A Question of Love by Gwen Kirkwood Read Free Book Online Page B

alarming Saturn it was the reflection. Jock Macintyre stood motionless at the dairy door. Roseanne screwed her eyes shut but she couldn’t not look. Horse and rider warred with each other. Euan’s knees were locked against the sweating Saturn but he stayed in the saddle and managed to turn the big strong horse towards the yard entrance where Roseanne waited with Bella. Saturn galloped straight past them, over a hedge and across the field without a pause. The panic was over in minutes but it seemed an age to the anxious watchers. Euan rode back slowly across the field towards them, unwilling to admit, how much his knees were trembling as he slid to the ground and leaned on the gate where Roseanne and Bella were waiting.
    ` My word, laddie, ye handled that well,’ Jock said with relief as he joined them. `Ye’re no novice on a horse, that’s for sure. The horses aren’t usually in the yard when the milk tanker comes but the driver is early this morning. He’s going to a wedding. And…` his eyes moved from Euan to Roseanne, ‘and maybe ye took a bit longer ride than usual, eh?’ He grinned when he saw Roseanne’s colour rise. `That’s better lassie. Ye looked like a wee ghost before, but ye needna worry, Saturn knows he’s met his master.’
    ` It was a near thing I must admit,’ Euan said, glancing at Roseanne. `He took me by surprise.’
    ` We’ll wait here until the tanker has collected the milk and departed before we lead the horses back to the stables,’ she said. `Your uncle would never forgive me if I allowed you to get injured on your first day here. We’ll take no more chances.’
    ` It’s not the first time ye’ve ridden a spirited horse though is it?’ Jock said knowingly. `I dinna think ye need worry about him lassie. He’s a man who can look after himself, if I’m not mistaken.’ He grinned and strode back to the dairy. Roseanne‘s eyes followed him. She nodded slowly.
    ` You misled me about your riding experience, Euan Kennedy,’ she said accusingly, fixing him with that steady green gaze and he knew she was thinking as much about the forfeit he had demanded as about the near catastrophe.
    ` I learned to ride at boarding school and we had a pretty tough teacher, but for a minute or two I was not so sure I could control Saturn and stay on his back.’ He turned and patted the horse’s neck. `I’ll groom them if you like while you cook breakfast.’
    ` No, I’ll see to Bella then I’ll cook breakfast while you soak in the bath. It will help to ease your muscles when you haven’t ridden for a while.’
    ` That’s considerate of you. Dare I hope you’re offering to scrub my back as well?’ he asked, his eyes dancing.
    ` Don’t push your luck!’ Roseanne muttered but she couldn’t prevent the tell-tale colour staining her cheeks at the thought of Euan in the bath. He chuckled as though he had read her mind.
    They enjoyed a hearty breakfast and Euan helped clear the dishes.
    ` I didn’t have you down for the domesticated type,’ she told him frankly.
    ` We have a lot to learn about each other, I guess. I don’t get much opportunity to be domesticated. I do a lot of travelling. I’ve built up a company and a good team but there’s a price to pay for success. Before Uncle Simon telephoned to say he was going to Australia to visit my mother I had been toying with going back there and staying in one place for a while. When I knew Mother would have company I thought it would make a change to spend some of the time in Scotland instead. A man can get tired of living in hotels however comfortable they may be. This…’ he allowed his gaze to roam around the large sunny kitchen,’ this is more like home. Sometimes I’d sell my soul for a plate of creamy scrambled eggs, or homemade strawberry jam with newly baked bread. You don’t get that sort of choice when you’re continually moving around.’
    ` No, I suppose not.’ He was standing close beside her and he had changed into slim