Page 17 of Utterly Dauntless

Aries nodded and sipped her tea.

"Much better than I expected."

Aries hummed absently.

"Lucky for us he was still interested enough to have his friends track down that car."

"Very lucky."

"Not everyone is blessed with friends like his."

"Wonderful men. All of them. I need a lie down. Didn't sleep much." Aries got to her feet and headed for the hallway.

"Of course, of course! Take all the time ye need. If we don't see you until mornin’, we won't think anything of it. And maybe ye can sleep a little more on the plane."

Aries turned back. "Plane?"

"Aye. Were ye not payin’ attention? Wyn said they'd hire a plane to take ye all to Glasgow tomorrow. That there's no need to spend any more time on the A82 than they already have."

"They came after me, then?"

"Not sure who it was. Tristan Bain, I think it was, found yer cup and doll in the car before the rental company collected it. He'll bring them by next time he's up this way. I'll send them on to ye."

"So Tristan followed me."

"Aye. But it was Wickham's friend who ran the operation, I think. Anything for friends of The 79, aye?"

"Looks that way."

Peg took up her knitting and got it settled in her lap. "We're lucky ye were a part of them...for a wee while."

Aries nodded, yawned, then wandered away, obviously distracted.

It seemed it didn't take more than a few turns of the spurtle to get things flowing in the right direction. Why hadn't she thought to do this sooner?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Grey 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 waswarm 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.

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