be kind to my sweet lass in her time of need, ye can haul yer arse out of here, ye ken?”
All jesting fell away from him, replaced with a genuinely contrite look and a bowed head. “Forgive me, lass. I meant no harm. It’s just…I believe she’s the biggest coo I have ever seen.” He studied the animal. “I’ve helped with birthing foals. Shall I join ye? I swear I’ll be gentle with yer good lass and help her all I can.”
The cow bellowed a loud cry that sounded like an adamant refusal.
“Nay, not just yet. She doesna ken ye and isna in the mood for introductions at the moment.” Sorcha smoothed her hands down the shaggy animal’s swollen sides, cringing as the poor thing’s muscles knotted, then relaxed beneath her palms. “Ye must be strong, little one. Fight through this, aye? Just like ye did when ye were a wee one.” As she had hoped, the more she spoke to the agitated cow, the calmer the beast became. She combed her fingers through the long ruddy strands of the hairy coat, then smiled up at him. “Is she not a bonnie lass? I’ve often wished my muddy brown locks were colored as pretty as hers.”
With his powerful arms propped atop the stall gate, Sutherland nodded. “She is verra bonnie—as is her adopted mother, whose shimmering tresses are colored as rich and beautiful as a well-aged whisky.” He locked eyes with her. “And I’m not just trying to charm ye, Sorcha, nor fill this fine stable with shite.”
Her cheeks warmed. The man hadn’t meant any harm with his jest, and she shouldn’t have been so snappish. She forgave him with a smile. “I’m glad to hear it because the lads have quite enough shite to shovel.”
All conversation was forgotten as the massive beast lurched to the side and pinned her to the wall. Squeezed between the rough boards at her back and the heavy cow at her front, she struggled to breathe. Bursts of light flashed across her field of vision as the bovine leaned harder against her and bayed with a mournful bellow.
“This way with ye now, my wee beastie, before ye crush yer mistress.” Somehow, Sutherland convinced the shaggy animal to shift the other way. The beast went to its knees, then rolled to its side in the clean hay. He caught Sorcha up against his chest before she crumpled to the floor. “Are ye hurt? Can ye breathe, lass?”
The urgency in his voice warmed through her, as did the concern making his eyes seem all the bluer. She clung to him as she wheezed in slow, deep breaths. “Dinna fash, I’m fine,” she said. But the more she recovered, the more she realized she wasn’t fine at all. Sutherland’s embrace threatened to disturb her breathing even more than the tremendous weight of the cow crushing her. “Thank ye,” she whispered.
He didn’t answer, just stared down at her, unblinking.
Every sense she possessed sharpened, demanding she pay heed and savor this man holding her as though he cherished her. The hard length of him against her triggered a deliciously dangerous aching. His heat. The beat of his heart. Everything about him made the aching worse.
With a gentleness that made her long to toss all caution and plotting aside, the beguiling man nibbled a hesitant kiss across her mouth, paused the span of a heartbeat, then increased the bond, gently opening her mouth with his.
The laboring cow rattled the stall with a loud bawling.
Sutherland quickly stepped aside but kept a tight hold of Sorcha’s hand. Before she could kneel at the cow’s side, he stopped her. “Things are different when I’m with ye, m’lady—my Sorcha.” He spared a glance over at the animal and smiled. “But all that must wait for now since new life demands our attention.”
“That it d-does.” Heaven help her, she hadn’t stammered since she was a bairn. She slipped her hand out of his and knelt beside Peigi, leaning over to place her mouth close to the cow’s fuzzy ear. “Thank ye,” she whispered and meant it. If not for the interruption, who knows what she might’ve done. Her determination and planning haunted her. If she weakened and gave over so easily to the man, he’d slip away as soon as he achieved his conquest. It was far too early in this game to fall helplessly into his arms.
“I see a wee pair of hooves and a nose. All is looking good. Instincts are guiding her