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T he rest of the week passed uneventfully. Gunn and Jocelyn fell into an easy routine. He’d moved her desk into his study and set it up beside his.

He found that he got lonely when she wasn’t near. And really, he was wrong in his decision to tuck her away into an old storage room.

They’d spoken regarding her employment and come to an agreement that they were no longer boss and employee. Thankfully. That never sat well with him anyway. But he had offered her what he thought she needed at the time.

Instead, she was reviewing his ledgers out of interest. It was clear now that Theodore was stealing from him. The man didn’t have a clue that Jocelyn had uncovered his unsavory acts. They agreed to keep it that way.

For now.

When she’d told him of Theodore’s visit, Gunn was ready to go to Theodore’s house and show him with his fists what would happen when he threatened Jocelyn.

But she held him back. Reminding him that she hadn’t finished her review yet. That there might be more items to uncover.

He sighed.

Gunn needed to wait until he and his friends were together and come up with a plan of action. For now, he was biding his time. Keeping a close eye on Theodore and questioning every act he did and word he said. Even more so now.

Currently, Theodore was taking stock of the pub’s inventory.

It pissed Gunn off. He didn’t want the louse anywhere near his pub, let alone taking inventory, and sure as hell not anywhere near Jocelyn.

“It looks like we are going to need to order more scotch,” Theodore called from behind the bar.

“Dinna we have some in storage?” Gunn was quite sure they did. It took extra effort to keep his face neutral when he spoke to his once trusted friend.

“I dinna believe so. I clearly remember grabbing the last bottle. Mayhap we should place a large order to save on cost,” Theodore suggested.

Gunn harrumphed. I’m sure he would like that. “I canna afford a large order.”

Theodore approached the table where Gunn sat. “I ken funds are tight. But ye have to remember ye have more assets at your fingertips.”

“Nay. My estate finances are separate. I will no’ mix the two,” he stated for the umpteenth time.

Gunn could only assume since Theodore bled the pub dry, that he now wanted to get his hands on Gunn’s estate finances.

Thankfully, when he’d put him in charge of the Thistle & Pig he hadn’t also charged him with his estate upkeep.

If he had, there was no doubt that Theodore would be pilfering what he could from there as well.

Which, as of now, was naught. But he wasn’t going to let Theodore ken that.

Let him keep believing that he had lots of money in his other properties.

He didn’t ken why his longtime friend wanted to bankrupt him, but he wouldn’t allow it. Nay longer. He’d done enough damage to his business. And when he got to the bottom of his scheme, Gunn would ensure he would be unable to find employment in all of Scotland.

“I understand ’tis no ideal, but what will ye do if ye canna serve scotch to your patrons? ’Tis your most popular offering.”

He narrowed his eyes at Theodore, assessing him, but not saying a word. Thoughts of punching that smirk off his face hit him hard and he shook his head to clear the image.

The man seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. Eyes darting around the pub nervously.

Aye. Theodore was definitely up to no good. How had Gunn not seen it before? His friend was shifty. Nervous.

Mayhap he was so wrapped up in trying to figure out why people stopped coming that he didn’t notice his friend’s change in demeanor.

And whilst the lack of customers surely had an impact on why no money was coming in, why had they stopped coming? Had Theodore done something to make them stop coming so he could use that as an excuse as to why there was no money?

Could it really be that simple? It would indeed be a simple, yet conniving, plan.

“I’ll have Thomas get a bottle of scotch. Only the one. I canna afford any more.”

“Surely, one bottle willna be enough. Let me take care of it. ’Tis my job.”

Gunn lifted a brow in question. “Is it? ’Tis your job to ensure we have patrons, but yet, looking around, I dinna see any. Do ye?”

Theodore laughed nervously. “Nay, but ’tis early still.”

“Aye, my dining room should be full of patrons who are breaking their fast after staying the night in my inn, but alas, that is also empty.”

“Ye have one customer,” he chided.

“If ye are referring to Jocelyn, ye can damn well take those words back and ye well ken it.”

Theodore put his hands up in defense. “I am just saying. Isna it funny how she arrived on your doorstep, out of the several inns in this town, asking for free lodging and food? Seems suspicious to me.” He shrugged as if he hadn’t just insulted Gunn’s intelligence.

He wouldn’t have Theodore speaking ill of Jocelyn.

“Ye are dismissed for the day.”

“Excuse me? Ye canna be serious.”

“I am. I can run my own pub for the day. And I suggest that if ye want to stay employed in this establishment, that ye mind your words when speaking of Jocelyn.”

Dawning widened Theodore’s eyes. “Ye two.” He waved his hands in the air. “Ye two. Are together? Ye’re courting her?”

“Tisna any of your business what we are doing. Now leave before I have the mind to remove ye myself.” He would take immense pleasure in doing so.

“Fine. Ye want me to leave for the day? I shall. But I think ye need to get your affairs in order, Gunn.” He pointed his index finger at him. “Ye are running out of resources and unless ye start pulling them from your estate, ye’re going to lose your pub and inn. No bonny lass will save it.”

Gunn stood, pushing his chair back with such force it toppled over.

Theodore’s eyes rounded as he noticed Gunn’s clenched fists and put his hands up in defense.

“I’m going. Ye can relax.”

He watched Theodore exit through the door, catching the sneer he threw back before disappearing down the street. He wanted naught more than to kick him out of the Thistle & Pig for good, but he couldn’t. Not yet.

His earlier thoughts gave him an idea. It was time he went out into the town and talked to the people to find out why they stopped frequenting his business.

Even better, he could use the time to walk with Jocelyn on his arm.

He found Jocelyn and Lizzie playing a game of cribbage in the salon.

“Hello ladies,” he called out. “Who’s winning?”

They looked up at his voice and Jocelyn smiled widely. He couldn’t help but return the smile. It was the same every time he was in her presence. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling widely.

“I am,” Jocelyn answered, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Calm down,” Lizzie drawled. “’Tis beginner’s luck.

“I think not. It’s because I had a great teacher.” Jocelyn giggled and turned to him. “I had never played cribbage before. Lizzie taught me. It’s fun!”

“I’m glad ye’re enjoying it. I wondered if ye cared for a walk or shall I come back later?

“My legs could use a stretch, and the fresh air will do me some good. Lizzie, do you want to join us?”

“Nay. Ye two go on. I’m waiting for Malcolm and hopefully, he’ll arrive soon.”

“I am certain he misses ye as well, Lizzie,” Gunn offered.

“I didna say I missed him.”

Gunn laughed. “Ye didna have to, ’tis written all o’er your face.

She blushed. “Shush. Ye two go.” She stood and gestured them toward the door. “Enjoy your walk.”

Outside, the air was crisp but pleasant. Jocelyn had her hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. As they strolled down the street, he kenned what they looked like to passersby—a couple. And he liked that very much.

Clearing his throat, he spoke. “I must confess, I had an ulterior motive for this walk.”

“Oh?” A flash of worry crossed Jocelyn’s face before she quickly masked it.

“Dinna fash, lass. ’Tis naught bad. When I was speaking with Theodore earlier, he was trying to get me to use my estate finances to pay for inventory for the pub.

Something that, as ye ken, I couldna do e’en if I wanted to.

But he doesna ken that. It got me thinking that since he’s emptied the Thistle & Pig’s coffers that he needed me to get money from other sources that he could syphon. ”

“That makes sense.”

He nodded. “Aye, but one thing that I canna wrap my head around is the patrons. Why they stopped coming? I understand him stealing the money. He’s obviously using it for something. What? I have no idea. But wouldn’t he want the pub to be filled with customers so he could continue stealing?

“But then it occurred to me that he may have had a hand in ensuring the townsfolk went elsewhere. I think he believed that I wouldna uncover his deception if they stopped coming. No one coming in, the money dries up.”

“That’s dastardly. Do you really think he’d go to such measures?”

“I no longer ken what to believe. I ne’er thought he would steal from me, but he has.”

“So, what does this walk have to do with all that?”

The wind picked up and she cinched her cloak tighter.

“Are ye cold? We can return to the inn to get ye inside by the fire.”

She smiled. “Your concern is endearing, but I’m fine.” She patted his arm. “Go on. Tell me this plan of yours.”

“I want to talk to the people in town. Ask why they’ve stopped coming in.”

“Do you think they will speak so candidly to you?”

He shrugged. “I dinna ken. But I must try. I need to learn the reason so I can reverse it. Whate’er Theodore’s plan is, I plan to thwart it.”

They spent the next hour interviewing people around town. Folks that used to frequent the pub and inn often and one thing was for certain.

Theodore had done a thorough job making them believe that the pub, the inn, and everything contained within were a hazard in one way or another and both were on the brink of closing.

The bastard.

Another common answer was that they had been referred to another establishment on the other side of town. When asking who owned it, they couldn’t answer. They’d never met the man.