“You already asked,”Margaret said as tears of relief started to roll down her cheeks. “I’m fine. I’m fine because of you.”
“Aye,I ken, but I needed to make sure ye’re fine,” he said, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
In his grasp,Margaret felt steadier already. Here, nothing could hurt her. She knew that now. Ryan had just proven that as long as she was with him, she’d be protected.
“I was so scared,”she said, her voice breaking on the word, tears still wetting her cheeks. “And I was so shocked that he showedup. He said that he intercepted both of the letters I sent to my family. That’s how he knew where to look.”
“Well,ye daenae have to worry about him any longer,” Ryan said, confirming what she already knew. “And when we get back, I’ll make sure ye can get a letter to yer family. I’ll deliver it meself if I have to.”
“I don’t wantyou to leave me here,” Margaret said, the words surprising her as they left her mouth.
It’s the truth,though. If Ryan were to leave, I wouldn’t feel safe.
“I willnae leave ye, then,”he promised as he maneuvered them out of the brush where she’d hidden herself. “Ye’re safe now.”
Once they werefree of the branches and leaves, Ryan picked her up. One of his arms rested beneath her knees and the other around her back. She didn’t complain, letting herself be carried back toward the castle. The struggle had left her exhausted, and she was thankful that Ryan seemed to understand.
Just this once,I won’t accuse him of being a beast for picking me up whenever he pleases.
As soon asshe began to relax in his hold, the bushes around them crunched. Her body went rigid once more, realizing that someone else was approaching them. Ryan, however, seemed unbothered by whomever was joining them.
“Did ye find anyone else, Aaron?”Ryan asked, continuing on his path forward.
Aaron...Ryan’s best friend?
Margaret wonderedwhen the other Laird arrived. She was gone for less than an hour; Ryan couldn’t have called for him. Perhaps he came to visit on his own accord. Margaret didn’t know, and to be honest, she didn’t care. She just wanted to go back home.
“Aye,”Aaron said as he fell into step next to them. “I handled him though.”
“Only one, then?”Ryan said, curling his body around Margaret’s as they pushed through a particularly thick part of the woods. “Nay others?”
“Nay, none that I could find,”Aaron confirmed, pulling back a branch to keep it from hitting Margaret and Ryan. “Ye’ll want to send more men out to do a proper sweep.”
“I was already plannin’on it,” Ryan said as they emerged from the forest into the afternoon sunlight. “I just need to get me wife back to where she’s safe first.”
“Ach, ye do,”Aaron said. Then, he addressed Margaret. “It’s nice to meet ye. I do wish it had been under happier circumstances.”
Margaret giggleddespite herself and murmured, “Perhaps we’ll try again tomorrow. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“Ach, Ryan,”Aaron chuckled, “I think I’ll like this one.”
“Aye,”Ryan said, tightening his arms around Margaret. “I quite like her too.”
24
The rest of the walk back to the castle passed in relative silence. Ryan had sent Aaron ahead, instructing him to inform Cali and Izzy that everyone was safe. For now, it was just he and the warm weight of Margaret in his arms.
She took steady breaths,leaning against his chest. Her fingers tangled in his doublet. It seemed as though she had come up with a rhythm that would soothe her. Ryan wasn’t going to disturb it, not after the ordeal she had just experienced.
It wasn’tuntil the two of them were nearly at the gates that Margaret spoke, whispering, “Thank you for coming to rescue me. I don’t know what I would have done if it weren’t for you.”
“Ye daenae needto thank me, Margaret,” he replied, his gruff voice growing softer around the edges. “I told ye I would protect ye, and I daenae make promises I daenae keep. Yer trust is important to me. Ye’re important to me.”
Margaret’s breath hitched,but she stayed quiet. Ryan couldn’t be sure if her hesitancy to speak was because of his words or the guards that were near enough to hear them. It truly didn’t matter to him. He didn’t need her to respond. He’d simply told her the truth.
It dosenaematter if she feels the same way. I will always protect her, just as I said I would. It’s nae because she’s me wife either though I’m becoming more and more fond of this arrangement.
The pair had barely enteredthe castle when Cali came rushing toward them. As gently as he could, Ryan set Margaret on the ground. Keeping a hand on her lower back, he helped her remain upright when Cali threw her arms around Margaret.