Contents
Cover
Copyright
Dedication
Book List
Book Description
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Author's Note
About the Author
Excerpt - A Traitorous Heart
Excerpt - A Thin Line
Excerpt - To Love and Protect
Excerpt - Taming the Wicked Wulfe
Excerpt - Seducing the Ruthless Rogue
Enticing the Weary Warrior
The Rogue Agents, Book 3
By
Tammy Jo Burns
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All Rights are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.
Enticing the Weary Warrior, The Rogue Agents, Book 3
Copyright © 2015 by Tammy Jo Burns
Excerpt - A Traitorous Heart, The Reluctant Lords, Book 1
Copyright © 2013 by Tammy Jo Burns
Excerpt - A Thin Line, The Reluctant Lords, Book 2
Copyright © 2013 by Tammy Jo Burns
Excerpt - To Love and Protect, The Reluctant Lords, Book 3
Copyright © 2014 by Tammy Jo Burns
Excerpt - To Tame a Wicked Wulfe, The Rogue Agents, Book 1
Copyright © 2014 by Tammy Jo Burns
Excerpt - Seducing the Ruthless Rogue, The Rogue Agents, Book 2
Copyright © 2014 by Tammy Jo Burns
Cover design by The Killion Group, Inc.
Dedication
To Maggy Jo, the most amazing sister in the world.
Since you always wanted to be a Megan, this book’s for you!
Also, to the men and women who do so much to protect us and our country.
My thanks is not enough.
Book List
The Reluctant Lords Trilogy:
A Traitorous Heart
A Thin Line
To Love and Protect
The Rogue Agents Trilogy:
Taming the Wicked Wulfe
Seducing the Ruthless Rogue
Enticing the Weary Warrior
All books can be read as stand-alones; however, you will see repeating characters throughout the two trilogies. To purchase or read more about any of these titles, please read the excerpts at the end of this book, or click here.
Book Description
Five years ago Megan and Liam were in love. Set to marry, tragedy struck when word arrived that Liam had been killed. Devastated, Megan attempted to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, five years later, Megan finds herself homeless and without any hope of a family. Living with her brother and his family, all she has to live for are her horses, Legend and Lady Belle. She has her sights set on winning the elusive British Triple Crown with Legend and creating a racing dynasty.
Liam faked his death five years ago to get close to Napoleon in order to learn the man’s secrets. Now, he finds himself back on British soil with no clue as to what he is supposed to do with his life. Having been a prisoner of war and seen the horror of the battlefield, he suffers from debilitating nightmares and physical ailments that make him question his manhood and sometimes his sanity. Memories of Megan, the love of his life, kept him sane when he would have gone mad. But he quickly finds a dream and reality are two very different things.
When Megan eavesdrops on a conversation and finds out her beloved Liam is alive, she doesn’t know whether to rejoice or let her feelings of anger and betrayal rule her. Does she want to see him? Can she trust him with her heart after what he’s done? Can she convince him, her weary warrior, to trust her with the nightmare of his past, or will it all be for naught as danger surrounds Megan, threatening her life and their future happiness once more? And will Liam be able to overcome the obstacles from his past to save the woman he loves so they can have a future and lifetime of love together? This is a story of love, redemption, and healing.
Chapter 1
Late-February 1815
London, England
The man opened the door to the Horseguards and made the long, arduous climb up the stairs. His left leg throbbed, ached, and dragged when he was especially tired. He used a cane these days to help with stability. Thump. Clump. Thump. Clump. No longer was he the stealthy agent he had once been. When he reached the top of the staircase, he paused to catch his breath. The injuries he had suffered at New Orleans, and before, would have killed a lesser man. Had killed lesser men.
At least he looked human now. His once heavy, matted beard had been shorn to only a slight growth, an indication of days when he did not feel like shaving. His hair no longer hung below his shoulders, but brushed his collar. He no longer carried the smell of Jackson’s “Dirty Shirts” on his person, and instead smelled like leather and sandalwood. He did not meet with societies dictates, but he dared anyone to say a word to him. After pushing away from the wall, he continued down the hall, reading the signs on the doors until he came to one that read Stuart McKenzie, Director. He let out a sigh of relief, glad that some things had not changed. He entered the outer office. A mousey man looked up at him.
“May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Director McKenzie,” the man announced, his Scottish brogue undetectable. He had been taught that the wrong accent could get you killed; therefore, he could speak many accents. So many, in fact, that he felt like he no longer knew who he was, or which one belonged to him.
“He is not in yet. May I give him a message?”
“Mack not at work? Is he dying?”
“Not to my knowledge. One of the twins has been ill.”
“Twins?” the stranger asked in shock.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe I got your name?”
“I don’t believe I gave it. How can I get in touch with him?”
“I’ll let him know that you came by if you will just tell me your name and the matter you wish to discuss with him,” the smaller man said bravely to the giant standing before him.
“That won’t work. I need to speak to—”
“I know I’m running late, Preston. Cassie…” a burly, dark-haired, handsome man entered the small outer office. He looked up and studied the man that stood in front of him. “It can’t be.”
“Mack,” the man said with a nod.
“Liam McTavish?”
* * *
Outside of London
“Go, go, go,” Megan chanted as the wind whipped her hair loose from its braid. She stood in the stirrups, crouched low over the neck of the Thoroughbred. She never once set a whip to the horse’s flesh, she merely called to him, whispered to him. “Faster, Legend, jus
t a little faster,” she crooned. As they crossed the imaginary line, she slowed him down. She circled back around to Hamrick, breathing quickly, exhilarated with the way Legend had performed. They pranced up to the older man, and she noticed a group of men gathering around. She should have expected this. “How did we do, Hamrick?”
“Fastest time yet, lass,” the older man crowed.
“I knew it! Did you hear that, sweet boy?” Megan asked as she leaned over Legend’s warm neck and patted him affectionately.
“I’ve never seen a girl ride like that,” a young man said in awe.
“Women shouldn’t ride like that,” another pompously replied.
“She could ride me like that anytime she wanted,” one said snidely.
Megan started to raise her whip, when she heard a voice cut through the crowd. “Sister, dear, I believe I’ll have you teach the female trainees to ride like that. It would be good for them to not always rely on public transportation and side saddles. Perhaps a few of the men could use a lesson or two as well, what do you think, Williams?” Justin Southerby turned and looked at the man who had made the sexual comment.
“I can think of one or two, sir.” The man said, refusing to back down.
“Perhaps—”
“Justin, thank you for defending me, but you just cannot fix ignorance,” Megan said, looking down at the man from her lofty seat on the back of Legend.
“Men, I believe you have training to attend to,” Justin said pointedly.
“Bitch,” they heard the one man utter under his breath.
“What was that, Williams?” Justin demanded, jerking the man around.
“Justin, let him be,” Megan said.
“Know this, you have been warned. I’ll have no disrespect towards the women under my care. That includes my wife, sister, daughter, and the female trainees. Do you understand, Williams?” The man stared him down silently for several minutes. Justin wrapped his fists in the man’s lapels and snarled very slowly so Williams understood every word, “Do…you…bloody…well…understand…me?” When no answer was forthcoming, Justin tightened his grip. “Answer me,” he demanded.
“Yes,” the man said grudgingly.
“Good. If you think you can’t handle this situation, then perhaps you should reconsider your future.”
“I can handle it.”
“Good.” Justin, Hamrick, and Megan watched the man stomp off. “Stuart, watch him,” Justin ordered one of the head trainers.
“Yes, sir,” the man saluted before following the group back to the training barn.
“Justin, I’m sorry. I truly didn’t mean to cause trouble,” Megan said.
“This is my home and you’re welcome to train your horse while you’re here. If he has an issue with women, better we find out about it now. Do you think Legend will be ready to race?”
“I’m positive. He’s recovered from the boat ride over and we just posted our fastest time ever,” Megan said excitedly.
“Who’s going to be your jockey?”
“I’m still working that out.”
“Jace and Holly are up from their naps. They were asking for you, which is why I’m out here.”
“Why didn’t you bring them with you?”
“Clare’s funny about her children, especially Holly, being around horses that spend their lives traveling at high speeds,” Justin said.
“I love your wife, I swear I do, but sometimes,” Megan teased, rolling her eyes.
“I know,” he placed an arm about his sister’s shoulders and guided her towards the house. “I’m glad you came here. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“How are you doing?” Justin asked, studying her profile as they walked.
“I have Lady Belle and Legend. I will have to be content with them.”
“I still can’t believe that John ripped Paddy away from you like that. And all because some man showed up in his life claiming to be his son. It doesn’t make sense, Meggy.”
“What in my life in the past five years has made sense? John did what he thought he had to do.”
“How can you not be angry?”
“How can you be angry with a dead man?” Megan asked her brother as she slid an arm about his waist. “I can either waste my time and energy on being angry, or I can cherish the time I had with Paddy and move on with my life. Perhaps one day fate will fix things back as they should be.”
“Do you truly believe in fate?” Justin asked her, curiously.
“I have nothing else to believe in anymore.”
* * *
Back in London…
Stunned silence filled the office.
“Are you going to stand there all day staring at me, or can we sit? My leg is bloody well killing me.”
Mack walked across the office and gave the man a bear hug, causing Liam to wince. “There were reports of your death. We’d given up hope.”
Mack’s Scottish burr was as thick as ever, reminding Liam of one more thing that had been stolen from him. Bitterness filtered into his words, “I know. So had I.”
“Wulfe will be elated.”
“I know that as well.”
“Come into my office. Preston, I am not to be disturbed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Start at the beginning,” Mack instructed Liam as he shut the door.
“What do you consider the beginning?” Liam looked up to see Mack lift an imperious brow. “Fine. After Wulfe and I staged that little scene that night… How did that end up by the way?”
“Wulfe uncovered a plot to kill Prinny. Several leading men within the ton were involved, including the man that became Wulfe’s partner that night in the gaming hell after your supposed death.”
“Well, at least something good came from that night.”
“Yes. Now, go on with your story.”
“I disappeared and made my way into Spain to find Wellington. I went on countless spy and reconnaissance missions. Then something happened. I couldn’t tell you now what it was. Perhaps I was overly confident and didn’t take the necessary precautions. Whatever it was, I walked into a trap and was captured by French soldiers. I was beaten, tortured, and starved for almost a year. Then all hell broke loose at Ciudad Rodrigo. The Frogs were so busy that they forgot about me, and I slipped free.”
“That was over two years ago.”
“Yes. I wasn’t strong enough to fight through the battlefield to find our troops. I collapsed at a little farm, and the family nursed me back to health. I finally caught up with Wellington. He informed me I was of no use to him in Europe anymore since they had found me out. He sent me to America.”
Silence filled the room for quite some time.
“How long were you there?” Mack quietly asked.
“Until the bloody end.”
“Damn, I’m sorry. How did you get here?”
“Since I was not attached to the military, I did not have to wait for a naval ship to see me home. I found a privateer that promised the fastest voyage back to England. I boarded that boat and never looked back.”
“I will be having a word with Wellington for not sending notice that you were alive.”
“Do what you must, but it won’t change what happened,” Liam countered.
“But I just wonder how many others are out there? How many others are in a situation similar to yours, but we believe are dead?”
“It could be a higher number than you think.”
“Where are you staying?” Mack inquired, breaking the silence that permeated the room.
“An inn.”
“I won’t hear of it. You’ll come and stay at my house. I’ll send Cassie a note to ready one of the guest rooms.”
“Cassie?”
“My wife.”
“I must be hallucinating. Stuart McKenzie is married?”
“Very married, and I am also a proud father.”
“Life really does go on, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,�
� Mack said, sounding guilty.
“I want to be mad about that, but I can’t.”
“I know. Go gather your things from your hotel. Here are the directions to my house,” Mack said as he scribbled some information on a piece of paper. “Here is money for a hack. If you’re not there by the time I get there, I will come looking for you and drag your sorry arse there. Understand?”
“Mack, I appreciate your offer, but I can’t accept.”
“Why not?”
“It would just be best if I stay where I am. I would love to meet your wife and children, but I must keep my accommodations as they are.”
“You know I would rather you stay at my home.”
“And I must politely refuse. When should I come by?”
“Tonight,” Mack replied sounding resigned. He named a time to which Liam nodded his head and agreed. “Come with an empty stomach. Cassie’ll want to fatten you up. What about money? Do you have enough?”
“I have a little.”
“I’ll see that you receive your back pay.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Liam stood with a grimace and reached across the desk to shake the other man’s hand. “I’ll see you this evening.”
Liam left the office and wandered aimlessly along the London streets until his leg refused to cooperate any longer. He found himself in a coffeehouse, tucked away in a corner. Liam ordered and patiently waited. The waiter brought him a steaming cup of coffee. Liam lifted the dainty cup and took a sip of the hot, dark liquid. It was a finer, richer coffee than what the Americans had, but not so fine as the French. He found that he missed the heavy mugs that the Americans drank from. He felt like he would crush this one at any moment.
He picked up a copy of The Times that had been left on a nearby table, and began reacquainting himself with London. Just as he was becoming disgusted with all of the society gossip, which seemed not to have changed in the least while he was away, he turned the page and saw an article that caught his eye. The headline read, “The War is Over. Now What?” The author, C. E. Jones, discussed the fact that soon England would be overrun with out of work soldiers now that both wars were finished.
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