The Border Hostage Read Online Free PDF Page B

circling in the sky above him. He watched appreciatively as it began its dive, and by its speed he identified it as a falcon.
    Heath turned over onto his stomach and watched the bird rise with its prey: a marsh duck as big as itself. It flew directly to someone who was swinging a lure. Heath put up a hand to shade his eyes and grinned with pleasure when he saw it was the Carleton girl. He was most surprised to find her hawking, a sport usually indulged in by men. It only added to her attraction, and he decided to learn her first name.
    Heath untethered her Border pony, let go of his rein, and pointed him in the direction of his mistress. Only when he heard her cry “Sully!” in surprised delight did he untether his roan and move toward her. At sight of him, the pleasure was immediately wiped from her face. “You!” she cried accusingly.
    Heath's bow held only a trace of mockery. “At your service, Mistress Carleton.” He had her at a disadvantage; she held Sully's reins in one gloved hand and the falcon's jesses in the other.
    A tinge of fear made her overbold. “Borderer, don't you dare use my name as an endearment. We are
not
endeared!” Her blue eyes blazed with fury. He was more maddeningly attractive than she remembered; taller too. His proud bearing proclaimed him arrogant.
    Heath looked at her with admiration.
What a magnificent challenge she is.
“I returned your pony, as I promised,
English.
A simple ‘thank you’ will suffice.”
    “Thank you? You expect me to thank you for stealing him! How do I know you haven't lamed him?”
    “I am not in the habit of laming animals,
English.”
    “But you are in the habit of thieving them,
Borderer!
From where did you steal that bag of bones?” The roan gelding was a lovely horse. Such animals were in great demand for riding by English ladies, and it annoyed her that he possessed such a horse.
    “It would beat yours in a race.”
    His challenge made her temper explode, and the young falcon, sensing her anger, flapped his wings wildly. “Now see what you've done!” she accused. “Training a bird of prey requires a calm demeanor.”
    “You are the one with the fiery temper,
English.
My demeanor is calm enough. Let me have him.”
    “Why the devil would I do that?” she demanded.
    “So you can race Sully against my bag of bones.”
    “By God, I'll do it, you arrogant swine!” She fastened the jesses of the falcon to the low branch of a flowering alder tree and mounted Sully.
    “What will you wager? A race is pointless without a wager.”
    “I would be rid of you,
Borderer.
If you lose, you will never show your ugly face on Rockcliffe Marsh again!”
    “And if I win, you will tell me your first name,” Heath stipulated. He mounted the roan and side by side they walked their animals to the shore where he had first seen her ride. She did not look at him, but Heath watched her and saw that her recklessness made her cheeks bloom like pink roses.
    The moment Sully's hooves touched the shingle, she dug in her heels and the Border pony shot forward. Heath took off after the girl, carefully keeping a wide berth between their galloping mounts. He came even with her and kept pace. She stared at him for a moment, showing no fear. He saw her decide that though he was a threat, she would ignore the danger. Clearly it excited her to play with fire. She flashed him a look of challenge and raced ahead.
    Heath drew alongside once more. He did not want to best her, he simply wanted to enjoy watching her. His roan was larger with longer legs, but the black Border pony was bred for stamina. They galloped neck-and-neck to the end of the beach, and when she saw that he could easily beat her, she purposely turned her mount into his path, forcing him to draw rein.
    Heath dismounted, shaking his head at her folly. She had cheated, but it was worth it to see her bare legs and wildly disheveled hair. She had no intention of dismounting, but lifted her chin and stared down at him.