Chapter 23 #2
Cunningham struggled weakly against Ryan’s hold. It was no use though. The Duke was pinned, held in place by someone much stronger and more adept at combat than himself. He had lost this fight the moment Ryan found him.
The silver of Ryan’s dagger flashed in the single ray of sunlight breaking through the canopy above them. He brought it down, resting it against the Duke’s throat. There was a wild look in his eyes, and for the first time since meeting him, Margaret truly saw exactly how beastly the Laird could be.
Margaret turned away, no longer able to stomach the sight of the violence before her. Regardless of how necessary it was, she didn’t think the sight would ever leave her mind if she watched what happened next. There was no blocking out the sound, though.
If she weren’t so worried about running into the Duke’s men, she’d run. The other man hadn’t returned though. There was no knowing whether he was locked in some sort of fight like Ryan or if he was still searching.
Instead, Margaret decided to listen to the rest of the altercation with her eyes closed, reminding herself that this nightmare would soon be over.
“Ye ken, Duke Cunninham?” Ryan said slowly, as if he didn’t want a single one of his words to be misunderstood. “If ye’d stuck to yer usual tactics of havin’ others do yer dirty deeds, ye wouldnae be losin’ yer life here. In the end, it’s yer arrogance that killed ye.”
Sensing that she was about to hear something she couldn’t forget, she shoved her fingers in her ears. For several moments, the only thing she sensed was her own ragged breathing. Eventually, she felt the branches around her shaking, signaling that she was no longer alone.
“Ryan?” she asked, opening her eyes and unplugging her ears. “Ryan!”
He was standing over her, his face hard as stone. The world around them was silent. Everything was over. She didn’t have to ask to know that Duke Cunningham wouldn’t be bothering her ever again.
“I’m here,” he said, catching her when she flung herself into his arms. “Ye’re nae hurt, are ye?”
“You already asked,” Margaret said as tears of relief started to roll down her cheeks. “I’m fine. I’m fine because of you.”
“Aye, I ken, but I needed to make sure ye’re fine,” he said, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
In his grasp, Margaret felt steadier already. Here, nothing could hurt her. She knew that now. Ryan had just proven that as long as she was with him, she’d be protected.
“I was so scared,” she said, her voice breaking on the word, tears still wetting her cheeks. “And I was so shocked that he showed up. He said that he intercepted both of the letters I sent to my family. That’s how he knew where to look.”
“Well, ye daenae have to worry about him any longer,” Ryan said, confirming what she already knew. “And when we get back, I’ll make sure ye can get a letter to yer family. I’ll deliver it meself if I have to.”
“I don’t want you to leave me here,” Margaret said, the words surprising her as they left her mouth.
It’s the truth, though. If Ryan were to leave, I wouldn’t feel safe.
“I willnae leave ye, then,” he promised as he maneuvered them out of the brush where she’d hidden herself. “Ye’re safe now.”
Once they were free of the branches and leaves, Ryan picked her up.
One of his arms rested beneath her knees and the other around her back.
She didn’t complain, letting herself be carried back toward the castle.
The struggle had left her exhausted, and she was thankful that Ryan seemed to understand.
Just this once, I won’t accuse him of being a beast for picking me up whenever he pleases.
As soon as she began to relax in his hold, the bushes around them crunched. Her body went rigid once more, realizing that someone else was approaching them. Ryan, however, seemed unbothered by whomever was joining them.
“Did ye find anyone else, Aaron?” Ryan asked, continuing on his path forward.
Aaron... Ryan’s best friend?
Margaret wondered when the other Laird arrived. She was gone for less than an hour; Ryan couldn’t have called for him. Perhaps he came to visit on his own accord. Margaret didn’t know, and to be honest, she didn’t care. She just wanted to go back home.
“Aye,” Aaron said as he fell into step next to them. “I handled him though.”
“Only one, then?” Ryan said, curling his body around Margaret’s as they pushed through a particularly thick part of the woods. “Nay others?”
“Nay, none that I could find,” Aaron confirmed, pulling back a branch to keep it from hitting Margaret and Ryan. “Ye’ll want to send more men out to do a proper sweep.”
“I was already plannin’ on it,” Ryan said as they emerged from the forest into the afternoon sunlight. “I just need to get me wife back to where she’s safe first.”
“Ach, ye do,” Aaron said. Then, he addressed Margaret. “It’s nice to meet ye. I do wish it had been under happier circumstances.”
Margaret giggled despite herself and murmured, “Perhaps we’ll try again tomorrow. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”
“Ach, Ryan,” Aaron chuckled, “I think I’ll like this one.”
“Aye,” Ryan said, tightening his arms around Margaret. “I quite like her too.”