THE NEXT MORNING began with a flurry of activity. Sophie was so excited she hadn’t really been able to sleep. Jamie had snuck her back to the house at close to three, and spent another hour saying goodnight.

Up and dressed by eight o’clock, despite not having gone to sleep until dawn, Sophie rushed downstairs, decided to wait to eat breakfast, and made her way to the stables instead.

Samson was being used constantly for training, and as girlish as it might seem, she missed what she had become to think of as her horse. With great anticipation, she rounded the corner into the barn but stopped short. Richard was leaning against Samson’s stall, obviously waiting for her to arrive.

“Richard.” She moved slowly towards him. He said nothing, just stared straight through her. “Are you going to give me the silent treatment, or are we going to talk?”

He didn’t look well. He hadn’t shaved, his eyes were bloodshot, and she guessed he was more than two sheets to the wind.

“I’m guessin’ there’s not much to say,” he grumbled, his southern accent heavier than she’d heard it before.

“Then why are you here? You know I come every morning to see Samson, so it can’t be a coincidence that you are in your neighbors’ barn, next to the horse that I visit every chance I get,” Sophie said exasperated.

“Damn it, Sophie. You’re mine. He can’t have you.”

Sophie stepped back, slightly nervous at his anger. “Richard, I never said I was yours or made a commitment. You know how I feel about Jamie. I have always been his and now that he’s back, I plan to do whatever it takes to stay with him.”

Richard glared as he advanced on her. He pushed her roughly up against one of the stall doors and leaned down to kiss her. She fought him but he wouldn’t let her go.

“Stop, Richard. You’re drunk. Please don’t do this,” she whimpered.

“You’re supposed to be mine. One way or another, I am going to make you mine.”

“Get your hands off her,” Jamie ordered.

Richard turned, his forearm still firmly across Sophie’s chest. “What the hell are you going to do about it?”

Grabbing Richard firmly by the collar of his shirt, Jamie pulled him off Sophie. Richard tried to fight, but he was no match for Jamie, especially drunk. Every move he made, Jamie countered with another that not only bested him but humiliated him as well. In the end, Jamie gave one good punch to the jaw and Richard was out cold.

Jamie turned to see Sophie slide down the wall of the stall, her face in her hands. “Sophie, are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

Sophie shook her head as Jamie hunkered down next to her and touched her shoulder. He gathered her in his arms and carried her to the bale of hay outside of Samson’s stall. Settling her onto his lap as he sat down, he stroked her back. Samson stuck his head out of his stall and shoved his nose in between the couple.

Sophie reached up and stroked his nose. “I’m okay, boy.”

Jamie took a ragged breath. “Did he hurt you?”

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. “No. He just scared me.”

Jamie kissed her cheek. “Déjà vu.”

Sophie looked at him. “What did you remember?”

“Chad the ass.”

“Chad? My ex, Chad?”

Jamie nodded. “Remember the day I threw him out?”

Sophie put her hand on his cheek. “He thought he needed to save me from you. You thought otherwise and explained that to him.” She smiled. “I fell in love with you that day.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, really? I thought it was when—” Pain splintered as he tried to remember what he was going to say. He drew air in through his teeth and felt Sophie’s grip tighten.

“Don’t push it,” she said.

He nodded and she laid her head on his shoulder. “What’s on your agenda today?”

“It’s changed slightly. We had a few new horses arrive, so Richard is going to work with them and the men.” He looked over at the passed-out form of Richard. “Well, he was going to work with them. Ash can probably take over for him.” Jamie rubbed his temples, his headache subsiding almost as quickly as it came. “Would you like to do something with me? A picnic maybe?”

“I’d love that. Let me organize the food though, okay?”

“Hardtack not appetizing enough?”

She laughed. “No, can’t say that it is. Meet me at the house in a little while and I’ll have everything ready.”

“I’ll take care of Richard and make sure he gets home to sleep it off.” He gave her a little squeeze.

* * *

Jamie arrived an hour later and they took off toward the lake, hand in hand, Jamie carrying the picnic basket. When they arrived at the water, Jamie guided them to a secluded spot, laid the blanket out, and Sophie went to work pulling out the food.

“How are you feeling?” Jamie asked.

“I’m exhausted.”

He chuckled. “Well if you hadn’t accosted me last night...”

Sophie grinned. “Yeah, I heard you complaining all night long.”

“You want me to complain some more?”

“Absolutely.” She licked her lips. “On your back.”

“Oh, yeah?” he asked as he stretched out on the blanket.

She nodded. “I came prepared.”

“How so?”

Lifting her skirts, she straddled him. “Let’s just say, I have nothing on under this.”

“Fuck,” he breathed out, quickly unbuttoning his trousers before sliding his hand between her legs. “Already wet, baby.”

She grinned, leaning down to kiss him. “I’m a little backed up.”

He chuckled. “I don’t think women can be backed up, baby.”

“Sexist.”

He grinned pressing his thumb against her clit and she whimpered. “Soaked.”

“You wanna take care of that for me?” she challenged.

He grinned. “It would be my pleasure.”

Guiding his cock into her warmth, Sophie sighed with delight. “I have missed this.”

Jamie unbuttoned her blouse and tugged her corset down, freeing her breasts. After he untied the ribbon holding her chemise together, he was able to pull the material down for easy access.

“God, I love your tits.”

Sophie bit her lip and arched into him as he rolled a nipple between his fingers. “They love you too.”

She raised up, then lowered again, slowly taking his hard length deep inside of her. She did this a few more times before she found herself on her back with Jamie hovering over her.

“Hey, I wasn’t done.”

He buried himself deeper. “You were torturing me.”

Her giggle turned into a gasp when he thrust harder into her. “Oh, God.”

“Too much?”

She shook her head.

He slid his hand between them, fingering her clit again as he slammed into her again and again and she exploded around him. He wasn’t far behind and collapsed on top of her, rolling them to their sides. Sophie took several deep breaths in an effort to catch her breath, reaching out to run her finger down his cheek. “I love you so hard.”

He smiled. “Ditto.”

Jamie slid out of her and she fixed her clothing, then let him pull her onto his chest.

“Why don’t you sleep?” Jamie suggested.

“Do I have time? Shouldn’t we be getting back soon?”

“We have time. Go to sleep.”

She smiled. “I don’t know if that would be entirely appropriate, sir.”

“I have just taken more of your virtue, madam, so I think that point is moot now.”

She giggled as she rolled on her side and he formed his body around hers. Jamie spent several minutes watching her sleep. He may not remember everything, but he remembered her as his wife, and he wouldn’t let her go again. He closed his eyes and drew her body closer to him.

Awakened by Sophie shivering, Jamie pulled her closer before leaning down, and kissing her cheek to wake her.

“Hi.” She turned to face him.

“How do you feel?”

“Cold but otherwise okay. Did you sleep?”

“I did.” He kissed her and then added, “But only until you started snoring.”

She pushed him away with a snort and sat up. “I do not snore!”

Jamie chuckled as he pushed her back down. “You do snore, and it’s adorable.”

He leaned down to kiss her but she turned her head. “Take it back.”

“I’m only speaking the truth. Now kiss me.”

“No.” She moved her head to deflect his every attempt.

“Did you just deny me?”

Sophie giggled. “I did. What are you going to do about it?”

“You don’t really want an answer to that, do you?”

“Ooh, I’m scared.” He leaned down for one more attempt at a kiss, and at her deflection, grabbed her sides and began to tickle her. Sophie squealed. “Not fair!”

“Do you surrender?”

“Not on your life.” She tried to roll away from him but he followed. Grabbing her around the waist again, he increased the level of torture and it didn’t matter how much she protested, he wouldn’t give up.

“Jamie! I’m going to pee.”

“Say ‘uncle,’” he ordered.

“UNCLE!” He tickled her one more time and Sophie gasped. “Hey! I said ‘uncle.’”

“Sorry, love, I didn’t hear you.”

“You are such a sneak!” She laughed.

Jamie leaned down to kiss her and suddenly dirt splattered over them.

“What was that?” Sophie sat up and wiped the dirt from her skirts.

A whistle and then dirt kicked up again, and Jamie shoved her down and covered her body. “Stay down!”

“What’s going on?”

“Those are bullets, Sophie, stay down!” Jamie rolled, grasping her around the waist and pulling her to relative cover. “Someone is shooting at us.”

“Why?”

Jamie groaned. “I don’t know why, baby. Just sit there and stay out of sight!”

Sophie flattened herself on the ground behind a few large river rocks and watched as Jamie hunched down and began to move toward the lake. “What are you doing?” she squealed.

Jamie waved his hand to stay back and continued forward. Sophie couldn’t breathe as she watched him inch further away from her and then, suddenly, a rider tore out from the cover of trees and took off—away from them.

Sophie jumped up and rushed to Jamie. “Who was that?”

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her close and kissed her temple. “I don’t know, but I think it was the same man that shot Lund.”

“The soldier you brought into the hospital?”

At his nod, Sophie squinted across the man-made lake. “Is he shooting at us on purpose?”

Sophie’s skin crawled at the thought that the man was hiding in plain sight—close enough to get at them.

“I don’t know but I mean to find out. Let’s get you back to the house so I can find out what’s going on.”

Sophie’s head whipped up. “What? No! Absolutely not! It’s too dangerous.”

Jamie chuckled as he cupped her face and kissed her. “I’ll be fine.”

“Famous last words,” Sophie grumbled as they gathered their things and started back toward home.

Jamie took her hand, and she found herself distracted by the feel of his strong hand, now rougher than before, covering hers. The calluses were a heady feeling against her small, smooth palm and she smiled as she looked up at him.

They arrived back at the house and Nona invited Jamie to dinner, so the couple took the opportunity to share the news of their reunion. Michael and Nona were thrilled that she and Jamie were finally back together and offered any support they could give. 

Life was certainly looking up.