speedily find yourself a young widow—”
“They wouldn’t dare,” she broke in.
“Maybe not so blatantly that you could prove it, but my untimely demise could be made to appear an accident. Even so, we shall still have to face them unless we flee to Shequenor and then we’ll have to face him. Which do you fancy?”
“Neither prospect holds any delight.”
“Thought not.”
She brightened. “Let’s live like gypsies.”
“Or Spanish pirates?” he teased. “Here’s a plan. What say we keep this betrothal to ourselves for the present? I shall win the race tomorrow and claim the purse, a fine start toward building a place of our own.”
“Then we’ll race to Reverend McCue’s?”
He chuckled deep in his throat. “You have no idea what you’re inviting to your marriage bed. I’m half wild.”
Sucking in a giddy breath, she said, “Given half the chance I suspect I may be too.”
Low laughter shook him. “The perfect match.”
“Jack, do be serious for a moment.”
“I am. Completely.”
The sudden transformation in his tone was striking. She searched his unwavering gaze, divulging only what he willed. There was far more to him than met the eye. “Should we exchange some sort of token?” she asked uncertainly.
His lips twitched with repressed smiles. “Apart from the sweet kisses you’ve lavished on me?”
Her mouth dropped open and heat warmed her cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. Here, darling.” He reached into his pouch. “A betrothal bracelet.” He held out the shining silver band, skillfully hammered and embellished with curlicues and geometric designs.
She gasped. “Where did you come by this?”
“Your father gave it to me. I’m certain there’s no one he would rather have me entrust it to than you. Though its significance is a good joke on the old he- bear.” Jack smiled and slipped it around her wrist—too loose—and slid it further up her arm under her shift, squeezing it to fit. “Where none will see—”
Bam ! The door sprang open with such violence Karin thought it might be jarred from its hinges. She screeched.
“What in blazes!” Jack sat bolt upright, hand on his knife.
Had they conjured up Shequenor—again?
No. Grandpa’s bulk stomped in. Hard on his heels, was Joseph. Behind them in the darkened yard, she glimpsed two blowing horses. She almost preferred Shequenor’s unnerving visitation. She’d never seen her grandfather this ruddy with rage. Her throat seized up and she trembled so she could barely sit.
Not Jack. Clearly accustomed to battle, he sprang to his feet with the wariness of a wolf before an advancing pack of slathering hounds. “The stream is well over its bank. How did you get here?”
Her relations glowered at him. “Found a spot to ford as you could have done, McCray. I swear I’m gonna have your hide, finding the pair of you tucked up in here,” Grandpa vowed.
Jack countered, “I don’t know every inch of that water. See the scars on the door? We were attacked by a bloody great bear and are fortunate to be alive.”
“More fortunate still if you survive me,” Grandpa threatened in turn.
“And me,” Joseph ground out. “Leave off my girl.” His fist flew.
Jack had the foresight to duck, or maybe it was the warning Shequenor had given him. “She’s not yours, little brother.” He launched at Joseph with a punishing undercut to the jaw that sent him staggering.
Swiping at the blood trickling from his lip, Joseph shook off the blow and hurled himself at Jack. “What did you do to her, you thieving savage!”
“Savage, eh?” Jack clipped him on the side of his head in passing. “You don’t know the meaning of the word. But keep at me and I vow you will.” He spun around like a striking snake and sent Joseph thudding to the floor. “The lady is safe, warm, fed—”
“And ravished by the looks of her!” Undaunted, Joseph got to his feet and flung out another fist. “She’s flushed and her
“They wouldn’t dare,” she broke in.
“Maybe not so blatantly that you could prove it, but my untimely demise could be made to appear an accident. Even so, we shall still have to face them unless we flee to Shequenor and then we’ll have to face him. Which do you fancy?”
“Neither prospect holds any delight.”
“Thought not.”
She brightened. “Let’s live like gypsies.”
“Or Spanish pirates?” he teased. “Here’s a plan. What say we keep this betrothal to ourselves for the present? I shall win the race tomorrow and claim the purse, a fine start toward building a place of our own.”
“Then we’ll race to Reverend McCue’s?”
He chuckled deep in his throat. “You have no idea what you’re inviting to your marriage bed. I’m half wild.”
Sucking in a giddy breath, she said, “Given half the chance I suspect I may be too.”
Low laughter shook him. “The perfect match.”
“Jack, do be serious for a moment.”
“I am. Completely.”
The sudden transformation in his tone was striking. She searched his unwavering gaze, divulging only what he willed. There was far more to him than met the eye. “Should we exchange some sort of token?” she asked uncertainly.
His lips twitched with repressed smiles. “Apart from the sweet kisses you’ve lavished on me?”
Her mouth dropped open and heat warmed her cheeks.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. Here, darling.” He reached into his pouch. “A betrothal bracelet.” He held out the shining silver band, skillfully hammered and embellished with curlicues and geometric designs.
She gasped. “Where did you come by this?”
“Your father gave it to me. I’m certain there’s no one he would rather have me entrust it to than you. Though its significance is a good joke on the old he- bear.” Jack smiled and slipped it around her wrist—too loose—and slid it further up her arm under her shift, squeezing it to fit. “Where none will see—”
Bam ! The door sprang open with such violence Karin thought it might be jarred from its hinges. She screeched.
“What in blazes!” Jack sat bolt upright, hand on his knife.
Had they conjured up Shequenor—again?
No. Grandpa’s bulk stomped in. Hard on his heels, was Joseph. Behind them in the darkened yard, she glimpsed two blowing horses. She almost preferred Shequenor’s unnerving visitation. She’d never seen her grandfather this ruddy with rage. Her throat seized up and she trembled so she could barely sit.
Not Jack. Clearly accustomed to battle, he sprang to his feet with the wariness of a wolf before an advancing pack of slathering hounds. “The stream is well over its bank. How did you get here?”
Her relations glowered at him. “Found a spot to ford as you could have done, McCray. I swear I’m gonna have your hide, finding the pair of you tucked up in here,” Grandpa vowed.
Jack countered, “I don’t know every inch of that water. See the scars on the door? We were attacked by a bloody great bear and are fortunate to be alive.”
“More fortunate still if you survive me,” Grandpa threatened in turn.
“And me,” Joseph ground out. “Leave off my girl.” His fist flew.
Jack had the foresight to duck, or maybe it was the warning Shequenor had given him. “She’s not yours, little brother.” He launched at Joseph with a punishing undercut to the jaw that sent him staggering.
Swiping at the blood trickling from his lip, Joseph shook off the blow and hurled himself at Jack. “What did you do to her, you thieving savage!”
“Savage, eh?” Jack clipped him on the side of his head in passing. “You don’t know the meaning of the word. But keep at me and I vow you will.” He spun around like a striking snake and sent Joseph thudding to the floor. “The lady is safe, warm, fed—”
“And ravished by the looks of her!” Undaunted, Joseph got to his feet and flung out another fist. “She’s flushed and her
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