Silence ensued as well as some uneasy shuffling. More than one uncomfortable glance was exchanged.

Devon had to pretend a sneeze just to hide his amusement. Kat’s cool glance and calm demeanor had cut a swath through the rowdy men and reduced them all to abashed youths.

Simon cleared his throat. “Miss Kat, ye know we weren’t sayin’ that ye couldn’t take care of yerself. Just that we worried about how the Sassenach might—well, ye know.”

“No, I don’t know,” she answered. “You were worried about how the Sassenach might what?”

Simon rubbed his neck, clearly miserable. “Och, lassie. Don’t ye look like that. Ye know what I mean.”

She crossed her arms. “Simon, I am disappointed in you. How can you think such rubbish?”

Simon scuffed his toe on the ground, his face so red, Devon thought the man likely to burst into flames. “Miss Kat, I didn’t mean to suggest—it’s just that the man’s a Sassenach, and ye were gone fer so long—then Hamish suggested that perhaps the Sassenach had—”

“I suggested?” one of the largest lads said. “’Twasn’t me.”

Simon gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “’Twas Neal then.”

“No,” returned one of the other lads in a huge rumbling voice.

Simon gave an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know which of ye said it, but one of ye did!”

No one volunteered a word.

Kat gave an impatient gesture. “It doesn’t matter. Simon, you owe Mr. St. John an apology.”

“I owe him a what?” Simon shook his head as if to shake something clear from his ears.

“You owe Mr. St. John an apology.” Kat’s green gaze narrowed. “You owe me one, as well.”

“What fer?”

“For having such indecent thoughts.”

“Ye can’t apologize fer yer thoughts,” Simon protested.

Devon had to agree with the man there. Certainly had Devon been forced to do penance for every indecent thought he’d had while being with Kat, he’d have to spend a fortnight in a confessional talking nonstop.

Simon sighed, then mumbled an apology, though he glared the entire time. Devon nodded curtly. Simon had best get used to Devon’s presence, for this would not be his last appearance at the little clearing in the woods.

Devon turned to Kat. “Thank you for a lovely day.”

She shrugged, though her color was a bit high. “Thank you for a pleasant ride. And for allowing me to use your mount.” She reached up to stroke Thunder’s neck. “He’s a lovely animal.”

And she was a lovely person, both inside and out—a fact Devon was just beginning to realize and appreciate. He took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, her fingers trembling against his lips. Ignoring Simon’s muttered curse, Devon kept Kat’s hand in his as he smiled at her. “Tomorrow?”

“No. I must work.”

“The next day then?”