notice.
The shape of her sweet arse was firmly implanted in his mind.
Chapter Three
Derric rode out behind Alasdair and Els. “My sister says you make her happy, Els. My thanks to you for that.”
Els grinned. “We are happy. More than I thought possible. Now if we could put an end to the threat against Grandsire, we’d be able to relax a bit. Help Alasdair build a new tower since he’s always having guests.”
“And it would be most appreciated,” Alasdair said. “We’ll hope for a bountiful table this eve. Emmalin already has the loaves of bread baking along with the lamb pies and pear and apple tarts. Just need the boar or a nice deer.”
“I like the sound of it,” Derric said. “Boar is plentiful here?”
“Boar and pheasant,” Els said.
As soon as he finished his sentence, an arrow sluiced over their heads, taking out a bird mid-air, landing not far from them. Dyna flew by them on her horse with a grin on her face. “I have my quarry.”
Derric rode behind her to see what she’d felled. He glanced behind him to make sure no one else could hear him. “Nice pheasant, Diamond. Plump breast that will taste sweet, I’m sure.”
She said nothing, instead picking up the bird and attaching it to her horse. Then she turned to him with a pointed gaze. “We’ll see what you catch, Corbett.”
With that, she mounted and galloped off, cutting in front of the men. To his surprise, Lora and Joya joined her on their own mounts, followed by five guards.
“Where are you lasses headed?” Els asked.
Joya smiled sweetly and said, “We’re off to the loch. Our mission is waterfowl. You men go off for your boar and mayhap a wee rabbit or two.”
Els snorted. “You don’t know your husband well if you think a rabbit’s leg will satisfy my needs this eve. I’ve a huge appetite.” His voice carried across the glen, and his wife’s laughter trailed back.
“And don’t I know it,” she shouted back.
Alex had ridden out from the keep too, although Derric hadn’t noticed until now. His horse was drawn up next to Alasdair’s, and the two were talking quietly. But Alex broke away and nodded to his other grandsons. “I’ll go with the lasses for now,” he said. “I’ll come looking for you once they head back. ’Tis a beautiful autumn day and I plan to enjoy it.”
Els said, “Aye, Joya won’t be out here more than an hour. She’s just along for the ride.”
“With Dyna shooting, they may only need half an hour,” Alasdair said. “I hear Lora’s archery skills are improving, too.”
Alex nodded again and rode off after the lasses, and Alasdair led their small hunting group into the woods.
“Are we more likely to find boar or deer?” Derric asked Els as they moved along.
“We often see deer, but they’re too fast to hit on horseback. We have better luck with boar in these woods. They’re plentiful, though sometimes an arrow in a boar’s flank will only slow it instead of killing it. If we find one, we may have to stop and finish it with our sword.”
Derric listened with interest. He did like to eat well, and since he spent much of his time camping, he would be wise to learn their hunting strategies. Although he’d attempted to master a bow in the hopes of catching some meat to fatten up their daily meals, he wasn’t nearly as skilled as any of the Grants. Perhaps he’d ask Dyna to work with him.
Aye, he thought, imagining what it would be like to stand with her, their bodies pressed together, while she helped him aim an arrow at a target—that would be quite nice. But he knew it unwise to dwell on such thoughts in his present company. Her cousins certainly wouldn’t approve of his musings.
Would they approve of him as a husband for Dyna? Perhaps he’d pose the question to Joya, see what she thought.
They traveled through the cool morn, gray skies above them but no rain yet. Once they settled into silence, the sounds of the forest started to reemerge. The squirrels were still busy searching for nuts to store for winter, and the sound of leaves falling from the trees whenever a gust of wind broke through was a constant reminder that cold weather was on its way.
Els held his hand up, stopping the group. They all quieted, their right hands reaching for their bows. Derek watched, his dagger in hand. Two of the horses became skittish, indicating