Roderick felt like his head was about to explode and he was momentarily speechless. Finally, he gritted his teeth and asked, “Why?”
“S—She said she thought she could rescue Michael, then escape with the child without anyone finding out.”
“She couldn’t wait for me?” Roderick thundered.
Agatha stepped back.
“No need to shout at her,” Duncan said, and he stood, too.
Roderick glared at him.
“I told her to wait,” Agatha said, quickly. “But she didn’t want any bloodshed or for you to have to decide between her and your son.”
Roderick shook his head. “She has little faith in me. How long has she been gone?”
“Two days, sire.”
Roderick glanced at Duncan. “Give the word that we ride in two hours.”
* * *
They traveledhard until the night came and they were forced to stop and rest the horses.
Roderick couldn’t sleep because all he could think of was Michael and Siena. He prayed that neither of them was hurt. When was she going to trust and obey him? She was only a woman and not capable of taking on her father and his men. That was his job. What if something happened to her? He paused and then shook his head. Damn, he just realized that Siena meant the world to him. He wasn’t sure when it had happened, but he couldn’t remember not having her in his life.
And his son… his prayers had been answered or would be once his son was in his arms again.
At the break of dawn, they were riding again. The ride was hard and fast-paced, but no one complained. They all knew what was at stake. It was noon when they spotted a lone rider . . . a very small lone rider.
“Michael,” Roderick shouted and watched the child’s head jerk up.
Michael looked up at Barra who was flying above him. “Is it reallyda?”
“It is. You have made it to safety, Michael. I’ll leave you now and go back to the castle. Stay safe and go meet your father.”
“Thank ye, Barra,” Michael said, then kicked his horse in the sides. In no time, he was even with his father.
Roderick jerked the child from his horse and smothered him in a hug. “I dinna believe I’ve found ye. Are ye hurt, son?”
“Nay,” Michael said as he leaned back with a big smile on his face. “Hello Angus, Galen, and Duncan”
“Lad, we thought we’d never see ye again,” Galen said as he reached over and touched the boy on the shoulder.
“I dinna think so either.”
“Look at ye,” Angus said. “Appears ye’ve grown two inches, lad.”
Michael threw out his chest, then said, “I’m a big boy now.”
“Yes, ye are,” Roderick said with a chuckle, then he asked. “Where is Lady Siena?”
“She saved me,da. Lady Siena came and took me out of the castle by a secret passage. She gave me this horse and told me to stay on the road until I found you.”
“But where is she now?”
“She gave herself over to the bad men so I could escape. They are mean and will hurt her.” Tears rolled down his face. “Ye have to save her.”
Roderick frowned. A flicker of apprehension coursed through his blood. He would kill the bastards. For now, he managed to get his emotions under control as he asked,“Where did they go? “
