Page 35 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“I dinnae ken,” Ronnie said. “Somethin’ feels off about this.”
“Aye, it’s always troublin’ to receive this sort of news,” Cohen acknowledged. “Nae really good, but nae bad. It’s the sort of news that makes ye want to charge onward for answers.”
“Exactly!” Ronnie cried a bit too enthusiastically, as if he were ready to conquer the world. “We should go to Kilbray and meet up with Tormod. Perhaps he could tell us more, or maybe we might come across Feya on the way.”
“Ye’d need permission from the Laird to do that,” Cohen reminded him, rubbing the back of his neck. “And I havenae seen him all day. In fact, I was thinkin’ he’d be out here with ye. But unless my eyes are playin’ tricks on me, I dinnae see him. Ye wouldnae ken where he might be, would ye?”
Morgana shook her head and flashed him a pleasant smile. Just the mention of Ryder grated on her nerves. The fact that he had tormented her and teased her the way he did, then left so abruptly, had her stewing in her anger all morning.
“Sorry, couldnae say. It’s nae like he tells me anythin’,” Morgana answered.
Cohen gave an understanding nod and cleared his throat. “Aye, well, I’m sure the Laird has his reasons for keepin’ such things from the council. I’ll have to inform the others that he’s gone missin’ again.”
“Again? Does he do this often?” Morgana asked, suspicions springing up like weeds on the frayed edges of her mind.
“Aye,” Cohen uttered, looking a bit somber. “The man seems to always be on the move. Work never gets done, ye ken?”
Morgana bobbed her head as she glanced down at the note from Tormod. Her mind was racing as she contemplated her next move. It wasn’t like she could stay put while her sister was missing. No, she was going to do something, but she had to be smart about it.
“Nae when ye’re the Laird,” Morgana answered in a sing-song voice that caused Poppy and Eloise to jerk their heads up and look at her. “But I suppose that is the hand he was dealt.”
“Aye,” Cohen answered. “Well, if ye happen to cross paths with him, tell him I’m lookin’ for him. We’ve got several matters to discuss, and it would be wise if we did it sooner rather than later.”
“If I see him, I’ll let him ken,” Morgana said, like a dutiful wife.
“Morgana, can we chase the butterflies?” Poppy asked suddenly as she tugged on her elder sister’s arm.
Morgana nodded, looking away from Cohen. She didn’t have time to worry about what her husband was up to.
“I’ll go with ye,” Ronnie chimed in.
Cohen flashed them all a smile. “Well, I wish I could stay out here to enjoy such a fine day, but duty calls,” he said with a crooked grin. He bowed his head to Morgana and slowly strolled back to the castle.
Morgana’s heart pounded wildly in her chest as she watched him leave. Ever since he had handed her the note, she’d been wanting to examine it further.
Her eyes scanned the words once again as she murmured the first letter of each sentence. Her heart skipped a beat as she deciphered the hidden message.
Haven’t had time to check out Lochcairn for Feya. Headed south. Godspeed.
“Lochcairn… that’s nae that far. If Tormod cannae get to that town, someone should,” Morgana mumbled to herself as her gaze turned to her siblings, who were merrily playing in the field.
A plan slowly formed in her mind as she watched Ronnie with Poppy and Eloise. He was old enough to care for them for a day or so, right?
“Ronnie,” she called.
Ronnie pranced over to her, happy to slip away from the twins for a moment.
“I need ye to watch the girls tonight,” Morgana said in a hushed tone.
“Nay, nay way. The last time I watched them, we all ended up in the dungeons, and ye ended up with a husband.” Ronnie shook his head.
“It’s Feya,” Morgana explained. “Tormod cannae make it to Lochcairn, so I’ll be goin’.”
“Ye cannae,” Ronnie protested. “What if somethin’ happens to ye? That town isnae safe. It willnae matter to the heathens in that town whether ye’re married or nae. If they want ye, they’ll take ye.”
Morgana pressed her lips into a frustrated, tight line. “What should I do, then? We cannae leave things to chance, nae when it comes to family.”
“I can go,” Ronnie offered. “They’ll nae bother me. I’m too small to be a challenge, and nay one will spare me a second glance.”
