A Soldier's Salvation (Highland Heartbeats Book 7)(48)

Would that he could give expression to these thoughts. Would that he could share with her everything she meant to him.

The sun was roughly halfway to the midpoint of the sky when Brice called out to him. Had he learned his lesson? Rodric certainly hoped so. If it hadn’t been for the rope tying Brice to Caitlin, he might have knocked his friend from the saddle.

He threw a look back over his shoulder to find the three of them coming to a stop.

“Wanted to water the horses!” Brice called out, cupping his hands around his mouth.

A wise decision. The heat was already taking its toll, and though the air was heavy with moisture, it didn’t do a hardworking animal much good. He brought the gelding around and trotted back over the ground he’d covered, leading the horse off the road and in the direction of a trickling stream which ran on the other side of a line of towering spruce.

It was cooler in the shade the trees provided, and between that shade and the refreshing water just a short way off, the spot seemed a paradise.

Rodric took the opportunity to drink deep of the clear, cold stream before dunking his head beneath the surface and using both hands to pour water over the back of his sweaty, dirty neck.

By the time he brought his head up, snapping it back to keep the hair out of his eyes, he felt refreshed—at least, in body. Perhaps not so much in spirit.

He wiped the water from his eyes and spied Caitlin a bit further downstream, delicately performing the same type of bathing as he. She wouldn’t dip her entire head beneath the surface but did pour water over her neck, beneath the thick braid of hair.

Oh, how he wished she wouldn’t. Or that he were a strong enough man to avert his eyes when the water trickled down her back and caused the tunic to stick to her body.

He wished she wouldn’t tip her head back, sighing softly in relief as the cool water refreshed her overheated skin. He gulped, mesmerized, knowing deep in his soul that he ought to look away but being completely unable to. If his life depended upon it, he wouldn’t look away.

Brice approached him, clearing his throat loudly and obviously as a warning. “Easy, now,” he murmured, his back to Caitlin.

“What do you mean?” Rodric challenged, standing to face his friend.

“I mean, you’re all but panting over her. I’ve seen dogs in heat conduct themselves better. I’d not mention it except for her sake,” he was quick to add. “The lass would like as not perish of mortification if she caught sight of the sign of lust that you’re sporting.”

Rodric wasn’t certain whether he should thank Brice or push him into the stream. He settled on a grunt and a nod. His inflamed sensibilities were already cooling off considerably.

“You seem to care overmuch for her feelings, truth be told,” he accused, eyes narrowing.

“Do not start a fight with me, Rodric Anderson,” Brice warned with a smile. “Just because the lass has you at odds with yourself is no reason to be at odds with me.”

“My only concern is for the nature of your affection toward the lass.”

Brice’s mouth fell open. He threw back his head to let out a deep, roaring laugh which seemed to come up from his toes and shake his entire body. Caitlin, visible just over his shoulder, looked over in surprise and faint amusement.

“You… you think…” A fresh wave of laughter overtook Brice until he was doubled over with it.

“All right, then,” Rodric grumbled, arms crossed over his chest. “You needn’t send yourself into a fit over it, man.”

“What’s the joke?” Fergus asked, joining them with a curious smile.

“He… thinks…” Brice shook his head, wiping away tears of mirth. “I’ll tell ye later, brother.”

“Why don’t you ride on now?” Rodric suggested. “I’ll take this leg of the journey with Caitlin tied to my wrist.”

“Aye, smart thinking.” Brice winked, laughter still bubbling out of him now and then. He was shaking his head as he went to his horse, gracefully swinging his massive body into the saddle. “Come, brother. Let us wait on the road and keep watch.”

Fergus shot a look of concern toward Rodric and Caitlin.

“I’ll tell you why I was laughing so,” Brice offered, jerking his head in the direction of the road.

Fergus, still lost, merely shrugged and followed suit, the pair riding through the trees to the other side.

Leaving Rodric alone with her.

“You’ll be tied to me now?” she asked with a smirk as she strolled toward him. “I do not have a say in the matter?”

He saw through her effrontery. She wasn’t nearly as brave as she pretended.

And suddenly, he was very tired of the dance they’d been locked in ever since they’d set eyes on each other again. Pretending to be something they weren’t, pretending they didn’t know what they were to each other. It was idiotic and a waste of precious time they could’ve spent loving each other, even in spite of her marriage to Alan.

“Caitlin. I’m going to be frank with ye, and I ask that ye listen and do not speak until I’m finished.”

Color rose in her cheeks. “Do not tell me—”

“What did I just ask ye? Do not speak. Just keep quiet for a minute or two! Is that too much to ask? Are you incapable of shutting your mouth and keeping it that way long enough for a man to get a word in edgewise?”