Page 68 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
Morgana watched with awe as he reached for the first branch and swung himself up like a wild man born and bred in the forest. In a whirl, Ryder jumped and climbed from one branch to another as if he were a lizard. And in a flash, he was standing by her side.
She gaped at him, trying to wrap her head around what she had just seen.
“We need to keep goin’,” he said, before he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her over to the trail.
Although Morgana didn’t have a clue where they were going, there was no longer any doubt about Ryder in her mind. He was gallant, brave, strong, and protective. Everything she had ever wanted in a partner.
“The water isnae comin’ up any further,” she remarked. “From where I was when I nearly slipped, it looked like a drain of sorts.”
Ryder shook his head. “Well, I’m nae sure about ye, but I dinnae want to get sucked down to wherever that may lead. Our best bet is to get out this way. It might take a bit longer, but it’ll be safer.”
“Just get us out of here,” Morgana pleaded, her fingers curling into his shirt and he pulled back the low-hanging branches.
The trail zigged one way before zigging to another, and the constant switch was starting to make Morgana dizzy. She kept her eyes locked on Ryder, ensuring never to lose sight of him as thoughts of the horse danced at the frayed edges of her mind.
“We’re almost there,” he said, just as water gushed through a crack between the boulders.
Morgana’s heart shot from her throat to her stomach and back up again. She had had enough of the water coming from every direction. If it were up to her, she would never see another waterfall as long as she lived.
“At least the rain has stopped,” she muttered as they reached the opening of the canyon. A river was gushing over the rocks.
It stunned her just how quickly the water rose inside the canyon. She had escaped death.
Her gaze flicked to Ryder. How many times had he faced such uncertainty? Was that why he remained so calm under such pressure? The fact that he didn’t even seem to break a sweat after everything they had been through baffled her. How could a man keep his cool in such a way?
“Are ye all right?” Ryder asked, giving her a once-over.
“Aye,” she answered, nodding her head. “But I dinnae think I want to go in there again. How ye managed to never get trapped in there as a child… It’s clear ye have the hand of God on ye.”
“I highly doubt that. If I had been so blessed, I doubt my maither would have died the way she did. The world isnae what the good Lord wanted it to be. Sin is what has contaminated the world and everything in it, including me. I’m nay saint, Lady McKenzie. I pray ye never see me as one.”
“How can ye say that, when all ye seem to do is save my life?” Morgana asked, reaching for him.
With the threat gone, it was hard for her to control the emotions rioting inside her. She felt as if she had been struck by lightning, and had too much energy to sit still.
“Aye, and I must say, it’s gettin’ rather tiring. Could ye stay out of trouble for just one day? That’s all I’m askin’.”
“I wasnae the one who brought us here. As I recall, I wanted to take a stroll around the castle. That would have been safe.”
“Sure, but what’s the point? We’d just be playin’ it safe. That’s nay way to live. Ye must be bold and daring. Grab life by the horns and wield it until it bends into what ye want it to be.”
Morgana chuckled to herself as she glanced up at the horizon, hoping to spot the castle. She drew her hand over her brow to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare. Trees scattered across the horizon and nestled between the cliffs, but she spotted the towers of the castle. Relief washed over her despite the distance she knew they would have to walk.
“How long do ye think we’ve been gone?” she asked, trying to keep the worry from her tone.
Suddenly, she spotted a dark speck against the green rolling hill. Lifting a hand to her brow, Morgana tried to see if it was a friend or foe coming their way at such speed. Her heart skipped as the rider slowly came into focus baring the crest of Clan McKenzie. The smirk on her lips struggled to stay in place as more questions than answers popped into her head as she pointed to the rider. “Do ye see that? Just over the bend?”
“Looks like a councilman… ridin’ hard,” Ryder noted, his jaw flexing. “Nathan.What is he doin’ out here? I threw him in the dungeons for a reason. So help me—when we get back to the castle, heads will roll.”
Morgana scrambled over the boulders and rough terrain, trying to keep up with him. It was clear from his stern expression and wild gaze that he was on a mission.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the field, raised his hand, and called for the rider. His loud whistle cut through the field, instantly drawing the rider’s attention.
The sight of someone coming for them thrilled Morgana far more than it should have. After all, it wasn’t like she couldn’t trust her husband. If anything, this little outing of theirs had proved they were far more connected than she would have expected.
“Who let ye out of the dungeons? Dinnae tell me it’s Cohen,” Ryder hissed as Nathan came to a sudden stop before them.
Nathan arched an eyebrow as his eyes flicked from Ryder to Morgana and back again. Heat rushed through her as his judgmental glare fell on her. It wasn’t like she had been doing anything wrong. Ryder was her husband, after all. They had every right to be alone together. But still, she couldn’t ignore the prick of uncertainty and shame.
