by Amy Dunne
Softness, hotness, and wetness enveloped her. The taste of Holly was exquisite, and she would never get enough of it. What had started as a nervous exploration turned into a battle for control. Tongue battling tongue and hands fumbling to uselessly caress over layers of material.
Blood rushed in Catherine’s ears. Her heart pounded and her head swam with more than concussion. Her senses were alight.
Holly pulled away gasping for breath, and Catherine whimpered at the loss.
“Is that a yes?” Holly asked, her breathing laboured and her mouth wet from their kiss.
“Yes,” Catherine said. She blew out a shaky breath.
Holly leaned toward her again. “That’s gre—” but a tremendous pounding sounded on Catherine’s door.
Jumping, Catherine screamed and dove over to Holly’s side. The handbrake stabbed her side as she floundered with her legs sprawled helplessly in the air.
The pounding struck again, this time on the window, and the sound reverberated through the car. Before either of them could react, the door groaned as something repeatedly pulled on the handle from outside. After another few seconds of unhealthy metallic creaking, the door burst open and icy air blasted inside.
They both screamed as the wind and snow assaulted them, but their voices were quickly lost in the ruckus. A snowy figure appeared in the doorway and thrust its head inside the compartment, providing a slight respite from the elemental assault. The fur-lined hood covered the figure’s head, the coat was fastened up past its nose, and only two blue eyes showed.
In a loud voice muffled by material, a voice boomed out, “Come on!” The gloved hand motioned dramatically for them to follow.
“Quickly, Catherine,” Holly said from behind her. “We’re being rescued.”
Catherine didn’t need to be told twice. She blindly grabbed her coat and a few other belongings and rushed out the doorway. As her feet crunched onto the snow, she heard the engine cut out. Covering her face from the vicious onslaught of cold and snow, she trudged a few steps, giving room for Holly to get out.
Sensing Holly behind her, she peered through squinting eyes and made out their rescuer a few feet ahead. Ignoring the intolerable cold, she led them forward, shielding her eyes. She’d no choice but to trust in her ability to blindly lead them up the embankment as the blizzard shrouded them.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Catherine had never been so grateful to meet a stranger in all her life. She, Holly, and their rescuer now huddled safely inside the snowplough. Her teeth violently chattered and her body felt as though it had turned to marble beneath her clothes. A quick glance at Holly showed she was in a similar state. The compartment was warm, though, and she hoped their bodies would follow suit soon.
Adrenaline coursed through Catherine’s veins. She couldn’t believe they’d actually been rescued. What were the chances? A thought troubled her: perhaps she was still in the car unconscious and this was nothing but a vivid and wonderful dream. She quickly dismissed it. She was far too cold, exhausted, and in pain to be asleep.
Their rescuer handed them some thick blankets, which they didn’t hesitate to wrap around themselves. While trying to thaw out, they both peered sheepishly at the hooded person who, still a mystery, had saved their lives. Other than the one sentence shouted at them down inside their car, they hadn’t spoken again.
Finally, the hood lowered and the buttons at the neck of the coat popped open, revealing a mass of ginger hair. The man shook his head and brushed off the snow from his shoulders and arms. The unkempt mop of bright red hair lay a little flat. He beamed a toothy smile through an equally red beard. “Hello. The name is Angus Boyd.”
Embarrassingly, it took Catherine longer than usual to grasp what he said because of his thick Scottish accent.
“I’m Holly and this is Catherine,” Holly said. “Thank you so much for saving us, Angus.”
“It’s nay bother. You’re lucky I got held up a wee while back. You try and get warm. I’ll have us back in Athegither in nay time at all.” He gave another smile and revved the engine to life.
The seat beneath them trembled with vibrations and the cabin filled with a loud growling from the powerful engine. Catherine was relieved they wouldn’t be able to converse over the sound. She was too exhausted to worry about her stutter making an unwelcome reappearance. Settling deeper into the thick blankets, she felt a nudging by her side. She looked down and saw Holly’s hand. Hitching her blanket up, Holly’s trembling hand sought hers and gripped tightly. She felt Holly give a squeeze and she returned it.
“I’ll tell you, somebody up there must be looking after you,” Angus said, half shouting so as to be heard over the noise. He nodded up to the sky and gave a wink. Turning his attention back to the road ahead, he pressed a button and music blared into the compartment.
Catherine snapped her gaze from the radio dial, to Holly, her own surprise mirrored on Holly’s face.
The song was already halfway through, but the familiar melody formed a lump in her throat and sent a tingle down her spine. She mentally berated herself and enforced the mantra that she didn’t believe in miracles, ghosts, or any spooky goings on.
Angus meanwhile, remained oblivious to their feelings and was happily tapping his fingers on the sturdy steering wheel in time. And Elvis’s distinct voice continued to sing the lyrics to “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” It was a coincidence Elvis was on the radio. That was all. And the fact it also happened to be Granny Birch’s favourite song? Well, that was nothing more than a coincidence, too.
*
The journey took around forty minutes, and the local radio station continued to play an eclectic range of tracks. A few cheesy Christmas songs were thrown into the mix, but Catherine was too preoccupied by the haunting memory of Elvis’s song to care.
Angus drove them into the centre of a village, but other than glimpses of lights and a few buildings, the snow made everything undistinguishable.
“Okay, ladies. Welcome to Athegither,” Angus said. He turned off the radio but left the engine running. He pulled up his hood up. “I’ll show you in.”
He opened the driver’s door and leapt out. A few moments later, he appeared by the passenger window and tugged the door open, struggling against the wind. Clutching her few meagre belongings and tightening her grip on the blankets, Catherine jumped down from the unusually high height. Fresh snow broke her landing. Holly followed behind her and they waited for a few freezing seconds while Angus slammed the door shut, after which he motioned for them to follow again and led them into the whiteness.
Catherine stumbled when her foot struck the first step, but she gained her balance and rushed up the next three and in through the doorway. Warmth and light engulfed them in welcome. Holly came to Catherine’s side and they both surveyed their surroundings. They were in a small cloak room. White walls and beams of wood painted black gave the sense of the building being old but well maintained. Red lettering and arrows gave directions. The door to the left led to the bar and restaurant. The door to the right led to the reception, hotel rooms, and study.
A smell of smoke mixed with the tantalising smells of food lingered in the air. Loud chattering and laughter emanated from behind the door leading to the bar. It sounded busy.
“I’ll go and fetch my maw,” Angus said. He disappeared through the door leading to the bar.
“I can’t believe we’ve made it back to civilisation,” Holly said. Her face looked haggard. Her usual vitality drained. It wasn’t surprising considering everything they’d been through.
Before Catherine could reply, the door swung open and a tall blond woman marched in. She came to a halt and looked them up and down. “You poor things. Look at the sight of you. Angus?” she said in an equally strong accent but with a clipped tone. Angus appeared behind her in a flash but didn’t get an opportunity to speak as his mum continued. “What were you thinking leaving them stood here freezing to death? I thought we raised you better than that. Go on, tak
e them through to the study and watch out for wee Kimmy. I’ll be through in a moment.”
Angus blushed. “Aye, Maw. Sorry.” He walked over to the opposite door and held it open for them. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly as they passed through. He led them past the reception desk, down a corridor away from the staircase, and in through a door with a bronze plaque with Study engraved on it.
The room was large but felt snug thanks to the furnishings. White walls and black beams continued. Three hefty-looking bookshelves, solidly packed, lined two walls. An elegant fireplace drew Holly and Catherine closer. A fire burned fiercely feeding off the blackened logs with popping and crackling sounds. Smoke danced up the chimney, but some of the smell still lingered. Catherine had never seen a more welcome sight.
“I’ve got to be on my way. I’ll come over tomorrow after I’ve spoken to the mechanic and let you know what’s happening with that car of yours.”
“Thank you again, Angus. You’re a lifesaver,” Holly said. Catherine gave an appreciative nod.
With one last smile, he rushed from the room. Catherine suspected he didn’t want to encounter his mum again.
Holly shrugged off her blankets and hung them over a comfortable-looking leather reading chair before edging closer to the stifling heat. Deciding she’d also rather risk third-degree burns than wait for the blankets to dry out, Catherine placed her blankets on top of Holly’s.
Angus’s mum entered the room, quickly closing the door behind her with her backside. She carried two cups of something steaming. She placed the cups on a coffee table, stood, and smiled.
She was thin and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Her eyes were the same blue as Angus’s. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a thin black jumper, with a blue and white striped apron covering her front. Her cheeks were rosy, her smile friendly, and the creases around her eyes and mouth suggested she smiled often. An undeniable air of matriarchy surrounded her.
“I’m Fiona, Angus’s maw. I take it he’s scarpered, then?” At their nods she gave a laugh. “He’s a good lad, but sometimes I wonder what goes through that head of his. Anyway, welcome to the Dew Drop Inn. It’s the only pub, restaurant, and hotel in Athegither. Most folks around here call it The Inn.”
“Thank you, Fiona. I’m Holly and this is Catherine. We were driving up to Cairngorm National Park to spend Christmas with our family. The storm hit so suddenly and I lost control of the car. If it wasn’t for Angus we’d still be stuck there,” Holly said. Her voice was tight with emotion. “He saved us.”
“Aye, he said something of the sort. It sounds like you’ve had a day from hell, but you’re safe enough now. Shall I phone Dr. Maddock? That lump on your noggin looks pretty nasty.”
“No, thank you,” Catherine said. Her fingers automatically flew to the swelling.
Fiona’s blue eyes lingered a moment longer, concern knitting her eyebrows. “Okay,” she said in a tone suggesting it was anything but. “But if you change your mind, let me know. I think it’s lovely you’re in the festive spirit.”
Catherine glanced down at the woollen jumper and decided it was best not to say anything.
“I’ll leave you both to warm up and drink your drinks.” Fiona headed toward the door.
“Um, can you point me in the direction of the restroom please?” Holly asked. She was squeezing her knees together and wringing her hands. “Also, would I be able to use a phone to call my cousin and let her know what’s happened? She’ll be worried sick. We were meant to arrive hours ago.”
“Aye, of course you can. Come with me and I’ll get you sorted,” Fiona said cheerily.
“Will you be okay?” Holly asked Catherine.
“Sure. I’m going to drink whatever’s in this cup and not move from this fire.”
Holly smiled before quickly following Fiona out of the room.
Catherine wasted no time in scooping up one of the cups. Strong, hot coffee. She was officially in heaven. Cradling the cup with both hands, she blew the steam, took a tentative sip, and swallowed.
Turning slowly, she took in the room. The ambience appealed to her nature. Books, a fire, comfy seats, antique-looking coffee tables, one of which held an elegant chess set, and a large coat of arms hanging proudly on the wall. A sudden noise sounded. Catherine turned in the direction it came from but couldn’t see anything. From the corner of her eye she saw something flash by. Heart pounding and palms sweating, she took a few steps forward, but the room remained still. Only the noises from the fire interrupted the silence.
Maybe she should ask Fiona to call the doctor? Something wasn’t right. She was having auditory and visual hallucinations. Perhaps the concussion was more severe than she’d originally thought. Or maybe she was winding herself up? The Elvis song had spooked her, and after the ordeal she’d been through it was possible her overactive imagination had gone into overdrive. “Get a grip, Catherine,” she whispered to herself.
A high-pitched sound emitted from seemingly nowhere. Catherine jumped. It sounded like an anxious or frightened cry.
“H-hello?” she asked the empty room. “Who’s there?”
No one responded. She was losing her mind. Placing the cup down, she decided she’d go in search of Holly. The room had lost all of its charm. She managed one step before the harrowing sound cried out again, this time for longer. Catherine’s temper flared. Someone was obviously trying to make a fool out of her. Well, she wasn’t going to let them get away with it. “I know you’re there. Come out right now.” She looked around for a possible hiding place, but to her dismay, found no place that could conceal a person. It didn’t make sense. Faltering slightly, she took a step nearer the back of the room and said, “I said c-come out. You’re not funny.”
Her eyes darted to a flash of movement on the floor. Something had disappeared beneath one of the chairs. Something grey. Was it a rat? A shudder tore down her body. She hated rats. But a rat didn’t make sense. This place was spotless. And she was sure it’d been bigger than a rat. Plus, a rat wouldn’t have made such a sorrowful sound, would it? She wasn’t entirely sure of her logic and so it took a few more seconds of egging herself on before she closed in on the chair.
Leaving a few feet of distance between herself and the chair, she slowly got to her knees. Breathing heavily, she lowered her right shoulder and head until they hovered an inch off the ground. Pain flared in her neck, but she gritted her teeth and squinted, trying to make out anything untoward hiding beneath the shadowed gap. Not seeing anything, she dared to crawl a little closer. She made out two glints and took a moment to realise they were eyes, then gulped to calm herself. The eyes were too big to belong to a rat. The animal beneath the chair was bigger than she’d originally thought. Perhaps it was a cat.
A high-pitched whimper sounded again, and this time Catherine felt certain it was a fearful sound, a sound that wasn’t feline in origin. The sorrowfulness of it prickled her flesh with goose bumps. “Come here,” she said, trying to make her tone gentle. “Come on. Let me see you.” The cooing of her voice sounded strange to her, but she continued regardless and was rewarded with a shuffling sound. “That’s it. Come on. Come out and see me, providing of course you’re not a huge rat.”
The two glints came closer, until a little black nose snuck out of the shadows. It shone and looked like the kind of nose you stitched onto a teddy or stuffed animal toy. The small amount of muzzle surrounding the nose was light grey and hairy. Catherine became quietly convinced this was a dog. “That’s it. You’re nearly here. Come on.” One grey furry paw followed by another came out into the open. Slowly, the little dog crawled out of its hidey hole with its belly pressed low to the ground. Its little ears were flattened against its skull and the two coal-like eyes watched Catherine warily.
The dog was small and its body was covered in grey shaggy hair. Its muzzle was a darker colour than the rest of it. It looked like a grey version of a white Westie.
“Hi, there,” Catherine said. She held out a hand
. The little dog crawled closer and it looked to be trembling. Tentatively, it lifted its black nose and sniffed Catherine’s fingers. A moment later, a warm pink tongue gave a gentle lick.
Normally, Catherine would’ve freaked out at the prospect of being covered in dog spit, but she didn’t want to scare the little dog any more than it already was. “What’s your name?” she asked. She smiled when the dog’s ears pricked to the sound of her voice. Its tail brushed back and forth excitedly. Daring to be a bit braver, she slowly moved her hand to stroke the dog’s head. With her slow, deliberate movement, the dog ducked a little.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Catherine whispered. She gently stroked the little head. She’d expected the fur to feel coarse, but it was soft. Her hand travelled down the little body until it reached the raggedy tail.
All the while, the two eyes watched her intently. Now she moved her hand away, the little dog sat up on its haunches. Its two front legs were stubby and the chest and face had more protruding hair. With deep, soulful eyes, possibly the most soulful eyes Catherine had ever seen, the dog kept eye contact. Its grey fringe stuck out in such a way it almost looked like bushy eyebrows. Both ears were now standing up. The little dog’s attention was solely focused on Catherine. “What do you want?” she asked. Then felt incredibly self-conscious at the realisation she was talking to a dog.
The dog cocked its head to one side, which was cute, and lifted its nose a little closer, never breaking the eye contact. It gave a little huff of breath as if sighing.
Transfixed, Catherine moved her face closer until her own nose was only a wisp away from the dog’s. The cold wet nose touched hers, and she was unprepared for the warm tongue that administered a perfectly placed doggy kiss across her lips. “Ugh!” she said, falling back on her backside while rubbing her mouth on the back of a hand. The little dog’s ears twitched and its backside jiggled with the wagging of its erect tail. It actually looked like it was smiling at her. “That wasn’t funny,” she said, spluttering dramatically.