Page 12 of The Veiled Wish of a Highland Bride

“Aye, lass. Ye got that right,” he said, puffing out his chest. “It is precisely because of my injuries from that battle that I was so easily captured, ye ken. Damn the bastards who would attack an injured man. Now ye would give them what they want and kill me.”

Mia had slowed her horse to a stop. The path had led them to the foot of a cave. Archie suspected that Mia intended they hide there for the night.

“Ah, I see we've got shelter for the night, eh?” he said, inspecting their surroundings. The cave was hardly large enough to comfortably shelter them both. He supposed they could stay nearby beneath the trees, using the cave as a possible hiding place in case they heard anyone coming for them.

“Get off me horse. I'm nae leaving ye for dead. Buck needs a rest. How'd ye feel if some heavy, silly man has been riding on yer back for hours?”

Relieved at her statement, he clumsily dismounted the horse and stood aside, extending his hand to help her off. She slapped it away.

“I dinnae need yer help, my laird. Need I remind ye that I rode this horse myself to the villageandin pursuit of yer abductors?”

“Och, I was just trying to be a gentleman,” Archibald replied with a roll of his eyes. “And I told ye before. Call me Archie, or Archibald—dinnae matter to me.”

“Ah, a proudArchibaldwho has to be saved by a wee woman,” she teased.

Her laughter washed over him.This woman! All he truly wanted to do was quiet her with his mouth and taste her. He stared at her lips as they moved, their perfect heart shape moving with the words she spoke. He could not make out much of her delicate features, but the moon illuminated her blue eyes.

Archibald, realizing he was gawking, glanced around. “Here looks safe enough to rest,” he grunted. “We might have to spend the night until dawn breaks. Ye stay here. I will go fetch some wood to start a fire. Rest yer weary bones and... thank ye.”

He looked right into her eyes and they glittered with gratitude. The corners of her lips curled up in what looked to be a shy smile.

Archibald groaned, frustrated at the way the little things she did , likesmile, stirred something in him. He began his search for some drywood, taking care not to wander far. As he bent over to collect some twigs, he hissed. The movement had elicited a sharp pain from his back, down his arm, and it sent him reeling. Mia was at his side in a few seconds.

“What's wrong?”

“In case ye have forgotten, lass, I was beaten to a pulp before being abducted. My body is nae very happy with me, but it's naething too much for a Highland warrior to overcome, of course. I’ve had worse.”

Mia looked unconvinced. In fact, she actually looked a little worried. Archibald smiled inwardly at that victory.

“Ye should nae be running around acting the fool if ye’ve yet to recover from a battle,” she said, and her eyes narrowed.

“Ach, I’m fit enough to charm, rideandcollect wood.”

“And chatter on,glaikit. Does yer mouth never get tired?” Mia pursed her lips as she said this, drawing Archibald's attention back to them.

“Dinnae fuss over me, lass. I am a man, after all. Sit there and rest yer back against this tree. I’ll start the fire for us.”

Archie could feel Mia watch him as he struck the stones he had collected before the pile of wood. Then, he stood up and removed his sash, tossing it to her despite the pain in his arm. Mia, who was a little distance away perched on a stump, smiled gratefully and wrapped herself with the garment over her shoulders.

“Why did ye save me?” he asked abruptly after minutes of silence.

The fire was lit. Mia had finally relaxed, trying to get some warmth on her hands by hovering them above the fire. As she looked at him and smiled softly, Archibald's pulse raced. “Because I believe ye would have done the same if it were me who had been taken.”

What was it about this woman that made him soweak? He was hungry to find out.

After a pause, Mia added, “And I hate to see people get hurt by others.”

Archibald hummed pensively.

“I have another question for ye,” he said. “Why do ye need to learn how to better seduce a man when ye are married?”

“Och!” Mia exclaimed. “That’s hardly fair. Ye havenae answered any of my questions but ye have askedmetwo already.”

Stifling a laugh, Archibald replied, “Well, lass, ye actually have nae asked me a thing.”

“All right. If I answer ye this, ye have to teach me what I want to ken. Do I have yer word on it, Archie?”

“Lass, a Highland warrior does nae give his word so easily. But I can tell ye this: I will consider changing my mind if ye tell me.”

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