“Angus?” She didn’t remember an Angus.
“Aye. He’s dead now.”
Now she felt really bad but her curiosity, as it was, got the better of her and she couldn’t stop herself from asking another question. “What about the other six men?”
“They came with me to Greystone when we were released from prison.”
“You were in prison?” She couldn’t keep the shock from her voice.
“Aye.”
“What for?”
“A paltry crime or two, mayhap three.” He shrugged his broad shoulders.
“How did you meet the gypsy?”
“She was there the day of my execution.”
“They were going to kill you?”
“Aye. It would seem so.”
“For a paltry crime? What is wrong with people?” She threw her hands up in the air.
“Ye would have ta ask them.”
“How did you get away?”
Gavin grew silent, not sure if he should tell the lass, the truth of it all. That he made a deal with the witch. “Much the same as ye, I suppose,” he said finally.
“You made a deal with the gypsy?”
“Aye.” There, he said it out loud. But for some reason it didn’t lessen the sickening feeling twisting in his innards like he thought it would.
“Wow.” That was all she could say. It was a lot to take in.
As the storm raged outside, he grew silent again. Paige did too, as she tried to make sense of what they each just learned from one another.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
HIGHLAND GAMES, WEST VIRGINIA
The Hotel - Present Day
In the early hours of the morning, Paige lay curled up on her side, with her head propped on her hand, watching Gavin sleep. He had fallen asleep shortly after dinner. She tried to sleep as well, and did for a bit but for some reason she woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep again. She didn’t know if it was because of the storm or that she had realized that after tomorrow she would most likely never see him again. It was probably a little of both.
Thinking about him leaving caused a familiar tightening in her chest as a swell of tears gathered behind her eyes. How was she even going to manage without Gavin?
After her Grandmother passed, she was okay. Well, not okay, but she got by. She was old and she died in her sleep, which was a peaceful way to go, she supposed. But before she passed she made Paige promise to live her life to the fullest extent…take chances. She even went as far as to say that Paige should get out more, chase her dreams because she may end up surprising herself and catching one.
Paige was never one for making buckets list. They seemed depressing to her. Things to do before she died seemed a bit too final for her, so as with most things that made her uncomfortable, she changed it to her list of accomplishments. Things to do while she lived. She guessed it is all in how one looks at things. A glass half full or a glass half empty—she personally preferred the half full approach.
After that, she made up her mind to push herself beyond her comfort zone. Pull her nose out of books for a while and actually start doing things for herself that she enjoyed. Life was short after all, so she figured that she may as well make the best of it.
And surprisingly once she started, it became easier to try new things, and she did catch a dream or two in the process. She started her business, which she loved. And now she was doing really well at it, and making money…two things she never thought she could do. And then on a spur of the moment, after reading a romance novel about Highlanders, she decided to go to the Highland Games, which have been hosted in North Carolina for years, but she never bothered to attend.
Granted, it was a farfetched thing to do, but she didn’t think it would be too awful to at least try to find a hunky highlander to call her own. Or at the very least, actually see some in person. And amazingly, she did both. Now that was two for two or three. She kind of lost count. But even after all that, she may end up losing the best dream of all, Gavin, which just sucked.
Paige may be a lot of things but a quitter wasn’t one of them.
So, in light of that, she decided that she needed to figure out another way to either keep him here or to go back in the past with him. Both attainable to be sure, that is, if she could figure out how.
♦
When morning arrived, Gavin turned over and had the most peculiar feeling he was being watched. He opened his eyes and was relieved ta see it was only his, lass. “Lass,” Gavin said. “Why are ye watching me?”
The sound of his voice brought her back from her musings. “I was just thinking?”
“About?”
“Life.”
“What about it?”
“Just that how it changes so quickly, especially when you aren’t expecting it to.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Sometimes.”
Gavin didn’t respond to that because he was thinking the same thing not too long ago. What surprised him was that she was thinking the same. “What time is it?”
She turned and looked over at the clock. “It’s almost eight.”
“Och, that late?”
“The games don’t start until ten so we have plenty of time.”
“Do we have time ta order room service? I am starving.”
“Yes. We can still order room service,” she said a little snippily. Not about ordering the food mind you, but because it wasn’t raining and she had no idea how she was going to keep him away from the games.
“Good. Good.” He rubbed his taut belly and rolled out of bed.
“What are you doing?”
“I am going ta take a shower while ye order the food, aye?”
“Yeah. Okay.” She thought he might want to snuggle together for a bit since he may very well be gone in a few short hours but apparently that was not to be that case.
♦
After Paige set the bed to rights and ordered breakfast, she went to the bathroom door and peered inside.
Her breath caught at the sight. Damn! He was so beautiful. The water sprayed down on Gavin’s naked body, and his hands were pressed against the wall.
Paige couldn’t help but admire his fine form. The way his muscles flexed across his back. Her gaze traveled lower—he had perfectly sculpted buttocks just like a Greek Adonis, except if possible, Gavin was so much better looking and he was real.
As if he knew she was standing there, he turned and looked right at her.
Her breath whooshed from her chest at the look he was giving her.
“Are ye going ta stand there all day looking yer fill o’ me or are ye going ta come and wash me back?”
“Uh… all right.”
“I was hoping ye were going ta say that.” He turned more fully into the spray of the water so his back was facing her.
Paige stumbled over her own feet as she made her way to the shower and lifted a washrag. “I need the soap.” She held out her hand.
Gavin grabbed hold, squeezing her fingers slightly. “Och, lass. If ye want ta do it proper, ye need ta get in the shower as well, aye?
It took Paige all of a minute to make up her mind about that and even less to ditch her pajamas. She climbed in the shower behind Gavin, glad he had his back turned. She didn’t know where her modesty had gone but she was glad it seemed to have taken a hike for a while.
“Do ye have enough room?”
“Yes. Plenty,” she assured him. After soaping up the washrag, she placed it on his muscular back. Warm water splattered against her hand as she methodically ran the rag down from his shoulders to the curve of his sculpted buttocks and then repeated the action. If this was going to be the last time they were together she wanted to memorize every inch of his body.
“That feels good, lass.”
She tended to agree. She may not be getting washed but washing him was probably even more exciting.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
HIGHLAND GAMES, WEST VIRGINIA
On the way to the Fes
tival - Present Day
As her car crept up another steep incline on the way to the games, Paige tried to think of something, anything, short of driving off the mountain to either delay the inevitable or stop them completely from arriving at their destination. A glimmer of hope settled inside her chest as she saw the damage from the storm. There were lots of tree branches down and a few good-sized rocks were scattered across the road, but nothing too devastating. Dang it!
Once again, Gavin held the dash in a death grip. His eyes were shut but he felt the all too familiar swooshing in his belly making him feel sick.
“How much longer, lass?” he asked, swallowing back the hot taste of bile in his throat. He knew he should not have eaten so much bacon or drank so much orange juice but he couldn’t seem to help himself—it all tasted so good going down his gullet into his belly.
“About fifteen minutes.” Hoping his eyes were closed, she glanced over at him.
Thankfully, they were shut.
Chewing nervously on her lip, she debated whether or not to turn around and pretend like the road was closed. But as she looked for someplace to do just that, she noticed there really wasn’t anywhere to do this, save for the top of mountain where they were headed at the moment.
Paige gripped the steering wheel tighter, taking out her frustration silently.
Trying to stop the erratic swooshing in his belly Gavin tried to focus on other things, but as usual, his mind drifted of its own accord back to where it was want to go of late—to the past…
MEMORY
Greystone Lands, Loch Morar
‘13’ men on horseback gathered together on the ridge as the wind picked up strength bringing dark clouds hovering just above their heads. It seemed, as it always did, when they went to retrieve someone from the other side that forces unbeknownst to them were at play.
Gavin’s horse danced sideways and he dug in his heels in his sides to calm him. “Tis just a storm brewing in the distance, nothing more,” he soothed, petting his horse’s mane.
“Och, why do ye always lie ta the beast, Laird? We both know it is more than a storm setting the horses ta acting skittish,” Morgan said.
Gavin turned in his saddle, towards Morgan. His hair, beard, and mustache, were longer now, not as short or close shaven as he usually kept it and there was plenty of silver running through it now as well. Since they had been locked away, Morgan now looked older than his years. There was also a gauntness that lingered about his face even though his body had filled back out a bit since they were in captivity. “Why are ye always so quick to assume the worst?”
“I am not assuming anything, Laird.” He shrugged his broad shoulders. “I am simply making an observation.”
“If that is the case, I would appreciate it if ye would keep yer observations ta yerself.” Gavin tightened his hold on the reins; turning back around, he faced the opposite ridge.
“O’ course, my Laird,” Morgan dripped. “What was I thinking.”
“Och, stop trying ta pacify me with yer honeyed words, Morgan. I know what ye are about.”
“I was jes making a bit o’ conversation while we wait.”
“What is taking so long?” Gavin was tired and he wanted nothing more than to be in his keep, settled in front of a warm fire with some food to eat and some ale ta drink. Was that so much ta ask for? He thought not. But instead, he was stuck out in the cold night air awaiting the arrival of yet another witch. He just recently lost the man that was sent back the last time.
With the help of Morgan, Gavin had brought the man down to the shore surrounding the Loch when the moon was full just as the crone had instructed.
But after hours of waiting for the appearance of the creature and with the man sobbing so badly ta spare his life, when the sun began to rise Morgan had finally decided ta let him go. Saying that the creature was obviously not interested in a man.
Where he went after that was still a mystery to Gavin, but if the truth of the matter were ta be told, he didn’t really care either. The only thing he cared about was staying out of prison and away from the Headsman’s ax.
They had been free from captivity for a few months now. And every full moon they went ta retrieve another person. But not one of them were able ta rouse the creature in the Loch from its hiding place, and he was beginning to wonder if such a creature even existed.
“Mayhap there is no one coming tonight,” Morgan suggested hopefully.
Gavin exhaled loudly and swiped his hand over his face. He turned back around to look at Morgan. “What are the odds of that happening my friend?”
“Och, ye know it was only a suggestion. A man can hope can he not?”
“Aye, ye can hope all ye want but ye know as well as I do, the odds of that happening are on the slim side.”
“Aye, I know.” Morgan took a breath, awaiting the arrival of another witch.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
HIGHLAND GAMES, WEST VIRGINIA
The Festival - Present Day
To her delight, when they finally arrived at the games, the place was deserted. A sign was posted at the field entrance.
“Due to the inclement weather the games have been postponed indefinitely.”
Hallelujah! She wanted to whoop, holler, and do a happy dance to boot.
Well, she did…that is …until she saw Gavin’s face.
He looked devastated which in turn made her feel pretty bad as well. Granted, she could understand why, sort of. But seriously, couldn’t he at least try to hide it a bit?
“There are other games,” she said finally. Actually, there was a rather sizeable list of Scottish festivals and Highlands games that she had discovered while researching the men. Who knew it was such a big deal.
His face brightened. “Where?”
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. She berated herself silently as her shoulders slumped in defeat. “There are some in central Virginia next weekend.”
“Can we go ta them?”
She sighed. “Sure.”
“Are they far from here?”
“Only about an hour or two.”
“Should we leave now?”
“How about we wait until tomorrow since we have some time to kill.”
“Och, lass, ye need ta speak more plainly if ye want me ta respond. This killing of time doesna make sense ta me.”
“It just means we have time. Meaning…Oh never mind.” She threw her car in reverse and turned around, heading back the way they had just come.
♦
The trees were turning from one color to the next, as the first signs of fall were making an appearance. The air had a chill in it as well—a reminder that fall wasn’t too far away. Under normal circumstances, Paige would have enjoyed the ride back to the hotel more. Stands were set up on the sides of the road, with fresh cider and apples and even kettle corn. When she stopped to fill up her car with gas, she walked over to one of the stands and got them some kettle corn to eat for the rest of the drive, as well as some cider to drink.
Gavin took one look at the bag and shook his head. “Och, why is it so strange looking?”
“It’s just popcorn.” She reached into the clear plastic bag and pulled out a handful, tossing a few pieces into her mouth. “See. It’s good.”
Gavin gave her a doubtful look but still reached into the bag and pulled out a solitary piece of popcorn. Holding it under his nose, he sniffed. “It smells sweet?”
“It is sweet. You’d know if you would just eat some.”
“Fine.” Scrunching up his face and shutting his eyes, he put the popcorn in his mouth and slowly chewed.
“Well?”
He opened his eyes. “It’s acceptable.”
“Acceptable?” she scoffed. “It’s delicious.” She grabbed another handful out of the bag just to prove her point and ate it.
He smiled.
It was a small smile, and if she hadn’t been watching him so closely, she would have missed it. And it didn’t go unnoticed to her that when h
e thought she wasn’t looking, his hand snaked inside the bag again. Turning his head, he ate a few more pieces.
Paige stifled a laugh. He looked so darn cute.
Not surprisingly, by the time they got to the hotel the popcorn was pretty much gone. Not from her, but from Gavin. She found out very quickly, as she already knew from playing cards with him for candy, that if Gavin liked something, he was a bit stingy.
He took a drink of cider straight from the container, swiped his hand over his mouth, and then lowered it back down. “This taste like apples.” He shook the jug and watched the brown liquid swirl in the bottom.
“It is made from apples.”
He widened his eyes, seemingly shocked by such a thing.
This time she did laugh out loud.
She couldn’t help it.
“Och, what do ye find so amusing, lass?”
“You.” She kept right on laughing.
Gavin frowned.
She laughed even harder.
Suddenly everything seemed laughable. Their current predicament—Gavin wanting to go back to his time without her and especially the fact that he still hadn’t told her that he loved her. Now that was the funniest thing of all.
After she had nearly peed her pants laughing hysterically, she realized the reason wasn’t necessarily about her situation at all, well, she amended, some of it was, but it was mostly because she had bought hard cider and she was drunk.
Stumbling up the steps to their room, she felt the full effects of her drinking foray hit her like a ton of bricks.
“Och, lass, can ye walk?” Gavin asked, pushing her forward when she started to fall backward.
“Pissh-possh,” she slurred, swaying towards their room. “I am walking.” She lifted her foot too high in the air and slammed it back down on the stair like she was marching.
“Lass, are ye drunk?” Gavin grabbed her arm to keep her upright.
Lost in the Highlands, Volume Two Page 26
