Johanna stored the information away for future use. Perhaps she could make a few of the leather balls for Auggie.

"He says I've caught the fever."

"God help us," Gabriel drawled out. "Auggie plays the game all day, every day, rain or shine."

"Why were you irritated over a little speck of dirt on my face and hands?"

"I've already explained my position. You're my wife now. You must behave accordingly. There's rivalry between the MacBains and the Maclaurins; and until the clans become accustomed to living together in peace, I must show only strength, not vulnerability."

"Do I make you vulnerable?"

"Aye, you do."

"Why? I want to understand," she told him. "Was it the dirt or was it the fact that I was spending the afternoon with Auggie?"

"I don't want you down on your knees, Johanna. You must act with proper decorum at all times. My wife will not do common work."

"You've already mentioned that opinion."

"It isn't an opinion," he countered. "It's a command."

She tried not to let him see how disgruntled she was becoming. " 'Tis the truth I'm surprised you concern yourself with appearances. You don't seem the sort to care what other people think."

"I don't give a damn about other people's opinions," he countered, irritated by her conclusion. "I do care about keeping you safe."

"What does my safety have to do with my behavior?"

Gabriel didn't answer her.

"You should have married a Maclaurin. That would have solved your problem uniting the clans, wouldn't it?"

"I should have," he agreed. "But I didn't. I married you. We'll both have to make the best of it, Johanna."

He sounded resigned. He was still in an agreeable mood and she decided to change the topic again with a question that surely wouldn't prick his temper.

"Why doesn't your wolfhound like me?"

"He knows you're afraid of him."

She didn't argue over that truth. "What is he called?"

"Dumfries."

The dog's ears picked up when his master spoke his name. Johanna smiled in reaction. "It's a peculiar name," she remarked. "How did you come by it?"

"I found the dog near the Dumfries' holding. He was caught in mire. I pulled him out," he added. "He's been with me ever since."

Johanna moved closer to Gabriel's side. She slowly reached over to pat the animal. The dog watched her out of the corner of his eye; when she was about to touch him, he let out a menacing unearthly sound. She quickly pulled her hand back. Gabriel took hold of her arm and forced her to touch the hound. The dog kept up the horrid noise but didn't try to bite her hand off.

"Did I hurt you last night?"

The switch in topics made her blink. She bowed her head so he wouldn't see her quick blush, then whispered, "You didn't hurt me. You asked me after we…"

Gabriel nudged her chin up with his hand. The look in her eyes made him smile. He found her embarrassment amusing.

The look in his eyes made her heartbeat race. She thought he might want to kiss her. She found herself hoping he would.

"Will you want to make love to me again, m'lord?"

"Will you want me to?" he asked.

She stared into his eyes a long minute before giving him her answer. She wasn't going to try to be coy or clever. She'd only make a muck of it, she decided, because she'd never learned the fine art of flirting like the other young ladies had while they lived the high, courtly life in London. "Yes," she whispered, grimacing inside over the shiver in her voice. "I would like you to make love to me again. It wasn't half bad, m'lord."

Gabriel laughed over her jest. Her blush, he noticed, was now as red as fire. Her embarrassment hadn't stopped her from telling him the truth, however. He pulled away from the tree trunk and bent down to kiss her. His mouth brushed over hers in a tender caress. She sighed into his mouth and put her hands on his shoulders.

It was all the encouragement he needed. Before he realized his intent, he lifted her onto his lap, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her again. His mouth covered hers and his tongue swept inside to taste, stroke, and drive her wild. She went weak in his arms. She clung to him and kissed him just as thoroughly. Johanna was a little stunned by how quickly her entire body responded to her husband. Her heartbeat became frantic; her arms and legs began to tingle, and she kept forgetting to breathe.

Gabriel was shaken by his own reaction to his wife. She wasn't able to hold a part of herself back. She trusted him to keep her safe, he believed, or she wouldn't have allowed herself to be so uninhibited. Her passionate response ignited his own, and God help him, he couldn't seem to gather enough control to hold back either.

Hell, he'd take her here and now if he didn't put a stop to the sweet torment. He abruptly pulled back. He shouldn't have looked into her eyes. They were cloudy with passion. Damn, he had to kiss her again.

They were both shaken when he finally called a halt to the lovemaking. His breathing was labored. So was hers.

"You make me forget myself, m'lord."

He took that as a compliment. He lifted her off his lap, then stood up. Johanna was still rattled. Her face was flushed, and her hands trembled when she smoothed the hair back into her braid. He watched her try to right her appearance with vast amusement.

Women flustered easily, he decided. This one quicker than most.

"My hair's a sight," she stammered out when she caught his smile. "I've a mind to cut it… with your permission, of course."

"What you do with your hair is no concern to me. You don't need my permission. I have more important matters to think about."

He softened his rebuke with a quick kiss. Then he bent down, picked up the stone she wanted to give to Auggie, and handed it to her. He had to put the pebble in her hand. Aye, she was flustered all right, and damn, that fact pleased him. He winked at his wife and turned to walk back up the hill.

Johanna straightened the pleats of her plaid and then hurried to catch up with him.

She couldn't quit smiling. He knew his kisses had made mush out of her mind, she decided, because the look on his face was one of pure male satisfaction. She didn't mind his arrogance though.

Everything was going to be all right. Johanna did a lot of sighing on the way back up the hill. Yes, she thought to herself, she had made the right decision when she'd agreed to marry Gabriel.

Johanna was in such high spirits she barely minded Dumfries's bluster of growls each time she moved closer to Gabriel's side. Even the mighty beast wasn't going to ruin her good mood.

She brushed her hand against her husband's. He didn't take the hint. She nudged him again, and still he didn't catch on. She gave up trying to be subtle and took hold of his hand.

He acted as though she wasn't even there. His gaze was directed on the top of the hill, and she assumed his mind was already turned to thoughts of duties ahead. She didn't mind his inattention; and when they reached the cluster of workmen's huts, she pulled her hand away. She didn't think he would want to show affection in front of the clan. Gabriel surprised her by grabbing hold of her hand again. He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, then increased his stride until she was once again running to keep up.

Lord, she was happy. Aye, she'd done the right thing. She'd married a good-hearted man.