Rogue's Challenge (4 page)

But he was no fool. He knew he'd go to prison for what he was doing, but the world would know he was the creator of EQ13. Not Maxwell industries. Not Maxwell's daughter. Vernon Cox was the genius! Vernon Cox was the greatest scientist of all time!

And now, he thought with a smile, with the portal at his disposal he could avoid incarceration. He would have to thank Jenny Maxwell for that little piece of information, and he would when the time was right. His fingers brushed against the gun shoved in his belt.

The brat stumbled and the English idiot caught her by the arm.

"Thanks,” Jenny mumbled, she really was lost without her glasses.

"'Twould be much simpler if we were to ride,” Ian said.

"No, no. I'm fine. Really. It's—uh—it's a lovely day for a walk."

"'Tis a trek to the castle, one I wager will leave you quite winded, little one."

She shot him a look at the nickname, at least she think she did. That could've been the horse she was looking at, she couldn't be certain, but she did despise the name he'd given her. It sounded as if she were a child and not a grown woman. Not unlike the feeling she got when her father was fuming at her. She always felt so small then.

Another hateful stone or branch or something tripped her again. This time Ian's arm came around her waist and pressed her back against his broad chest.

"You, my dear lady, are not of a mind to watch your step."

"A little difficult since I lost my glasses when I ran into the guard.” She smirked at him over her shoulder. “When I was running from you."

He chuckled softly, sending a faint quiver down her spine. “You cannot blame your impairment on me, little one."

"I most certainly can. And stop calling me that. If you had explained who you were in the beginning, I wouldn't have run into the guard and lost my glasses. My current predicament is a direct result of your poor planning."

"Really? I thought it rather ingenious myself,” he said.

Jenny blew at a stray tendril tickling her cheek. “Well, your ingenious plan has left me practically blind. It would've been better to have stayed until the next portal opening so that I could've gathered any number of items that would make my visit here more productive and safe."

"Are you two going tae stand around all day? My wife isna a patient lass,” Colin called back to them.

"You just wish to get back to her,” Ian said with a laugh, warm and rich. “A more besotted Scot I have ne'er seen. Go on ahead, and we shall be along in a thrice."

Colin chuckled. “Aye, now there's a grand idea."

The horse took off leaving a trail of dust behind. Jenny couldn't help but smile ... on the outside. On the inside she was jealous. To have a man love her that much would be the greatest gift.

"Now, mistress. ‘Tis time to make haste,” Ian said, his hold on her tightening just before he lifted her off her feet.

"What is this propensity you have with picking me up?"

"'Tis logical,” he said with a chuckle. “You are small. I am big. I wish to get to the castle quickly and cannot leave you behind to find your way."

"You said you'd leave me in the clearing."

"Aye, that I did. But I have now come to realize that Colin would have my head if I were to do so. Ergo, we ride."

She squeaked as he climbed aboard his massive horse with her in his arms, her lids clamped closed while she held on with all her might.

"I shall not drop you,” he said softly in her ear. She relaxed a smidgeon, her mind quickly running away with that wonderful voice of his, dreaming of other things he might say and what he'd be doing when he said them.

Then the horse moved.

He chuckled as she clutched at him. “Drake is a gentle animal, he will not harm you. You are quite safe."

"You're sure?"

"I gather you have ne'er sat upon a horse before."

"No. Terrified of them, to be exact,” she said, with a faint shake of her head, as she buried her face deeper into his doublet.

Ian shifted in his saddle somewhat, surprised by his reaction to the woman. They did not get on well, although he liked her form and face, her temperament left much to be desired. But for her to openly admit her fear was a brave thing. And yet to be afraid of horses was unfathomable to him. The beasts had always held a fascination for Ian, their beauty, their grace, their strength ... aye, other men's horseflesh could prove difficult at times, but not his.

Determined to sway her fear as much as possible, he said, “You are safe, I swear it on my life. I will not let anything happen to you.” He dismissed the fierce protective tone his voice had taken and cleared his throat. “Open your eyes or you shall miss your first glimpse of Arreyder Castle in my time."

"You know I can't see. Not really,” she muttered against his chest.

"'Tis that bad, truly?"

"Yes. I'm extremely myopic. That means—"

"I know what myopic means."

"Oh. Um, well, my case is bad enough that I have to be within a foot of something to see it, and even then not all that well."

Ian resisted the urge to stroke her long braid dancing over her shoulder as they left the trees and approached the castle. Perhaps she was right, perhaps he had made a rash decision by returning so soon. How could she aid Amelia when she could not see?

"How much farther?” she asked.

"Not far. Bleary-eyed or no, would you not care to see?"

He watched as she tentatively opened her eyes and peered about, her grip on his doublet, however did not lighten.

She squinted, quite charmingly then frowned. “No, I'm afraid I can't see anything. The castle is intact in my time so I doubt there would be that much difference. There's a road, a parking lot, some shops, and loads of tourists, but no villagers."

"No villagers? Who plants the crops, tends the fields and cattle?"

"No one. The lands are managed in other ways in my time."

She went on to expound on the economic structure of Scotland in her time, thoroughly fascinating Ian. Amelia had many a marvelous tale to tell, but hers were of exploits, adventures, and the like around the world. This was minute detail he could never have hoped to gleam from his lady friend.

"I'm sorry. You probably don't understand most of what I'm talking about,” she said.

He sighed at her slight and focused on the castle. “You would be surprised what I understand."

"I've insulted you again, haven't I?"

"You have a talent for it, aye.” It was growing more difficult with the passing days and his stay at Arreyder to keep his memories, his failings to himself. What with Colin's marriage, there was naught else to occupy his time or his mind.

"Sorry. I do it to everyone. I think Tuck is the only person that I don't make feel that way when I fall into lecture mode. She has the ability to gleam what she needs to know from my dissertations and without being insulted or bored. At least she isn't visibly bored. Another talent she has, hiding her emotions beneath a stony façade."

Ian studied her from the corner of his eye. What an odd little bird she was. An extremely intelligent mind existed in this petite woman. A woman who felt things deeply, he sensed it was so. Her talk of Amelia and her many talents gave away her devout loyalty and love for her friend. But she knew little of what people hid behind their false smiles. His own included.

"I understand, mistress."

"You do?"

"Aye, I am oft’ misunderstood, but not for my speech.” Because of his handsome visage, his propensity to charm, and his popularity with women, many saw him as an empty-headed rogue, the role he'd been destined to play since birth. But in truth he had knowledge of many things, and a deep desire to know more, to explore the world around him.

"Amelia does not hide her feelings, of late, however,” he said, changing the avenue of his thoughts.

"Oh?"

"You shall see soon enough."

"Easier said than done,” she murmured, niggling his conscience just a bit.

"We have arrived,” Ian said, and climbed down from his horse with her in his arms then placed her on her feet. One of Colin's men took his horse, but not before shooting Jenny an interested look.

Before Ian could set the lad straight, that this was a lady and not a woman to trifle with, a gangly Amelia toddled out the door and enveloped the woman in a hug. “Jenny! I can't believe you're here,” she said, bursting into tears.

"Tuck?” Jenny said, putting a little distance between them. She peered at her friend, her large brown eyes taking in as much as they could without her spectacles. “It's so good to see you, all of you—sort of."

"Oh, your glasses. Oh no. Ian what did you do?” Amelia said, her hands fisted at her hips.

"I?"

"Yes you. She needs her glasses. How could you lose them?"

"I did not! She ran and—"

"Ran?” Amelia blinked at him, her mouth twisting. “From you? From Prince Charming?” A laugh, quite uncalled for, burst forth.

"'Twas dark when I arrived,” he snarled, knowing all too well he would be the center of her jest for some time.

"Wait, did you say dark?” Amelia asked.

"Aye, dark. As in night."

"But you couldn't have arrived at night. Even I didn't when I came back.” Amelia sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I don't understand. What exactly happened when you left here? Be specific."

"Yes, please. Be very specific,” the small woman by her side said, her large brown eyes narrowed, her arms folded over her breasts as she looked at him.

With a sigh he began. “I arrived on the night you left, Amelia. Mere moments after, ‘twould be my guess.” Both women shook their heads, but he continued, cutting off their disagreement. “'Twould appear that I was completing the trip you began when you returned here last autumn.” He crossed his arms and returned the young maid's direct scrutiny.

"But that negates the second part of your theory,” Jenny argued. “You started a new loop when you grabbed me, and as I've said before, we wouldn't have landed here at this time."

He leaned close to her so she would clearly see him, or thereabouts. “And yet here we stand. You are simply too stubborn to accept the fact that your theory is incorrect."

"And you refuse to see that your theory is nothing more than speculation based on one incident."

"And yours is based on what? A pair of incidents? How does that liken to a more logical conclusion?"

Amelia and Colin exchanged amused glances as the two continued their heated debate. “Do you suppose they'd notice if we went inside?” Amelia asked her husband.

"I doona think they have even noticed the rain, love,” Colin said with a chuckle. “Come. Let us get you and my son—or daughter,” he corrected with a grin before she could swat him, “where ‘tis warm and dry. They'll be along in a bit.” Colin escorted his wife through the door. “Sadly, it looks as if the lass was caught unaware."

Amelia chuckled. “Sorry, Colin. You'll just have to do without a new supply of Gummy Bears."

"Och, more's the pity,” he said with a grin.

"You doona mean tae say you're going tae leave them out in this?” Colin's Aunt Elspeth sputtered.

Colin and Amelia shrugged, then paused inside the entrance as Elspeth took the matter fully in hand. “Ian Southernland, that is quite enough. Escort the young lass inside before she catches her death,” she called out.

Ian blinked once, then twice, then realized his rather wet surroundings. The petite woman had a head as hard as Amelia's, her continued arguing was proof of that, and in the rain no less. But she did not possess the stamina. She was a small thing, not a female soldier like Amelia. Elspeth was correct, she should be inside where it was warm.

Ian set aside their rather interesting debate, although it was a bit irrational, but she was a woman after all. Without another thought, he scooped her up and trotted up the stairs into the main hall with Elspeth fussing alongside him.

"Why is it, that whenever you're losing an argument you pick me up?” Jenny asked with a soft growl. One he rather liked, blast his libidinous self.

"It seemed the most expeditious way in which to get dry,” he said, determined to douse his inconvenient and inappropriate desires. “And I was not losing."

"You were most definitely losing. If you would only see—"

"Children, please,” Elspeth said with a heavy sigh. “Ian you may place the lass on her feet."

Ian did as Elspeth bade him, but with some reluctance. He was discovering he sorely enjoyed the feel of the petite maid in his arms, almost as much as their heated debate. The woman stirred something in him he'd not known existed. Perhaps there was more than pleasure he was in need of. Or perhaps he had lost his mind entirely.

"Now, lass, I'll take you tae your room where you can dry yourself and have a wee rest,” Elspeth said.

"Oh, well, thank you, but I'd much rather see to Tuck right now, if you don't mind.” Jenny turned in the direction of her friend. “I assume you wanted me here for the baby's sake, am I right?"

Tuck laughed. “Even without your glasses you could tell, huh? I know, I'm as big as a Panzer, but yeah. I wanted you here to make sure it all goes well. Not that Elspeth isn't perfectly capable of handling things,” she said quickly with a smile toward her aunt. “I just wanted—I just thought—"

"I understand. I just hope that I can be of help without my glasses or any supplies,” she said, shooting Ian a look.

"'Twas not my fault you lost your bloody spectacles,” he growled.

"Perhaps, but my instruments would've been extremely beneficial. If only you'd allowed me to—"

"There was no time to fetch your instruments."

"There would've been if you'd explained yourself in the first place."

"I tried, you ran."

"You grabbed me!"

"You would have been caught!"

"Children!” They fell silent at Elspeth bark, but neither moved, once again toe to toe.

"Och, you two are a pair,” Elspeth said with a sigh. “Now, lass, we'll go tae your chamber while Colin helps Amelia tae theirs. You've got tae get out of those wet things, at least. And you need tae dry yourself, lad. Off with you,” she said, shooing Ian away.