Maggie did her best not to watch but she just couldn’t help herself. It wasn’t as if he was naked underneath – he’d managed to squash his hiking trousers on under his leathers – but she just loved looking at him: his long, strong legs, his tight bum as he bent over, and the way his jet black hair fell across his face. And she wasn’t the only one to be captivated. Kirsty and Catriona were giggling and even Isla was happy to be getting an eyeful.
‘Right!’ Alastair called, breaking the spell. ‘Ready to move on?’
Sandy waved his walking stick in the air and Mikey quickly folded his things away before joining Connie.
‘All set?’ he asked.
Connie nodded, taking in a great lungful of perfectly pure air and smiling. ‘It’s days like this when you truly believe that all is well with the world,’ she said, ‘and nothing – nothing – can ever go wrong again.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
Connie, Mikey, Maggie and Hamish walked in companionable silence, their feet setting a steady rhythm as they left Lochnabrae behind and headed up a steep track through the woods. It was so good to be out in the open, Connie thought. She didn’t walk enough back in LA. All she managed was jogging with her trainer through the park followed by the paparazzi and that wasn’t the same at all. This was real. There were pencil-thin firs and slender silver birches that looked so bright in the spring sunshine and, once they’d walked out of the wood and onto the open moorland, there was the sky. The enormous blue sky. Connie took a deep breath and tried to lock away everything she was seeing so that she’d remember it for ever.
On they walked, covering the miles with easy pleasure. They crossed a tiny stone bridge that straddled a burn they’d been following, the sound of tumbling water filling their ears. The sun was stronger now than when they’d left Lochnabrae and everyone had warmed up and started to shed layers. Bounce was also feeling the heat and charged right into the middle of the burn and drank until everyone felt sure he would burst. Then he bounded out and made sure he was standing in the middle of everyone before shaking, sending a cascade of water over the entire group.
Connie noticed how little groups kept forming as the walk continued. One minute, she’d be chatting to Isla, the next, Alastair would join in and then she’d find herself walking alongside Maggie and Hamish and a new conversation would spring up, but there was one man she never managed to talk to that morning and that was Euan. He seemed to be forever bringing up, the rear, walking at a pace that was somewhere between sedate and sleeping. Perhaps he was finding it tougher than everyone else, Connie thought, although he looked pretty fit. She’d glanced back to smile at him several times but he’d avoided eye contact with her each time. Odd, she thought. They seemed to have got on together so well when trapped in the car during the downpour.
Thinking nothing more of it, Connie marched on until it was time to stop for lunch. Alastair chose a slope of a mountain they’d been climbing. They were high enough up for a fabulous view down into the valley they had been walking through that morning, but sheltered enough so as not to feel the full force of the wind.
Everyone made themselves a little space on the ground, taking off their coats and laying them down to sit upon. For a moment, nobody spoke. There was just stillness here. A curlew cried as it took off from some secret hideaway. A distant sheep bleated and, just above the horizon, a buzzard soared.
Connie sighed as she took in the scene before her. It was all so huge. How many Hollywood mansions would be built on the same amount of space in LA, she wondered? How many swimming pools, liquor stores, malls and rehab centres? Here, it was just the hills, the forests and the clear bright sky.
She took off her coat and lay it on the ground, reclining on top of it with her head upon her arms. She closed her eyes against the warm sun and everything turned orange. Taking a deep breath, she could smell the unmistakable scent of pine trees on the breeze and thought how much lovelier it was than any perfume. She hadn’t felt this calm or peaceful in months. Ever since she’d arrived in Lochnabrae, she had been slowly shedding the layers of stress that had accumulated over so many years.
‘Hey, sleepyhead!’ a voice said.
Connie sat up and shielded her eyes against the light.
‘You should have something to eat before we move on again,’ Maggie told her.
Connie nodded and was just undoing a small rucksack when Bounce bounded up to her and stuck his nose in.
‘Bounce!’ Alastair yelled and the dog backed off reluctantly.
‘Haven’t you got that dog trained yet, Alastair?’ Sandy said with a chuckle.
‘You might be able to direct a troupe of actors but you’re no use with a puppy,’ Angus said, his face dour.
‘He’s young,’ Alastair said.
‘Ah, the excuse of the desperate,’ Sandy said and everyone laughed.
Connie blinked in the brightness and then she remembered something and delved into the depths of her rucksack once more.
‘I’ve brought a few pairs of sunglasses,’ she said, bringing out five beautiful cases. ‘I thought we might need them.’ She handed them out: a pair to Maggie, Kirsty, Catriona and Isla, keeping a pair for herself.
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Kirsty said, opening her case and seeing a pair of enormous black Chanel glasses. ‘These are GORGEOUS!’
‘Look at mine!’ Catriona said, revealing a pair of Armani’s.
Maggie and Isla opened theirs and stared in wonder.
‘You can keep them,’ Connie said. ‘I’ve got so many.’
Kirsty was on her feet in an instant and hugged Connie and, not to be outdone, Catriona, Maggie and Isla followed her lead.
Sandy shook his head and laughed. ‘Will you look at that?’ he said, staring at the five of them wearing their designer glasses on the side of a mountain.
A few minutes passed by with nothing heard but the happy munching of sandwiches, crisps and apples. Maggie, who was sitting between Connie and Mikey, had tied her hair back to stop it blowing into her mouth but was still wrapped up like an old woman.
‘Maggie!’ Connie hissed. ‘Take your jumper off.’
‘What?’
‘Take your jumper off!’ Connie mouthed, motioning to her own, which she’d removed and tied around her waist.
Maggie shook her head.
‘You’ve got something on underneath, haven’t you?’
‘Aye. Of course!’
‘Then take the jumper off,’ Connie whispered. ‘It’s lovely and warm. Give your body a chance to breathe,’ she said, eyes sparkling naughtily.
Maggie stuffed the end of her sandwich into her mouth, removed her sunglasses and reluctantly pulled her jumper off over her head. Sandy immediately did a wolf whistle and everyone giggled and Maggie’s face turned the colour of rowan berries, but Connie was encouraged to see that Mikey was watching and he had the kind of smile on his face that was most promising. So, she thought, he was finally beginning to notice Maggie.
The afternoon walk back to Lochnabrae was not quite as easy as the morning session and Connie soon found herself out of breath as Alastair led the way around the side of the boulder-strewn flank of Ben Torran. It was just as well that they weren’t climbing to the top of it, she thought – she might well have disgraced herself. Then, whilst stumbling across a tussocky field, Connie suddenly found herself up to her shins in black mud.
‘Connie!’ Kirsty cried.
‘Grab me!’ Catriona yelled.
‘No, grab me!’ Kirsty said, both of them wading into the mud to rescue their idol.
‘I’m okay!’ Connie assured them as she squelched out onto dry ground.
‘What’s happened?’ Alastair asked, doubling back.
‘Connie’s been swimming in the mud,’ Sandy said with a laugh.
‘You okay?’ Maggie said as she hurried back.
‘I’m fine. Stop fussing, everyone! There’s nothing to worry about,’ Connie said, looking down to inspect the damage. Her boots and trouser legs were c
ompletely black.
‘What the heck is that stuff ?’
‘It’s just mud,’ Alastair said.
‘Did you not see it, lass?’ Euan asked, stopping alongside her and looking concerned.
‘Well,’ Connie said, ‘I did but I thought it would be more solid than it was.’ Her face flushed with embarrassment as everyone stood around laughing. Everyone except Euan and Maggie.
‘It’s not funny!’ Maggie said. ‘She could’ve been hurt!’
‘I’m fine,’ Connie said, a smile beginning to form on her own face now that she realised nothing was broken.
‘I don’t expect there’s much mud in Hollywood,’ Alastair teased.
‘No,’ Connie said, ‘but there’s a lot of bullshit.’
This set everyone off laughing again.
‘At least the sun’ll dry you off,’ Maggie said, linking arms with her and leading her on. Catriona quickly skipped forward and linked the other arm and the strange linking trio walked on together as best as they could until they reached a stile. Connie assured them that she could cope on her own but Maggie and Kirsty insisted on helping and the air filled with hands for a mad moment as Connie hopped over. It wasn’t a dissimilar experience to the hysteri-cal fans she encountered outside premieres but, looking at their kind faces, Connie couldn’t help but be moved. Their hands weren’t clawing at her and smothering her like those of her fans in Hollywood. They didn’t want to grab a piece of her – they wanted to help her and that was the wonderful difference about being there.
She spent the rest of the afternoon walking and talking with Maggie, Kirsty and Catriona and, after they’d exhausted everything connected with Hollywood, they turned their attention to more down-to-earth subjects like Mikey.
‘I’ve always thought he was cute,’ Kirsty said. ‘He once kissed me under the mistletoe.’
‘When?’ Maggie asked.
‘Five years ago,’ Kirsty said.
‘And you remember it?’ Connie asked.
‘You always remember a kiss from Michael Shire,’ she said, her eyes wistful.
‘He’s the most gorgeous man for miles around,’ Kirsty said. ‘Not that your brother isn’t cute,’ she added. ‘But Mikey’s something different.’
‘What do you think, Connie?’ Kirsty asked.
Connie cleared her throat, not wanting to upset Maggie. ‘I think he’s very handsome,’ she said.
Connie took a sideways glance at Maggie. She wasn’t looking very happy.
‘How about Alastair,’ Connie suggested and then bit her lip. Why had she said that?
‘Alastair?’ Catriona said. ‘Och, no! He’s like a teacher.’
‘Yeah,’ Kirsty said, ‘he’s so bossy.’
‘But he’s good-looking,’ Connie said, glad that she’d managed to steer the conversation away from Mikey but feeling uneasy in another way now.
‘You like our Alastair, do you?’ Kirsty suddenly said.
‘I didn’t say that,’ Connie said quickly – perhaps a little too quickly.
‘You’ve gone all red!’ Catriona said.
‘Shush!’ Maggie hushed, motioning ahead to where both Mikey and Alastair were walking.
Luckily for Connie, it was time for their afternoon stop and rucksacks were downed and flasks produced for tea.
‘Now, I wonder why we stopped here,’ Sandy said with a chuckle.
‘Because this is the Sprawling Rock,’ Alastair said.
‘Why’s it called that?’ Connie asked.
‘Because I get to sprawl on it!’ Alastair said, lying back on the great slab of sparkling granite that had been warmed by the sun.
‘You can see yer belly!’ Isla shouted and Connie couldn’t help but stare at the few inches of bare flesh that were on display. His T-shirt had ridden up, exposing a good flat stomach.
‘Not bad,’ Kirsty whispered to Connie. ‘For an old man.’
‘He’s not old,’ Connie said.
‘Och, he must be thirty-five at least,’ Kirsty said. ‘But not in bad shape for an oldie.’
Connie rolled her eyes and then realised that Maggie was looking at her.
‘What?’ she asked.
‘Nothing,’ Maggie said but there was a little smile growing on her face.
She was glad when they were all on the move again. It was just a short walk down through the valley. The great shadow of Ben Torran made it feel much cooler now and jumpers and jackets were quickly sought.
‘You had a good day, then?’ Alastair asked as he met Connie at a stile. She paused, him on one side and her on the other and, for a brief moment, their fingers touched.
Connie pulled her hand away.
‘I mean, other than the muddy embrace,’ Alastair said, as if he hadn’t noticed the fact that they had touched.
‘I’ve had a great time,’ she told him, looking away. ‘Mud and all. Nothing could spoil today. It’s been brilliant,’ she said.
‘Good,’ Alastair said, nodding lightly as he hopped over the stile and walked on ahead of her.
‘What did he say?’ Catriona asked as she caught up with Connie.
‘Nothing,’ Connie said.
‘He likes you,’ Kirsty said. ‘He likes you a lot!’
Connie ignored them both but she couldn’t help dwelling on their words. Did Alastair really like her?
She watched as he walked ahead of her, his stride so strong and sure, his dark hair blowing out in a dozen different directions at once. He wasn’t like the men Connie was used to. But maybe that was the attraction. She’d left LA to get away from all that fakery. Here – right before her – was a real man. A man who was at home in the mountains, a man who didn’t mind sitting amongst thistles and sheep dung. A man who apparently liked her. Connie smiled as she realised that she apparently liked him too.
They followed a stony track through the valley where the tallest thistles in the world grew, their huge purple heads swaying in the breeze. Everybody’s pace had slowed down now. Legs and bodies were pleasantly tired after the day’s hike and thoughts were turning towards home, supper and a chance to take one’s boots off.
The final half-mile back to Lochnabrae seemed endless but, finally, they were in sight of the familiar white houses and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
‘We’ve made it!’ Sandy said, waving his stick in the air. ‘Pie and a pint for me.’
‘A hot bath for me,’ Kirsty said.
‘Who’s that?’ Maggie suddenly said, removing her new sunglasses.
‘Who?’ Hamish asked.
‘That strange man?’
Everyone looked towards the pub where a small, bald man stood holding a briefcase. He had a suitcase by his side and he didn’t look at all happy to be there.
‘Oh my God!’ Connie cried.
‘What is it?’ Maggie asked.
‘He’s here. He’s really here!’
‘Who?’ Maggie and Hamish said together.
‘My agent,’ Connie said, her mouth dropping open in horror.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bob Braskett looked an odd sight standing outside The Capercaillie in a crisp navy business suit. His shiny bald head seemed to be glowing with anger and his eyes were narrowed behind his round spectacles.
‘What the hell are you doing here, Bob?’ Connie asked, taking her rucksack off as she approached him.
‘I might ask you the same thing,’ Bob said.
Everyone crowded around them, intent on finding out what was happening.
‘What is this gawd-forsaken place, anyway?’ Bob yelled. ‘It’s in the middle of nowhere. There’s nobody here. Nothing’s open.’
‘We’ve all been on a hike,’ Connie said.
‘What – everyone?’
‘Most of the village,’ Connie said.
‘Where can a person get a drink around here?’ Bob asked. ‘This is a bar, ain’t it?’
‘We can get a drink later,’ Connie said.
‘Fine,’ Bob said, clearing his throat
noisily. ‘Now how do I check into that damned awful hotel? There was nobody there when I knocked.’
‘I run the bed and breakfast,’ Isla said, stepping forward, her face clouded by a frown. ‘And we’re fully booked.’
Connie took hold of Bob’s left arm and walked him away from the crowd.
‘Bob,’ she said, ‘you can’t talk to these people like that. You’ve insulted virtually the whole village and you’ve only just arrived.’
‘Insulted? What about me? I’ve been stood here in the freezing cold for hours.’
‘Then you should’ve told someone you were coming.’
Bob glared at her. ‘I tried calling your cell phone.’
‘Ah,’ Connie said. ‘I kinda lost it.’
‘Look,’ Bob said, ‘just get me a goddamned room.’
‘Okay,’ Connie said, leaving him for a moment and rejoining Isla. ‘Isla,’ she said, ‘are you really fully booked?’
Isla’s cheeks coloured. ‘Well,’ she said, ‘not exactly. But I didn’t think he was very polite.’
‘He isn’t,’ Connie said. ‘He’s a Hollywood agent. He’s my agent.’
Isla gasped. ‘He’s your agent? The man who was nasty to you?’
‘He’s flown all the way from America.’
‘I don’t care if he’s flown all the way from Mars. He’s been mean to you, Connie and I won’t have him upsetting you again – not in my bed and breakfast.’
Connie sighed. It was nice, of course, to be defended like this but she had a real problem on her hands. This was the man who masterminded her career, as he was so keen to point out to her the whole time. So, she didn’t like him very much. So, she didn’t trust his judgement as much as she used to, but she still couldn’t leave him standing there in the middle of the street, could she? He had too much power over her life to risk upsetting him.
‘Please, Isla – you’d be doing me a huge favour,’ she said.
Isla looked far from happy. ‘I’d be doing it for you,’ she said, ‘and not for him.’
‘Absolutely,’ Connie said.
Isla’s face was still clouded with disapproval. ‘All right then,’ she said. ‘But I’m putting him in the smallest room.’
The Runaway Actress Page 18
