Chapter Thirteen They spent the evening nestled together on the sofa, with their legs stretched out across the coffee table and casually crossed at the ankles. With her head resting comfortably against Duncan's shoulder. Feeling totally relaxed from the enchanting day they had spent together and mellow from the wine they were drinking, Caitlin sat quietly thinking and startled them both by murmuring out loud. "I love you, Duncan MacLeod." Feeling his arm stiffen as it lay draped around her shoulders, Caitlin stammered. "Oh God, did I say that out loud?" Rising quickly, she sat her wine glass down on the table and started to move away, afraid of his reaction to the revelation she had just blurted out. Reaching out, the Duncan grabbed her hand before she could move any farther. Rising, he sat his glass down next to hers, and turned her to face him. When she wouldn't look at him, he placed his large hands on either side of her face and gently, but firmly tilted her head upward. "Caitlin, look at me." Still unsure of his reaction, she raised her eyes slowly, reluctantly and was pleasantly relieved to see he was smiling. "It's all right Caitlin, I love you too, sweetheart." And kissed her passionately to prove he was telling the truth. After their oral declaration, the couple expressed their mutual new found love for each other in the most intimate and ancient way lovers have since the beginning of time. In the comfort of Caitlin's full sized bed, they made love while the sounds of the forest provided its own special blend of natural night music. Early the next morning, Caitlin was awaken by the persistent sound of whimpering echoing through the silent cabin just beyond the bedroom. Laying on her side facing the doorway with the warm length of Duncan's body tightly molded against her own, she listened, trying to pinpoint its origin. By his heavy breathing and relaxed position she could tell Duncan was still sound asleep. Careful not to disturb him, she slowly slipped from his embrace and grabbed her robe from the foot of the bed. Pulling it on as she padded barefoot across the hall to her father's bedroom and discovered that the door usually kept closed, was now standing half open. As she stood quietly listening from the hallway, the whimpering continued, accompanied by an occasional scratching sound. She thought about waking Duncan, but she didn't want to feel foolish if it was nothing. Taking a deep breath, she slowly pushed the door all the way open, and found Tanya underneath her father's drafting table pawing at something underneath it. "Tanya, what in the world are you doing." She whispered. Jumping at the sound of Caitlin's voice, the dog looked around and sheepishly slouched over to lay at her feet. She had been quietly playing with her ball in the mainroom, when it had gotten away from her and rolled down the hall ending up against the door to Jon Taylor's bedroom. Pouncing on it before it could get away, the lightly latched door sprung open and the ball rolled under his drafting table and become wedged between the table and the bookcase nearby. Frustrated, she had started to paw at it, wedging it even further back into the crevice where it had rolled. Standing with her arms akimbo, Caitlin looked down at the forelorn Husky and gently scolded. "Tanya, Tanya, Tanya, what am I going to do with you? You woke me up, not the mention scaring the daylights out of me. What's wrong with you anyway?" Jumping up, Tanya walked over to the table and crawled underneath and began to paw at the stubborn ball again. Puzzled by her behavior, Caitlin knelt down and gently pushed her aside for a better view. Seeing the dog's problem, she grasped the tightly wedged ball firmly and gave it quick, hard tug, freeing it from its hiding place. Tanya, excited the ball was loose and impatient for its return, woofed loudly. "Sssh, you'll wake Duncan." Caitlin scolded again. Rising, she quickly grabbed Tanya by the collar and led her to the front door and shooed her outside. "Here pest," she said, laughing softly, "take your prize outside and play with it. And be quiet about it, you rascal." Watching from the screened door, to make sure the frisky dog didn't make too much noise and wake Duncan, Caitlin decided to make a pot of coffee in the coffeemaker. While waiting for it to brew, she stepped out onto the porch and leaned her shoulder against one of the posts, casually crossed her arms across her chest and closed her eyes. Turning her face up to catch the warmth of the sun, she breathed in the fresh, clean scent of the pine trees and wild flowers. A small gasp escaped her lips as two strong arms covered her own and a familiar warm body pressed against the length of hers from behind. "Good morning love, Duncan murmured. "What were you thinking about that put such a charming smile on your lovely face?" "Umm," she sighed as she snuggled deeper into his embrace, her head resting back against his well-muscled shoulder. "I was just thinking how wonderful the world seems when your-" she paused unable to continue. "Yes, when your-?" Duncan repeated giving her a little squeeze, as he nuzzled her neck. Turning within his embrace, she wrapped her arms around his waist, and tilted her head back to stare deeply into his eyes glittering with mischief. "When your in love," she whispered, her voice full of emotion. A soft moan escaped Duncan's lips. The shimmer of mischief was replaced by the smoldering look of desire, as he slowly lowered his head and captured her up-turned lips with his own. Sweeping her up into his arms, he carried her back to the bedroom and gently placed her on the unmade bed, and began to show her with his hands and body how much he loved her.