Page 57 of Love Me Forever

She nodded enthusiastically, knowing full well that they would not be sharing a bed until vows were exchanged. “Immediately.”

They took their time, knowing by day’s end they would reach her home. The weather remained cloudy and Brianna was grateful it did not rain. She was already beginning to feel the effects of riding for several hours. Her lower back began to pain her. It was the one lingering result of the accident.

She did not wish to complain; she was as eager as the men to return home. She missed her brother, sister-in-law, her friend Anne, and her nephew Duncan, and she was eager for them all to meet Royce. It would be a good reunion.

First, however, she would need to recover from the pain she would certainly suffer if she continued on in this fashion. She attempted to adjust her bottom in front of Royce without making it too obvious that she was uncomfortable.

It did not work.

“Something pains you?”

She was truthful. “Aye, my back.”

She need say no more; none could ignore his demanding voice. “We stop now!”

To her surprise, Blair and the men did as he commanded, though Blair approached them as Royce helped her to dismount.

“Brianna needs to rest,” Royce said before Blair could speak. “Her back has yet to fully heal from the accident.”

She intended to inform them both that a short rest would be sufficient, but when she took all her weight herself, Royce having let go of her waist, the pain shot through her lower back and she almost collapsed.

Blair slid off his horse, but Royce already had his arms around her.

Blair appeared concerned. “I had not realized she was not sufficiently recovered.”

“I am fine,” Brianna insisted, keeping her hand firmly on Royce’s arm.

“You are having difficulty standing on your own—that is not fine,” Blair all but snapped at her. “You should have told me. We could have waited at least a few days.” He turned to Royce. “My apologies for not listening to you, I should have remembered how stubborn she can be.”

“I am not stubborn,” she insisted emphatically.

“She is determined,” Royce said with a smile.

Blair had to laugh. “You know her well. Then you know that she will tell you when she has rested enough for the journey to continue.”

“That decision will be mine,” Royce informed him in a tone that advised he would not have it any other way.

Blair laughed again and walked away.

“I can decide for myself,” Brianna said, the pain beginning to ease and feeling a bit of her hard-won freedom vanish before her eyes.

“I have no doubt that you can. Do you wish to sit?”

“Nay,” she said with a shake of her head. “The hard ground will only serve to aggravate the pain. I wish to walk some.”

“It will not pain you to do so?”

She was honest. “At first, but the walking will eventually ease it.”

He supported much of her weight as they walked slowly along the worn path the horses traveled.

“If you have no doubt that I can decide for myself, why, then, would you decide for me?”

“Because I wish to protect you.”

“From whom?”

He eased his hold on her as her steps became stronger. “Yourself.”