April Moon by Susan King, Merline Lovelace, MIRANDA JARRETT Page A

Simon answered, already setting his foot into the stirrup to vault into his saddle. Taking the reins, he turned the black stallion’s head. “I’ll correct her direction. I want her out of the area tonight—something is afoot this evening.”
    “Aye, those men we saw leading packhorses must be moving contraband somewhere. Bold rascals, to ignore a full moon. They dinna care if they’re seen.”
    “We’ll need more men if we’re to do anything about it,” Simon said. “Ride back to Whithorn and appeal to the sheriff—I believe he’s still at the Tolbooth—for dragoons and rangers.”
    “We can summon no more than ten or a dozen,” Bryson grumbled. “The shortage of revenue men is a problem here.”
    “Do what you can.” Simon glanced toward the sky. “Those smugglers have something planned, and I mean to know what it is.”
    “Aye, then. We’ll come back to the lookout point near the Kelpie’s Cave. Do ye know it?”
    “I do,” Simon said, and turned the stallion’s head to ride after Jenny, while Bryson and the dragoons headed northeast.
    The girl proved easier to catch this time, for her cart was proceeding at a more sedate pace. When Simon pulled up alongside once again, she glanced at him in surprise, then scowled.
    “Have you nothing better to do, Sir Simon?”
    “Miss Colvin, Glendarroch is to the north. You’re heading south,” he said pleasantly.
    “It’s none of your concern where I’m going.”
    “If you’re angry about the search, I don’t blame you. But Bryson was twitching to see what you keep under your skirts.”
    “Then I suppose I should thank you for doing the gentlemanly thing,” she snapped, looking ahead as she drove the cart.
    “You’re welcome. Now tell me where you’re going and why.”
    “I’m going about my own business and you can go about yours.”
    “I am going about mine,” he pointed out.
    “Surely you have real brigands to catch. You needna prance after me all night.”
    “Ah, Miss Colvin. Even more full of charm than I remember.” He reached out and took Sweetheart’s bridle again, slowing the cart and horse.While Jenny stared at him, he dismounted, tied his horse’s lead to the back of the cart, and climbed inside to sit on the bench beside her. He took the reins from her hands.
    “What is it you want?” she asked irritably.
    “To escort you safely home. There are naughty men about in the night.”
    “And you’re one of them. Hey, stop that—I willna go home,” she protested, as he snapped the reins to turn the bay’s head north for the hills that edged the Solway plains.
    “I might be persuaded to escort you wherever you’re going, if you’ll tell me your business.”
    “I doubt it.” She folded her arms.
    “Trust me,” he said, leaning a shoulder toward her.
    She flashed him a fuming glance in silence.
    “Aye, well. You have a right to be perturbed with me.”
    “I do. The way you left was…villainous.” She lifted her chin and looked away.
    Simon glanced at her. In the moon’s pale glow, he saw deep hurt glimmer in her eyes, and he felt the blow of it in his own heart. Perhaps it was only what he deserved, but he could see that his intention of making amends would be a long road.
    He watched her almost hungrily in the blue-gray light. God, how he had missed her, he thought. She took his breath with her simple yet uncommonbeauty. Delicately balanced features, eyes of a keen and lovely blue, the gleaming sweep of dark brown hair spilling over her shoulder in a single loose braid matched the memories he had kept close. She had changed only a little, leaner in the face, her form lush perfection. His quick search of her body earlier had proven that—and had nearly undone him.
    Being with her nearly undermined the restraint and reserve he strived to keep about himself. For years, he had loved her and dreamed of her, and now he saw that her beauty and spirit had blossomed. The earnestness and honest intelligence he loved in her,