Page 8 of The Cruel Highlander (From Enemies to Marriage #3)

CHAPTER 7

Frustrated with the results of the archery competition, Valorie stomped towards the castle to ask the servants to prepare the horses for the final challenge.

Aiden was left standing in the gardens; he could entertain himself after his stunt out on the lawn. Valorie couldn’t believe that Aiden had let her continue her act for so long; he should have told her the ruse was up. Or he could have at least had the decency not to call her on it —– some gentleman he was.

Did Aiden have to be so insufferable? Every time he caught her in a scheme or some mischief, he was ridiculously smug. She would have been impressed by his attention if it weren’t so irritating!

Feeling like a fool, Valorie looked at Aiden scornfully when she returned from inside. He just chuckled. Aiden seemed to think she was someone to laugh at and not someone who deserved his respect. All day he appeared to mock her — probably thinking she was some silly lass.

Well, Valorie would show Aiden what this silly lass could do on a horse.

With several paces between them, Valorie glared disdainfully at Aiden, who was still smiling. Valorie was not usually this quick to anger, but what could possibly be so funny? Somehow their roles had reversed; it was now Valorie who wore a sharp frown and Aiden who smiled brilliantly.

“Anythin’ ye want to say, me laird?” Like why you’re smiling all the time now maybe!

“Nay lass, just a lovely day is all.” Aiden grinned wider.

Grinding her teeth in frustration, Valorie took a step away from Aiden. This day had not gone at all to plan. The horse race was her last chance to end this betrothal today. All she had to do was lose, and Aiden could go on and find someone more worthy of being his wife.

If only Valorie didn’t abhor the idea of losing to Aiden. His taunts and jests were bringing out Valorie’s most competitive side, and she wanted to win. Badly. She had only seen Aiden ride as he approached this morning, and he definitely wasn’t at racing speed. But Valorie’s horse was strong, and she was an accomplished rider. She could win if she wanted to.

Did she want to, though? Obviously not logically, but Valorie still glared at Aiden across the grass. She was not thinking logically. If he hadn’t been so smug about archery, maybe she could stomach losing to him now, but she strongly felt that she needed to prove Aiden wrong. Maybe there was a way she could do both.

“Yer horses are ready!” Skye announced brightly, breaking the tension between Valorie and Aiden, and bringing the two horses towards them.

“Aye, thank ye, Skye,” Valorie responded. “We’ll bring them back to the stables when we’re done.” With a respectful nod to Valorie and a long look at Aiden, Skye headed back in the direction of the castle.

It was time. Valorie made her way to her horse and stroked its mane lovingly a few times before skillfully climbing on. She would need to shake off the whiplash of emotions she’d had so far today if she wanted to beat Aiden.

There were moments today where all Valorie could think about was Aiden — Aiden’s powerful gait, his lean but toned arms, his sharp mind, the smirk he wore when Valorie’s latest scheme was revealed. And when she wasn’t longing for him, she was raging at him. No matter what, Valorie was consumed by thoughts of Aiden.

What was she doing? She was not usually the lass so caught up over a man. The more accurate question was, what was Aiden doing to her?

“Come on, me laird, or are ye giving up so soon?” Valorie taunted as Aiden still stood on the ground beside his stallion. In an equally graceful maneuver, Valorie watched as Aiden got up on his horse and raised one eyebrow at her. Must he be so athletic? Why couldn’t he have been weak and horrid looking? It would have been much easier to stick to the plan then.

“Nay, just thought ye might need a head start,” Aiden quipped back.

Valorie laughed darkly and looked haughtily back at him, “I daenae need any advantage to beat ye.”

“Hmm, I guess we’ll see. Where to?” Aiden asked.

“To the waterfall. We’ll ride straight through the fields here and into the forest beyond, just there. Once we’re in the woods, follow the stream until ye reach the clearing and the waterfall. Or ye ken, just stay behind me and I’ll lead ye right there,” Valorie ended her explanation with a wink.

“I think I’ll need the directions when I pass ye, lassie.”

“We’ll see. I hope ye daenae have any issues with losing to a lass.”

“I’ve never had any issues being behind one, certainly,” Aiden replied with a wink. Damn that wink.

* * *

With a loaded look at each other, they were off.

Aiden’s horse was a powerful steed that had served him faithfully ever since he re-entered society, both in battle and otherwise, and he loved the feeling of a ride. But the joy of a ride was nothing compared to what he’d experienced today spending time with Valorie.

Aiden was smiling like a fool all afternoon. Everything Valorie did was amusing to him. Her cute little angry huffs and stomps, her elaborate plots, the taunting — it was like following the sun around. Aiden had no choice but to be warmed.

With his thoughts circling around Valorie, Aiden was late to realize that Valorie was pulling away. He knew he needed Valorie to win for his plan, but he was hoping he could at least make it difficult for her!

It became obvious very quickly that wouldn’t be an option. While Aiden had been lost in thoughts of his day with Valorie, she was flying away from him. Mere minutes into the race, and Aiden was already struggling to keep up. Valorie and her horse were of one mind as they raced ahead of him. Human and beast joined together in an impressive display of power.

Even on his best day, pushing his horse to its limits, Aiden didn’t think he could catch Valorie. But what he had said to her was certainly true, he had no qualms riding behind her and watching. Watching Valorie was becoming one of Aiden’s favorite past-times.

Valorie’s wild wavy hair was flying back with the wind as her powerful legs commanded her horse. She bobbed up and down in rhythm with the animal as they traversed through the woods. The horse was perfectly in tune with Valorie’s wishes and jumped roots and logs better than he’d ever seen. She was flying.

Aiden could just imagine the brilliant smile that Valorie often wore when she was caught up in the moment. Like that night on the dance floor, Valorie was free as she rode her horse. Freer than he could ever imagine himself being. Aiden didn’t have the luxury to let go so fully, but it seemed Valorie never had any problems living in the moment and soaking in everything that life had to offer. If he wasn’t careful, it would become one of Aiden’s favorite things about her.

As sudden as she took off, Valorie slowed to a canter. Aiden finally saw that dazzling smile again when she turned to face him. She loved to ride as much as he did. With a teasing wink, Valorie led her horse behind Aiden and began circling him playfully.

The wee minx is playing me again!

Aiden should have known that Valorie wouldn’t just race to the waterfall. What was a win in the race was a loss to Valorie in her grand scheme to be rid of him. A fact, he should have considered when he made his bargain.

With Valorie riding around him, Aiden slowed his horse as well, and the pair settled into a relaxing pace, riding side by side.

“Ye were riding a bit slow me laird, so I thought I’d come back here and let ye catch up,” Valorie teased. Whatever ire she had felt prior to the race seemed to be calmed by the ride. Or by the fact that they both now knew she was the better rider. That was undoubtable.

“Aye, lass I was distracted, enjoying the view.”

“Mmm, the forest is quite lovely this time of year with the trees in full bloom,” Valorie commented.

“That’s not the view I was referrin’ to,” Aiden said darkly, shooting a promising look at Valorie.

All day, Aiden was distracted by Valorie if she was in his presence. Even when he claimed to be fully focused on the archery target, he was still in tune with her. Something about Valorie commanded his attention, and after today, it had only gotten worse. Because not only was Valorie beautiful, but she was also kind and funny and clever.

Aiden looked over and smiled warmly at the lass; he was glad to not be racing anymore. It was pleasant to just have this time with Valorie, enjoying the weather and each other. As much as he enjoyed watching her, it was even better to be by her side like this.

* * *

“Aye so ye never had any plans to win, eh?” Aiden asked Valorie as they continued to ride side by side through the woods.

“I told ye, I will never marry ye,” Valorie said lightly but with not nearly as much vehemence as earlier today. She was having fun on this ride — a concept that was somewhat inconceivable to her when spending time with a laird. When she truly thought about it, a lot of today had been fun. Sure, she was often irritated by Aiden, but she was also challenged by him.

Not to mention, there was their moment that morning in the study. Valorie was still imagining Aiden’s soft lips closing in on hers. It took everything she had to focus in on his various assessments and not stare at his mouth all day.

“Why didn’t ye just ride slow then and let me win?” Aiden asked. “I already ken yer an accomplished actress.”

Valorie scoffed, “I thought about it, but then I’d miss out on the chance to prove I’m the better rider.”

“Ye are quite skilled, lassie. Although it could just be yer horse,” Aiden suggested with a faint laughter. Valorie was getting much more acquainted with his laughter, and she liked it.

“Bluebell is impressive, but I trained him. That was all me, me laird; ye ken that.” Valorie was confident of that; Aiden seemed to be more in tune with her than anyone she knew.

“Aye, I do,” Aiden conceded.

“Did I pass yer tests then?” For some reason Valorie wanted not Aiden’s approval necessarily but definitely his respect. He was the first laird she had truly shown herself to, and his opinion of her mattered to Valorie. With the taunts back and forth all day, she didn’t know how he truly felt.

“Ye exceeded every expectation I had, lass,” Aiden said sincerely. Like a young girl, Valorie could feel herself blushing at the compliment as if she had never had the attention of a man before.

“Ye would do well to remember me skill with a bow and arrow,” Valorie joked in an attempt to bring back a lighter mood.

“Aye, lass. That’s not something I’ll be forgettin’ anytime soon,” Aiden said deeply with a long look at Valorie. There was that slow heat stirring again. Every time he gave her that promising look, Valorie grew hot, and she desperately wanted Aiden to follow through on that promise.

“Hmph. Good,” Valorie huffed, her voice sounding breathy even to her.

Thankfully, Aiden dropped his teasing, and they rode in silence for a little while, enjoying the peaceful quiet of the wood. Just the sounds of hooves stomping through the brush and the occasional tittering of some woodland animal accompanied them. Valorie did love this season in the forest; everything came alive.

“How come ye want to be wed?” Valorie asked suddenly, breaking the quiet tranquility.

The silence continued to stretch on long after her question. It got to the point where Valorie thought Aiden either didn’t hear her or he wasn’t planning on answering.

Valorie had resigned herself to not getting an answer when Aiden said, “I have me own pressures, being a young laird and all. Me faither passed recently, so I’ve only been Laird O’Donnely for a short while. Aye, we are a strong clan, but me people want an heir, and they want one soon.”

Aiden spoke softly, and Valorie could hear his devotion to his clan. She wondered again how this man got his reputation. Everything she had seen of him was far from that cruel laird she’d heard about. Perhaps her mother and Lorna were right, and it was all idle gossip from people with too much time on their hands.

Valorie wasn’t sure how to respond; she could empathize sure, but Aiden was still afforded choices that she wasn’t. Surely, he had the power to delay his people and his council, at least a little. But maybe Aiden wasn’t as free to do whatever he wished as Valorie had once assumed.

“I can understand wantin’ to make yer own choice,” Valorie simply said. That was all she truly wanted anyway. The freedom to make her own choice about her betrothal and her life. She thought that was a given for lairds, but clearly, they all had their own pressures.

“Aye.”

With Aiden’s short response, they continued to ride easily to their destination. Valorie could see the clearing ahead that opened into the large waterfall. They were slowly approaching what was meant to be the finish line, side by side.

No longer focused on a victory, all Valorie could think was that maybe she and Aiden weren’t so different after all.