He let go of her and she slid back into the passenger seat. “I’m sorry again. I keep forgetting you’ve been hurt. That hero certificate you said I deserved should be revoked.”
“I’m fine. When I make certain moves my leg lets me know it doesn’t like it.”
“Necking in a two-seater car would be one of those times.” What was wrong with him? He forgot everything but touching Cass when she was near. He climbed out of the car and hurried around to help her out. “I’m really sorry.”
She wrapped her finger around his coat lapels and pulled him to her again. “Why don’t you shut up and kiss me, then take me inside?”
He brought her into his arms with a smile on his lips. “I can do that.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
FOUR MORNINGS LATER Cass was still in his bed when he woke up. Lyle liked it that way. Too much. She had stayed the night after they had gone to his parents’. They had agreed to eating dinner at his place the next evening.
As he’d held her in his arms after they had made love, he’d asked, “Will you stay the night?”
She’d leaned up to look at him. “I will if you understand that this can only be a short-term thing between us. As soon as I am given a clean bill of health, I’m going home. I can’t handle anything serious in my life right now. I’ve just gotten to where I can get out of bed without dreading it.”
Lyle had wiggled his brows. “That wouldn’t be because you’ve been in bed with me, would it?”
She’d brushed a hand low over him and his body had twitched in reaction. “You might say that. I just need things to remain easy and fun between us. I’ve been on emotional overload for so long. I don’t think I could handle more.”
“I can do slow and easy. In fact, I’d like to practice now.” He’d rolled Cass on her side and brushed a feather-light finger over her hip. Lyle had been rewarded with a shiver from Cass.
The next two nights they had eaten at the castle and then walked hand in hand to his place. Lyle had tried not to question Cass’s decisions. Instead, he enjoyed having her in his life. No one at the castle had asked him where she was at night and he’d offered no explanation. All he knew was that life was better than it had ever been.
What they didn’t do was talk about when she was leaving. Yet both knew it was coming. Too fast for him. Did Cass feel the same way? He didn’t want to ruin what they had by asking.
On Saturday morning, they were lying in bed and Cass’s hand was causally rubbing back and forth over his chest when she asked, “Hey, have you ever thought about making this place more festive? Everyone else is busy decorating for Christmas but you have nothing up.”
“Are you thinking I should have a tree in my bedroom?”
Her hand gave him a light swat. Which he liked more than resented. “Of course not. I was thinking of you putting one up in your living room. It looks like Scrooge lives here.”
“You can hurt my feelings, you know? I’d just planned to enjoy what’s up at the castle. I’ve never really gone in for that sort of stuff, and I go to Mum and Dad’s on Christmas Day.” He pushed her hair back, letting his fingers run through it. “But maybe if I had somebody to help me, I could put a few things up. Would you be willing to help?”
Cass twisted around, looking him in the face while giving him a tantalizing view of the curve of her breast and hip. She seemed to give no thought to having scars anymore. “I thought you would never ask.”
Lyle chuckled.
She grinned. “So do you have any ornaments or anything to put on a tree?”
“No. I hadn’t had any need for them.”
“Then we’ll go to the Christmas market and get some. I saw some really pretty ones made out of natural stuff in one of the stalls.”
Later Cass sat at the kitchen table, having a cup of coffee, while he scrambled eggs and prepared toast. She looked up and smiled. Lyle liked this Cass much better than the one who had first arrived at the castle. He would miss her when she was gone. “I really appreciate you talking to Andy. I’ve been worried about him.”
“Unfortunately, I think we have a lot in common.” There was a dejected note in her words.
“You might be right about that.” He really couldn’t break patient confidentiality. “I wish you hadn’t kept all that happened to you from me, but I understand why you did. I’m so sorry.”
She gave him a look of appreciation then went back to her coffee. Cass would talk more when she was ready. He finished the eggs, put the toast on a plate and carried it all to the table.
“I can help you.” Cass reached for the plate.
“I told you that I wanted to cook for you. If we’re going to get a tree and ornaments today you need to keep up your strength.” He winked. “I might have other plans for you as well.”
He was rewarded with an attractive blush. She never stopped amazing him. Cass was as tough as stone on the outside but could blush like a young woman after her first kiss. He loved the two sides of her. Love! Was he falling in love with Cass?
She spooned out scrambled eggs and took a piece of toast. “So can we go to the market as soon as we’re through eating?”
“Are we in that much of a hurry?”
Cass gave him an insistent look. “We have a lot to do if we’re going to get this place looking festive today.”
“We have to do it all today?” He gave a theatrical groan.
She put her fists on her hips and gave him a huffy look. “We do. I won’t be here much longer, and I want to enjoy it for as long as I can.”
That statement stabbed Lyle with reality, but he refused to let on that her leaving would upset him. She wanted casual and he would try to give her that. He chuckled. “Where did all this newfound Christmas spirit come from?”
Cass looked directly into his eyes. “From being around you. Thank you for bringing me back from that dark place.”
His heart swelled. This was what it was like to be appreciated, valued for who he was as a person. He’d not felt that in some time. He needed it. Cass had given him a real gift. “You’re welcome.” He kissed her, keeping it tender, wanting her to sense his gratitude, then he pulled away, “You’re right, I do need some cheer.”
Soon after they’d finished breakfast, they left for the village. Few people were around. The sky was dark and it was starting to spit. It would snow again before the end of the day. Cass led the way to the stall with the ornaments she had seen. There, the owner greeted Lyle, whom he had known all his life.
Lyle told Cass, “Get whatever you think I need.”
She grinned. “You shouldn’t have said that.” Cass went about picking out ornaments and putting them into a pile on the corner of the table.
Lyle paid the man, who was grinning from ear to ear as they walked off.
“Shouldn’t we stop and say hi to your mother?” Cass looped her hand in the crook of his elbow.
“Yes. She would be hurt to know you came here and didn’t say hello.” Lyle led her down another aisle to his mother’s stall.
His mother saw them and stopped knitting to greet them. “What’re you two doing here?”
Cass gave this mother a self-satisfied smile and held up the bag she carried. “We came to get some ornaments for Lyle’s tree.”
His mother gave him a pointed look then asked with a sarcastic note, “Lyle’s going to have a tree?”
He’d not had a tree or decorated his cottage since his return home. Freya had always made a big deal out of Christmas but he had never cared one way or the other. It wasn’t worth the effort as far as he was concerned. But if Cass wanted him to have a tree, he would have a tree with all the trimmings.
“He is,” Cass said proudly.
His mother looked from him to her and back again. Her smile had broadened.
“We’re on our way to get one right now but we wanted to come by
and say hi to you.” The cheerful words seemed to bubble out of her.
“Gregor,” his mother called.
Lyle turned to see his father shuffling toward them. He looked more tired than usual, older.
“Hello, son. I’m glad I got to see you. I spoke to Colonel McWright a minute ago. He said you haven’t been by to talk to him about re-enlisting.”
That was the last conversation Lyle wanted to have with him. “I’ve been busy at the clinic. I’ll try to get by sometime this week.”
“You need to do so. He’ll be retiring soon and won’t have the influence he has now. If you want that position you need to be talking to him.”
The smile on Cass’s face faded to an expression of curiosity and concern. Lyle wanted that smile to return. His hand went to Cass’s elbow. “I’ll take care of it. It’s good to see you. Cass and I are putting up a tree so we need to go and pick out one before they’re all gone.” He started them toward the door.
“Nice to see you, Colonel and Mrs. Sinclair.” Cass waved.
“Bye, Mum. Dad,” Lyle called as they walked away.
Cass pulled to a halt when they were out of sight of his parents. “Are you really returning to active duty?”
“No. Maybe. I don’t know. Look, we have a fun day planned and I don’t want to talk about that. Let’s concentrate on putting up a tree.”
Cass studied him a moment then smiled brightly. “Works for me.”
He would miss that smile when she returned to America. A stab of pain shot through him. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He didn’t, wouldn’t, do long distance. It didn’t work. He’d learned that the hard way. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from holding onto what time he had left with her.
Cass came to another sudden stop at a stall selling Christmas-tree skirts. She fingered a navy one with silver stars sewn closer to the trunk of the tree and sloping mounds of white depicting snowy mountains. Was she thinking of the night he had found her sitting on the rock wall? Lyle smiled. Even then he had been captivated by her.
“Get it, if you want it.” He pulled out his wallet.
“I wasn’t asking you to buy it.” She gave him a concerned look.
He gave her an indulgent smile. “I know that, but every good tree needs a skirt.”
A few minutes later they left. Cass carried their purchases with a happy look on her face.
On their way back to his cottage they stopped at a place on the outskirts of the village to buy a tree. He had to remind Cass that his ceilings weren’t that high when she admired a ten-foot tree. With an exaggerated expression of disappointment, she located a six-foot tree that he still hoped would fit through his doors. Cass’s happiness with her choice made him keep his concerns to himself.
They made one more stop at a shop and bought a tree stand and lights. They spent the remainder of the day putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it. Done, they switched off the main lights and sat by the fire with a hot cup of tea.
Cass laid her head on his shoulder. “What kinds of family Christmas traditions does your family have?”
“You already know about the Christmas pudding. One year when I was off on the other side of the world Mum posted one to me. I hate to admit I was pretty lonely that year.”
Cass said softly, “It was the year you got the letter.”
For once the mention of what had happened to him didn’t include pain. “It was. I sliced the pudding and shared it with the patients in my unit and we had a right fine celebration.”
Lyle looked at Cass. To his amazement she had tears in her eyes. “What’s all this about?”
She took his hand and tenderly rubbed it. “I just hate to think of you away by yourself at Christmas.”
“Aw, honey, I’m home now. My Christmases are happy. This one will be especially so with this tree.” What he didn’t say was that he wished she would be there as well. He wouldn’t think about that; instead he would enjoy what he had at this moment. She would be leaving soon. They had an agreement. Still the need to keep her there pulled at him.
A heavy knock at the front door broke the moment. Lyle opened it to find one of the local police officers standing there.
“Lyle, a five-year-old girl has gone missing. She wandered off from the market. We need your help to search.”
“Missing?” The low sound of Cass’s voice held a looming note of fear.
He forced himself to concentrate on what the policeman was saying. Cass he would soothe later. “How long has she been gone?”
“Two and a half hours.” The policeman was wasting no time in giving answers.
His next question made him sick to ask but it was necessary. “Do you believe someone has taken her?”
The man’s lips thinned. “Right now, no, but we’re ruling out no possibilities.”
“What do I need to do?”
“We’ve made a grid of the area.” He handed him a map. “We need you to look here.” He pointed to a square.
Cass came to stand in front of Lyle. “Do you have a piece of the child’s clothing?” she asked in a determined voice. “I can help.”
“You are?”
“This is Cass Bellow. She’s trained in search and rescue,” Lyle offered.
Cass let him say no more. “Time’s of the essence. Do you have something or not?”
The officer glanced at Lyle. He nodded. “I can get something.”
“Then we’ll meet you at the market cross in twenty minutes.” She made that announcement, turned and started putting on her coat.
“We’ll see you then,” Lyle said.
The officer looked unsure, but nodded and left.
Lyle closed the door and asked Cass, “What’re you thinking?”
“One of the dogs at the center has past search and rescue training. I’ve been working with him. He knows me. He might be able to help.” She wrapped her scarf around her neck.
Lyle had to admire her. Working with a dog on a search had to take all her fortitude. For her to even volunteer said something about what kind of person she was. “You sure you can handle that?”
“Don’t really have a choice. A child is missing.” She jerked her hat down around her ears and opened the door.
“Hey, wait for me.” Lyle snatched up his scarf and hat and hurried after her.
CHAPTER NINE
“KOMM!” CASS COMMANDED Hero out of his pen at the canine center. She had made friends with him over the past couple of weeks so she had no trouble encouraging him to come to her. As he exited the cage she clipped on the leash. “Fuss.” Hero walked beside her to Lyle’s car.
He opened the door and Cass said, “Komm,” and Hero jumped into the backseat.
Less than a minute later they were on their way into Cluchlochry.
Cass clutched her hands in her lap. It hadn’t been long since she’d had an assignment and worked with a dog, yet it seemed like years. She was a bundle of nerves. What if she broke down? What if they couldn’t find the girl? What if...? All that fear and sadness that had held her heart in a vise had returned. If Rufus was here she’d have no doubts about locating the girl but she didn’t know Hero well or his abilities. Still, she had to try.
Lyle drove faster than the speed limit, but every minute mattered. Hero sat calmly in the backseat of the car. Lyle pulled into a parking space close to the market cross. With the market over for the day, there were plenty available.
The policeman who had come to Lyle’s cottage was waiting. As soon as they joined him, he handed Lyle a small orange jacket. “I understand she was wearing this earlier today.”
“So she has no coat on?” Lyle asked, concern lacing his words.
Cass shivered as much from the cold as from her fear for the little girl.
The officer’s face was grim as he said, “From what her parents tell me, she’s wearin
g a jumper, jeans and boots. We don’t know if she still has gloves on or a hat, or anything like that.”
“Then we need to worry about exposure as well.” Cass’s words were flat and to the point.
“I’ll get a thermal blanket and my medical bag out of the car.” Lyle wasted no time in doing so.
“May I see the jacket?” Cass reached out her hand.
The policeman handed it to her and she knelt so that Hero could get a good sniff of the clothing.
Lyle returned with a satchel on his hip, the strap across his chest. He looked at her. “Ready?”
“Yes. You have a blanket?”
He patted the satchel and clicked on a large torch.
She gave the command to find. “Voran.”
Hero started off across the village square with his nose close to the ground. Cass followed and Lyle was close behind.
Hero led them down a side street and out into a lane. Cass remained encouraged because he acted as if he had located a scent.
Her hand stayed on the leash as they continued walking at a brisk pace. Well outside the village Hero headed off the road and onto a path.
“It looks like he’s taking us to the ruins,” Lyle said, walking close beside her.
Her leg began to burn as the gradient grew steeper. She would push through it; she had no choice. When she faltered, Lyle supported her with a hand on her forearm. “Let me take the lead. I know this path.”
“Okay. I’ll let Hero go off leash.” She unclipped the dog and he moved ahead of them.
Lyle took her hand and they worked their way up the path. It became more difficult to maneuver the closer to the Heatherglen Keep ruins they climbed.
Occasionally Hero would stop and look back at them. He acted impatient for them to join him. He didn’t have the same trouble with the steep terrain. Soon Cass’s leg went from aching to really hurting but she wouldn’t let on. She was the expert in this work. A little girl’s life depended on her.
Now that the sun had gone down it was pitch black. There was no natural light from the moon. Making matters worse was the fact that clouds were rolling in. It would snow tonight.
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