“You never know,” MacDuff murmured. “There are stories about the MacDuffs and Bonnie Prince Charlie.” He started to laugh as she opened her lips to protest. “Okay, okay. But I’ll send Fergus and a couple of the marines to follow you in one of the cars. You’ll be back inside the castle gates by dark?”

“Whatever the laird decrees,” she said. “Even when he’s ridiculous. Bye, MacDuff.” She nudged the horse and he trotted toward the road. “Come along, Rodland, I’m in the mood for a brisk run.”

“Whatever you say. Maybe after this horse becomes used to me.” He added in a low tone, “And we reach the curve in the road ahead so that MacDuff won’t see me fall on my ass. It would seriously damage the balance of power we have between us.”

She pulled in her horse and grinned at him. “And MacDuff would enjoy it far too much. We can’t have that.” She gazed critically at him. “You look good on that horse.”

“Pure show. So you’re going to spare me the humiliation?”

“I’m thinking about it,” she said. “We appear to have reached the curve in the road.” Then she nodded. “It would probably be traumatic to your horse to have you flying over her head. Maisie is supposed to be gentle and ladylike. Why don’t you just get to know her on the road to Jamie’s house? Then we’ll see how you do on the ride back.”

“It works for me. Her name is Maisie? I knew a bar girl in Dublin by that name.” He grinned. “But she was neither gentle nor ladylike.”

“It could have been a response to how you treated her,” Jane said. “Give Maisie her due and you might survive until we get to Jamie’s house.”

“I treat all females with respect.” He patted the mare again. “I’ve always found it safer. Women have too many weapons.” His eyes twinkled. “And you never know when one will appear. Like you, Jane.”

“I’ve never drawn a weapon on you.”

“But you might have to get what you wanted,” he said. “And I believe a weapon would have definitely been an option to protect Caleb. Yes?”

“Yes.”

“But I feel perfectly safe because I’m no threat to you. I’m on your side all the way. Teach me how to get along with Maisie, and I’ll forgive you for making me display a bit of weakness in front of MacDuff.”

“But you didn’t display it. He didn’t see it.”

“I saw it. And that means that I’ll have to work like hell to correct it so that it won’t become a true weakness.”

“I can see that would be a terrible thing.”

“It’s the only way I’ve been able to survive,” he said simply.