Page 88 of Taken By the Ruthless Highlander

How long had it been since he had played that very game?

“Aye, and I’m goin’ to just as soon as I get the prize. I dinnae go through all that trouble for nothin’,” Poppy grunted, right before she slipped from the pig’s back and tumbled into the grass.

But just as quickly, another child lunged for the creature.

“That poor thing.” Morgana tutted. “And nay, I’m nae talkin’ about the children choosin’ to chase after it.”

“What’s wrong with a bit of fun?” Ryder asked as he walked over to Poppy and helped her to her feet. He gave her a quick once-over before nudging her toward Morgana. “See? She’s fine. Nothin’ is broken or damaged.”

“And I take it ye think that is a success?” Morgana asked, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “As long as they come back alive, it’s a good day.”

“Aye, and why nae? We’re nae promised tomorrow, are we? Nay, we’re nae. So why nae enjoy what little bit ye can when ye can? Life sweeps by far too quickly, and before ye ken it, ye cannae get on that horse ye loved so much. Or see the field ye made love to yer woman in.”

Morgana’s smirk stretched into a smile. “I think that might be the most profound thing ye’ve ever said to me.”

“Aye, well, dinnae expect that to happen so often,” Ryder muttered.

He ran his fingers through his hair and glanced at Poppy, hoping the child would have something to add. But she only stared at him with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.

For a moment, he couldn’t help but wonder if the poor child had hit her head a bit harder than he had initially thought. The girl just stared at him without uttering a single word, as if he had come down from heaven.

“Are ye well? Maybe we should get ye to the healer.”

“Ye saw Orella,” Morgana interjected. “She is in nay condition to help.”

“Then perhaps we should just call it a night,” Ryder said.

Without warning, he scooped Poppy into his arms and hoisted her onto his shoulders. She squealed as she wiggled, trying to find her perch atop him.

“Ye all right up there? If ye’re goin’ to throw up or somethin’, ye need to tell me so I can put ye down, understand?”

“If we’re retirin’, we should find Eloise first,” Morgana said.

“There!” Poppy cried.

Ryder turned in the direction her body moved to find Eloise skipping toward them with a huge grin on her face, as if she had just won the whole world.

“Now, what happened with ye, Eloise?” Morgana asked.

Her sister had stopped before Ryder, shocked to see Poppy sitting on his broad shoulders.

“I won,” Eloise announced, letting a pendant fall from her hand. The stone shimmered in the dimming sunlight. “Is it nae lovely? They say it’s a diamond, but I think it’s just a crystal.”

“If ye had paid me any heed these past few days, ye would have recognized all the prizes bein’ handed out tonight,” Morgana said.

Ryder’s chest tightened. He turned and looked at her for a moment. “Are ye bribin’ the clan to like us?” he asked, feeling a bit put off by the whole thing.

Morgana shrugged. “Nay,” she answered quickly. “These are just little trinkets for prizes. Ye cannae buy loyalty, and we need more of that than anything else.”

“Morgana, Ryder.”

Ryder turned quickly at Ronnie’s voice, his mind already racing through different scenarios. Bracing himself for the news, he held his breath.

“Ronnie,” Morgana greeted. “Are ye all right?”

Ronnie nodded to Ryder in acknowledgment before turning to her. “Aye,” he answered. “I just wanted to say that ye did a wonderful job organizin’ this cèilidh.”

“Thank ye…” Morgana trailed off, glancing at Ryder questioningly.