North by Northeast

by Cherime MacFarlane

  Lurch slapped Hamish on the back. "If you ever want to turn to a life of crime, I know a few people who would be interested."

  Hamish was gradually warming up. He drank half the cup of tea before pushing the mug toward Thud. "Would ye, please? Nae, Lurch, I had the devil's own time gettin tha last crewman up ontae tha deck. I'm gonna install ah gym at tha glen. That's tha reason I was so out of breath. Too many years sitting on my arse at tha keyboard. I'm nae cut out for ah life of crime."

  The joke was lost on Lori, who glanced from one man to the other. She doubted either of them would explain, and took another sip of her tea. Thud was correct, the tea was settling her nerves and, wonders of wonders, her stomach.

  With both hands wrapped around the warm mug, Lori sighed in relief. Glen switched the heater on, and her heart rate began to slow. At last, she was safe.

  "How did you find me?" Lori looked up at the three men. Glen was perched on the chart table stool. Lurch was lounging across from Lori and Hamish on the settee. Thud was leaning on the kitchen counter. "How did this all come together?"

  Hamish draped his arms over her shoulders when she sat up straight. Now the conversation he dreaded was about to happen. Hamish didn't want to lie, but some things would be better left unsaid.

  He started at the top. First, he told her about the call from the art gallery that got the ball rolling and his subsequent call to Warren. "Warren thought I might need help. So luv, here is tha help he sent, an no better men could he have given me."

  Hamish nodded his thanks as Thud handed him the refilled cup.

  "Oh, shut yur trap, H.M., before ye gie me ah swelled head. Ye’d hav done tha same fer us. We're no something special here, Lori. We were just helpin friends."

  Thud pushed Lurch over and came to sit on the settee.

  Glen turned off the radio. "We're not going to find out anything more now. It seems the investigation is in full swing." The bassist shifted position on the stool. "We found a crewman who didn’t like what was happening. The man ran away from the ship. He knew Day was looking for him to keep him from talking."

  "I recall him." Lori nodded. "When he opened the door to the dungeon, he did appear shocked. I thought my being sick all over the place had freaked him out. I heard him say something about getting the hell out of there when he slammed the door and ran away."

  "Sick?" Hamish turned her face toward his with his fingertips. "Ye sick on ah boat? Was it ah reaction to what they gave ye?"

  Lori kissed his cheek. "In a moment, darling. I understand you found the missing crewman, but how did you get him to talk to strangers who actually look like a bunch of bikers?"

  Glen made a funny sound in his throat. Then cleared it. "Hamish got him to tell us where the Sunny Day was bound. It seems Day made Hyder the first stop when he was in collection mode."

  "But?" Lori stared at the men clustered around her. Hamish still had his arms draped around her shoulders and had slipped slightly behind her back. She couldn’t see his face. "How did Hamish convince the guy to give you information on his employer? He knew Day was going to kill him."

  Glen looked at Lurch. Lurch shook his head as he turned to Thud. With a sharp glance at H.M., Thud chuckled. "Well, me girl. It seems I'm elected tae answer tha question for ye. 'Tis quite easy to assume tha raving Scotsman who is holdin ye against a wall, hands around yer throat and yer ballocks with ye not touchin tha floor, might just kill ye if ye no gie him the answer he demands."

  Lori turned her head to look at Hamish. "Hamish?"

  "Aye, luv. Truth is, I was more than willin and able to choke the life from the bleedin bastard had he not answered me."

  Lurch slapped his leg. "I’ve always known Hamish here had a temper, but I didn’t know there was a barbarian hiding inside. We tried to pull H.M. off the guy. I got the wind knocked out of me for trying. He was spitting fire. The crewman's eyes were bugging out of his head. It took a while before the kid could even talk." No one mentioned the dagger.

  Lori stared at Hamish, her eyes searching his. She saw the truth. Hamish in defense of his family was a dangerous man. The Highlander with the broadsword was closer to the surface than she had imagined.

  "Lori." Glen's voice was soft in the silence. "He was going to find you and get you back no matter what. The reason he refused to let us go with him to get you off the boat was because he didn’t want us to get into trouble and more important, he wasn't coming back without you."

  Lori sighed. "Well then, gentlemen, I will share something with you all. I’ve not even had time to tell Hamish. I found out in Seattle I'm pregnant. You’re all going to be uncles. That's why I puked all over Day's lovely boat."

  Hamish's arms tightened around her, and he buried his face in her hair. Lori leaned back against him. Lurch gave Thud a slight push to get him to move off the bench. The guitar player rose and put a hand on Hamish's head as he leaned over to give Lori a kiss on her cheek.

  "I think it's time we left these two alone. Come on, guys. Hamish, you and Lori take the forward stateroom. We’re going out on deck for a while."

  Glen patted Hamish's shoulder as he kissed Lori on the forehead. "Glad to have you both back, safe and sound. Francie will be over the moon with the news."

  Thud just hugged them both before he left. Lori was alone in the cabin with Hamish.

  "Ah, luv, 'tis a good thing I dinnae know or I might ha killed tha bastard." He took a deep shuddering breath. They had one more hurdle, the coppers. Not wanting to think about it with Lori finally in his arms, Hamish roused himself. Everyone had given them a moment alone to get into the master stateroom.

  "Come, luv. Tae bed with us. It's been a hard few days." Urging her to her feet, Hamish steered her toward the forward stateroom. Once they were in bed, everyone else could get to their bunks. They would all sleep tonight. Now that the threat was eliminated, Hamish suspected Lori would crash. They were both in danger of going down hard.

  He guided her through the bunk area and into the stateroom. With one arm still around her, he pulled the bedding aside and helped her into the large berth. After sliding in beside her, Hamish tugged the covers over them. As he pulled Lori into his arms, she began to tremble. Her teeth were chattering.

  "Ye're safe now, lass. Tha bawbag cannae hurt ye."

  She would need time to recover. This had been incredibly hard on her. With her having to worry about the baby she now carried, it had been worse than he suspected. Arms tightly around her, Hamish draped himself partially on top of Lori.

  "I'm sorry, Hamish. I was so bloody stupid. You told me to check doors. I could have gotten any one of you killed. If the baby is injured, it's my fault." Tears dribbled down her cheeks as the words tumbled out.

  "Wheesht. Nae, luv. Day was crazy. It was nae your fault. It was ah criminal act, dear heart. The wee one is fine. It's over, darlin. Ye are just havin ah reaction. 'Tis stress let down. It will pass."

  Lori's cheek was against his chest. Her tears slid across his skin. Hamish didn’t try to get her to stop crying; that would come in time. He hummed a lullaby softly. A little later, she let go and relaxed against him. When he would have shifted his weight off her, Lori clung to him. Hamish lay still, holding her, as he thanked God for the woman and unborn child in his arms. Finally, he drifted off to sleep.

  Hands, mouth, Lori was all over him. She had rolled him over on his back. Now Lori was trying to get his trunks off. Hamish had wanted her last night but knew she needed to recover. When Lori got the suit off, it was almost as if the woman wanted to eat him alive. Her mouth caused his legs to go rigid with what she was doing.

  He sat up, grabbed her under the arms and pulled her toward him. The taste of her lips made him desperate for more. Lori's tongue ran across his teeth, and she sucked his tongue into her mouth.

  "Now. Hamish, now!" she whispered into his ear after she sucked on his earlobe. He knew what she wanted. Hamish rolled her onto her back and spread her legs. With a grunt, he pushed into her as far as he could. Lor
i grabbed fists full of his hair as she drew his head down. Her teeth sunk into his lower lip. Lori didn’t want gentle. She was desperate to feel. Hamish gave it to her as he felt the same.

  After they had collapsed on the bed in a sweaty heap, she began again. This time, she wanted to go slow. Hamish was willing to give her whatever she desired. Now it was his turn to play with her body.

  For an instant, the disturbing thought that he had almost lost her forever seared into his brain. With a sharp shake of his head, Hamish went back to the business at hand, satisfying his woman.

  Every little inch of her was his to touch and caress. His mission was to taste all of her beautiful body. For a moment, while licking around her belly button, he laid his cheek on the area where their child was growing. He closed his eyes, and his heart filled. The emotion almost brought him to tears.

  Again, Hamish turned his attention to her body. She was panting as she tried to pull his head up for a kiss. "Nae, luv. Not yet. Just ah wee while longer," he whispered.

  She arched against his mouth; again and again, Lori shuddered as he sucked on her. With a deep sigh, he crawled up her body. Hamish let her taste herself on his lips when he kissed her.

  "God, Hamish I..." she began.

  He guessed what might be about to come out of her mouth and silenced her. “Wheesht. Nae, darlin. It dinnae happen, thank God."

  Taking his time, Hamish entered her ever so slowly and lay still until she was wiggling against him in need. Hamish knew the whole boat was rocking. He tuned into the rhythm that their bodies and the lapping of the waves made and used it to increase the intensity.

  Hamish didn't care who knew what was going on in the bow of the boat. They could live with it. He held on, taking them both as high as he could as Lori clung to him, begging for release. When they tipped over the edge, Lori was crying his name almost in a chant.

  For a moment he lay on her, totally drained. Hamish found the strength to roll her over on top of him. He ran his hands up and down her sweat-drenched back as he nuzzled her neck. "Better, my luv?"

  "Oh, yes! I needed to feel you, your warmth, and your life. But we beat him, Hamish. I finally figured out what he wanted, and I didn't give in, I lied. I told him you painted the barbarian caveman series, and he kidnapped the wrong MacGrough. I said they could only have come from a warrior's heart, that I put them out under my name for you. He didn't know whether to believe me or not." Her lips placed tiny kisses across his chest.

  His hands pushed the hair away from her damp forehead. "Well done, Lori MacGrough. Ye didna lie, luv, they came from ah warrior's heart. Ye're ah tigress, gradh."

  Lori slid one hand over his chest. It came to rest on his heart. "I still don't know how you found me, how you managed it. But I don't care. Now I just want to go home with you. I don't want to move from the house for donkey's years."

  He pushed her chin up with his hand. "Soon, darlin. First, the polis. We have tae deal with them. But we will do so together. Now, luv, do ye want tha shower?"

  "Yes, please. That would be grand. I'm afraid we made a mess of the bed."

  "Who gives a shite!"

  She rose from the bunk. Once she was up, Hamish looked through the bed covers for his swimming trunks. He pulled them on and smiled at her before putting a gentle kiss on her lips. "Take your time, luv. I'll be back shortly for ah wee rinse."

  He opened the door to the stateroom. Before any of the three men could say anything to him, Hamish dashed through the men lying awake on the bunks. Running out through the galley area to the stern of the boat, he made a long flat dive into the water of the Portland Canal. He needed to cool down.

  Glen was grinning as Hamish rushed past.

  Thud was leaning on one arm. "Maybe I should ask tha crazy Scot for lessons."

  Lurch just shook his head with a big smile plastered across his face.

  The crew decided Lori and Hamish should take the boat back to the marina in Prince Rupert. Thud made a comment about not being able to stand the heat. The drummer’s remark caused Lori to blush, and she turned to nestle against Hamish.

  An ear-to-ear grin sat on Hamish’s face. He was bursting with happiness. "You've ah woman, Thud. Dinnae tell me ye never have any fun."

  With a laugh, Thud punched Hamish on the shoulder. "Aye, mayhap I'll get home now, so I can find out if I can still claim tae hav ah woman. Mura can get ah mite peeved if I'm gone tae long."

  Hamish piloted the jet boat over to the Hyder quay. There he unloaded his passengers, who planned to walk to Stewart. They would drive the jeep to Prince Rupert, where they would collect the couple.

  The three men planned to buy disposable cameras. They wanted to be able to take pictures of the journey as there had been no time on the way to Stewart. Thud told Hamish and Lori he had never seen so many bears on the trip up. He wanted pictures to take home.

  Glen asked Hamish to be sure to check in to the hotel closest to the marina. They would find them. With a laugh, Hamish waved them off, telling them to enjoy themselves and to take their time getting to Prince Rupert.

  Hamish fired up the jet boat. With Lori in the chair next to him, Hamish pulled the powerboat away from the pier in Hyder. It was an easy run down the Portland Canal to the Hecate Strait. There was no sign of the Sunny Day.

  Once in the open ocean, Hamish opened the jet up. He watched Lori's face light with amazement as they sped away from the mouth of the fjord.

  "Hamish, what kind of boat is this?"

  With one hand on the wheel, he got out of the chair and stood to one side of it. Hamish steered with one hand as he grinned at her. "Come here, luv. Climb in the seat. 'Tis a jet boat."

  Lori scrambled into the chair.

  With a laugh, he let go of the wheel. "Take it. ‘Tis all yurs."

  With a squeal, Lori grabbed the wheel. "Oh! Wow! Honey, we need one of these!"

  He stepped up behind the chair, reached out and took her breasts in his hands. "Are ye over being sick, by the way?"

  "I'm not sick now!"

  Hamish laughed at her enthusiasm. "Aye, then." He put his hands on hers and did several sharp "s" turns with the jet boat.

  "Oh, boy! It was incredible, but maybe we’d better go in a straight line for a while," Lori gasped out.

  He put both hands back on her breasts and nuzzled her ear. "Ye steer it then, luv. I'm otherwise occupied. Nae getting sick, mind? So warn me if ye need tae."

  Lori enjoyed herself piloting the jet boat. Hamish amused himself by feeling up his wife the entire time. He could tell she liked what he was doing by the tightening of her nipples and the occasional sigh.

  He told her to slow the jet boat when they were less than fifteen minutes out. Hamish took over and brought the ship into port.

  When the rental was safely back in the marina, they went looking for the hotel. They found a clothing store first. Inside the small shop, Lori and Hamish each picked out a change of clothing.

  The other thing Hamish wanted was shaving cream and razors. He wanted rid of the itch. After checking into the nearest hotel, per instructions, Hamish pulled Lori into the shower with him where he scrubbed every inch of her.

  Clean and toweled dry, Hamish went to work removing the stubble of whiskers. As he shaved, Lori sat on the toilet and watched. Occasionally she reached out to touch him. He understood she needed to reassure herself it was all over, and they were together.

  When he finished shaving, Lori stepped up behind him as he was toweling off. She put both arms around his waist and rubbed her cheek against his broad back. "Hamish, my gradh, I don’t want to leave you ever again."

  He turned and hugged her for a moment before lifting her into his arms. "I never want ye tae leave. But I know there will be times when ye're going tae go places without me. Right now, we’re nae goin tae worry ourselves about such things. I'm gonna ravish ye until tha three of them drag us bodily from this bed."

  No one bothered them until the next day. Glen explained to Hamish they had not reached
Prince Rupert until late in the evening. They burned up all their film first. On arriving in Prince Rupert, rather than disturb them, they got rooms at the hotel and made an early night of it.

  Glen grinned at Hamish as they were getting into the Jeep. It was Glen who volunteered to ride in the back with Lori and Hamish. "Did you get any sleep last night?"

  "Glen! Hush!" Lori hit him on the arm. Hamish had no qualms about replying.

  "Nae much! And ye will nae find ah happier insomniac anywhere. Ouch!"

  Lori had pulled on his earlobe. Then, with a giggle, she settled into his embrace. It would be a long ride home. They decided to drive non-stop back to the U.S. The five of them were ready to put it all behind them.

  ***

  Lori and Hamish sat in the Seattle police station. Their attorney was in the room with them. Hamish's chair was turned slightly sideways so he could observe Lori's face and the detective's. In defensive mode, Hamish silently watched the proceedings.

  When they called Detective Edwards from the attorney's office, Edwards asked if Lori would be willing to give a voluntary statement. Lori commented on his attitude on the ride over to the station with Lurch, Glen, and Thud. As the victim, she was quite willing to give them and an account of her kidnapping. The "voluntary" comment had her slightly on edge.

  Edwards acknowledged the lawyer with a nod after introductions were made. He led the small party to an interrogation room. Another man joined him with a recorder. Edwards recorded the necessary information before glancing up at Lori. "Mrs. MacGrough, I understand Mr. Day admitted to you that he had been stalking you for four years. Is that correct?"

  Lori nodded. "It is. The crewman, Juan, knew all about the other kidnappings. I’m sure he has information regarding the murders."

  On the way to Seattle when discussing everything, Lori discovered Juan had warned Elden about their employer. It seemed Juan had encouraged Elden to escape. Lori commented Juan and the other men were victims of Day, and she hoped they got off without any punishment.

  "We haven’t verified any of the crew's information yet, Mrs. MacGrough. I understand there is another witness to the affair, Mr. Daniels. We don’t have a statement from him at this time. He’s still in Los Angeles. I hope to have documents from California soon.”