Rogue's Challenge (7 page)

They both chuckled. “You're right. But thanks, anyway."

"You're welcome."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Colin has a request. He wants to know if you can teach Maggie, she's the cook, how to make Gummy Bears."

"You got him hooked too, huh?” Jenny asked, and Tuck nodded. “Well, I won't promise that they'll be bear shaped, but I'm sure I can concoct something when I get back."

"Thanks. I know he'll appreciate it. And I wouldn't mind either. Pregnancy cravings when there's no all-night market around is hell."

"Oh, I bet it is. That and no pizza delivery, or ice cream, or chocolate."

"Stop, stop! I can't take it!"

The both laughed hard. It felt good. Really good, and was yet another reminder of how much Jenny was going to miss her best friend when she went home.

"So, once you're fed and warmed up, how about we take a tour?” Tuck suggested.

"You have no business wandering around the castle. Anyway, Ian took me on a tour last night,” she said, and concentrated on her food or else the keen-eye of Amelia Tucker would know too much. If she didn't already.

"Really? Well, well, well."

"Stop it, Tuck. I know you said he was gorgeous, and nice, and charming, but honestly, he isn't about to be interested in me. So drop it right now. And in case you haven't noticed he can't stand the sight of me."

"Nope, I'd say you're wrong about that. I've seen how he looks at you, but you two do know how to go at it,” she said with a snicker.

"Um, how does he look at me?"

"Ohhhh, like a man who's interested."

Jenny couldn't help the small snort of disbelief. “Oh sure. He's interested. He's interested in testing out the latest in sixteenth century torture techniques. Next thing you'll be telling me is that he actually likes me."

"There isn't a woman on this planet that man doesn't like."

Oh what a comfort that was. “Well, he isn't exactly falling at my feet, so we don't need to discuss him anymore."

"Okay,” Tuck said, and sat very still and silent.

Jenny could feel her eyes boring into her. “Stop it. You're not going to convince me he's interested."

"I didn't say a thing."

"No, but you thought it."

Tuck huffed. “Well, why not? I know you like him. You can't lie to me. I've seen how you—squint at him. All that tall, blonde, broad-shouldered testosterone is hard to miss, even without your glasses."

"I'm not his type, and you know it."

"Oh, please. You're not exactly a dog, you know. I'll admit you're brain probably scares him witless, but the rest of your packaging is in good shape."

"Gee thanks."

"If it's not the fighting, and not the packaging, then what is it? Oh, wait. It's the time thing, right?"

"Something like that,” Jenny lied.

"Okay, so you're just visiting, and well let's face it. The commute would be hell, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fun while you're here."

Fun, right. The thought of a fling was an intriguing idea, but it would never happen. Even if she threw herself at the man, he'd manage to tactfully decline. She just wasn't his type. She was surprised Tuck didn't realize that.

"Love and impending motherhood has obviously altered your thinking,” Jenny said.

Tuck nodded. “Possibly, but I also know when I'm right about something. You like Ian and Ian likes you. Of course I knew you'd like him. Remember I'm the one who told you about him. You should've seen your eyes light up. But I suppose the real man, and your lack of glasses, has tempered that a little. He isn't quite what you expected, is he?"

Jenny shook her head. “Not quite, no.” So far he was irritating, stubborn, and could kiss like nobody's business. Not to mention she nearly melted at the mere sound of his voice.

She held in her sigh as she took another bite of her breakfast. She'd always known that someday her silly Cinderella dreams would turn on her. She'd found Prince Charming, well a different version, but she had no doubt he was all that Tuck claimed. Only problem was, Prince Charming wasn't interested.

"Look, I can see you're not too comfortable with this topic, so I'll drop it. For now,” Tuck said. “Finish up your breakfast and we'll go down to the kitchen, my favorite spot these days,” she said with a chuckle, “and meet the rest of the gang."

"You are going back to bed."

"Come on. I promise I'll behave the moment you and Ian take off."

"No, now."

The door opened with a bang, making Jenny jump. She almost wore what was left of her breakfast.

"There you are,” Colin growled as he stomped over to Tuck. “You ne'er do as your told, woman."

"Don't start that woman crap with me MacLean."

"I'll start whatever I bleedin’ like.” He bent over and scooped Tuck up into his arms as if she didn't weigh a thing. Of course he was a massive piece of work himself.

"I can still walk, Sasquatch,” Tuck mumbled, but linked her arms around his neck.

"Aye, that you can, mavourneen, and I can still carry you.” Colin turned and gave Jenny a nod. “I'll do better, I promise you. She'll no’ get out of bed again. If I have tae keep her there myself.” He headed out the door, his burden not slowing his stride.

"Come see me when you're dressed, Jen,” Tuck called out as they disappeared down the hall.

Jenny smiled as she felt her way across the room and closed the door. They were a pair. And Ian?

"A fling.” She sighed heavily as she leaned back against the door. “Not going to happen. The odds are...” With a grimace, she quit calculating. They were pretty bad. Not surprising. She'd done it once before, but it hadn't meant to be a fling on her part.

Steven Collier, a med student in one of her many classes back in college, had been the one she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with. She'd assumed he was serious about her. After all, the man had waited months before making any real advances. So naturally, when he finally got her into bed, she thought he was the one.

She was wrong. But how could she have known that a couple dozen dates were nothing in the scheme of things to Steven? She had no idea the lothario was dating half the women in her graduating class.

There were others she considered dating after him, actually went out with a few colleagues once in a while, but never anything serious, and never ever more than an innocent goodnight kiss. She no longer trusted her ability to gather accurate information on the human male. It wasn't as if they were complicated, not in the least, but she could never determine if they were sincere. So for safety's sake, nothing serious, which calculated to no flings. Flings were serious.

She sighed with a shiver as she pulled on her dress. “At least they are to me.” And therein lay the problem. No flings, meant no Ian. Even if he were open to such a suggestion, he would be too easy to fall in love with, and that complication she did not need.

A disgusted huff burst past her lips. He may be Prince Charming, but she was lousy Cinderella material. A pretty dress and a pair of glass slippers wouldn't make a difference where she was concerned.

Vernon wasn't afraid of hard work, but a peasant's life was definitely not for him. His stolen clothes scratched horribly and smelled. But it was his only choice if he wanted to gain entrance to the castle. He had to find Jenny Maxwell and get the hell out of there.

Toting a load of kindling, he followed one of the servants into the castle and to the kitchen. Somewhere along the way he'd break away and look for Maxwell's daughter.

"Maggie, we need tae ready enough food for Ian's journey,” an old woman said as she bustled into the kitchen, her arms filled with dresses. “We've little time tae tarry about. Can you see tae it while Fiona and I work tae make the lass’ gowns fit?"

The cook said something Vernon couldn't understand, but he didn't really care. The Englishman was leaving, which meant one less man guarding his quarry.

"Good. Come Fiona. We've little time tae get Jenny fitted well and proper,” the old woman said, and motioned for one of the younger girls to follow. “We canna have the lass lookin’ like a rag-a-muffin in Edinburgh."

Edinburgh?
Interesting. The brat was going with the Englishman. Although he would have to deal with her new bodyguard, snatching Maxwell's daughter from the road would be a lot easier than getting her out of the castle. Still he carefully noted the stairs the women took. Knowing the layout of the castle might be to his advantage at a later date, but he couldn't get up those stairs now. There were too many people, and he couldn't chance getting caught.

He left the kitchens and headed for his hiding place in the wood, not far from the road. There he would wait.

Two days later, after hugs from Tuck, whom Jenny had ordered straight to bed—again—and a hug from Elspeth and Fiona, Jenny, Ian, and Michael were on their way.

They'd been riding for nearly an hour, when Jenny couldn't take the silence any longer. “You know you could've avoided all of this,” she said to Ian's brooding back. And he was brooding. He'd avoided her the last two days. He'd even made himself scarce while Michael helped her get more accustomed to sitting on a horse and being led around. It wasn't easy to get over her fear of the animal, but the mount chosen for her seemed docile enough, and she was determined.

Ian hadn't spoken a word to her since they'd started out that morning, and Michael wasn't much for conversation. His favorite and only topic was Fiona. Jenny needed a good mental exercise to get her mind off of things, like glasses, horses, pregnant women, love, and Ian Southernland was just the man to do it. So to speak.

Shaking off the dangerous avenue of her thoughts, she focused on her goal. Conversation. “If you'd planned better—” she said, and as expected was promptly interrupted.

"I tried to persuade you not to come,” he said, facing forward.

"I meant the first night we met."

He groaned at the age-old argument, bringing a crooked grin to her mouth.

He tossed the lead to Michael and let his horse fall back along side hers. “I was not willing to take that risk,” he said.

"Through clear and deductive reasoning the conclusion is unavoidable. There was no risk."

"Deductive reasoning based on inaccurate information provides inaccurate results,” he said.

"True. However, my information is not faulty and is based on sound experimentation.” She almost smiled, enjoying this odd little banter. And this time he couldn't interrupt their debate by picking her up, she thought smugly.

"Incomplete experimentation. More, much more is required."

She knew she should be getting angry, as usual, but the steady gate of her horse lulled her into a more complacent mood. Maybe because she remembered Ian's vow not to let anything happen to her. Silly thought, really, but it helped. It helped quite a bit, knowing that he cared, in his own way. She now had two people who cared about her. On vastly different levels, yes, but still that was more than she had before coming to Scotland so many months ago.

"I will experiment more. When I return home,” she said, forcing her thoughts back to their discussion.

"You mean that one more trip will prove your theories?” Ian laughed. “Not much of an experiment."

"It'll have to be enough. I can't risk causing any problems with a lot of
traveling
.” She knew they had to be careful how they discussed the portal. Although Michael was probably daydreaming about his fiancé, they didn't need him hearing them discuss something so unusual.

"Where is your sense of adventure?” Ian sighed. “The sites one could see, ‘twould truly be amazing. The torch,” he said dropping his voice low. “Automobiles, airplanes, and the other many wondrous things of your time. I would have enjoyed seeing them."

She turned her head and squinted, desperate to see if he was teasing or not. “Are you saying you wish you'd stayed? Are you actually admitting that I was right?"

He straightened in his saddle. “Nay, do not be ridiculous. I made a vow and was honor bound to keep it."

Jenny grinned. “But you're curious. You want to know what it's like, being there, I mean."

"Aye,” he said, and she clearly heard a wistfulness in his voice and they both fell silent for a time.

He was everything she imagined her Prince Charming would be, well as far as she could tell. The way he sat on his horse, his sharp mind, the seductive tone of his voice, and how well the man kissed—his best feature by far.

She snorted softly. Like she was an expert, but she knew
wow
when she felt it. A simple word—wow—but she could think of no better way to describe it. But he was from the past, a time not her own. So what was the point in thinking about him?

A sigh slipped from her lips. No, time wasn't the problem. The problem, her keen logic pointed out, was that she wasn't the man's type. And this particular breed didn't settle for one woman. So what if he wanted to see her time, it wasn't likely to happen. Even if he did go back with her for a visit, he wouldn't stay with her. There were too many beautiful women in the twenty-first century, all very accessible and very eager to have a taste of a man like Ian Southernland.

Although she couldn't really see him, Tuck had been very thorough in her description of the rogue. She had a clear image in her mind of what he looked like aside from the charming smile, the wonderfully fit body, and those tempting blonde curls. All of which left her with no doubt that he would be extremely popular in her time as he was in this one. What woman didn't love a roguish prince?

He turned his head in her direction, and she quickly shifted her gaze to the road.

Ian studied her as they plodded along. The sunlight was kind to her in many ways, but the soft warm glow it cast upon her delicate features would forever stay in his mind. Untouchable, was what it said. Not meant for him.

Blast her to perdition! He did not want this woman. She was argumentative, stubborn, and lacked any sense of adventure. While he yearned to leap into the unknown and explore the world around him, she preferred to walk through life according to some mental list she'd devised. Rules and strictures at every turn. Why, she would dissect the very essence of pleasure if she had her way. Oh, aye, he knew many things about Jenny Maxwell. Amelia had been most thorough in providing him with the information they thought he would need to find her and how to persuade her to come with him.