by RHYS GILES
“You’re going to swim the rest of the way?” Ian asked.
“Yes, I am.”
“You know Her Majesty’s Coast Guard is not going to let me stay here long,” Ian said. “It’s starting to get dark, and the mist is getting thick. There’s supposed to be a storm coming in.”
“I know. If I’m not back and you have to go, I’ll find another way, or I’ll call you.” Colin put his cell phone in his waterproof case, slid it in his pants pocket, zipped up the wet suit and jumped in the water.
“Should I be worried, brother?” Ian asked.
Colin didn’t answer. He started swimming toward the lighthouse.
Chapter Seven
Jenny woke up and realized she was duct taped to a chair, outside on a balcony of a lighthouse. The huge light circled around above her head, showing the dark sea before her. She heard someone coming up the steps of the lighthouse.
“Ah, Jenny James, you are awake,” Robert Campbell said.
“What are you up to, Robert?” Jenny said.
“I think you might know the answer to that. Are you working for the CIA, Jenny?”
Jenny laughed. “What, you think I’m a spy? That’s crazy. You know I’m a nobody, just a writer. You’ve seen my picture. You know it’s me.”
“Yes, I know you are Jenny James, the writer. But something about you changed since last night. Someone got to you, didn’t they? Was it Scott, the alleged architect?”
“I don’t know what you mean, Robert. I didn’t change. You did. Last night you were sweet and passionate. Today, you turned into some evil traitor and kidnapper. I have no idea who you really are.”
Robert laughed. “Oh, my naïve little Jenny. If only we could all be so generous and kind as you. Truth is, I’ve never known someone to give away millions and live like a pauper. What is it with you? What are you really up to?”
Jenny felt defensive. “I don’t live like a pauper! I just enjoy a simple life. I keep money I need and give the rest away. That is just the decision I made of how I wanted to live.
If I’d known you were a fraud, making big claims to help others but really only in it for yourself, I would never have given you a penny.”
Robert laughed again. “Ah, that is probably true. But now, my dear, you won’t have a choice.”
Robert held a piece of paper in his hand and waved it at her. “This is legal document where you state that all of your earnings from your Wilder West series will go to my foundation, even after your death.”
“I’ll never sign that, Robert. I won’t be a part of your scheme.”
“See! I knew you knew something!”
“That’s right. I learned that you planned to take out American city utilities so people will come crawling to you for help and you can be some sort of savior. You’re nothing but an overblown egomaniac!” Jenny spouted.
Robert slowly walked towards Jenny and raised his hand. “Isn’t that cute. You think you have it all figured out.” He slapped her across the face with his back hand.
Jenny screamed as he hit her. Her face stung and her jaw ached like maybe it was broken.
“That’s enough talk. Now sign the paper.”
“No!” Jenny shouted.
Robert hit her again. Jenny’s head swung across her body. He hit her so hard she thought her head would come right off. She tasted blood inside her mouth.
She spit it out. She resolved to suffer if she needed to. She would not sign that paper knowing it would make her a traitor and accomplice to his fraud. She’d rather die. She started crying, knowing these were her last moments on earth.
Robert and Jenny both jumped when they heard the sound of a gun and the groan of a man. Jenny assumed it was Wahid.
The door to the top of the lighthouse burst open. Jenny tried to open her eyes, but they were so swollen she could barely see. She tried to focus and made out a man’s body holding a gun at Robert.
“It’s over Campbell. The CIA knows about your plan. Now let Jenny go, or I’ll shoot you.”
Robert pulled a gun from behind his back and pointed it at Jenny.
“You shoot me, I’ll shoot her,” Robert challenged.
Colin pulled the trigger and shot Campbell right in the chest. His body fell back and his gun went off as he landed.
Jenny screamed and looked at Colin. “Colin! Are you shot?”
Colin raced to Jenny’s side and began ripping the tape. “It grazed my leg, that’s all. Are you alright?”
Jenny could barely hold up her head. “I think so. He slapped me around a little. That really hurts!”
Colin looked at her and smiled. “Yes, it does. You are a very brave woman.”
Jenny tried to stand after Colin removed her restraints. She lost her balance and started to fall. Colin caught her.
“Easy there. You just hang on to me.”
Jenny happily hung on as Colin put his arm around her waist and helped her walk down the stairs. She still had a hard time holding her head up. She tried to focus as Colin lifted her over a large barrier at the bottom of the stairs.
“Was that Wahid?” she asked.
“Yes, it was. Maurice took off with the boat when he heard the gunshot. Looks like we need to wait ‘til morning for my brother to pick us up.”
Jenny felt rain hit her face when they stepped out of the lighthouse. The downpour was so strong, she was soaking wet in seconds.
“Is Robert dead?” Jenny asked.
“I think so. I didn’t wait around to find out. In this business, it’s best to make no assumptions.”
Colin took her to a cave near the water’s edge.
“We can rest here,” he said. “It’ll keep us out of the rain and out of sight in case Campbell has more people coming.”
He eased Jenny onto a rock and tended to her facial wounds.
“You have some minor cuts and bruises, but you’ll be okay,” Colin said.
Jenny started crying. She tried not to, but the sheer relief of the immediate threat being gone came out through tears.
“I’m sorry. I can’t seem to stop crying,” she said between sobs.
“It’s perfectly natural after what you’ve experienced today,” Colin said.
He sat next to her on the rock and put his arm around her. “You’re safe now,” he whispered in her ear.
Jenny laid her head on Colin’s shoulder and bawled until she had no tears left. Her body finally relaxed and she settled in to Colin’s comforting arms.
Chapter Eight
Colin held Jenny close. Her head rested on his chest. He could feel his heart beating. Not only were the emotions of shooting people rushing through him, but being close to Jenny gave him a sense of purpose he had never felt.
Jenny whispered, “You are my hero, Colin MacDonald.”
Colin’s heart melted. How could a woman so full of compassion and hope for human beings see him as a hero? He was merely surviving in this world, tending to his family ranch and working for the CIA when called upon.
He had experienced tragedy through the loss of most of his family and had witnessed a lot of evilness in the world. But right here in his arms was the epitome of goodness.
Her positive spirit and outlook made Colin want to be a better person. She reminded him why we should still fight for justice, and she caused him to actually feel something again – maybe even love.
Jenny shifted her upper body and looked into Colin’s eyes. “Is Colin MacDonald your real name?”
Colin smiled. “Yes, it is.”
Jenny closed her eyes again and curved her lips into a smile. “Thank you for saving my life,” she said.
Colin was overwhelmed with love for her in that very moment. He pressed his lips to hers. She responded by kissing him back.
She opened her eyes and looked surprised. “Where did that come from?”
Colin looked down, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Jenny. I suppose that felt like it came from nowhere, but the truth is, you have moved me over
the last two days.”
“Tell me what you mean,” Jenny said.
“You should know that my normal life is filled with work, sadness and occasional criminals. I have never met anyone like you who actually loves people and would give her life for another.
You have given me hope for the human race again, Jenny. And I actually mean that. I’m just grateful I got to meet you and that your life is not over because you have so much goodness to share. I guess I’m hoping some of you will rub off on me.”
Jenny’s eyes filled with tears. She kissed him again. “That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. But here’s what I saw, Colin. You were the one willing to give your life for another.
You came for me, even though that was not your job. You got the intel. That was all you had to do. Your heart for people is not nearly as hardened as you think. You are the very reason I have hope for people, Colin.”
Colin pulled her close to him and hugged her. He stood and faced her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Her beauty radiated from within.
He looked at her soaking wet blouse and unbuttoned it. Her breathing became heavier, causing her breasts to rise toward him. He kissed her chest and took off her bra. She moaned as he caressed her and licked her nipples.
She unzipped his wetsuit and took it off of his body. The touch of her fingers running down his chest made his body tremble. He finished undressing himself and she did too.
They made love in the cave as the waves crashed against it. Colin held Jenny’s naked body against his, and they fell asleep on the dirt floor of the cave.
Chapter Nine
Colin tapped Jenny to wake her when he felt the ocean water touch his feet.
“Jenny, we need to leave this cave. The water is coming in too far.”
Jenny woke up quickly. She followed Colin’s example and put on her clothes.
“When the tide goes out again, I want you to take a deep breath and hang on to my hand. We’re going to have to swim hard and fast against the current once we leave the cave in order to get back on land. Do you understand?”
Jenny looked frightened. She nodded and held his hand tightly.
“Don’t let go!” Colin emphasized.
“I won’t,” Jenny promised.
Colin watched the wave slither away from them. He heard the next one crash. He squeezed Jenny’s hand and ran toward the wave, pulling her behind him.
“Big breath, Jenny!” he yelled.
He heard her take a big breath, and they were consumed by the large wave. Their bodies felt tiny and useless against the power of the ocean.
They floated with the wave to the sea. The current was strong. Colin tried to hang on, but their hands were forced to part. He couldn’t see her anywhere.
Colin followed his air bubbles to the surface.
“Jenny!” He yelled as loud as he could. “Jehhh…nny!”
He heard nothing. He frantically swam to the land, hoping to find her. He couldn’t see anything with the violent waves all around him.
He climbed up to the rocky shore and stood. He looked through the mist and called her name again. There was no answer.
Then he saw what might be a body floating lifeless. He dove in and swam to the figure in the water. It was her. She was not breathing.
Colin put his arm under her arms and swam with all his might to shore. He dragged her small-framed body onto the rocks.
He got a foothold, then picked her up and carried her to a flat grassy area. The rain was still pouring down. It was so hard it felt like being hit with blanks.
He gave Jenny mouth to mouth resuscitation and performed CPR until she responded. She coughed and spewed water from her mouth.
“Oh thank God!” Colin yelled out.
“Colin?” a voice shouted.
Colin looked toward the lighthouse and saw his brother, Ian staggering toward him.
Colin called back, “Ian! We’re over here!”
Ian trudged through the rain and helped Colin and Jenny stand and walk to his boat on the other side of the island.
“You’re crazy coming out here in this weather, Ian!”
“Crazy must run in the family,” Ian answered.
Colin hugged his brother and laughed.
They made it to the boat, and Ian drove it to the northern end of the island. They docked the boat in the marina and walked in the rain ‘til they were finally safe at home at the MacDonald cattle ranch.
Jenny was barely conscious through the trip. Colin put her on his bed, got her out of her wet clothes and covered her with blankets.
Colin couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Ian stood next to him. “She must be pretty special to you.”
Colin nodded. He tried to speak, but tears flowed instead.
Ian patted him on the back and Colin released his tension and worry.
“She’s been through hell today.” Colin finally was able to form the words.
“Looks to me like both of you have been.”
Colin took a deep breath in and out.
“I’ll make some tea,” Ian said.
Colin let Jenny rest and he sat at the kitchen table as his brother heated water on the stove.
He called Lucas and told him where to find Campbell at the lighthouse.
He told Ian that he was a spy for the CIA and filled him in on everything that happened. Ian was shocked, but proud.
“I knew you were doing something heroic, but I had no idea what.”
“I’m not supposed to tell you, but since you saved my butt today, I figure I owe you an explanation,” Colin said.
“Brother, I’ll save your butt any day. I’m just glad you’re still around for me to save.”
Colin smiled. “Me too.”
Jenny woke up in the morning to find Colin at her side on the bed.
“Colin?”
Colin sat up quickly. “Good morning! How are you feeling?”
“I have a bad headache, but other than that, I’m fine. Where are we?”
“This is my home.”
Colin and Jenny sat in bed and Colin filled her in on the whole story, including the news that Lucas and his CIA team found Robert Campbell’s body in the lighthouse and he was no longer a threat to them, or to America.
Jenny couldn’t believe all they had been through in the last two days. She never imagined her life would take such a turn.
She looked at Colin next to her in the bed. He was amazing. He saved her life twice and looked incredibly handsome lying next to her.
Jenny looked into his eyes and smiled. He looked back at her and raised his eyebrows.
Jenny slid down on the bed and opened her arms. Colin rolled on top of her and covered them with the blanket. It was time to celebrate.
Epilogue
Jenny sat in the rocking chair on the porch of the MacDonald stone home, holding her computer on her lap. She looked out at the green, rolling hills and dots of highland cattle in the distance.
Colin rode his horse up to the house and jumped off.
“Isn’t this a beautiful sight,” he said. He kissed Jenny on the cheek and sat next to her.
“I was thinking the exact same thing,” Jenny said.
“How’s the book coming?” Colin asked.
“It has taken a different turn. Looks like this may be the last book in the Wilder West series with Denver Gage.”
“Oh yeah? Why?”
“I’m thinking of trying a different genre – a spy novel perhaps.” Jenny smiled.
Colin laughed. “As long as you are here with me, my lassie, you can write any genre you like.”
Jenny held Colin’s hand. “I’m not going anywhere. I never dreamed I’d find my dream cowboy in Scotland, but here you are.”
“And here I’ll stay,” Colin said.
They leaned toward one another and kissed. It was a simple life in the country with a beautiful garden and herd of cattle. It was her American dream come true.
—THE END—<
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Conclusion
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