Chapter Forty-Four
Gretchen
I race through the woods, abandoning my post and any semblance of propriety as I search for Kirk wherever he might be.
The helicopter has left with Kenny, leaving the rest of us to deal with Dougal and his minions.
When I reach the gravel road, veering onto it, I nearly crash into a police car that's hightailing it to Cairntorran Manor.
Another car is rushing up behind the first. My comm fell out of my ear somewhere along the way, so I have no idea what my teammates are doing right now.
As I break out of the woods, I glimpse a familiar figure. "Kirk! Kirk!"
He whirls around at the sound of my voice, and relief floods through me in a tidal wave. My knees nearly buckle, but I succeed in staying on my feet. The police cars have their headlights on high beam. It takes me a minute to recognize what's going on here.
Kirk drags me into his arms. "Gretchen, lass, ye shouldnae be here. Dougal and the rest of his men must be somewhere inside the manor. We've all been helping the police round up and cuff the ones we've found."
"Are you okay? Is Kenny safe?"
Kirk broad shoulders finally relax a smidgen. "Aye, the lad's away in the chopper, he'll be secure." He pulls me close. "But it'll take time to subdue Dougal and his men. They're none too happy about losing their hostage."
"At least Kenny's okay and in good hands. Can I help you guys at all?"
While Kirk starts to grumble, Keltie jogs up to us. "Are ye ready to go, Gretchen? Balfour insisted I should take you to Magnus and Piper's house for the time being. You'll have a fellow American to talk to, since Piper was born in that country as well."
I return my attention to Kirk. "I'd rather stay with you."
"Please, lass, do what Keltie suggested." He gives me a firm hug and kisses my forehead. "I need to know you're safe, and I can think of no better place than the home of two private investigators, one of whom is former military. Your parents will meet you at Magnus and Piper's home."
Since I know he's probably right about where I should go, I hug him and let Keltie shepherd me to one of the police cars. A very nice cop takes me to the home of Magnus and Piper MacTaggart.
Well, at least I'll get to meet a fellow American.
Half an hour later, I'm welcomed into the home of the private eye couple, though Magnus isn't here yet.
He's busy wrangling baddies with Kirk and the others.
Piper is a lovely woman with soft brown eyes and chestnut hair.
She welcomes me into her home while holding a toddler in her arms. I can't resist smiling at the kid, a girl who giggles when she sees me.
"Let's go into the living room," Piper suggests. "Then little Robbie can scoot around on the floor."
"I thought your baby was a girl, based on the giggling and the pink clothing."
Piper laughs. "That's understandable. Her name is Roberta, but we call her Robby."
Well, at least that makes sense now.
I wind up spending the night at Piper's house because it took our entire strike team to get all the baddies rounded up and bedded down in their cells.
Kirk called me once it was all over to let me know everything's okay.
But he was exhausted and decided to crash at his flat since it's closer than Piper's house.
I agreed Kirk should do that. Operation Tartan Glory was amazing but also exhausting.
The next day, I wake up to the smell of coffee and the sound of hushed voices.
It takes me a moment to remember where I am---Piper and Magnus's house.
As I stretch and roll out of the guest bed, my muscles begin to ache from yesterday's excitement.
When I pad into the kitchen, Piper is bouncing little Robby on her hip while Magnus leans against the counter wearing a serious expression.
"Morning," I say brightly, and they both turn toward me.
"There she is," Magnus announces. He's tall and imposing, with the kind of presence that fills a room. "You're the American who helped save Kenny MacDonald."
"I didn't do much," I admit. "Kirk took care of all the most heroic stuff."
"Aye, Balfour's good at that," Magnus agrees, sharing a knowing look with his wife.
"Coffee's ready if you want some," Piper says, gesturing toward the pot on the counter.
"Thanks, I'd love some." I gratefully accept a mug from her, relishing the aroma of good coffee. "Any word from Kirk this morning?"
"Aye," Magnus says. "Balfour called about twenty minutes ago. Said he'd be here after he checks on Kenny at the hospital."
"Hospital?" My stomach drops. "I thought Kenny was okay."
"It's only a precaution," Piper assures me, shifting Robby to her other hip.
"Standard procedure after a hostage situation.
They'll run some tests to make sure he's not dehydrated or suffering from any injuries the team might have missed in the dark.
We don't know for sure if they tortured him or anything like that, though it seems unlikely. "
I sip my coffee, trying to calm my racing thoughts. "What happens now? With Dougal, I mean."
Magnus narrows his gaze and flattens his lips. "That's where things get complicated. They have him in custody, but he's not talking. Except to demand an advocate---essentially, a lawyer. And he found a bloody good one."
As I wrap my fingers around the warm mug, I try to absorb this new information. "Is there any chance he could get out of jail?"
"It's doubtful, what with the evidence we've gathered." Something in Magnus's tone makes me uneasy. "But Dougal MacWraith isn't the type to give up easily. He has connections, even from behind bars."
Piper throws her husband a warning look. "Let's not worry Gretchen with all of that right now. The important thing is that Kenny's safe and Dougal's locked up."
Before I can press for more details, my phone buzzes. It's Kirk. I nearly drop my phone in my haste to pick up the call. "Hey, how are you feeling this morning?"
"Oh fine, lass," Kirk tells me, but he sounds exhausted. "Ahm checking in on ye before I head to the hospital to see Kenny."
"I was worried about him---about both of you." I turn away from Magnus and Piper to have a semblance of privacy. "How bad is it?"
"The doctors told us he's dehydrated and has some minor bruising, but the lad's spirit is unbroken." Kirk chuckles. "He's already flirting with the nurses and demanding real food instead of hospital slop."
I laugh too. "That sounds like he's recovering just fine."
"Aye. How are ye holding up at the MacTaggarts' place?"
"They've been great. Though I think Magnus was about to give me some kind of ominous warning about Dougal that Piper shut down."
"Aye, that sounds like them. Magnus is a cautious man, so he probably wanted to prepare ye for all the possibilities." Kirk lowers his voice to a whisper. "Listen, Gretchen. I'll be there in about two hours. After I look in on Kenny, I'm coming straight to ye."
"I can't wait to see you, honey."
After hanging up, I turn around to find Magnus and Piper exchanging meaningful glances.
The kind married couples develop when they're having entire conversations without words.
It makes me wonder if Kirk and I will ever have that kind of relationship.
We come from vastly different backgrounds with vastly different ways of living.
Are we really that different, though?
I face my gracious hosts. "Would you guys mind if I wait outside for Kirk to get here?"
Piper grins. "Go on, sweetie. I'm hoping for a rom-com style reunion, complete with swelling music."
I laugh and shake my head. "I don't think we'll get the swelling music, but I'd settle for a good hug."
"Oh, I suspect you'll get more than that." Piper gives me a knowing wink. "The way that man looks at you..."
I duck my head, clearing my throat. "We're still figuring things out."
"Aye, that's what they all say," Magnus chimes in. "Piper and I were just 'figuring things out' too, until we weren't."
I snatch my jacket up, suddenly needing fresh air. "I'll wait on the porch, if that's okay."
"Go on, lass. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Great Kirk Balfour will react to reuniting with his girl."
Once I'm outside, I wind up pacing back and forth, up and down the stone walkway, gnawing on my lip like a schoolgirl waiting for her boyfriend to drive up.
Just when I'm about to give up and go inside, I hear the signature growl of a Porsche engine as Kirk's sports car rounds the corner.
My pulse revs up along with his car's engine.
The sleek black vehicle pulls into the driveway amid a spray of gravel, and Kirk practically leaps out before the car has fully stopped.
His eyes find mine immediately, and the intensity in them makes my breath catch.
He's disheveled, with stubble darkening his jaw and his sandy hair mussed as if he's been running his hands through it repeatedly, but he's never looked better to me.
"Gretchen." He speaks my name like it's a prayer as he strides toward me, "Told ye I'd come back for ye, and this time, ahmno letting you out of my sight ever again."
The growl of his voice, the heat in his gaze...I don't think about it. I just run. He opens his arms just in time to catch me as I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He hoists me clean off my feet, burying his face in my hair.
I finally got my rom-com happy ending. Whoo-hoo!