Page 19 of Love Beyond Time (Morna’s Legacy #1)
Eoin stroked the mare’s mane as he worked to prepare her for their ride into the village. His own horse sat ready, tied at the end of the stables, glancing impatiently in Eoin’s direction.
Eoin smiled at the old, gray stallion, his trusted horse and companion since childhood. “Ah, Griffin, doona look at me so. We will be leaving soon enough. But ye see, Sheila will be joining us today. Blaire will be riding her, and I expect ye to be on yer very best behavior. Do ye understand?”
The old horse neighed as Eoin walked toward him, offering him an apple to placate him until they rode out for the village.
Footsteps from behind caused Eoin to spin around toward the west entrance of the stables. Expecting to see Blaire, he couldn’t repress the look of disappointment on his face at seeing Kip make his way over to Sheila.
“Looks like ye did a fine job with Sheila. Her coat hasna shined so brightly in years. But I still doona understand why ye won’t let Blaire ride Angus.
She’s good with horses; she will think that Sheila is too tame.
” The old man shook his head as he loosened Sheila’s reins and went to tie her up by Griffin.
“Angus is only fit for racing through the countryside, not a trip to the village, and ye know it, Kip. Now, I know Blaire dinna treat ye well her first night here, but I wish ye’d ease up on the lass.”
“I’ll no be having ye tell me what I should do, laddie, laird of this keep, or no. But it doesna matter, my thoughts on her. She’s yer wife. Ye are the one that has to bed the ungrateful . . .” He was cut off by a cheery ‘hello’ at the end of the stables.
Eoin turned to see Blaire making her way toward him. She looked beautiful with her bright eyes and smile and her hair pulled up in a delicate knot at the base of her neck.
He watched as she bid Kip a good morning and was rewarded with a huff as he retreated from the stables.
“Doona let him bother ye, lass. He’s only hard on the outside.”
“Oh, it’s alright. Where are ye taking me?” She reached up and touched his shoulder, and he had to restrain himself from pulling her against him.
“To the village. There’s just a few things that need attending.” He walked over to where both horses were tied and gestured toward Sheila with his head. “Ye can take the brown one. Her name’s Sheila. Ye will have no problems with her, I’m sure.”
Blaire cautiously approached the mare, hesitantly reaching out her hand to touch the horse’s throat. Eoin watched, curious as to why she seemed so unsure. He’d always known her to be a fine rider.
“What’s wrong, lass? She’s got more fire in her than she looks. She’ll be a fine ride for ye.”
“How do I get on her?”
The question surprised him, but he ignored it as he bent to offer her his assistance in mounting the horse. No sooner had Blaire situated herself on the mare than the mare started whining and trying to pull at the reigns that kept her fastened to the edge of the stables.
“What do I do with her, Eoin?”
“Just stroke her, lean forward and whisper in her ear, calm her as ye would yer own horse.” He turned and climbed onto Griffin, leaning forward to untie the reins of both horses so that they could set off toward the village.
He rode ahead a short distance, waiting for Blaire and the mare to join him, but when he heard no hooves he turned to see Blaire and the mare sitting at the side of the stables where he’d left them.
Clicking, he steered Griffin back toward the stables. “What’s the matter with ye, lass? Do ye no longer want to go?”
“No, I do want to. I just don’t know how to do this.”
Eoin frowned as he pulled back on Griffin’s reins, stopping him next to Sheila.
He knew Blaire could ride. He’d seen her do it many times, with many different horses.
Why was she feigning ignorance now? Perhaps, she was afraid that he’d be angry with her for not wanting to accompany him.
Or mayhap she wanted a reason to ride with him on the same horse.
While he wasn’t sure of the reason, he enjoyed the second possibility much more. “Would ye like to ride with me, lass? Griffin may be old, but he can carry ye and me together, easily.”
“Aye, I think that would be best.”
Ah, so she did want to ride next to him. He smiled inwardly at himself, pleased at the notion, as he lifted her from Sheila’s back and placed her snugly in between his legs astride Griffin.
* * *
I rode with my rear pressed firmly against him as we made our way down into the village. That had almost been an unimaginable disaster. I’d never ridden a horse in my life, and I had no idea what I’d been thinking when Eoin asked if I would like to go with him and to meet him in the stables.
I’d ignorantly pictured some fancy horse-drawn coach taking us into town, like a scene out of Pride and Prejudice ; I was obviously not taking into account that things of that nature were from an entirely different century that was yet to come.
Still, I much preferred this method of transportation over any sort of pulled wagon, and I relished the feeling of his chiseled muscles pressing against my back.
He rode with his hands around my waist, and the strength in his legs and arms as they surrounded me made me hope it was hours until we reached the village.
Instead, it took us less than an hour before Eoin stopped the horse and dismounted, quickly reaching his arms toward me to help me off of the horse.
He smiled at me as I reached behind to rub my sore bottom.
He gestured for me to follow him as he made his way to a small cluster of cottages in front of us.
Eoin turned his head to tell me something, but he was interrupted by a loud voice coming from one of the doorways.
“Well, if it isn’t Laird Conall! Why, it’s been too long since we have seen ye here, son!”
Eoin’s face lit up as he moved away from me and embraced the large, red-faced man. “Aye, it has, Bran! How’s yer wife and children?”
“Fine. Fine. Dona is in bed, nursing our sixth bairn. She gave birth only two nights ago.” The man’s eyes gleamed with pride as he spoke of his family.
“Six, my God, man! Do ye no ever let the lass rest? How have ye been managing the others on ye own, the last few days?”
“I havena.” The man let out a loud, deep chuckle before continuing. “They’ve had free run o’ the place while their mother has been in bed. I’m sure she’ll be no too pleased with me once she’s up. Come inside. Let us have a drink for old time’s sake, aye?”
Eoin reached his hand behind him, and I instinctively took hold.
“Let me introduce ye to my wife, Bran. This is Blaire.”
I smiled as the man quickly looked me up and down. “How did this old sot get such a beautiful lass like ye to marry him? Oh, never mind. What’s done is done, aye? I shouldna try to talk ye out of it now. Come. Ye shall have a drink with us as well.”
I followed the two men through the small entranceway into a one-roomed first floor where all five children, minus the newborn, were running around, creating chaos. All children were under the age of seven, and a few days without strict structure from their mother had put them in a tailspin.
I knew that the noise level in the home could in no way be conducive to their mother’s rest, and my teacher drive immediately kicked in.
“Alright, stop where ye are!” And I quickly held my hands up as I stared them down. “My name is Blaire, and ye are all going to follow me outside so that we can allow yer mother some rest time. Aye?”
I watched as the three oldest children glanced up to take in the shocked look on their father’s face.
When he stood silently, they looked up at me and seemed to consent, slowly marching out the front door together.
I yanked up the two youngest—year-and-a-half-old twin boys—and placed one on each hip.
I turned to address the two men before following the children outside. “Go ahead and enjoy a drink. I’ll keep the children busy so that the two of ye can visit and yer wife can rest with the baby.”
Leaving them both open-mouthed, I made my way outside with the two squirming toddlers.