A tentative happiness straightened Bliss’s shoulders and hoisted her chin a degree or two higher as she smiled. She wasn’t sure whether it was the mention of America or Jamie’s company that had cheered her, and in point of fact, it didn’t matter. She was full of joyous enthusiasm. “It was partly the reading. My mother lives there, and she’s written such wonderful letters—”

Jamie’s frown made her fall silent.

“Did I say something wrong?” she asked presently.

“Mother or no mother, Duchess, America’s a world away,” Jamie countered. “What makes you think I’m going to let you go traipsing off to some other country?”

Bliss’s backbone went stiff, and her smile faded completely away. “I don’t need your permission to do anything, Jamie McKenna,” she pointed out in very formal tones. “You’re not my husband—not in the true sense of the word.” Color throbbed in her face, for they both knew what that “true sense” was.

“You aren’t goin’ anywhere,” Jamie said flatly. “I’d never get another decent night’s sleep as long as I lived for wonderin’ what mischief you’d gotten yourself into when me back was turned.”

The resurgence of the brogue did not intimidate Bliss, not this time. “I’m quite certain that your nights won’t be a problem to you, Mr. McKenna,” she told him primly. “There’s sure to be a woman handy.”

“So we’re back to that, are we?” Jamie shouted. It was interesting to watch him; his eyes turned a shade darker and his nostrils flared slightly. “Dammit, Bliss, I’ve ’ad that thrown in me face one too many times! I slept alone last night! Do you ’ear me?” His voice had risen to a bellow now, and the horses were nickering and tossing their heads nervously. “Alone!”

Bliss was pleased, for she knew somehow that Jamie was telling the truth, but she was careful not to let this conviction show. “You’re scaring the horses,” she pointed out.

All the little muscles at the base of Jamie’s ear bunched together in a single knot. “I don’t care!” he hissed.

Bliss could no longer hide her amusement, and she burst out laughing. Jamie glared at her for a moment, and then, grudgingly, he grinned and shook his head.

It was in that unguarded moment that disaster struck. The band of men on horseback rode calmly out from behind an outcropping of rock to block the way.

Jamie’s jawline was like iron as he drew back on the reins and called out an easy command to the team, bringing the wagon to an unhurried stop.

Bliss’s heart sank. As far as she knew, none of these men were members of the band she’d encountered when she ran away from the inn, but they were up to no good all the same. The rifle the leader carried was proof enough of that.

Chapter 7

BLISS STOOD IN THE BOX OF THE WAGON AND SHOOK AN IMPERIOUS finger at the group of men barring the road, certain that she knew how to deal with a crisis of this nature.