Page 20 of Utterly Dauntless (Return to Culloden Moor #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY

A ries threw the blanket aside and pried herself off the bed. Grey’s bag was gone, the room was eerily quiet, and the chairs still faced the cold fireplace like abandoned sentries.

There would be no note. Just as she'd left him no note.

It made her sick to know she'd made him feel like this, like there were things more important to him now.

How in the world had he gone on loving her?

Back in her room, she changed, gathered her things together, and sat on the corner of the bed to wait for "taxi time." There was no reason she shouldn't go back and spend a few more days with her gran and at the very least, assure the woman her Royal Daulton had survived its ordeal.

At half nine, there was a knock on the door. A grin spread unbidden across her face as she flew to answer it, hoping that he'd merely been making his point that morning, but couldn't truly give up on her. But when she opened her door, she found five large Highlanders blocking her path. Shug, Wyndham, McHenish, Duncan, and Tristan Bain.

Shug stood front and center, arms crossed over his chest. "Grey's gone."

"I know."

"Just wanted to let ye ken that we are not."

"I appreciate that. I thought I'd head back with you, spend some time with my gran, make sure she's all sorted."

"We want to know what's wrong," McHenish said. The others nodded.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Cut it." Shug pushed his way into the room. The rest followed. "Ye ken what we mean. Why do ye run? Why can ye not stay with Grey? It's clear the two of ye?—"

"Not anymore. It's over. He's...over me."

They all rolled their eyes, snorted and snuffed, and shook their heads as if they couldn't believe she could be so daft.

"He told me last night. It's over."

"Last night," Duncan drawled. "In his room? All night?"

"Nothing happened."

They didn't like hearing that, and she laughed at their expressions. "Look. He's moving on, going to find a new happily-ever-after. It's what I wanted all along."

None of them were listening.

Wyndham picked up her bags and nodded for Duncan to grab the sack with her teacup and doll, then he headed for the door. "Come on, lads. We'll wheedle it out of her on the plane. Maybe we can hang her out the windae by her heels until she fesses up." To Shug he said, "Bring her."

The big man came at her as if he intended to throw her over his shoulder like Grey had done at the pool.

She narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare."

The train fled south. Each mile added distance between Grey and everything he'd ever loved. The Scottish countryside wasn't distracting enough to hold his attention, and the glass window was just something to rest his eyes on.

His phone buzzed again. Fourth time in an hour. He glanced at the screen. Shug. Again.

The first three times had been McHenish, Wyndham, and Duncan. He'd let them all go to voicemail, would text them his thanks later. He hated to look ungrateful, but he had to stick to the plan, even if it didn't work in the end.

He declined the call. Five minutes later, Shug tried again. Damn, but the man was persistent.

With a sigh, Grey answered. "Shug."

"Where the bloody hell are ye?"

"On a train."

"Headed where?"

Grey looked out the window again. "South."

"South? That's all ye've got to say? South?"

"I've got some ghosts that need puttin' to rest."

There was a long pause. "Are ye certain they're south?"

"They are."

"And what about the very lively one ye've left with us?"

"She's hardly a ghost. And don't you dare go tossin' her off some roof, will ye?"

"Ye're mad."

"Listen, my friend. She has no more need of a protector. You or me. Yer Wren needs ye now. Yer weans and yer farm need ye back. But I'm grateful ye answered the call."

Another pause. "About these ghosties. Ye're talkin' in riddles, man."

"Aye, well. That's all I've got at the moment."

"When will ye be back?"

Grey watched a flock of birds wheel across the sky. "I dinnae ken if I will be." That was what a leap of faith was all about—the not knowing.

"But—"

"Let her go, Shug." He exhaled carefully. "I have."

He ended the call and turned off his phone. Let them think what they would.

The entire world stretched out before him. He could go anywhere, do anything. The thought should have terrified him—a man out of time, with only a few years of modern life under his belt. But something stirred in his chest, something he hadn't felt since that day on Culloden Moor while he waited for the order to charge.

An invitation to adventure?

Maybe that's what he needed. Maybe that's what would finally help him put all his ghosts to rest—the ghost of the warrior he'd been, the ghost of the man who'd loved Aries Muir Strachan with everything he had, the ghost of the life they might have shared.

The train rounded a bend and the sun broke through the clouds, painting the hills in gold. Grey settled back in his seat and let the rhythm of the rails carry him forward.

Into whatever came next.