Page 48 of Captured By the Cruel Highlander
The sound was getting closer by the minute, and she quickly moved back from the center of the clearing, watching fearfully for what might appear.
The thundering hooves came closer as she held her breath and retreated into the darkness.
“I told ye I’d always find ye,” came a deep, familiar voice as a gigantic black horse emerged before her.
Emily’s joy at seeing Adam was so all-encompassing that she quite forgot how furious she was at his treatment of her.
She walked out from behind the trees, very aware that her brand-new dress was caked in mud and her hair was plastered to either side of her face. Adam, on the other hand,looked unfairly handsome. Rain ran in rivulets over his arms, the fur over his shoulders keeping him mostly dry.
“Ye’re a stupid fool for runnin’ away,” he said furiously, but his eyes ran over her as though to check for any injuries.
Emily didn’t reply. There was little she could say by way of an excuse. Ithadbeen foolish in hindsight. She wasn’t sure when she had been more pleased to see him—at her wedding or this very moment.
He pulled off his cloak and threw it over her shoulders in a spray of drops, his large hands fastening it beneath her neck, his fingers brushing against her skin as he secured the tie.
“Where did ye think ye were goin’ in this weather? It is almost night. Ye might have been eaten by a goblin.”
“It wasnae rainin’ when I left,” she mumbled.
“Och, aye,” he growled, “that isnae what I asked.”
“I was goin’ home. I have to see me family.”
“Have ye any idea how many miles it is to Wilkinson Castle?”
Emily hesitated, trying to think how long it had taken them to reach MacNiall Castle from the kirk. Adam waited patiently for her to finish her calculations.
“Some,” she said defiantly.
Adam’s eyes twinkled. “Aye, ‘some’. Almost a day’s ride, in fact. Do ye ken how far ye made it?”
“Five miles?” she hazarded.
“One. And if ye are ever bein’ chased through the woods again, ye need to be better at coverin’ yer tracks. It was like followin’ the path of a bear.”
Emily couldn’t help but laugh at that, but the sound died on her lips as she thought of Bruce’s letter.
“Me braither wrote to tell me he is comin’ for me. I cannae stay here, or he will try to find me and kill anyone who attempts to stop him.”
Adam’s shoulders relaxed a fraction as he studied her carefully. “Yer braither seems like a sensible man. He willnae fight an army.”
“Ye dinnae ken Bruce.”
Adam sighed as she drew the letter out and handed it to him. He read it but gave it back almost immediately.
“Yer braither may be brave, but he is one man, and yer faither is frail. He’ll ken he cannae take on all of Stewart’s men—he isnae a fool. He likely wrote it to give ye hope.” He eyed her wearily and then gave her a small, reassuring smile. “If it’ll make ye feel better, I will send some men to keep watch from a distance.”
“Ye would do that?” she asked, hope blooming in her heart that he would keep watch over her family.
“Aye. They willnae interfere. I need Stewart none the wiser, but they can report back to me. Yer braither is a brave lad, I could see that when he tried to get ye back. But he isnae goin’ to do anythin’ foolish. Dinnae fret.”
Adam pulled her cloak more tightly around her and steered her toward the horse. Even in her weakened state, with exhaustion clouding her eyes, she was still surprised at how pleased she was to be returning to the castle.
The image of her cozy and well-appointed room came to mind. She pictured sitting with Freya, reading books in the library, and standing on the balcony looking out at the raging sea. In only a matter of days, she had grown to love the place.
As they walked to Buck, who nickered happily as if he’d found a lost playmate, Emily felt Adam’s strong hands on her lower back and tried hard to concentrate on not falling over. Buck snorted at her in greeting, and Emily stroked his nose as Adam tsked quietly under his breath.
She reached her hands up to the horse’s back, a familiar thrill of happiness running through her as she felt Adam’s hands tense against her, about to help her into the saddle.
