The phone clicked dead in his ear.

Cearnach let out his breath. “He hung up on you.”

“Aye.”

Guthrie called Ethan next. “How are the two of you doing? We’re on our way there. But it’s so icy that it’s going to be slow going.”

“We’re fine. Glad you’re all right. I take it you’ve got the lass? And she’s okay?”

“Aye. She’s with us and just fine. I can’t say the same for Baird’s brother, Vardon, his cousin, or younger brother.” Guthrie explained what had happened. “As long as we don’t have any accidents, we’ll be to your location in a wee bit.”

“Did you want us to run back as wolves?”

“No. We’ll pick you up.”

“Good. See you soon, but you drive careful, you hear?”

“Aye.” All they needed was to all be stranded out here in the freezing weather.

Cearnach called Ian to update him on everything, putting the conversation on speakerphone. He ended with, “Skinny hung up on Guthrie, so we have no idea how the McKinley pack is going to respond to this.”

“If Vardon’s alive, he might try to stir everybody up like he always does. Or Baird might, if his pack doesn’t actually kill or exile him and his brothers. Not sure about the others. Robert’s kind of a ‘tuck tail and run’ kind of wolf. Oliver is a total yes-man. If someone says fight, he’ll be there, but if he’s on his own, he’ll be out of there. Not sure about the others in the pack. Those who are angry about Baird and his close kin stealing the money may figure it is justice.”

“That’s what I was thinking. We’ll be ready for them if they decide to take this further. What about the ladies?”

“They’re home safe, anxious to get word from you. We still have no electricity. Can you hold out if Skinny and any others intercept you on the road in an attempt to pay you back for this latest calamity?”

“Aye. I’m certain they’ll have the same problem reaching us as we have in returning to Argent Castle,” Cearnach said.

Calla snuggled closer to Guthrie. As soon as they picked up Ethan and Oran, it would be a really tight squeeze in the small hatchback. It seated four comfortably, five was a snug fit, and six was impossible unless Calla stretched out on the men’s legs or someone rode in the trunk. Or maybe if she sat on Guthrie’s lap.

“All right. I’d send men as reinforcements, but I don’t want anyone else stranded. Just keep me informed. Let me know when you reach the Stewarts’ manor house.”

“Aye. Don’t worry about Ethan and Oran. We’ll pick them up on the way.” Cearnach ended the call and then punched in another number. “Jasper, we’re returning to the Stewart manor as soon as we pick up our stranded men. Keep a lookout. We might have company—and it won’t be the good kind.” He explained all that had happened as Guthrie stroked Calla’s wet hair.

“Ask if they still have electricity,” Guthrie said to Cearnach.

Cearnach asked, then shook his head at Guthrie.

“Does the manor have a gas water heater?” Guthrie asked Calla.

“Aye. Two of them.”

“Great. I’m sure we could all use a hot shower,” Guthrie said.

“All of you can borrow some of Dad’s clothes, I’m sure,” Calla said.

After picking up Oran and Ethan, they weren’t sure they could all fit in the car. All of the men were around six feet tall. Calla was about five and a half, but Guthrie didn’t want her sitting in the trunk.

“I’ll sit in that,” Oran said, winking at Calla.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Guthrie quickly said, “Good idea.” He wasn’t letting her sit back there, being chilled to the bone already, not when he wanted to keep her tucked against his body. Even at that, it was a tight squeeze, but that helped to warm them up a bit.

They were steaming up the windows, though, and Duncan had to turn the defroster on high, along with the heat, as wet as they all were.

When they finally reached the manor house, Cearnach hurried to open the hatchback to let Oran out. He’d practically been curled up in a ball, sleeping on the floor of the trunk. Cearnach laughed. “Now I know why you wanted to sit in the trunk.”

Jasper and Heather rushed outside to greet them, wearing their jackets and gloves and looking much warmer.

“So I take it we’re staying here for the night?” Jasper asked. “Even though we have no electricity.”

“Aye. It’s the same at Argent Castle,” Guthrie said. “It would be safer starting out tomorrow after the ice has melted off.”

“We have lanterns and candles,” Calla said, the day already turning dark. Though as wolves they could see well at dawn and dusk. “We can still cook something. We have a gas stove.”

“We’ve got the fire going in the den too,” Jasper said.

Guthrie was more concerned about sleeping arrangements and speaking to Calla in private. He really wanted to stay with her in the carriage house alone. But his brothers were already looking at him like they knew what he was thinking. They were ready to disagree with him on splitting up their forces, though they’d give him the chance to make that decision on his own.

“We all stay in the manor house,” Guthrie conceded, knowing that it was the safest thing to do.

Everyone eagerly concurred.

Inside the house, Heather said, “I’ll take everyone’s wet clothes and hang them to dry by the fire.”