Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series)

CHAPTER ONE

SAMANTHA MOORE STOOD in the middle of her childhood bedroom and surveyed the damage as she tried to fit her life into two large suitcases. She’d moved out of the apartment she shared with her best friend and back home with her parents six weeks ago in order to take care of her “affairs” so she could start her life in Scotland with no unfinished business.

“Sam?” her mother called.

“In here, Mom.”

Her mother pushed open the door and sighed. “Oh, honey, you’re going to need to purge some of your stuff.”

“You don’t think I can get all of this on the plane?” Samantha raised an eyebrow. “Oh, ye of little faith.”

Her mother laughed. “I’m more concerned that if you continue stuffing those suitcases, the plane won’t be able to take off and land safely.”

Samantha groaned. “I know. I’ve already filled six storage bins with stuff I want to keep and nine bags with stuff that can be donated.”

“Well done.”

“I just don’t know what to take with me. I know nothing about Scotland, but I can’t seem to part with what I’ve packed so far.”

“You’ll figure it out.” Her mother smiled gently. “You’re smarter than anyone I know.”

“Book smarts isn’t going to help me with this.”

In all her twenty-five years, Samantha had never been anywhere outside of Georgia. Her focus had been on graduating first in her class from Mercer University and being the youngest research scientist in the world. Her specialty was hematology, and it was why she’d been offered a position with a large pharmaceutical research company in Edinburgh. But the thought of moving from her small town just outside Savannah to Scotland was overwhelming, particularly since she was painfully shy.

Samantha checked her watch. “Pepper was supposed to call me a while ago. She promised to help.”

“She’s probably running late at work.”

“More than likely.”

Pepper Brooks was Samantha’s best friend and a self-confessed hippie. Well, sort of. Her mother certainly was, hence the name “Pepper,” but Samantha was convinced there was an uptight snob buried deep within her friend somewhere.

Pepper had moved from California to Savannah in second grade and had attached herself to Samantha immediately. Which was fine by Sam—she needed someone to be her voice. Even at seven, Sam figured out that Pepper was a protector. She was happy to let Pepper fight her battles for her…even if she didn’t always agree with Pepper’s methods. They had been inseparable ever since.

Admittedly, Sam was much less shy than she had been as a child, but she still had difficulty speaking her mind to strangers. Her family and Pepper were a different story. Most days, she gave as good as she got.

“I swear, Mom, I don’t know how she can go to school, work full time, take care of her horse, and then find time for a sanity break.”

“I have a feeling her horse
is
her sanity break.” Her mother wrapped an arm around Sam’s shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “But she is pretty amazing.”

“No doubt,” Sam agreed. “What time’s Dalton going to be here?”

“Six.”

Sam frowned. “Why so late? New lady?”

“Who knows?” her mother grumbled. “I’ve given up trying to figure out what your brother’s doing with his personal life.”

Dalton had been a high school football star and was now the most eligible bachelor in their small community. He owned a chain of high-end car dealerships around Savannah, and with access to any car on the lot, his playboy status was unbreakable.

“Sammi!” The unmistakable voice of Pepper could be heard from the foyer.

“Speak of the devil,” Samantha said as she stepped to the hallway railing. “Up here.”

Pepper glanced up at Samantha. Her hair was scooped into a messy bun on the top of her head and shone in the foyer light. She was the polar opposite in looks and personality of most of Samantha’s friends, and Samantha adored her. Pepper made friends easily and could talk to anyone about anything. Petite and blonde, she was the epitome of a southern belle, without a southern bone in her body. She’d wrapped a bandana around her head and, with her overalls, she looked like a forties pinup girl.

“You look like you’re dressed for World War Two.”

“You like?” Pepper rested a hand on her hip and chuckled. “It’s laundry day.”

“Very cute.”

Samantha’s mother leaned over the railing. “Come on up, honey, and I’ll check on dinner. Will you join us?”

“Yes, please! Thanks, Mrs. Moore.” Pepper waved a piece of paper in the air as she jogged up the stairs, two at a time. “You’re never going to guess what’s happened!”

Samantha laughed. “You won the lottery and are going to join me in Scotland.”

Pepper bobbed her head. “Yes.”

Samantha snorted as she made her way back into the bedroom. “You’re hilarious.”

“No, seriously. Not the lottery, per se, but I got into MGA.”

“What?”

Pepper handed her the notice. “I auditioned for MGA. In Edinburgh. They accepted me. I’ve committed to their one-year advanced course.”

“MGA?” Samantha skimmed the letter. “Performing arts? Seriously? Pepper, this is a lot of money. How are you going to pay for this?”

“I have almost eight-thousand saved.”

“To train Jonesy for the trials!”

Pepper waved her hand dismissively. “Trials, shmials.”

“I thought winning the Olympics was the most important thing in your life. Or at the very least, getting away from your mother while you’re training him. He’s the reason you haven’t dated or done anything outside of school or work for three years.”

“Priorities change, I guess.” She shrugged. “And, technically, I will be getting away from her…all the way across the ocean.”

“What about Jonesy? You were essentially the midwife to his mother. You’ve raised that horse since birth.”

Pepper’s composure slipped, but she pulled it back…a little
too
quickly. “It’s just a year. I’ll have no problem finding a nice young girl to look after him for me. And Mom can look after Rover.”

Sam recalled the discussion of what to name Pepper’s rescue pup. It came down to either Rover or Fido.

“Pepper.” Samantha handed her back the letter. “What’s really going on? You’ve always said that acting and singing was for fun and would never take priority over becoming a vet. I’m still not clear on how you’d be able to finish veterinary school and train for the Olympics at the same time…but then again, you’re the dreamer.”

“You make that sound like it’s a bad thing.”

Samantha shook her head. “Not at all. I envy it and you know it. Spill.”

“I can’t just want to join my best friend for an adventure in a land full of sexy men?”

Samantha smirked. “You assume all Scottish men look like Ewan MacGregor.”

“And you assume they all look like Gobber the Belch.”

Samantha giggled. “Is it weird we went to see
How to Train your Dragon
and we don’t even have kids?”

“No, because we took Chelsea’s kid as a cover…she got a free afternoon, and Chase got to see a movie with his favorite spice.”

“Okay, you have me there, but still, what’s really going on?”

“Nothing. Really. My mom’s just driving me crazy.”

“You’ve been home for less than a month,” Sam pointed out.

“I know. At least she passes out drunk more nights than most, but still, I probably should have stayed at our place.”

“Sorry.”

Pepper waved her hand dismissively. “I’m the one who can’t stand the thought of living alone. It’s not your fault. But I do need to make a change.”

Samantha sighed. “Yeah, you should get out of there, but don’t you think this is a bit drastic?”

“Nope, not at all. I just want to go somewhere where there’s no drama.”

Samantha couldn’t stop the laugh. “So you’re going to
drama
school.”

“How about we halt this fascinating conversation and I’ll help you finish packing?”

“Okay, okay. You’re off the hook for now. Just give me some notice before you arrive. I’m assuming I’ll have to find a two-bedroom place to rent, huh?”

“I’ll take the couch,” Pepper said. “I’m not picky.”

Samantha choked in response. “Says the woman with champagne taste on a beer budget.”

“Oh, I at least have enough to spring for the sparkling wine.”

“Nice. Let’s get to work.” Samantha went back to the first bag she’d packed, thinking she could leave some of the clothes behind, but reluctant to part with any of her shoes.

* * *

Dr. Kade Gunnach sat behind his large mahogany desk and stared at the data in front of him. It wasn’t promising. A knock on his office door elicited a frown, but he knew the inevitable couldn’t be avoided. “Come in.”