Page 10 of Taken by the Ruthless Highlander (Taken by Highland Devils #6)

10

“W here is yer head at right now?” Ronnie barked as he threw his hands up in irritation. “We’re only four points away from winning, and ye have to hit it that hard?”

Morgana watched her brother pace the width of the pitch before shifting her attention to the ball falling to the ground. It was a hard hit, but not hard enough. Disappointment struck as she watched the ball roll just past Eloise’s, which sat not more than two yards from where she stood.

“I thought it would go further,” she said, trying to sound remorseful. But even she could hear the lack of empathy in her tone.

“Ye’re blowin’ it. I cannae lose again. I already owe Poppy four pies from the baker in town—I cannae afford another,” Ronnie huffed as he raked his fingers through his hair. “Now, for the love of all that is holy, do better. Ye’ve got one more shot; just line it up and strike hard.”

Morgana looked down the lane at the goalposts. She steadied herself and swung her baton. The ball whizzed down the pitch, stopping just shy of the posts. Ronnie threw his hands up again, hot irritation radiating from him.

“That’s five,” Poppy chimed in from behind Morgana, taunting Ronnie.

Ronnie’s eyes flashed with anger as he took a menacing step toward Poppy, before Morgana stepped in his way. She shook her head, daring him to attack.

“Ye did that on purpose,” he snarled.

“Of course I did,” Morgana answered unabashedly. “She promised to share the pies with me.”

Poppy, Eloise, and Morgana’s laughter filled the open space. Ronnie shook his head and charged down to fetch the balls for another round.

“I’m never playin’ Clacken with ye again. And that’s nae a threat,” Ronnie said through gritted teeth. “Ye’re the worst player I’ve ever kenned, and that’s sayin’ somethin’.”

“Well, maybe it’ll teach ye nae to gamble against yer sister,” Morgana countered as she flashed Eloise and Poppy a wink.

As much as she wanted to enjoy herself and spend time with her siblings, her mind kept drifting to Ryder.

What was he doing away from the castle? Was he in love with another? Is that where he was going?

As soon as the thought popped into her head, she pushed it aside. Sure, Ryder was a handsome man, especially when he did not shave in the morning. But could he be so unfaithful?

Morgana just did not think him capable of betrayal.

She flipped her hair back and forced a smile. If there was one thing she had learned over the years, it was how to keep her cool under such dire circumstances.

“Ye vile thing,” Ronnie grumbled, his playfulness returning. He flashed a wink atPoppy. .

“As if we dinnae ken he’s been stealin’ the pies from the kitchen. We can smell the cook bakin’ them in the mornin’ and hear her cursin’ in the early afternoon,” Poppy snorted.

“Ye shouldnae be doin’ that,” Morgana scolded. “If ye wanted somethin’ sweet, ye can just ask the cook. Tell them it’s for me, and I promise they’ll make it for ye.”

“And what of the Laird? Ye dinnae think he’ll start wonderin’ where the food is goin’?” Eloise asked, just as Ronnie returned with their balls in hand.

“I dinnae think he’ll pay any mind to it. In fact, I bet ye that he’ll never notice,” Morgana replied, a challenge in her tone. She watched as her younger sister contemplated her statement.

“What makes ye so confident?” Poppy asked, a hint of suspicion tainting her voice. “She’s up to somethin’.”

“She’s the lady of the castle,” Eloise moaned and rolled her eyes. “All she has to do is go to the cook and tell her to make extra. Then, it’ll look like we’re stealin’—when, in fact, Morgana will have everythin’ ready and waitin’. Tell me I’m wrong.” She folded her little arms over her chest and glared at Morgana.

“Since when did ye become so clever?” Morgana cooed as she grabbed Eloise and pulled her into an embrace. “Ye’re gettin’ too big for yer own good.”

“Well, if I kenned this was where all the happiness went, I’d have come out here much sooner.”

Morgana jerked her head up to see Cohen casually strolling toward her. There was a sadness in his eyes that unnerved her more than the note he held in his hand. Terror gripped her like the talons of an eagle snatching its dinner from the sea.

“Cohen,” Ronnie gritted out.

Morgana ignored her brother’s rudeness and flashed Cohen the biggest smile she could muster.

“It’s always such a delight to see all of ye together and happy,” Cohen said as Poppy and Eloise turned their attention to the butterflies floating in the breeze. “I do hope ye’re all doin’ well.”

“Aye,” Morgana answered for her family as she leaned in, greeting him with a small peck on the cheek. “It has been a joyous mornin’. But somethin’ tells me that the mood is about to change.”

“I do hate bein’ the bearer of bad news.” Cohen winced as he handed her the note. “But since I couldnae find the Laird, I assume it falls to ye.”

Curiosity won over as Morgana slipped her finger beneath the wax seal, breaking it. Eagerly, she unfolded the note, all the while holding her breath. Frustration and worry mingled as her eyes darted across the page, consuming the message that lay within.

“What’s wrong?” Poppy asked.

The concern in her tone snapped Morgana back to reality.

“It’s a letter from Tormod,” Morgana explained, trying to keep her voice even.

Panic, however, had other plans for her. As her gaze jumped to each of her siblings, she couldn’t help but feel the call to protect at all costs.

“Is he well?” Eloise asked.

“He’s fine,” Morgana answered, before she turned to Cohen. “But he hasnae found Feya.”

“Ye dinnae think—” Ronnie started.

Cohen lifted a hand to silence him. “Hush now, we shouldnae assume the worst,” he interjected, clearly seeing the terror ripping Morgana to shreds.

Where was her sister? Had something horrendous happened to Feya? It was as if her worst fear had become reality.

“Feya is a well-known healer. Maybe she’s out helpin’ someone from another clan or village.”

“Cohen is right,” Morgana said, a sliver of hope breaking through her fear. “Tormod could have just missed her. We shouldnae jump to conclusions that will just make us look like fools.”

“But what if somethin’ has happened to her?” Eloise and Poppy asked in unison.

Morgana’s eyes flicked to Cohen before falling on Ronnie. They were all looking to her for an answer, a ray of hope to cut through the misery of uncertainty.

“We can dwell on what-ifs all day long and it still willnae change reality. And the reality is, we just dinnae ken what is goin’ on or where she is,” Morgana asserted, trying to sound as bold as brass.

The last thing she wanted was for her younger sisters to worry. They had been through so much already. To think of having them worried over a sibling… Well, she wasn’t having it.

“And that’s nae necessarily a bad thing. She very well might be in another town, and she and Tormod were nothin’ but ships passin’ in the night.”

“I dinnae ken,” Ronnie mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Somethin’ just doesnae feel right. Tormod wouldnae have sent the letter unless he, too, was worried.”

“Or he sent it out of courtesy because he kens that ye all would be worried. I think the best thing to do is wait for him to send another letter,” Cohen said. “After all, that one has to be at least a week old. Chances are, he’s already reunited with Feya and we’ll receive a letter from him in a day or so explainin’ what happened.”

Morgana wanted to share in Cohen’s optimism, but her anxiety wouldn’t ease. The news had stirred her worry and concern, and it was clear that each of them felt the effects rippling out like a shockwave.

“I dinnae ken,” Ronnie said. “Somethin’ feels off about this.”

“Aye, it’s always troublin’ to receive this sort of news,” Cohen acknowledged. “Nae really good, but nae bad. It’s the sort of news that makes ye want to charge onward for answers.”

“Exactly!” Ronnie cried a bit too enthusiastically, as if he were ready to conquer the world. “We should go to Kilbray and meet up with Tormod. Perhaps he could tell us more, or maybe we might come across Feya on the way.”

“Ye’d need permission from the Laird to do that,” Cohen reminded him, rubbing the back of his neck. “And I havenae seen him all day. In fact, I was thinkin’ he’d be out here with ye. But unless my eyes are playin’ tricks on me, I dinnae see him. Ye wouldnae ken where he might be, would ye?”

Morgana shook her head and flashed him a pleasant smile. Just the mention of Ryder grated on her nerves. The fact that he had tormented her and teased her the way he did, then left so abruptly, had her stewing in her anger all morning.

“Sorry, couldnae say. It’s nae like he tells me anythin’,” Morgana answered.

Cohen gave an understanding nod and cleared his throat. “Aye, well, I’m sure the Laird has his reasons for keepin’ such things from the council. I’ll have to inform the others that he’s gone missin’ again.”

“Again? Does he do this often?” Morgana asked, suspicions springing up like weeds on the frayed edges of her mind.

“Aye,” Cohen uttered, looking a bit somber. “The man seems to always be on the move. Work never gets done, ye ken?”

Morgana bobbed her head as she glanced down at the note from Tormod. Her mind was racing as she contemplated her next move. It wasn’t like she could stay put while her sister was missing. No, she was going to do something, but she had to be smart about it.

“Nae when ye’re the Laird,” Morgana answered in a sing-song voice that caused Poppy and Eloise to jerk their heads up and look at her. “But I suppose that is the hand he was dealt.”

“Aye,” Cohen answered. “Well, if ye happen to cross paths with him, tell him I’m lookin’ for him. We’ve got several matters to discuss, and it would be wise if we did it sooner rather than later.”

“If I see him, I’ll let him ken,” Morgana said, like a dutiful wife.

“Morgana, can we chase the butterflies?” Poppy asked suddenly as she tugged on her elder sister’s arm.

Morgana nodded, looking away from Cohen. She didn’t have time to worry about what her husband was up to.

“I’ll go with ye,” Ronnie chimed in.

Cohen flashed them all a smile. “Well, I wish I could stay out here to enjoy such a fine day, but duty calls,” he said with a crooked grin. He bowed his head to Morgana and slowly strolled back to the castle.

Morgana’s heart pounded wildly in her chest as she watched him leave. Ever since he had handed her the note, she’d been wanting to examine it further.

Her eyes scanned the words once again as she murmured the first letter of each sentence. Her heart skipped a beat as she deciphered the hidden message.

Haven’t had time to check out Lochcairn for Feya. Headed south. Godspeed.

“Lochcairn… that’s nae that far. If Tormod cannae get to that town, someone should,” Morgana mumbled to herself as her gaze turned to her siblings, who were merrily playing in the field.

A plan slowly formed in her mind as she watched Ronnie with Poppy and Eloise. He was old enough to care for them for a day or so, right?

“Ronnie,” she called.

Ronnie pranced over to her, happy to slip away from the twins for a moment.

“I need ye to watch the girls tonight,” Morgana said in a hushed tone.

“Nay, nay way. The last time I watched them, we all ended up in the dungeons, and ye ended up with a husband.” Ronnie shook his head.

“It’s Feya,” Morgana explained. “Tormod cannae make it to Lochcairn, so I’ll be goin’.”

“Ye cannae,” Ronnie protested. “What if somethin’ happens to ye? That town isnae safe. It willnae matter to the heathens in that town whether ye’re married or nae. If they want ye, they’ll take ye.”

Morgana pressed her lips into a frustrated, tight line. “What should I do, then? We cannae leave things to chance, nae when it comes to family.”

“I can go,” Ronnie offered. “They’ll nae bother me. I’m too small to be a challenge, and nay one will spare me a second glance.”

Morgana paused as she eyed her brother from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. “I think I have an idea.”

“Why do I get the feelin’ that this is goin’ to end badly?” Ronnie asked. “Morgana, whatever ye’ve got brewin’ in that head of yers, dinnae do it. Be responsible and reasonable.”

“Aye, I am,” she answered. “Which is why ye’re goin’ to stay here in the castle and cover for me. I willnae be gone long. But I will leave after nightfall.”