Jasper asked, “Is there anything that we could cook that I can start making?”

“You can cook?” Calla asked, sounding surprised.

“Aye. Not sure about your fancy Scottish dishes, but I make mean Texas chili with the right ingredients.”

“You’re welcome to anything in the fridge or the cupboards.” She turned to Guthrie. “Can you cook?”

The brothers laughed.

“Well, it was a much-guarded secret that my brothers and I could cook, but I think the truth is out,” Guthrie said, taking her hand and leading her to the stairs. “Let’s get out of these wet clothes.”

She let out her breath in frustration. “You only moved things that needed to come here. So my clothes are still at the carriage house, packed in boxes to take to Argent Castle.”

He frowned.

“We can get the boxes,” Cearnach said.

“Wait, I packed them. So I know which ones she’ll need.” Guthrie hugged her and kissed her lips. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, I’ll take a shower while you’re gone,” Calla said.

“I’m going with you,” Duncan said to Guthrie. “You realize we’re not going to be able to return home tomorrow without another vehicle.”

“Aye, we barely made it here with the number we had already. And we also have Jasper and Heather to take home. We wouldn’t be able to carry any of Calla’s things with us, either.”

Guthrie and Duncan ran to the car in the sleeting rain, slipping a little on the cobblestone drive. They climbed inside the vehicle, then drove back to Calla’s place. As soon as they parked, they raced to the covered porch. Guthrie tried the doorknob, figuring they hadn’t locked it in their rush to rescue Calla. Sure enough, it twisted open.

He felt wary all at once. It was completely dark out and the same inside. He smelled Baird’s angry scent and Calla’s angered and fearful scent, and that made Guthrie’s temper rise. Even though he knew the man couldn’t be here, Guthrie couldn’t help but feel that Baird was in the house again.

“Come on,” Duncan said, nudging Guthrie to go with him to Calla’s bedroom.

They both were taking deep breaths—scenting the air to make sure no one else had been in the house while they were gone or was here now—as they stalked down the hallway to her room. Guthrie found the right box, then lifted it and carried it back down the hall.

“Is Calla all right?” Duncan asked. “Shelley had some trials of her own, but every lassie deals with them differently.”

“Aye, she’ll be fine.” As soon as they ate, Guthrie was taking her to bed, snuggling with her, and talking.

“We’re all here for you,” Duncan said as they drove back to the house.

Suspicious, Guthrie said, “Why are you bringing all this up?”

“Just, if she’s upset about you trying to kill Baird, all of us will help you and Calla deal with it.”

“I’ll talk to her privately later about all of it.”

“Aye.”

Sometimes Duncan surprised Guthrie. His younger brother tried to pretend he was all warrior all the time. But at times like this, Guthrie saw Duncan for who he really was—concerned about others’ feelings and ready to step in and help out.

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.