Page 42 of A Bride for the Icy Highlander
He took off.
The world narrowed. There was only the lass and the beast, and the thudding of his boots against the ground. He ran harder than he ever had before, his breath tearing from his throat like fire.
He lunged forward. Abigail turned to him, her eyes wide, her lips parted. The horse was nearly upon her.
With a grunt, he caught her around the waist, yanked her against his chest, and threw them both to the side. They hit the earth hard, a tangle of limbs and breath.
Behind them, the stallion let out another scream and veered, dirt flying as it circled back.
Kian shoved Abigail behind him, already rising to his feet.
“Stay down!” he barked.
The horse charged again.
Kian met it head-on. He reached out at the perfect moment, his fingers catching the reins as the beast tried to sidestep.
It reared, its powerful legs rising in the air, nearly knocking him backward.
Kian dug his heels into the soil, his muscles straining, his eye blazing with determination.
With a brutal yank and a loud growl, he forced the stallion down.
“Easy, ye bastard,” he hissed. “Ye’ll nae kill anyone this day.”
The horse snorted violently but finally relented, lowering its head.
Kian held tight to the reins, sweat dripping from his brow, his chest heaving. Only then did he glance back.
Abigail was kneeling in the grass, her shawl tangled around her elbows, her wide eyes locked onto him.
“Kian,” she whispered.
He turned back to the stallion, tied the reins to the nearest fence post, and stormed toward her.
“What in the name of all that’s holy were ye thinkin’?” he growled, kneeling in front of her. “Wanderin’ the grounds without a guard? I could wring both yer necks!”
Abigail’s eyes shimmered, her cheeks pale. “I didnae ken… it would happen. Helena just?—”
“Helena’s nae in charge of yer safety—I am!” he snapped, his trembling hand brushing leaves from her shoulders. “Do ye ken how close ye came to bein’ trampled?”
Her lips parted. “Ye… saved me.”
He stared at her, his heart pounding still. “Aye. And I’d do it again. But I swear to the heavens above, if ye ever pull somethin’ like that again?—”
He broke off as she pressed her hand against his chest, right over his heart. She was breathing fast, her eyes locked onto his, her lips trembling with something unsaid.
His anger twisted into something else—something hot and wild. Her closeness knocked the air from his lungs.
“I dinnae mean to cause trouble,” she said softly.
His voice lowered to a murmur. “Ye are trouble, lass.”
She flushed but didn’t pull her hand away.
The silence between them burned hotter than any fire. Kian’s gaze dropped to her mouth, and for a wild second, he nearly kissed her again.
But then Helena rushed over, out of breath.
