Her brow furrowed in protest.“I’m fine, Theodore. I can walk.”
“Aye, ye can,”he muttered, “but ye’ll nae make it far like this. And if ye don’t mind me sayin’, ye look like ye’re about to drop.”
Before she could protest further,Theodore bent down, his large hands easily lifting her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. She gasped, more from the shock than the weight, her arms instinctively wrapping around him.
“Theodore!”she hissed, her voice strained with both indignation and the strain of the injury. “Put me down. I can walk. I told ye?—”
“Ye dinnae have a choice,”he muttered under his breath, moving swiftly through the soggy grass. “Best not argue.”
Madison’s protestsdied as she settled into his arms, her face flushed with frustration but also an odd sense of safety she had not expected. She could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath his heavy coat, his breath warm against her cheek. She closed her eyes for a moment, the only sound the howling wind and the rush of waves.
They rushedthrough the open field, their footsteps pounding against the soft earth, their path lit by the flicker of distant lightning. The winds kicked up, the first cold bite of the coming storm reaching them. Theodore’s pace quickened, determined to get them inside before the full force of the storm descended.
Finally,they made it to the castle gates, just as the first crack of thunder rang out and the winds howled around them.
Madison’s facelit up despite the exhaustion, her eyes sparkling as the lightning flashed between the clouds. She was smiling, a small victory over the storm, and Theodore couldn’t help but smile in return.
“We made it,”she said, her voice breathless and pleased, as if she had won some small battle against the storm itself.
Theodore brusheda wet strand of hair from her face, his hand lingering for a moment, the connection between them stronger than the wind that howled around them. His smile was small but genuine, and for this moment, he allowed himself to savor her lightness.
“Aye,”he muttered, his voice low. “We made it.”
“Aye, that we did,”he said with a tilt of his head. “But I think we have both had a very big day. Go inside and rest,” he said as he caught Boyd in the corner of his eye. The expression on the man’s face wasn’t one Theodore had hoped to see.
“Thank ye for allowin’me to come with ye today,” she said. “Seein’ the children brought a joy to me I thought I had lost.”
He smiledand watched as she turned and started for the door. She turned and glanced over her shoulder flashing him a weak, timid smile.
She’ll bethe death of me. And I’ll go to it willingly.
17
Madison rolled over, drawing the pillow to her. The morning light was but a whisper as it sliced through the shadows. She blinked as the warmth of the sun kissed her cheeks and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. For a fleeting moment, Madison thought she was still tucked into the nook of Theodore’s arm. But it didn’t take long for her to realize it was merely remnants of the dream that played delicately on her dazed mind.
Her breath caughtas yesterday’s events flashed through her mind. How easily she could see Theodore on the shore with the children as they pulled in the fish they had caught. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she squeezed the pillow wishing it was Theodore her arms were wrapped around.
“Make ready men, we leave momentarily.”
Madison shotout of the bed and looked about. The husky male voice rang in her ears and sent panic coursing through her veins.She threw the covers from her, leaving behind all thoughts and images of the dream as she drew to the window.
Glancing down,she was shocked to find a handful of men all filling their satchels and bags for what looked like a long journey. Madison scanned the faces of the men. Each one had the same determined flicker to their eye and the same settled expression as they kissed their women goodbye.
“Thompson,ye’re with Jacob. Ye’ll be takin’ the southeast region. The laird is givin’ ye three days. Ye get back here by the fourth with or without news.”
Madison’s chesttightened as hope sprang like a weed and tangled around her senses. For some reason she had always doubted the fact Theodore had sent men out to find her family. But now, seeing them assemble under her very window was all the proof she needed to send those thoughts to bed.
“Theodore?”she called from her window, hoping to catch sight of him. Boyd glanced up at her and offered a somber nod before he moved out of ear shot. “What is goin' on?”
Madison didn’t getany answer and knew she wouldn’t, not unless she forced one of them to answer. And if they really were going to the villages to find her family, she was going to go with them no matter what. Theodore after all had said time and again she wasn’t a prisoner and could leave when she wanted, but she had yet to truly test that theory.
“Oh I daenae think so,”Madison huffed as she scrambled to dress herself. It took her but a moment to slip on the petticoat and tie up her corset. She was made ready and as soon as she was able, she was out the door.
The soundof her footstep echoed down the corridor as she rushed outside to speak to the men before they could all leave. Making a sharp turn, Madison nearly plowed over Eliza as she barreled down the hallway.
“Me word, where’s the fire?”Eliza asked, startled by Madison’s mad dash for the side door.
“I’m sorry,there’s nay fire. I must go.”
