by Sarah Hoss
Victoria looked at her. “Why? Why can’t it work that way? Tell me.” Victoria crossed her arms over her chest; aggravation heavy in her voice.
“Because one doesn’t just pick up and go on a vacation with no planning.” She flipped her hand in the air, then back on her leg for emphasis.
She turned to Lilly, hoping she could get through to her. But her friend merely cocked her head to the side with an expression on her face of patience, as if she waited to see what excuse Marlana would come up with next.
The Grandfather clock chimed seven times.
“And what makes you so sure my dreams mean something?” she asked. “What if I don’t want to find out?”
“I think they do, and sometimes, all you need is faith in something. Go and discover the answer for yourself.” Lilly looked at her with such intensity that Marlana knew she believed what she said.
“Hon, I know you’ve been sad lately and you’re scared to go.” Lilly put her hand up to stop Marlana’s protest. “You’re biting your lip. Sure sign.”
Damn, here she was talking about how they always give themselves away. Victoria tapped her shoulder and she turned to look at her. Putting her hand under her chin, Victoria squeezed gently. “Just go. Have fun. Relax. When you come back, you’ll be your old self again and we’ll be here waiting. We can go on a kayaking trip, or something, to celebrate your coming home.”
She sighed and picked up the tickets. Staring at them, she said, “Okay, I’ll go.” If she didn’t agree, she would never hear the end of it and would probably have to confront the very real possibility of being dragged there by the two of them, anyway. She smiled to make them happy, but she didn’t know how much of her spirit was actually into it.
They spent the next two hours in the kitchen drinking wine and planning the trip. Maps and brochures littered the table. Her friends had really put some thought into this.
She started to feel guilty for worrying them and her eyes filled with tears, again. “I want to thank you guys, really.”
They stopped looking at her laptop to stare at her.
“This is great and I appreciate the gesture.” She blew her nose. “I’m also sorry for being such a downer lately. I hope you’ll forgive me.” Not wanting to look her friends in the eye, she turned her head. She took a deep breath and smiled back at them. “So, when do I leave?”
Lilly and Victoria started to laugh. Both stood and walked around to her and hugged her tightly. “You are so goofy.” Victoria started to turn away. “Oh, and you leave in two days. We took care of everything—your job and your house are both taken care of.”
She protested, informing them that she couldn’t be ready in such a short amount of time. Her best friends called her a chicken. Sighing, she walked Victoria and Lilly to the front door.
She watched them get into Victoria’s silver Toyota and drive away. Sitting down on the front step, she took a deep breath. The night air teased her nose. The scent of ozone, fresh after the recent rainstorm, soothed her. The night was quiet. These moments were her favorite, sitting outside and reflecting.
She stared up at the heavens while she toyed with the precious pendant she always wore. Orion the Hunter shone bright this evening and when she spotted him, the corner of her mouth rose in acknowledgement. He was always the first thing she saw when she looked into the sky. When she was little, she’d pretend he was her personal guardian. She remembered hearing once that he was good luck and her smile deepened.
Marlana winked at Orion. “I’m counting on you.”
CHAPTER 4
The empty hanger in the closet swung back and forth. Marlana walked over to the suitcase lying on the bed and gently placed the last shirt inside. She would be leaving in the morning; her stomach was tight with anticipation. What was it going to be like? Two weeks of freedom. She had a full agenda for the time that she would be in Scotland, Lilly and Victoria saw to that. After examining the suitcase one more time, she zipped it closed and sat it on the floor under the window. She stood in place for a second, staring at the suitcase, fiddling with her pearl pendant. She smiled, unable to stop thinking about the trip. Butterflies danced in her stomach.
Crawling into bed, she snuggled down deep into the covers, and before long was asleep ... dreaming of him.
She stood at the edge of a wooded area thick with trees. Saplings sprouted in front of her. The ground was covered with ferns and mushrooms took up residence at the base of the trees. Were they fairy mounds? She smiled at the thought.
The fragrance of Earth was all around her. Scents of pine and wildflowers tickled her nose. She scanned the area, trying to recognize her surroundings. Nothing looked familiar. Purple heather spread out in front of her as far as the eye could see. It was breathtaking and she bent down to run her hands over the fragrant bushes. Surprised at how soft they were, she plucked a small handful.
Alder trees stood at attention like soldiers. She tilted her head heavenward and saw birds perched on the limbs. Straight ahead, she found a mountain range off into the distance. To her left, a deer jumped out of the trees and ran across the glen.
That’s when she noticed him.
He was perched on a hillside with his arms crossed over his chest. Rocks jutted out in jagged edges where he stood. A slight breeze blew and his shoulder-length black hair danced on a small burst of wind. He was tall, muscular, and his eyes bore into her with a penetrating gaze.
She stood slowly, mesmerized. His nose looked straight and sat on top of a deliciously tempting full mouth. His jaw line was chiseled to perfection. Heat started at her toes and rose upward; filling her with warmth she had never experienced before. He was gorgeous and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. “Good gracious!”
He wore a white shirt and black and white checkered plaid. The material draped over his shoulder and wrapped around his waist, stopping at his knees. He wore brown leather shoes and wool socks. Every detail was seared into her brain, branded into her mind like there was a need to remember.
She lowered her eyes to his lips. They were moving, but no sound came out. She strained to listen, then took a step closer.
“What? What are you saying? I can’t hear you.” How could she make him understand? This seemed to upset him. She watched as he frowned and extended his hand to her, beckoning. Was she supposed to take it and go with him? She reached for him, but couldn’t grab his hand. She took a step forward, but he always seemed to be out of reach. This aggravated her; confused her. She fisted her hands at her sides. After trying a few more times, she stopped and stared at him. He let his hand drop and gazed back at her for a minute. His eyes closed and she could see anguish in his expression. It broke her heart. She felt deep within her that his pain was her fault.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
When he opened his eyes, he glanced at her a moment longer, before he turned and walked away, over the hill.
She sat up in bed, startled by her dream. She took deep breaths to calm herself. “Damn.” She slapped her hand on the bed.
What did it mean? The dream had been more vivid and the images felt so real. She lifted her hand to her cheek. It was wet. Had she cried in her sleep? Reaching over to the bedside table, she grabbed a tissue and her bottle of water.
She thought about the trip for a minute and wondered if it would reveal any answers? Would she see the glen from her dreams? A secret part of her hoped Lilly and Victoria were right. Maybe the answers were in Scotland.
The alarm clock flashed ‘4:33’. Her plane didn’t leave until eight o’clock. Begrudgingly, she got out of bed. She wished she could sleep a little longer. Knowing she wouldn’t go back to sleep, she brushed the hair out of her face and climbed into the shower, with the promise of adventure hanging in the air.
Marlana waved to Victoria and Lilly as she went through security on her way to th
e boarding terminal. Her stomach did flips as she stood in line. She wished they could have come with her, but Lilly recently had a baby and couldn’t leave her sweet little girl. And Victoria couldn’t get time off from work, having returned two weeks ago from a trip to Tennessee for a family reunion. Part of her felt guilty for taking the gift. She hoped the cost hadn’t caused them any hardship. It didn’t seem right, though, going on this adventure without them. She felt lonely without her two best friends and hugged herself.
During the flight to Inverness, she tried to sleep, hoping time would go by faster. Fat chance of that when the guy sitting next to her made more noise than a fast moving locomotive. When he slept, he snored loud enough to wake the dead. And when the jerk was awake, he wanted to talk. The eight-hour flight felt more like fifty.
When she finally landed and made her way to the hotel room, she went straight to her bed and slept for twelve hours. Everything she had heard about jet lag was true. But when she woke, she was ready to explore.
For the first two days in town, she spent most of her time walking up and down the streets, enjoying the sights. Everything in the city was made of stone, making the place look entirely gray. The modern conveniences were evident as she looked around; from the car on the street to the telephone booth on the corner. Inverness had been standing here for hundreds of years, and even though this was the modern age, she could still see the ancient history. A rich echoing through the town, like a secret whisper drawing you in.
“Okay handsome, where are you hiding?” she whispered as she took in the sights.
Standing on the footbridge that crossed over the River Ness, she rested one hand on the railing, while the other toyed with her pearl pendant and studied the scene before her. The river ran through the middle of town. The footbridge that she stood on crossed the river and led to more of Inverness.
She walked to the corner and stopped in front of a sign. “The complete mountain experience.” This looked to be the best place for supplies, perfect for the hiking trip she planned to take.
The store was bigger than she expected. A bell rang when the door opened and closed. For a moment, she had the familiar feeling of being in a store back home.
The strong smell of leather greeted her. Around the top of the walls, near the ceiling, were various pictures of the Highlands in its grandest moments, containing the mountains, animals, and a few of the local people. She heard a cough, looked over to the counter, and couldn’t help but smile. The gentleman standing there must have been at least seventy-five years old and had the nicest grin she had ever seen. There was warmth and sincerity to his eyes.
He spoke first. “Good day to ye, lass.” He braced his hands on the counter to help himself stand, then walked around to her. He was shorter by about four inches.
“Hi.” She smiled cheerfully at the white-haired man. “Did you take these amazing photos?” She gestured to the wall.
“Aye.” He gazed at the prints.
“What can I do to be helping ye? Are ye thinking of going on a wee hike?” He winked. His Scottish burr was thick, but easy to understand.
She looked around at all the merchandise, trying to figure out what she might need. “I am.” She stepped toward the backpacks. “The local countryside is gorgeous and I was hoping to walk around a bit. You seem to have anything and everything in your store.”
He laughed. “Dear lassie, in Scotland there is no walking. The hillsides are plenty enough and even then ye are hiking. Mind ye stick to the paths. We wouldna want ye to get taken by the fairy folk, now would we?” He winked at her again. “Are ye up for it?” There was a twinkle in his eye.
“I am, thank you. Back home, I found myself outdoors more than indoors. If it’s as you say, though, I imagine I ought to buy a good pair of boots, too.” She picked up a sturdy pair of high-top boots and studied them, wondering if she wanted another expense.
“Well then, come and let me help ye shop,” he said and she couldn’t help but laugh.
When it was all said and done, she walked out with a backpack, hiking boots, and a few other accessories she had forgotten she needed.
“Now, lass, if ye need anything else, questions answered or help, ye come back and see me, aye?” He nodded toward her in certain affirmation.
She beamed at him. “I will and thank you again, you’ve been very kind.” With directions in hand, she went toward the Loch Ness tours. The roads were bricked and orange, red, and yellow flowers peeked out of pots that lined the streets every ten feet. Inverness was a very pretty town.
Following a few hours of walking the town, shopping, and making arrangements to see the sights, she headed back to her hotel room. After her bath, she crawled into bed and snuggled down under the covers. She knew sleep would come easily and closed her eyes, a smile on her lips.
The tour bus pulled in front of the hotel, reminding her of a school bus. Half white and half blue, the side read “Loch Ness Tours” in bold navy-blue lettering. The driver winked and gave her a pleasant smile when she boarded. “Hoping to catch a wee glimpse of Nessie, are ye?”
Marlana raised her camera and smiled, too. “Guilty.” She’d noticed that everyone in the town winked at you, like they had a secret that you were supposed to guess.
“Well, lassie, may luck be on your side. You never know when the old dame will appear.” The driver chuckled.
The bus bounced along the road to Loch Ness, at times making her think that she would be tossed right out of her seat, into the lap of the lady sitting next to her. She glanced around. The bus was full of people with hopes of seeing the main attraction, and though she guessed it wouldn’t happen, she still hoped.
The view from the window stole her breath. Hills and mountains rose high above the land in majestic splendor, decorated with shades of green and brown. Evidence of Spring turning into summer everywhere she looked. Rocks jutted out here and there. It all seemed like a dream, and if she could, she would have sat by the edge of the road for hours getting lost in the view.
A slight drizzle started to fall as she exited the bus, and she was thankful she had packed her raincoat, or mackintosh, as the locals called it. She’d pulled her hair back into a ponytail, but the rain made little wisps of it stick out around her face. She tried to tame it for the hundredth time, to no avail.
Just as the storeowner predicted, the ride had taken two hours. Up ahead, the ferry waited. After paying the fee and grabbing a pamphlet, everyone boarded. She pulled out her camera and sat down near the front.
The water shone crystal clear. The sun poked through the clouds and she needed to shield her eyes, from the glare, where the sun glistened off the water. The tour guide was much younger than the bus driver and very handsome. His hair, colored many shades of red, had a few blonde highlights. She knew plenty of women who would pay good money to get hair like that.
“Welcome to Loch Ness tours. My name is Lorn and I’m your guide for the hour.” He looked around to see if he had everyone’s attention. “The loch is around twenty-four miles long and it is over 750 feet deep. Deep enough to hold a monster,” he said and everyone chuckled.
“This loch is also great for fishing, so if anyone fancies a quiet afternoon, we hope ye will try us first.”
He pointed out, over the water, and everyone turned to look. “At the southern end of Loch Ness, ye will find Fort Augustus. The village lies in between Inverness and Fort William and is what we call the Great Glen of the Highlands.”
His Scottish brogue hypnotized and rolled over her like honey as he spoke about Fort Augustus being built after the 1715 Jacobite Rising. Passengers were attentive and when he asked how many had come in hopes of seeing Nessie, everyone raised their hand.
His gaze scanned the crowed, then came back to land upon Marlana. He asked, “Did ye know that the loch never freezes?” A slow seductive smile played at
his lips.
She shook her head ‘no’, feeling heat flush her cheeks, and shoved the wayward strands of hair out of her face.
“It’s true. The water at the bottom stays the same temperature year around, approximately forty-four degrees.” He surveyed the group. “Sightings of Nessie have been reported as far back as 565 A.D. by Saint Columba. But the legend is more alive now than ever. People used to fear her, but now they’re intrigued.” His green eyes sparkled and he smiled at her before going on with the rest of the tour.
Though she never saw the infamous Nessie, Marlana enjoyed the tour and flirting with Lorn. It was just the boost her shattered ego needed. She couldn’t wait to see what the next day’s adventure held.
Having decided the night before to expand her horizons, Marlana boarded a southbound train and headed out to see the country.
She enjoyed the ride and the view as the trip south became even more splendid. When she arrived in a town called Newtonmore, she spotted a sign that said “Cued Mille Failte!” In English, it translated “A hundred thousand welcomes!”
Newtonmore reminded her of a picture she had seen in a magazine once. The thing she loved most, as she stood there, turning in a circle, looking around, was the fact that it still looked as it might have one hundred and fifty years ago. It was the same in Inverness. Time here moved on, but only in quiet ways.
The sense of hospitality that echoed through the streets was refreshing. Everything looked clean and fresh. Flowers decorated pots along storefronts, windows sparkled in the sun, and everyone she passed greeted her, making her feel welcome.
The Garden Café linked the Tourist Center to the Craft Center and as she stepped through the door, friendly faces greeted her.
