Sir Hugh’s smile held a hint of definite mischief. “You thought I would lie to get you alone? Well, I might, but in this case I did not. Come, see for yourself.”

When he started to lead her toward one of the stalls in the back, she grew even more certain something was afoot. But she forced herself to keep walking. She could handle this. She could handle him. Something was going on with the English command, and she was determined to know what it was.

He stopped, leaning over the wooden gate to point at a small, furry black lump in the straw. “There he is.”

Frowning, but undeniably curious, Joan leaned forward and identified the lump as a sleeping dog. A very small and ratty-looking sleeping dog. Suddenly the tiny creature looked up, leapt to its feet, and started barking crazily at her.

She winced at the sound, which was actually more of a high-pitched yap than a bark. But goodness, the little thing was so ugly it was cute.

Suddenly she understood Sir Hugh’s riddle.

Even though this little beast had caused her Highland Guard brethren a lot of trouble, she couldn’t help but smile.

Sir Hugh was clever, she would give him that. “This is the dog that alerted the guards and prevented the castle from being taken by the rebels two Decembers past.”

Gregor “Arrow” MacGregor had had the dog in his sights, but he’d hesitated to shoot, and the dog’s yapping had alerted the garrison to their presence, ruining their chance to take the important castle. According to Lachlan, that hesitation had made Gregor the butt of many jests in the Guard, but after seeing the dog, Joan understood. She wouldn’t have been able to shoot either.

Sir Hugh looked mildly disappointed. “You weren’t supposed to guess so easily.”

“It was hard not to with that bark.” She winced again as it continued. “This little guy is very well known throughout the Borders.”

“So you agree, then? I will have my apology now. You maligned my honor by suggesting trickery,” he said with mock gravity.

She laughed. “Very well, I apologize. You were right: the greatest hero at Berwick sleeps in the stables.”

She bent over to quiet the dog and quickly realized her mistake when he came up behind her. “I think I’ll require more of an apology than that.”

His husky voice left no doubt of his meaning. She tamped down the alarm bells ringing in her head.

He put his hands on her hips, and knowing that she was seconds away from having her bottom pressed against a part of him she had no interest in feeling, she stood up quickly and tried to spin away. But this time he anticipated her movement, and instead he turned her into his embrace.