Julie Garwood - The Bride

He knew before he turned around that Jamie was somehow responsible for this interruption. She was the only one who could cause such astonishment in his usually disciplined older soldiers, the only one to incite such chaos.

He had to brace himself, then thought he was prepared for just about anything, yet the sight of his wife riding down the hill on Wildfire's back did take his breath away. She was riding bareback, her hair flying out behind her, and Alec was afraid to move lest he startle her. She'd surely fall to the ground then and break her stubborn neck.

She rode like a queen. Even from the distance separating them, Alec could see her soft, beguiling smile.

Wildfire trotted down toward the slope where Alec and his men waited. Gavin and Marcus rode their mounts behind her.

Alec motioned Jamie over to his side with an arrogant wave of his hand. Though he was determined to hold on to his anger over her rude interruption of his duties, he was finding it a difficult endeavor. Pride kept getting in the way of his goal, his pride in his wife's horsemanship.

He lost his anger altogether when he spotted the bow and quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder.

He tried not to laugh.

Jamie obeyed her husband's command without any visible movement on the reins.

She stopped Wildfire by using the pressure of her knees to give her command.

Alec suddenly wanted to feel the pressure of her knees around him again.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Riding."

"With bow and arrow?"

"Yes," Jamie answered, wondering over the irritation in her husband's voice.

"One must always be prepared for any eventuality," she added. "I might also do a spot of hunting."

"I see."

His moods were as unpredictable as the wind, she decided, for now he looked as if he wanted to laugh at her. There was a definite sparkle in his eyes. She heard several loud chuckles from the crowd of soldiers gathered in front of her, glared at the offenders for being so rude, and then turned back to Alec.

"You're serious, aren't you, wife?"

"I am."

"You couldn't hit the side of our stables," Alec announced. "Yet you think to kill a moving target?"

"You think not?"

"I know not."

"You should have more faith in your wife," Jamie muttered as she slowly slipped the curved bow from her shoulder and reached for one of her arrows.

It was high time she set the man straight, she decided. Jamie had noticed a brown hide anchored to the large bale of hay farther down the slope. There were a good fifteen arrows clustered around the center of the hide. She motioned to the target, then said, "Will you let me hunt if I prove my skill to you?"

Marcus coughed, obviously trying to disguise his laughter. Jamie turned to frown at him while she waited for her husband to answer.

"I would not let you disgrace yourself so in front of my men," Alec announced.

He wanted to goad her temper with his insolent remark, knew he'd accomplished that goal when she turned back to him. She looked as if she wanted to strangle him.

"I won't disgrace myself."

He had the audacity to grin at her. "Kindly get out of my way, husband," she ordered. "You may laugh later," she snapped when she saw how much trouble he was having restraining himself. "If you feel so inclined."

Alec nodded, then backed several feet away.

As soon as Jamie fit her arrow to her bow, the soldiers started running for safety. Jamie guessed they didn't have much faith in her ability, either.

Wildfire's head kept getting in her way. Jamie let out a sigh. She slipped off her shoes, then stood up on the mare's back, balancing herself as gracefully as a dancer. She took aim and shot her arrow a second before Alec reached her side.

Jamie sat back down on Wildfire's back, patted her horse soundly for standing so still, and then smiled at Alec.

"Now why are you angry?" she demanded.

"You will never take such chances again, wife."

His shout nearly ripped Wildfire's mane apart. The horse immediately tried to bolt, but Alec grabbed the reins and had Wildfire docile in little time.

He couldn't help but notice that Jamie never lost her balance or showed the least amount of fear.

"What are you ranting about?" Jamie asked. "What chance did I take?"

He could tell from her expression she really didn't know why he was upset with her. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his control. When she'd stood up, his heart had stopped beating.

"You could have killed yourself," he muttered between clenched teeth. "If anyone's going to kill you, it's going to be me. Don't ever stand on your mount's back again. Not ever."

"I'm used to riding that way when the mood strikes me, Alec. While she gallops through a meadow I do sometimes stand up."

"Oh, God."

"'Tis the truth," she said. "Would you like me to show-"

"No."

"Don't yell at me, Alec. It's upsetting Wildfire."

"It's you I want upset, wife," Alec returned. "Give me your word."

"Oh, all right, then," Jamie said. "I give you my word. Are you happy now?"

"I am."

"Then please remove your hand from my leg. Your grip is painful."

"Wife, do you know how close you are to real jeopardy?"

She didn't look at all worried by that threat. "Alec?"

"What?"

"How long have you had that tic in your cheek?"

He didn't answer her.

"Her arrow ain't near the others," the young soldier named David called out. The eager boy picked up Jamie's shoes and offered them to her. Jamie thanked him and quickly put them on.

"Of course my arrow isn't near the others," she told the soldier.

"You knew you'd miss?" he asked.

"I didn't miss," she countered. "You'll find my arrow in the very center. Go and fetch it for me please."

David ran back down the hill to the target. He let out a whoop of laughter.

"She's right," he shouted. "Her arrow is in the center."

Jamie was watching Alec when that statement was shouted. She ignored the men's cheers. Her husband's reaction was a little disappointing. He merely raised an eyebrow.

"Gavin? I want ten more men riding with you," he shouted.

The soldier immediately turned his mount back toward the stables.

"Jamie, you've forgotten something," he said when she tried to take the reins back in her hands.

"Oh…" She immediately started to blush, then motioned him closer and leaned down to kiss his brow.

He couldn't hide his exasperation. "I meant you forgot your saddle," he told her.

"I don't like it, Jamie argued. "It's too new. It makes me stiff, Alec."

"Marcus, get my wife one of my old saddles. Why didn't you tell me you could ride bareback? I thought you unskilled. You did fall off your mount today."

"I didn't tell you because you would have thought me unladylike," she answered.

He had to smile over that foolish statement. "I could never think you were unladylike."

She smiled. "You're forever reminding me," he added. "I should have realized you were skilled," he admitted then. "Beak told me you were the only one who could seat the mare. Still, he added that you didn't ride often."

"He was protecting me," Jamie explained. "He thought you'd be more considerate if you thought I wasn't properly trained."

Alec grinned. "Jamie? Don't ever kiss me the way you just did."

She thought he meant not to show any affection in front of his men. He motioned her toward him with the crook of his finger again and when they were almost nose to nose, he whispered, "Kiss me like this."

He didn't even give her time to smile. His mouth settled on hers in hard, hungry demand. She didn't open her mouth quickly enough to please him, but his low growl gained her full cooperation. His tongue drove inside just in time to taste her sigh.

She didn't hear the men yelling their pleasure at being witnesses to such a blatant display of passion. Alec heard them, however, and reluctantly eased his mouth away.