Page 104 of A Bride for the Icy Highlander
Side by side, they descended to the courtyard, where the crisp morning air buzzed with the commotion. Horses stamped and blew steam through their nostrils, and Reid guards moved with sharp precision.
Abigail spotted her sister the moment she stepped out of the carriage, her chin tilted with that familiar air of command.
“Marissa!” she cried, running forward.
“Abby!” Marissa opened her arms, catching her in a fierce hug.
She pulled back quickly, examining her with narrowed eyes.
“Ye had us worried sick,” she said, not yet smiling. “We thought ye’d been in a cell. Or worse, dead.”
Abigail flushed. “I was safe. Kian?—”
“Ah, the Highland rogue himself,” Marissa cut in, turning sharply toward Kian.
Kian bowed with what grace he could muster. “Lady Reid. I offer ye me deepest apologies. It was entirely me fault that yer sister was caught up in this storm.”
“Aye,” Marissa said, arching her eyebrows. “It absolutely is yer fault.”
Abigail stepped between them and took Kian’s hand in her own. “He’s kept me safe, Marissa. He’s treated me with care and dignity.”
Marissa’s eyes flicked to their joined hands, her jaw tightening. “So I see. And yet a letter would’ve saved us weeks of anguish.”
Arthur, tall and broad, stepped forward and gave Abigail a warm smile. “It’s good to see ye well, Abby. Truly. Eliza missed her aunt.”
Abigail smiled and glanced at the shy toddler clinging to Marissa’s skirts. “And I her.”
Marissa, however, was not yet finished. She tilted her chin toward Kian again. “Laird McKenna, I hope ye understand that trust must be earned in this family.”
Kian nodded solemnly. “I wouldnae expect anything else. And I mean to earn it.”
Marissa’s gaze didn’t soften, but she gave a slight nod. “We shall see. For now, I want Abigail surrounded by people who care for her. Where is Freya?”
“I understand. Freya is in the castle,” Kian replied.
Abigail hesitated, glancing between her sister and Kian. “Marissa, please?—”
Ayla Barkley then stepped out of the carriage, her curls bouncing beneath her hood. The moment Abigail saw her, she let out a cry and hurried toward her, flinging her arms around her.
Ayla returned the hug. “Lass, ye had us all worried sick,” she said, pulling back to search her face.
“I’m sorry,” Abigail whispered, touched by the young woman’s concern. “But I’m here now, thanks to Kian.”
Ayla’s gaze flicked to Kian. “Marissa nearly tore the roof down when she heard ye vanished. We all thought… well, we thought the worst.” Her voice wavered slightly, though she tilted her chin stubbornly. “If ye ever run off again, I’ll drag ye back by yer ear meself.”
Abigail smiled despite herself. “I dinnae plan to run off again. But thank ye, truly, Ayla. It means more than I can say.”
Just then, another voice rang out across the courtyard. “Marissa!”
It was followed by the sound of hurried footsteps as Freya and Michael appeared.
Freya rushed forward and threw her arms around Marissa, laughing through her tears. “Look at ye, still bossing everyone around.”
“Aye, someone’s got to keep sense in this mad family,” Marissa muttered.
Abigail glanced around. “Shall we all go inside, warm ourselves, and get settled?” she suggested.
Marissa narrowed her eyes at her. “Aye for the others. As for meself, I want to speak with ye in private, Sister.”
