Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“Keeping watch,” she whispered so as not to wake the others.
Affection warmed me. “You sleep now. I’ll take the next watch.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“I’ll take the next watch,” Taran murmured as she awoke. “Both of you get some sleep.”
We took turns dozing, too tense and on alert for all of us to sleep at once. Thankfully, the three-hour train journey was over before we knew it.
Again, Cammie insisted on taking my luggage for me as we alighted from the train onto the station platform, which was right on the pier at Oban. This meant we could stroll directly into the ferry terminal.
However, standing at the entrance to the station were four familiar figures.
Murray, Ramsay, Quinn, and Forde were waiting together for us.
I could feel the sob working its way up my chest, my strides picking up. Murray spotted us first, hitting Quinn’s shoulder to let him know, and then all four of them were marching across the station to meet us.
The only thing stopping me from flying into Murray’s arms was the pain that still throbbed in my body. My neck in particular hurt, the muscles strained from the fall and exacerbated by my upright sleeping position on the train. I ignored the aches as I reached my husband.
My husband.
As he gently wrapped me in his arms, the sob broke loose.
“A ghràidh,” Murray murmured gruffly, peppering kisses over my forehead. “I’ve got you. I’ve got you.”
I opened my eyes just long enough to see Ramsay embracing Nee, Quinn kissing Taran like she’d been gone for a million years, and shockingly, Forde holding Cammie tight in his arms, his expression strained with worry.
Murray kissed the top of my head again and pulled back, searching my tear-streaked face with a mix of affection and constrained fury. “You’re all right?”
“I am now.” I glanced behind him. “Where’s Kelly?”
“She’s with my mum. I didn’t know how to explain this to her, so I said I was going with the lads to pick you up.”
I grimaced. “I don’t know how to explain this either.”
He cupped my face. “We’ll talk about it on the ferry.”
“I said I’ve got it.” Cammie’s annoyed voice snagged our attention.
Forde scowled as he tugged on my suitcase. “For fuck’s sake, woman, let someone help you for once in your life.”
“Cammie, you’re being ridiculous,” Taran scolded with exhausted impatience. “Let him help you with London’s luggage.”
“I’ve got it.” Murray solved the issue by taking hold of my carry-on before either of them could protest.
Forde then reached for Cammie’s small suitcase and yanked it out of her grasp without waiting for permission and stalked off with it, his body bristling with agitation.
“Just let him.” Taran waved a frustrated hand between them before Cammie could open her mouth to argue. “He came all this way to make sure we’re okay.”
Cammie’s shoulders slumped. “Sorry. I’m a crabbit cow when I haven’t slept.” She hurried after Forde.
Murray clasped my hand in his free one as he rolled my luggage at his other side. We followed Ramsay, Nee, Quinn, and Taran to meet up with Forde and Cammie outside at the ferry terminal. Forde didn’t look as pissed, but tension still crackled between him and Cammie.
“Where does it hurt?” Murray asked me quietly.
I winced, leaning into his side. “Neck, ribs, the top of my right thigh hurts, and my left calf. My right ankle hurts a little as well. Miraculously, not my head.”
“Thank God.” He pressed another kiss to my temple.
I inhaled his familiar scent and fought the urge to bury my face in his throat and stay there. His calloused thumb made slow, soothing sweeps across the back of my hand as his gaze washed over me. The urge to tell him I loved him was incredibly powerful, but I didn’t want to do it in front of everyone.
It wasn’t until we were on the ferry that I asked Murray to walk with me outside. He was concerned I wasn’t resting, but I couldn’t wait even the hour it took to get to Leth Sholas.
“I spoke with Ramsay,” Murray said as we settled against the railing. The ferry was quiet because of the time of evening, only two people sitting on the outdoor seats. “He’s going to investigate this. He’s just waiting on confirmation that Nick is still under house arrest.”
“What would we do without our local spymaster?” I teased, trying to defuse the tension.
Murray turned into me, not showing any signs of amusement. “It scares me how close I came to losing you this weekend. Especially after … London, I am so sorry about my conversation with Tierney. I need you to know—”
I grabbed onto his shirt, cutting him off. “I know. I know it wasn’t your intention to control me. I’m sorry I ever compared you to Nick. Murray, I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head, gaze searching mine in wonder. “I was … you surprise me at every turn, you know that.”