Cameron reacted instinctively, reaching out with both arms to catch Marjory as she tumbled downward. Given his current condition, even her slight weight was almost more than he could handle, but he held his ground and pulled her safely against his chest.
The reaction was instantaneous, pheromones and chemistry causing an ignition so strong it threatened to rob him of breath, which was ridiculous considering he wasn't even certain he liked the woman.
Their eyes locked, her breathing timed with his, almost as if they shared one heart.
"Are you all right?" he whispered, fighting to control the emotions raging through him. There was just something about her, something that touched him on an intrinsic level he couldn't control.
She nodded her head, her eyes searching his face, almost as if she were memorizing its lines and planes. Or maybe she was learning them.
Either way the idea was insane. He didn't know her, she didn't know him. And even more pertinent was the fact that she believed he was a man she despised, possibly enough to kill him. Loosening his grip, he broke eye contact, breaking the spell.
Marjory frowned, as if surprised to find herself in his arms. "I'll thank you to put me down, now." The breathless undernote in her voice assured him that he hadn't imagined the combustion, although it couldn't negate the sharp regality of the order.
"Look,your highness," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, the tone as much a reaction to the way she made him feel as to her words, "if I hadn't caught you, you'd have fallen right on your lovely little ass, which unless I'm badly mistaken would have hurt like hell."
"Well, I'm perfectly fine now, as you can plainly see. So, I ask you again to unhand me."
"Fine by me." He opened his arms, unceremoniously dumping her onto the ground. She scowled up at him. He smiled benignly. "Next time, I'll let you break your neck."
He walked away without looking back. Maybe Allen was right, and Marjory Macpherson deserved whatever she got.
The man was impossible.Despite her best efforts to stay away from him, she'd wound up in his arms no less. Although, she had to admit, it had been good to have him there. The distance from roof to ground was not that high, but still, as much as it rankled to admit it, he was right, she might have been hurt if he hadn't been there to catch her.
Her body tightened at the memory of his arms locked around her. She closed her eyes and let her imagination have free reign, remembering their eyes locked together, imagining…
"Are ye finished lollygagging about on the ground?"
Marjory jerked out of her reverie, to find Fingal towering over her, a look of amusement playing across his usually stern features.
"I fell."
Fingal laughed. "Well, I wouldna say ye fell so much as ye were dropped. And, from the little bit o' the conversation I managed to overhear, I canna say that ye dinna deserve it."
"Dinna tell me you're taking his side."
Fingal visibly fought to control his mirth. "Nay, lass, I willna ever side with anyone over you. But the man did manage to save ye from falling and all he got for his efforts was the sharp side o' yer tongue."
Marjory hauled herself to her feet, pulling bits of sod from her hair and dress. "Maybe I was a wee bit harsh, but I canna be too careful where he's concerned." Satisfied that she was reasonably clean again, she gave Fingal her full attention. "Did Angus save Aimil from the beastie invasion?"
"Aye, with my help, her garden is now cattle free. There was a wee hole in the backside of the fence. I've already set some o' the lads to fixing it."
They walked together toward the tower, increasing their pace at the sound of a commotion in the courtyard. Rounding the corner, they were in time to see a young boy, his face as red as his hair, bent over at the waist with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
Seeing Marjory, he straightened and staggered over to her. "Me mother said I was to come straight here and report to no one but you." He paused for breath. "I ran all the way."
"You've done well, Thomas, but what is it you were supposed to tell me?"
The youngster fought for a breath, his words coming in short bursts. "Camerons…at the…border. Said…to tell ye…be here…on the morrow." He beamed at Marjory, his message completed.
