Page 91 of The Cruel Highlander's Bride
He needs to survive this.
She would not let herself consider the alternative.
This couldn’t be the end for her father, not some failed attempt to save her. And especially not when it was her who distracted him. If only she had stayed in that cursed carriage…
This was not how any of this was supposed to go.
“Please,” she whispered.
* * *
Magnus’s horse skidded to a stop in front of Gunn Castle. The place was bustling with activity. Even with the late hour, guards were arming themselves and preparing to march out.
“Laird MacLeon!” Lady Gunn called to him from the side of the castle. “Thank God, ye are here.”
She was standing with her younger daughter, tucking her under her arm. Magnus directed his horse over to them and reluctantly dismounted.
“Is Ciara here?” he asked, already suspecting the answer.
The movements of the guards did not fill him with confidence, and neither did Lana’s steady stream of tears. Something had obviously happened. And if Ciara wasn’t here… then she could be anywhere.
He didn’t want to linger, his search for Ciara at his castle had already delayed him. How much of a head start did she already have? If he had any chance of catching up to her, he needed to be fast.
But… if her mother had any information on her whereabouts, that could make all the difference.
“Nay,” Lady Gunn replied, her voice breaking as she wrung a piece of fabric in her hands, and he itched to get back on his horse and ride out right away. “A servant found her handkerchief in the woods,” she added, showing him the fabric, “and Arthur and Alexander set out immediately to find her. But… it’s been too long, and none of them came back yet.”
His chest felt hollow as he accepted the truth before him. Ciara had not run home to her family. Someone had taken her. And his clever wife had dropped her handkerchief so someone could find her. He just hoped that they would be quick enough to heed her call.
“How far was the spot where they found the handkerchief?” he asked.
“Not far, only a few minutes’ ride. But the longer they are gone, the more I fear the worst,” Lady Gunn whispered, and her younger daughter let out another wail.
Magnus felt his heart and mind sink as he considered all the possible causes of the delay. Were Alexander and her father unsuccessful? Was someone injured… or worse?
Magnus watched as her mother steeled herself right before his eyes. She wiped her tears and lifted her head high, pulling Lana tighter to her side.
“When they didnae return, I decided to send out more guards,” she said, gesturing to the men moving around them. “But we only have so many horses. I’ll tell ye where they found the handkerchief, and ye can ride ahead,” she ordered, her voice steely.
Even as his heart sank with each word out of her mouth, Magnus couldn’t help but notice the strength that this woman had passed on to her eldest daughter.
“I can see where Ciara gets her strength from,” he said quietly.
He watched as her expression brightened for the first time all night, before turning sad once more.
“Thank ye, but she’s far stronger and braver than I am. Right now, though, she needs ye to bring her home.”
“Aye, of course,” he replied quickly. “I’ll head out at once.”
“Thank ye,” she croaked. “Bring me family back home, Magnus,” she added softly.
All he could do was nod, his throat so thick with fear. But he couldn’t let himself feel it. Not yet. Not until Ciara was safe in his arms again. He just needed to make it to her in time.
With the directions from her mother, he mounted his horse and rode off again, determination surging through him. He hoped Ciara’s captors could feel him coming, could feel him breathing down their necks. Whoever it was should be very afraid of what awaited them.
“I’m comin’, Ciara,” Magnus vowed.
* * *
