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Aye, Kate Wagner is the perfect woman for me.
Now, I need to convince her of that.
After breakfast, I announce that Kate and I want to take another motorcycle day trip so she can see more of the Highlands. But Jack has a different idea. A command, actually.
"Afraid that will have to wait," he says. "We gave you time to relax yesterday, but now the radical intervention begins in earnest."
Bloody hell. I hoped everyone had forgotten about that.
Jack throws an arm around my shoulders. "You're coming back to Dùndubhan with me and Autumn. But you and Kate can travel by Harley if you prefer."
"Aye, I do prefer that. If you and I are in the car together, you'll start psychoanalyzing me and I'll strangle you. Donnae want to leave your wife to raise a child alone."
"Fair point." He slaps my arm. "You ride the Harley."
"Thank you, Jack. I needed your permission to do that, because I'm a wee laddie."
Jack lets go of me and grabs his wife, guiding her out of the house. Kate and I follow while holding hands.
Then we climb onto the bike and get on the road.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Kate
When we get to Dùndubhan, Logan and Jack spirit him away to who knows where. Someplace inside the castle, but that's the only clue they give me. The Scots mentioned having "plans" that involve their "radical intervention" idea. I thought kidnapping Hugh and convincing me to come here was the extent of their intervention. Okay, they locked Hugh and Callum in separate rooms, but only at first. What else have they got up their sleeves today?
Autumn escorts me into the vestibule, but stops there. "Would you like to talk to Hugh? The Scots contingent wanted to toss you into Hugh's room and lock the door, but the American Wives Club talked them out of that. It's your decision, but honestly, I think he needs to hear from you."
"Is Hugh still a prisoner?"
"No. He's been free to roam the castle and the grounds, including the green. But we asked him to stay at Dùndubhan. He seemed to think he ought to go home to England."
Well, after the kidnapping thing, I can't blame him. But Autumn is right. I need to talk to Hugh and settle things between us before the MacTaggart men retake their prisoner. Autumn doesn't want to climb the stairs, but she gives me a map of the castle so I won't get lost.
"Hugh's in the tower bedroom," she says, "which is between the second and third floors. The guys wanted to lock him in until you got here, but Hugh said they didn't need to bother. I think he's a little depressed."
"I'll talk to him. Thank you, Autumn."
"Good luck."
My new friend leaves, and I trudge up the spiral staircase, bypassing the first floor on my way to the second floor. Most of this level is occupied by the long gallery, which is, predictably, a long room that extends from one side of the castle to the other. I glance out the windows as I make my way to the tower bedroom, but I can't see anything except trees and clouds. At the door to Hugh's room, I hesitate with my fist raised to knock.
What if he's mad? Well, I had told him from the get-go that I'm not attracted to him. But I do need to apologize for hiding my budding relationship with Callum.
I knock on the door.
"Come in," Hugh says, and he does sound depressed or maybe just tired.
Rolling my shoulders back, I walk into the room.
Hugh sits at the foot of the bed, feet on the floor, head bowed. He slouches, and with his elbows on his thighs, he stares down at the wood floor.
"Hi, Hugh."
The Brit's head pops up, and his gaze snaps to me, but he stays slouched there. "Good morning, Kate. How have our captors been treating you? Or am I the only prisoner?"
"You're not locked up anymore. Callum was locked up too at first, but not me."
