Page 23 of Forgotten Secrets (Secrets of the Heart 4)

Chapter 8

“Where would you like to ride, my lady?” Bedivere sat high on his horse as he escorted Morag to the castle gate the next day right after the main meal.

“I’d like to go down to the creek and see the buds that are startin’ to bloom,” answered Morag. “I noticed some tiny white flowers the other day and would like to pick a bouquet and bring it back to the castle for Lady Ernestine. She seems so lonely with her husband gone and I’d like to cheer her up.”

“Then that’s exactly what we’ll do.” Bedivere led the way with Morag right behind him. As they passed by the tents of the knights who were waiting to apply for the earl’s holdings, one of the men looked over to them and called out.

“Bedivere, is that you?” asked the man. “I thought you were locked away? How’d you get out?”

Bedivere quickly looked in the other direction and picked up his pace.

“Sir Bedivere,” said Morag, quickly catching up to the man. “That knight was talkin’ to ye. Didna ye hear him?”

“I believe you are mistaken. No one was talking to me.” He looked straight ahead as he rode.

“Nay, I ken what I heard. He said yer name and somethin’ about ye bein’ locked up. What did he mean?”

“The men have been well in their cups for the past few days and you need to ignore them, Morag. I don’t want you near them unless I am at your side. There is no telling what they might try with a pretty girl like you.”

“Do ye really think I’m bonnie?” asked Morag, forgetting all about the knight once Bedivere started talking about her.

“I do,” he said, reaching over from atop his horse and stroking the side of her cheek. She closed her eyes partially and leaned in toward him, liking the way it felt. “Now, why don’t you show me where those dainty little flowers are that you want to pick?”

“They’re right up ahead growin’ near the edge of the creek.”

“Have you ever raced while riding a horse?”

“Me? Nay. But my cousin, Maira, sits astride the horse and can outride any man.”

“I’ll bet you can, too.”

“I’m sittin’ in a sidesaddle like a lady,” she pointed out to him. “It’s no’ befittin’ of me to race.”

Bedivere looked over his shoulder and then back at her and waggled his eyebrows. “Who is going to know? No one is even looking.”

“Do ye think I could?” she asked with a giggle. “I always wanted to race.”

“Then do it. I’ll even give you a head start since you are at a disadvantage.”

“All right, I will.” Morag directed her horse into a run, leaving Bedivere in her dust.

She stopped at the edge of the creek and slipped off the horse, falling down onto the bank by the flowers, laughing and trying to regain her breath. Bedivere stopped his horse right behind hers.

“You won,” he said, tying the reins of both their horses to the tree and settling down on the ground next to her.

“I didna really win. Ye rode slow on purpose.”

“Did I?” he asked with a wry smile.

“Ye are startin’ to sound like Mazelina the way ye answer my questions with more questions of yer own.”

“Who is Mazelina?” he asked.

Morag slapped her hand over her mouth and sat up. She hadn’t meant to tell him that, but it slipped out before she could stop herself. “No one,” she said, turning and seeing the flowers. “Oh, are no’ they bonnie?” She gathered up a few flowers, snapping them off at the stems and holding them up to her nose. “Take a sniff.” She held them out to Bedivere, but noticed he wasn’t looking at the flowers. He was staring at her mouth!

Before she knew it, he lifted her chin and pressed his lips gently against hers. Morag felt a warming sensation travel through her body. When Bedivere kissed her, she felt as if she never wanted it to end.

“Do you like that?” he whispered, his hand still on her chin.

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