The Beautiful Stranger by Julia London Page A

by the arrogance, Kerry laughed. It is not your decision!
    I would be remiss as a gentleman if I let you foolishly wander off.
    Foolishly wander off? Surely I needna remind you who is Scot and who is not? His shout of laughter was answer enough, but he replied with a resounding No. Arrogant cretin. Well then, Ill thank you for your help and Ill be off now.
    Mrs. McKinnon
    Ill walk to Dunkeld before I take even one step toward Perth! she fairly shouted. Lord, now what was she saying?
    His beautiful hazel eyes narrowed; his cheeks puffed out as he considered her, until he finally let the air go in one loud swoosh. All in all, Id say you are about the most obstinate woman I have ever encountered. Go on, then, carry your fool self off to some danger, he said, and stuffed his hat down on his head. I dont intend to watch after you like a child.
    No one asked you to do so, she shot back. Perhaps I should be watching you like a childat least I
    would know to tether my horse.
    His face darkened. Is that so? he drawled, lowering his head like a charging bull.
    Something inside her twitchedKerry quickly snatched up her satchel and took several steps backward.
    Aye then. I am grateful for your your, ah, companionship last evening, and I do so regret having shot you at all, but, well, accidents will happen, will they not, and I hope you have a lovely time of it in Scotland all the same, and a safe journey to England when the time comes, but if you will excuse me now, I really must get home.
    Now he was advancing. She turned and walked quicklysprinted, ratheracross the clearing, to a point where the forest thinned and one could see through to another small clearing. She glanced over her shoulderhe had stopped, was watching her walk away, the scowl still on his face. She couldnt help herself; she lifted her hand. Farewell!
    He didnt answer right away; a moment or two passed before he responded gently, Farewell, and Godspeed, Mrs. McKinnon.
    A vague but deep sense of regret invaded her. It had been a very long time that she had been near a man so virile, so handsomeEnough! There was no time to mope about a beautiful stranger; she had enough on her mind. With a jaunty wave, she marched into the woods, swinging her satchel at her side.
    Arthur watched her walk into the copse, saw the tendrils of morning mist begin to close around her. The woman wouldnt listen to reason if her very life depended upon it. Moreover, she was too headstrong for her own good, she went about shooting unarmed men, she slept like the dead, and she was so damned alluring there ought to be a law against it.
    So when his feet began to move independently of his head, Arthur decided he had lost his bloody mind.
    His feet put up the argument that, lest he forget, he was terribly lost, and for all he knew, he ought to be walking in the same direction as she anyway. If that wasnt enough, his heart further argued that he was a gentleman, and a gentleman did not allow a lady to walk off into potential dangernot a woman with a derriere like that, at any rateno matter how infuriatingly stubborn she was, the silly little Scot! Ah, but what could he do? It was plainly obvious she was desperately in need of his help.
    Before he even recognized what was happening, Arthur was suddenly only a horse length behind her, following the gentle bounce of that round bum to hell for all he knew.
    What did he think he was doing? Kerry glanced over her shoulder a third time, moaned at his charming smile, and jerked her gaze straight ahead. Following her, that was what, and had been for a good hour or more. But to where for Gods sake? He was so determined to go to Perth! This was impossibleshe could not have a fancy Englishman follow her home!
    Exasperated, Kerry paused by a fallen log at the edge of the heath where the forest rose up again and turned around. Her satchel by her side, her arms folded tightly across her middle, she glared at Arthur Christian as he strolled to where she stood as if he