“Shouldn’t we wait until the mist lifts?”
A faint smile touched Cameron’s lips. “You’ve been riding these fields for the past year. Are you suddenly frightened you’ll get lost?”
“I’m not frightened. I was trying to be practical.”
He chuckled. “When have you ever been practical? Mount, and let’s be on our way.”
Mariam glared at Cameron as she swung up onto the horse’s back with ease. If he wanted to take the risk, who was she to stop him? “You go on ahead. I shall follow you.”
His brows rose in surprise. “The trail is wide enough for two.”
If she rode beside him, then he would know she searched for whatever it was that had caused her unease upon entering the courtyard. “I fear I won’t be good company this morning. I’m still tired and somewhat fuzzy.”
“Did you not sleep well?”
For a moment she considered telling him about the second dream she’d had, then changed her mind. Would he even believe her if she told him that what she saw usually came true? Finally, she responded, “Nay. I had too many things on my mind.”
His expression softened. “You need not worry about today. That you are attempting to do something for others is proof enough you can change.”
Mariam stared at him, totally at a loss for words. She had not expected him to forgive her so easily.
He laughed softly at the stunned look on her face. “Come, let’s get started. And if you won’t ride beside me, then at least keep close.”
“I will.”
He kicked his horse into a trot. They traveled in silence as the early morning sun rose higher in the sky, bathing the fields in light and turning the grass emerald. The sea of green stretched out before them in endless waves. They’d eaten their breakfast as they rode.
“We are about halfway there,” Cameron said, breaking the stillness as he brought his horse alongside hers.
“Why do you keep the sheep so far from the castle?” she asked, truly curious.
“The fields in close were being overgrazed so we moved them to a place farther out that had been ignored for an entire season.”
She stole a glance at him. What thoughts went on behind those impenetrable, unreadable, intelligent eyes of his? Had he ever let anyone close enough to be able to guess at his thoughts or understand his moods? Had anyone ever wanted to understand him? Each time she thought she understood some facet of his personality, he surprised her. In just the past few days, he’d been harsh with her, but also forgiving. “You know about politics at court, farming, sailing, trade, and war. What an interesting man you are, Cameron Sinclair.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I will take that as a compliment.”
Mariam felt his eyes upon her and quickly shifted her gaze back to the vista before them, not really seeing the craggy mountains in the distance, the glistening waters of the Firth of Forth, or the beauty of the sun as it climbed higher in the sky.
She swallowed against the sudden tightness in her throat. Cameron Sinclair was a man who was full of contrast and surprises. The thought had barely formed when another sensation sent a chill chasing down her neck. Danger?
She frantically searched the area on either side of the trail, but it was all open field with the occasional shrub here or there, and pockets of mist that remained, but nothing so dense an enemy could take advantage of for shelter. Even so, her hands tightened on the reins. Perhaps it was only her imagination. Perhaps her fears were playing tricks on her.
But she couldn’t shake the feeling. Someone was there. She was certain of a presence as much as she was of Cameron on the trail ahead of her. Her palms grew clammy. Why did Cameron not sense the danger she did? He was a warrior with finely tuned instincts, yet he seemed totally unaware. What could she say to him that might alert him to possible danger, and would he believe her anyway? She could not prove someone was there.
Instead of saying anything, she brought her horse up beside his. “Our pace is too slow. Come on.” She brought her hand down firmly on his horse’s hindquarter, plunging the animal forward.
Cameron cast her a startled glance as his horse snorted and broke into a gallop. “What are you about?”
“’Tis nothing,” she said, following beside him as they flew over the open terrain. With each mile, that sense of being watched faded,