“I kent ye had a back door too!” he shouted at the closed door. He’d just figured that since the weather had turned so bitter cold, Sadie wouldn’t take the long way through the sleet and snow to get to the job he’d found out she had at the café. And why the hell had Delilah Morrow given Sadie a job washing dishes? It was like the entire town had turned against him, trying to help Sadie strike out on her own and leave Brady. Damn Southerners. Worse about taking in strays and sticking together than any clan of Highlanders.
“Alec!”
A shout from the street interrupted his fuming. “Now what?” he muttered, jerking about to find the person unwise enough to speak to him right now.
Grant rolled down the window of the utility truck, squinting against the sleet and snow gusting in his face. “Come. Dwyn, Mistress Lydia, andMáthairsaid to bring ye to the boardroom immediately. Get in afore we all catch our death in this wicked weather.”
“What do they want?” Alec didn’t move. Instead, he looked past Grant and directed his question to his brother Ramsay watching him from behind the steering wheel.
“Why the hell are ye asking him? I’m the one sent to fetch ye,” Grant said.
“Because ye lie every time yer lips move and I’m in no mood for yer games.” Alec stomped down the steps and to the street, navigating the slippery sidewalk with the agility of a Highland goat. He shoved his hood back from his face, yanked open the door of the truck, and stuck his head inside. “What the hell do they want, Ramsay? The truth, mind ye.”
Ramsay shrugged and nudged an elbow toward Grant. “It’s as he says. They didna get into the particulars with us. Just said we were to bring ye. Now.”
“Shove over.” Alec pushed Grant, moving him across the truck seat a bit faster. He slid in beside his brother, slammed the door shut, then rolled up the window. “It’s never good when those three put their heads together.”
“It’s even worse than that,” Ramsay said as he carefully steered the truck over the ever-slickening road. “I heard them say something about instructions or some such from Mistress Martha.”
Mistress Martha. Alec’s gut tightened. That could only mean one thing. This meeting had something to do with his Sadie. He motioned toward the road. “Can ye not go any faster?”
“Not in this mess,” Ramsay snorted. “Can ye not see the ice building on the road?”
After what seemed like forever, Ramsay finally parked the truck in front of the public keep housing the boardroom to Highland Life and Legends. Alec shouldered open the truck door, then hurriedly slipped and slid his way into the building. One hand on the door, he turned back to his brothers just getting out of the truck. “Get with Frank and get some salt spread before someone falls and breaks their neck.”
“The park’s closed,” Grant argued.
“Aye,” Ramsay chimed in. “There’s no one about.”
“The maintenance crew is still here and so are a few of the ladies that work in the shops over the holidays. I’ll not have anyone hurt because of our laziness. Now off wi’ ye. Do as I say.” Alec waited. He was in no mood to be crossed and if his brothers valued their hides, they’d not argue again.
Grant and Ramsay shot him dark looks icier than the weather but didn’t say another word. Instead, they got back in the truck and headed out to follow Alec’s instructions.
Alec strode inside, shaking his coat free of moisture and stomping the slush off his boots. Shrugging off his coat, he tossed it across one of the benches in the hallway. The closer he got to the boardroom, the more he felt as though he was walking into a trap. Dwyn plotting alone was never a good thing, but Dwyn plotting with three old women could be deadly.
The three of them stood at the end of the room, in front of the whiteboard, behind the long boardroom table. Alec thumped the door closed, his senses tensed. He was about to be ambushed. He could feel it in his bones.
Dwyn, his mother, and Miss Lydia turned in unison—their expressions confirming Alec’s suspicions. Best get this over and done.He took a deep breath and strode toward them. It was always better to meet a battle head-on. “Ye summoned me?”
“Summonedis such a harsh word, son.” Sarinda smiled, the caring motherly smile she always assumed when preparing to give one of her children guidance that they’d best not ignore—not if they valued their arse.
“What’s this about?” Alec remained on the other side of the table, planting both hands atop one of the straight-backed leather chairs. He dug his fingers into the leather, holding tight. This conversation could be one hell of a ride.
“Martha sent word that Sadie bought a bus ticket.” Miss Lydia stepped forward, scowling at him as though it were his fault. “Some place in Texas. The farthest she could go with what little money she had.”
Panic slammed into him like a hammer to his chest. “When?”
“She bought it yesterday. The bus leaves early Saturday morning.” Miss Lydia pecked a gnarled arthritic finger on the table. “You better get your ass in gear, boy. You’re about to lose her.”
Alec threw the chair aside, stomped forward, and leaned across the table. “I have beengetting me arse in gear, but yer damn sister has been helping Sadie avoid me!”
“No, she hasn’t!” Miss Lydia met him across the table, her nose nearly touching his. “She’s just been making it look that way so Sadie wouldn’t get suspicious about whose side she was on.”
“Calm down. Calm down.” Dwyn gently pulled Miss Lydia back while at the same time giving Alec a narrow-eyed glare. “Shouting and fighting amongst ourselves willna get this problem solved. It takes a cool head to plan a successful battle.”
“I agree,” Sarinda chimed in. “Dwyn and I have been discussing this issue for quite some time.” She gave Alec a disapproving look. “We talked at length while ye were locked in yer office cooling down.” She lifted her chin and smugly folded her arms across her chest. “I believe we’ve come up with quite the promising solution, and all the details are finally in place.”
Alec backed up a step, forcing himself to control the urge to saddle his horse, grab Sadie up, and ride off with her into the mountains. “I’m listening,” he said, amazed he sounded so much calmer than he felt. “What is this plan?”
