Page 14 of Utterly Dauntless (Return to Culloden Moor #3)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

G rey pulled up to Peg's house just after 6 in the evening. He might have been back sooner had that shadow of a thought not stepped out into the light to get his attention. From then on, the shopping had gone much slower while he recovered from the epiphany and then began to craft a plan.

Aries sat in the parlor looking as beautiful as ever, though a bit peely wally.

He headed into the kitchen with the bags and said over his shoulder, "Ye might want to go have a lie in whilst we cook dinner."

"I've just slept for two hours," she grumbled, suddenly on his heels.

A shiver ran up his spine.

"Tell me you got chocolate."

He set down the sacks, pulled out a red and silver box of teacakes, and tossed it onto the bunker. While he unpacked, she tore open the box, extracted two of the treats, then settled at the kitchen table and slid one to her Gran.

The old woman gave Aries some sort of warning that wasn't entirely kind, insinuating that Aries take it easy on the sweet stuff or her hips would regret it. In his periphery, he saw Aries' jaw drop open.

A day ago, he would have risen to her defense and assured both women that Aries' derriere, and the rest of her for that matter, couldn't be more perfect...unless there were a bit more of her. But that was yesterday. He was a new man now. And the last thing he wanted was to look like the forlorn, abandoned pup that he still was.

The kitchen was warm and full of laughter. They'd finished their meal, and with the ice box full, Peg would be well fed for days. He'd also arranged for regular deliveries, though he hadn't mentioned it. The old woman would just have to accept his meddling.

"I wonder what Wallace and Campbell are up to now," Wyndham mused, leaning back in his chair.

McHenish grinned. "Poor bastard's probably polishing boots that haven't seen polish since the war."

"Which war?" Aries asked.

"Any war." The painfully handsome man winked at her. "Though I doubt Banner will let him retire early. Might keep him up all night just to watch him squirm."

Peg started collecting empty plates, but Grey took them from her hands. "I'll do that." He gestured for her to sit back down.

Aries tried to do the same, but he waved her off.

"Well," Aries said, "speaking of tomorrow... Gran, do you know of any witch powerful enough to help convince Craig Campbell of the truth? Someone who might be willing to go to Glasgow with us?"

The old woman's eyes sparkled. "Wickham's sisters. But they're in Edinburgh."

"I believe they're out of the country, with Wickham." Wyndham tapped a finger on his chin. "Oxford, Ireland maybe. Wherever they are, Kitchens is with them. We can reach him, obviously."

McHenish nodded. "They sent for my wife not long ago. Fixed up an estate house in Oxford."

Grey dried his hands on a tea towel. "I'll make the call." He headed out of the kitchen and Aries started to follow, but McHenish smoothly intercepted.

"Tell me more, lass, about what happened to the Campbell brothers. I want to understand just how Wickham found them if they were nowhere..."

Grey escaped onto the front porch and pulled in a deep breath. The evening had settled in properly now, and the scent of cooled heather mixed with wood smoke and steadied his jangled nerves. He pulled out his phone and dialed the emergency number.

"Grey?" Loretta answered on the first ring. "Everything all right?"

"Aye. We've got Aries back safe. Listen, can ye meet us at Glasgow Airport tomorrow, early?"

"Us?"

"Aries, myself, and a few others. It's a long story, but we need a witch's help to right an old wrong."

"Of course we'll come." There was a pause. "How are you holding up?"

"Too early to tell." He lowered his voice. "But I think my life's about to take a turn."

"Oh, it is," she said, with that knowing tone that made the hair on his neck rise. "It definitely is."

He took that as a good sign, though his stomach still churned at the thought of what lay ahead. He just hoped he'd survive until the end of the week.

Inside, laughter erupted, and Grey's heart squeezed at the sound of Aries' voice rising above the rest. Time to go back in and face whatever came next. After all, he was a Highland warrior who'd faced The Butcher at Culloden.

Of course…he hadn't survived that.