Glee rippled through my body, my heart lighter than it had been in years. With a dramatic flourish, I tore off my mask and beamed at Cait. “It’s me.”
She stared at the gun then inched in front of the man by her side—her brother, I recognised, though he’d changed from the skinny teenager I’d met once before.
I stepped closer, almost dancing in my happiness. “No, baby girl. Never fear, I won’t shoot him. Not if he behaves, anyway. I’m so happy to see you out of that car. You have no idea how worried I was.”
Cait swallowed, her dainty throat bobbing. “Ye caused the avalanche that buried us.”
“Well, yes, I saw that through my binoculars, but I didn’t mean to. I only wanted you to come running to see what the bang was all about.” I spread my arms, swinging the shotgun. “Which you did! You clever things.”
Both ducked when the gun swept their way, so I trained it on the big redhead once more and cleared my throat. “There’s just a few things we need to clear up, then we can get going.”
“Get going where?”
All the hate and anger and bitterness melted. This couldn’t have worked better if I’d planned it. Cait was here, and we were together.
I had the perfect place for her to stay. Previously, I thought we’d live in her cottage, but there were too many nosy people around. Too many distractions. In my uncle’s big house, once he and his awful family were out of the way, she’d never have to be bothered by anyone else again.
“You’ll see when we get there.” I grinned again, raising my shoulders. Then I gestured uphill with the gun. “Now walk. I want you nice and visible on the hillside.”
Cait’s brother glowered at me. I stared back.
The hate returned in a rush.
“Do it now or he loses his fucking face,” I snapped.
They moved slowly, and I circled behind, careful to watch my back. Below in the glen, tiny red specs of mountain rescue people milled about like headless chickens. Spider mites, waiting to be crushed.
I only cared about one of them.
The problem.
The brute who Cait had let between her legs. Stifling, crippling rage washed my good feelings away. I’d tried so hard to forgive Cait’s trespass, her dalliance with that man, but I feared for both her sanity and mine.
There was only one solution, and now, I had every advantage.
I marched my true love through the snow, leading our quarry on the hunt.
In time, she’d forget him.
In time, she’d think only of me.
At last, Cait was mine.
