Still, Duncan’s unease worried him a little. “You can talk to me about anything, you know,” Guthrie said to his brother as he parked the car.

Duncan took a deep breath and let it out.

Hell. “What?” Guthrie asked.

“I was just concerned when she wanted to go with us so badly. That maybe she had it in mind to protect Baird. I didn’t want to mention it, Brother.”

“Aye, well, I’ll talk with her later.”

“Aye.” Duncan looked guilty for saying anything.

Guthrie attempted a smile and slapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, she got the best man out of the deal. And that’s all that matters.”

Duncan smiled a little. “Aye, you’re right there.”

Guthrie grabbed the box from the backseat and they headed for the house. He loved his mate unconditionally, no matter why she had wanted to go with him so badly when he took off after Baird. Guthrie couldn’t fault her if she’d been concerned about either of them. She had promised to mate with Baird first, and Guthrie had to take that into account.

Chapter 22

“We’ll post guards through the night,” Cearnach said as Guthrie carried the box of Calla’s clothes into the house.

Duncan locked the door. Oran had been watching them through the window, making sure they got back all right without further incident.

“But we want you to stay with Calla through the night. Jasper’s going to watch out for Heather,” Cearnach continued.

“Sounds good to me.” Guthrie smelled chili cooking. He should have known Jasper would make something like that. He’d already cooked it at the castle, shooing away Cook who was fussing about his preparing meals in her kitchen and making a mess of everything. Though Guthrie was surprised that the Stewarts already had all the ingredients for it. The MacNeills hadn’t been stocked with just the right things until Jasper wanted to make it.

“Chili, eh?” Guthrie said to Cearnach.

“Aye, Jasper is in seventh heaven, talking about the Texas chili cook-offs and the famous chili he entered. Again.”

Guthrie snorted and shook his head.

“We all took turns taking showers and grabbed some of Calla’s dad’s clothes. She’s upstairs waiting for you,” Cearnach said.

“Chili will be served in another forty minutes,” Jasper called from the kitchen.

“Where’s Ethan?” Guthrie asked Cearnach.

“Helping him. The three brothers always did the cook-offs together. Ethan and Jasper are arguing about how much chili powder to put in the chili. We told them to go light on it.”

“Hey,” Jasper said, “I’m going to enter my…well, Ethan and Teague’s and my chili in the second chili cook-off in Scotland next year.”

“See you in a minute,” Guthrie said and carried the box upstairs. Duncan had already disappeared, but then Guthrie heard a shower running so he figured Duncan was taking one now.

When Guthrie reached Calla’s bedroom, he found her buried under the covers.

“Are you all right?” he asked, setting the box on the floor and closing the door.

“Oh, aye, I’m just cold, waiting for my clothes. Can’t dry my hair. And it’s freezing up here.”

“I’ll start a fire.”

“Nay, go ahead and get a shower and dress, and we’ll go downstairs and join the others.”

“All right.” He had to get out of these wet clothes. He planned to talk to her as soon as he washed up and dressed. In the middle of the shower, the water turned cold. And he jumped out of it. Bloody hell. He was already freezing.

He grabbed a towel, figuring that Duncan had used up the last of the hot water. Calla had placed some clothes for him to wear on the bed and had left.

He hoped the hot chili and the fire would warm him up, but he knew just what else would as soon as he and Calla went back to bed.

***

The chili was hot, and the fire nice and warm as Calla snuggled next to Guthrie on the love seat and the others sat on various couches and chairs around the fire. The guys were talking about how to get back to Argent Castle with only one vehicle, while Guthrie sat quietly with Calla, not saying a thing. Watching her, looking concerned. She was afraid she’d ruined Julia’s Christmas Eve party by having come here to get her things. Why hadn’t she waited until the weather was better? Why not after the party?

She stared into the fire. Why had she ever gone out with Baird? What a mess that had all turned out to be. She hated to see it end this way, but she knew after he struck her the second time and took her hostage that he was never going to stop coming after her. She would have feared for her safety and Guthrie’s, always looking over her shoulder.

She thought for sure Guthrie had killed Baird, but then to learn he was still alive? And still a potential menace? What of the others? Had Vardon and his brother and cousin perished? Would the others in the pack come after them? She couldn’t quit worrying about how this whole situation could escalate.

Cearnach got on the phone and called Ian to ask him how he wanted to handle the car situation to get them home.

Heather began grabbing empty bowls to wash.

“Might as well just leave them to soak,” Calla said, joining her. “We won’t be able to wash them really well until the electricity comes back on.”

“No hot water,” Heather said, her hand under the cold water running out of the spout.

“I used up what was left of it,” Guthrie said, joining them. “I’m on guard duty upstairs. Ready for bed, Calla?”

After all they’d been through, aye, Calla was ready.

“Not fair that you two are automatic electric blankets for each other,” Heather teased.

Guthrie smiled a little, then took Calla’s hand. She loved the strength and gentleness of his touch. “’Night,” she said to Heather, giving her a brief hug with her free arm. “See you in the morning.”

“Aye. Try to get your sleep, you two.”

Guthrie hurried Calla through the house to the stairs. “Seems we were doing the same thing only this morning, except coming down the stairs at Argent Castle,” Calla said.

“Aye, lass. Are you truly feeling all right? You seemed so quiet while we were eating.”

“You too,” she said.

“I was worried about you.” He took her into her bedroom and shut the door.