ON THE WAY

The first rays of the early morning light streamed in through the lacy curtains that covered the terrace doors, causing Katherine to stir in Connor's arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and she smiled softly when she realized her head was pillowed on his strong chest and her legs entwined in his. Snuggling even closer, Kat began to gently trace the outline of his hard stomach muscles with just the barest brush of her finger tips. Connor sighed in his sleep and his arms tightened their grip on Katherine as her finger tips gradually worked their way lower and lower. By the time they had arrived at the destination she had aimed for, Connor was wide awake.

"Ummm, m'lady, isn't it awful early in the morning for you to be causing that kind of trouble?" he mumbled into her hair. Katherine just chuckled wickedly, her hand continuing to explore his lower regions with a touch so light he could barely feel it.

"Looks like we are both early risers, Captain Connor, me own sweet love," she laughed as she surveyed the obvious results of her administrations. He glanced down and laughed that little wicked laugh of his as he rolled on top of her, pinning her down with his body.

"Aye, my lovely lass, we are."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

That was the start of a very busy day. After bathing and breaking their fast, Katherine and Connor attended the early morning mass held by Father Alec in the chapel. The priest was both surprised and delighted to see them both there. Connor assured him that they would be back to the castle as frequently as they could.

Afterwards Katherine met with Dani again for another reading lesson in the library and told him that Ev and Rayden would be more than happy to have him come and stay with them at the Mood House. Dani was delighted to hear that, and he had a very hard time settling down and concentrating on his reading lesson. His boyish enthusiasm was catching, and by the time it was over, Katherine was clutching her sides which were hurting from laughing so hard at his antics.

Once they were finished, Connor had Dani join them for lunch and then the two men continued with Katherine's tour of the castle and grounds, ending up at the stables. Dani immediately took them first to see his horse Jinx, who whinnied in joyous greeting when she saw him approach. Jinx was a dark liver chestnut Arabian mare, who almost looked black at first glance; and she had a full blaze and three white stockings. He was obviously very proud of having a high class horse like her, even when she playfully grabbed hold of his shirt with her teeth and almost tore a hole in it. He admitted he did have a little trouble staying on board her though. Apparently the feisty mare seemed to enjoy tossing him into things like briar bushes and mud muddles.

After admiring Dani's feisty mare, Connor took them to see his magnificent black stallion, Jameel. Katherine feel in love with him immediately. The well mannered stallion stood quietly in his stall, while the three of them admired him as was his just due. He arched his regal neck, blowing gently into Katherine's outstretched palm as she stroked his soft velvet hide. This caused Connor to chuckle, claiming the horse had as good of taste in women as did his master.

Taking leave of the stallion, the three of them left the stables and went out into the stable yard. Katherine's attention was immediately drawn to a flashy looking mare that was tacked up with a ladies side saddle. She was being held by Sir Patrise, a handsome knight whom Katherine had met earlier when they had first came out to the stables. The horse was a dark chestnut Arabian mare, with a flaxen mane and tail, and she had very similar markings to the ones that Jinx had. The knight smiled at Katherine and motioned for her to come closer.

Katherine walked up to him and returned his smile as she examined the mare up close. "She's beautiful!" she exclaimed as she admired her.

Sir Patrise beamed in pride as he stroked the mare's neck. He had spent a lot of time grooming her and making sure she was ready for this viewing. "Radzin just brought her in yesterday from the Cossack camp. Would milady like to try her out?" he asked.

Katherine beamed with pleasure as she agreed. But from the smug look on Connor's face she knew he was up to something and she was starting to get a pretty good idea of just what it was. He just gave her a lop sided grin at the accusing look on her face. It was hard to keep anything secret very long around her with her ability to sense what others were feeling.

"Her name is Jasmine, luv. And she belongs to you. I thought you would want a horse of your own to ride here." Katherine responded by throwing her arms around his neck and giving him an exuberant hug as he lifted her up completely off the ground and spun her around. He let her down and then gave her a leg up onto the small mare who stood patiently waiting while he adjusted her skirts around the pommel of the sidesaddle.

"There is a practice ring just around the end of the stables, milady," Sir Patrise said as he pointed her in the right direction as he handed her the cane for her to use to cue the horse on the offside. Katherine thanked him and she rode the mare to the ring. Sir Patrise went ahead and opened the gate for her and then the three men stood off to the side and watched her as she put the mare through all her paces. Jasmine was an exceptionally well mannered ladies horse, with just enough fire to make things interesting for an experienced rider. The little mare had a energetic trot with excellent shoulder action and a wonderful rocking horse canter that looked smooth as silk. Katherine was a very accomplished equestrian and she knew how to get the most out of a horse. She looked very elegant riding sidesaddle on Jasmine and from the smile on her face, Connor knew she was delighted at his gift for her.

As she worked the mare, testing her to see what the little mare was capable of doing; quite a crowd had gathered to watch her, including another Connor look- alike named Gus and a handsome young man named Efram who looked like a younger version of Sir Patrise. As they watched, Katherine pointed the mare at a low jump and Jasmine effortlessly cleared it. She continued on around the arena and took several more fences. Then slowing the mare to a walk and putting her on a long rein so she could stretch after her workout, Katherine slapped her lovingly on her neck. "Good girl, Jasmine!" she cried out, extremely pleased with the mare's responses.

Seeing she was done, Sir Patrise immediately when to the mare's side and held her so Connor could assist his Lady down. She threw her leg from over the pommel so she was sitting completely sideways on the horses. Connor reached up and put his hands around her tiny waist and then lifted her off and set her on the ground. He then took her over to introduce her to Efram and Gus.

"Lady Katherine, the Chancellor would like to invite the two of you to eat dinner in the main hall with her tonight," Efram explained after names and pleasantries had been exchanged.

"She would like to met you and get a chance to get acquainted before you leave to go to Ev's place," Gus added. He looked just like Connor and Dani except for his hair was different and his eyes gleamed with humor and mischief. Katherine glanced at Connor who nodded his head just slightly, letting her know without words that he did not have anything special planned already.

"We would love to come," she accepted graciously with a bright smile that was guaranteed to stir the heart of any man.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The dinner in the main hall the castle reminded Katherine of her younger days growing up in a nobleman's home. She and Connor at the head table along with the extremely pregnant Chancellor Sharon and King Arthur. She and Katherine talked about the castle and the different residents of the island throughout the meal. There was a much larger crowd than normal eating in the main hall that night. Apparently word had gotten out that the new Lady on the island would be joining them for dinner and the unattached men showed up in droves, all spiffied up in some of their finest clothes. Some of them she already knew of course. Darius and Father Alec were there, as well as Dani and Doc Adams who was pleased to see her looking so well. Connor noticed that she did not seem pleased with him for some reason, and he decided to ask her about it later.

After the meal was over, there was some fine entertainment provided by some jugglers, magicians and assorted musicians. Darius made a point of making sure everyone he talked to knew that the Lady Katherine was quite an accomplished singer herself and it wasn't very long before she had been requested to sing for them all. She held off though until the King added his request to the growing number of people trying to talk her into performing for them.

Taking one of the guitars from one of the entertainers, Katherine sang for them a hauntingly beautiful version of Greensleeves in her clear voice, the high notes of the song reverberating throughout the great room. She followed it up with an equally old French folk song and then a lovely song in her native Gaelic. Her natural singing talent would have made listening to her very pleasant anyway, but the way she used her emphatic abilities to augment the song made the music almost seem magical. When she was finished a hush had fallen over the room as everyone who was there sat in open mouthed awe.

"Show off," Connor whispered in her ear as she sat down beside him again. She just grinned broadly at him but did not deny it.

After the dinner, they returned to her rooms and retired early. They were going to be spending a lot of hours in the saddle tomorrow on their way to Mood House and they need to get a good nights sleep. At least that was the excuse that was given to the others for leaving the party in the great hall while things were still in full swing. It was actually several hours later before the two of them finally drifted off to sleep happily as Katherine snuggled up in her favorite position with her head pillowed on Connor's chest and his arms wrapped around her.

The next morning Katherine again woke Connor up in a very pleasant and extremely pleasing manner as the sun started to peak through the windows. Afterwards, they bathed and they ate a good breakfast. It only took a few minutes to packed the few things they wanted to take with them. In the meantime, the kitchen sent up via the dumbwaiter the lunch they had asked for and that was packed as well in their saddlebags. Gathering up what they were taking with them, the left for the stables. As they closed the door behind them, Katherine looked wistfully back at the nameplate on her door. She had only been there for a couple of days and the room's already felt like they was truly hers.

Dani was already there and waiting for them in the stable yard. All three horses had already been fed, groomed and tacked up for them. The stallion was eyeing the two mares with interest, but he stood quietly for the groom who was holding him; as did Katherine's mare Jasmine. Jinx, however, was another story. She was dancing around in excitement and the groom holding her was having a very difficult time trying to keep her under control.

The three of them attached their saddlebags behind the saddles and mounted up. Then Dani had to remount after he was quickly shed from her back and deposited unceremoniously to the ground. It took three attempts before he managed to stick in the saddle and they were able to begin there journey.

They spent an enjoyable day riding across the island. The weather was balmy and warm but there was just enough of a breeze to make it really pleasant. The antics of Dani and Jinx kept the other two entertained along the way. The mare seemed to have an uncanny sense of just how to drop her shoulder and send her rider sliding off her into any available body of water or anything else unpleasant to land in. By the time they arrived at the bridge to cross the river, he was a mess. Katherine had offered to change horses with him, but Dani stubbornly insisted on continuing on with his own mount. He did take the precaution of leading her across the bridge though, but it didn't help. Halfway across Jinx nudged him hard right in the middle of his back and sent him tumbling off the bridge and into the water below. Thoroughly drenched but still grinning and cracking jokes, he struggled up the river bank to where Katherine waited, holding the reins of his horse. She was trying hard not to laugh at him, but Connor had all but collapsed in helpless mirth.

Dani soon dried off in the warm afternoon sun as they rode the last stretch of the way towards Mood House, following the river towards the ocean. At last it appeared in the distance, a beautiful castle with four towers shining in the distance.

"Well, folks," Connor said with a happy smile. "We're home."