Page 108 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander
“We are,” Morgana answered as she stood proudly next to her husband. “But ye’re stayin’ here.”
“What?” Feya gasped.
Morgana saw the spark of hope in her sister’s eyes. It was clear she was ecstatic by the idea.
Ryder nodded his head toward the cottage and flashed Tormod a smirk. “This is yer place now,” he explained. “I bought it off the old herbalist. So, dinnae be surprised if it smells a bit earthy in there.”
“I cannae believe it.” Feya threw her arms around Morgana’s neck. “I cannae thank ye enough.”
“Well, there are a few stipulations to live here,” Morgana said, pulling her sister back. “First, ye’ll have to pay Ryder rent. It doesnae have to be much.”
“A tenth of yer earnings. Whatever it is. And if it is less than ten shillings, then that month ye’ll just have to make calls to the castle,” Ryder chimed in.
Morgana’s heart swelled with joy. She never thought she would end up with a man as caring and understanding as Ryder. Her family had become his, and the fact that he was willing to help them get the place to begin with was more than a dream come true.
“I can do that,” Feya answered, beaming.
“We just thought that ye’d want someplace where ye could move freely,” Morgana said. “In the castle, ye’d have the guards to contend with, and we ken that ye’re both too old to be under my thumb.”
“Ye sound as if ye’re kickin’ us out for good,” Feya said.
“Never,” Morgana declared with such conviction that she could see the relief in her sister’s gaze. “Ye’ll always be welcome at the castle and any part around here. We’re family. As for Tormod, he needs to see what the world has to offer while keepin’ an eye on ye. Family sticks together, aye?”
“Aye,” Feya and Tormod answered in unison as they pulled Morgana and Ryder into a group hug.
“We cannae thank ye both enough, truly,” Tormod said as Ryder handed him the key to the cottage.
“Just be sure to keep an eye on each other,” Ryder reminded him. “And dinnae be strangers.”
“Did ye want to come in and see the place?” Feya asked as she darted for the door.
Morgana shook her head. “Nay. I would like to get back to the castle. I’m tired.”
“Are ye well?” Ryder asked, cupping her face in his hand. He studied her as if he could read what exactly ailed her.
“I’m fine, just tired,” Morgana said, flashing Feya a smile.
Feya winked, and before Ryder could turn his attention to her, she skipped into the cottage along with Tormod.
“I think they liked the place,” Morgana murmured.
She rose on the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on Ryder’s cheek.
“Aye, I can remember the feeling of steppin’ into my own place,” he said, a hint of pride lacing his voice.
“Ye miss those days,” Morgana noted as they moved around the cottage to collect their horse.
Morgana peeked into the window, stealing a glimpse of her siblings. The smiles on their faces were more than enough to make her heart overflow with gratitude.
“Aye, I suppose I regret the fact that I cannae go back to such times,” Ryder confessed. “But what I have now far outweighs anythin’ I had back then. But ye cannae say that ye dinnae miss the freedom a wee bit. Or have ye forgotten yer roots?”
“I couldnae even if I wanted to,” Morgana said with a smile as he lifted her into the saddle and then mounted behind her. “But I can tell ye that I never enjoyed havin’ to fend off intruders or beat away men who were tryin’ to harm Feya or the twins. It’s different for a woman.”
“Aye,” Ryder whispered, his hot breath tickling her ear. “And I swear ye’ll never have to deal with that again. I willnae allow anythin’ to harm ye.”
“I ken.” Morgana leaned back against him, feeling his manhood against her back. “I just cannae believe ye bought that cottage for them.”
“Is that really what is on yer mind right now?” Ryder growled as the horse meandered down the narrow path back to the castle.
