known to occasionally crack jokes.”
“And then force people to laugh with your gun.” I fought a yawn, knowing Colton would insist we stop for the night. I was not sleeping in the forest and he couldn’t make me.
“It is more of a suggestion.” This time my yawn escaped me. Hearing it, Colton stopped the horse. “I suppose you are about to deny you are tired?”
“If it means bedding down in the forest, I will walk another day.”
“What is your aversion to the forest?” Colton began tightening Brutus’ girth.
“Besides the hard ground, unprotected shelter, and chill, I have nothing against it. I simply do not wish to sleep in it. Do you mean to push on to Lisbon then?” Try as I might, I couldn’t summon up my earlier enthusiasm for that idea. It might have something to do with the fact I was tired.
“We may as well, since you are being difficult about it.” Finished with the horse’s girth, Colton nodded toward the saddle. “Up you go, then.”
I grabbed the front of the saddle and raised my leg for the stirrup. Brutus being a tall horse, my leg didn’t reach that high. Seeing the problem, Colton gave me a helpful leg up, with almost a little too much force. I nearly fell off the other side of the saddle, but managed to grab a handful of the horse’s mane to balance myself.
I’d barely settled before Colton mounted, reminding me again of his size and strength. In a matter of seconds, I was securely tucked against him. His hands even adjusted my skirt, pulling it upwards to allow my legs more freedom of movement. It was only when he unbuttoned his jacket and pulled the ends around my torso that he said anything.
“I knew you were cold.” His voice rumbled beneath my back.
I made some kind of noncommittal reply, occupied in pressing myself against any part of his body I could reach. The man was infernally warm from calves to shoulders. Allowing myself a full body shiver, I huddled closer.
“Do not think this makes us friends. I’m only after your warmth.” This I said after burying my cold hands between the back of my thighs and the tops of his.
“That is the first time a lady has used that excuse for plastering herself against me.” With a gentle nudge, Colton started Brutus walking down the path.
“Oh? Do you regularly kidnap women and force them to accompany you on nighttime viewings of the forest?” I sleepily rested my head against the side of his neck. Shoved as I was on top of his lap, there was really no other place to put it.
“Only the ones I really like.” I felt his ribs expand on a deep breath. “Shall I wake you when we reach Lisbon?”
“Please.” Already, my eyes were closing. I felt myself go limp as sleep claimed me.
Chapter Two
The abrupt cessation of motion woke me with a start. I sat up so fast I nearly broke the grip of Colton’s arms around my waist. Only his quick reaction saved me a tumble from Brutus’s back.
“Easy there, sweetheart.” His voice, coming close to my ear, unnerved me further.
Dawn had broken, lending a feathery look to the trees. Had I really spent the night cuddled against this strangely disturbing man?
Rubbing my eyes, I asked, “Are we at Lisbon?”
“Almost.” His hands came up, pushing into my stomach. “There is hardly room for modesty in a saddle.”
“We are far beyond modesty.” I subsided with a sigh back into the cradle of his arms and chest. I couldn’t even muster any embarrassment at so shamelessly pressing myself against him. “Did you sleep at all?”
“And leave Brutus to see us safely to Lisbon?” His voice was softly mocking.
“Please. No teasing before breakfast. After I eat, you may mock all you want.”
Apparently agreeing, his answer was mild. “The town is just over that rise.” He pointed to the hill in the path not far from us.
“Excellent.”
A moment passed. I could almost hear the gears turning in his brain. “Before we go much further, I will need to know what your father
“And then force people to laugh with your gun.” I fought a yawn, knowing Colton would insist we stop for the night. I was not sleeping in the forest and he couldn’t make me.
“It is more of a suggestion.” This time my yawn escaped me. Hearing it, Colton stopped the horse. “I suppose you are about to deny you are tired?”
“If it means bedding down in the forest, I will walk another day.”
“What is your aversion to the forest?” Colton began tightening Brutus’ girth.
“Besides the hard ground, unprotected shelter, and chill, I have nothing against it. I simply do not wish to sleep in it. Do you mean to push on to Lisbon then?” Try as I might, I couldn’t summon up my earlier enthusiasm for that idea. It might have something to do with the fact I was tired.
“We may as well, since you are being difficult about it.” Finished with the horse’s girth, Colton nodded toward the saddle. “Up you go, then.”
I grabbed the front of the saddle and raised my leg for the stirrup. Brutus being a tall horse, my leg didn’t reach that high. Seeing the problem, Colton gave me a helpful leg up, with almost a little too much force. I nearly fell off the other side of the saddle, but managed to grab a handful of the horse’s mane to balance myself.
I’d barely settled before Colton mounted, reminding me again of his size and strength. In a matter of seconds, I was securely tucked against him. His hands even adjusted my skirt, pulling it upwards to allow my legs more freedom of movement. It was only when he unbuttoned his jacket and pulled the ends around my torso that he said anything.
“I knew you were cold.” His voice rumbled beneath my back.
I made some kind of noncommittal reply, occupied in pressing myself against any part of his body I could reach. The man was infernally warm from calves to shoulders. Allowing myself a full body shiver, I huddled closer.
“Do not think this makes us friends. I’m only after your warmth.” This I said after burying my cold hands between the back of my thighs and the tops of his.
“That is the first time a lady has used that excuse for plastering herself against me.” With a gentle nudge, Colton started Brutus walking down the path.
“Oh? Do you regularly kidnap women and force them to accompany you on nighttime viewings of the forest?” I sleepily rested my head against the side of his neck. Shoved as I was on top of his lap, there was really no other place to put it.
“Only the ones I really like.” I felt his ribs expand on a deep breath. “Shall I wake you when we reach Lisbon?”
“Please.” Already, my eyes were closing. I felt myself go limp as sleep claimed me.
Chapter Two
The abrupt cessation of motion woke me with a start. I sat up so fast I nearly broke the grip of Colton’s arms around my waist. Only his quick reaction saved me a tumble from Brutus’s back.
“Easy there, sweetheart.” His voice, coming close to my ear, unnerved me further.
Dawn had broken, lending a feathery look to the trees. Had I really spent the night cuddled against this strangely disturbing man?
Rubbing my eyes, I asked, “Are we at Lisbon?”
“Almost.” His hands came up, pushing into my stomach. “There is hardly room for modesty in a saddle.”
“We are far beyond modesty.” I subsided with a sigh back into the cradle of his arms and chest. I couldn’t even muster any embarrassment at so shamelessly pressing myself against him. “Did you sleep at all?”
“And leave Brutus to see us safely to Lisbon?” His voice was softly mocking.
“Please. No teasing before breakfast. After I eat, you may mock all you want.”
Apparently agreeing, his answer was mild. “The town is just over that rise.” He pointed to the hill in the path not far from us.
“Excellent.”
A moment passed. I could almost hear the gears turning in his brain. “Before we go much further, I will need to know what your father
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