Highland Savior

by Sarah Hoss

  He put down the brush he used on the horse and sat on a bale of hay nearby. “What is it, a-yo-li?”

  She plopped down on the hay bale next to him. As she recounted the story of the past week to her father, she stood and paced and sat over and over. Her nerves were shot. Okay, shot was not the word to use. She jumped to her feet and began to pace again.

  “Gillian, stand still, you give an old man a headache watching you.”

  She stood for a moment and reached out to rub her hand over Willow’s back. The buckskin horse whinnied in acknowledgment. “Sorry, E-do-da.” Sighing, she grabbed a pick, then bent over, holding Willow’s hoof between her knees, and began to clean the horse’s hooves. “Please tell me you believe me.”

  Her father’s footsteps clicked across the barn floor, causing her to forget her task.

  “When I look into your eyes, I see three things. Do you know what they are?”

  She placed Willow’s hoof back on the floor and stood, twirling the pick in her hands as she shook her head.

  Her father’s hands reached out and gripped her shoulders. “The first thing I see is the color of the earth after a good rainstorm—deep brown.”

  Gillian smiled and nodded.

  “The second thing I see is your mother staring back at me. And at times, I almost call you by her name.” He brushed away a tear as it slid down her cheek. “And the third thing I see when I look into your eyes is honesty.”

  Gillian choked back a sob as her father embraced her. She squeezed her eyes shut and cried knowing she had two people on her side.

  Gillian raced Willow hard over the prairie field. An exhilaration she only felt when riding as it pounded through her veins with each step the horse took. She hadn’t bothered braiding her hair and it whipped in the wind behind her.

  Her father owned two hundred acres. Twenty of it held the house and woods. A creek ran through part of the prairie, into the woods, and behind the house. The rest of the one hundred and eighty acres was flat open land. When she was younger, she rode out here every day on Willow’s mother, Star Flower.

  They slowed and she pulled the buckskin to a stop. She’d been gone too long. Engrossed in her own life in the fast paced city, she had forgotten the simplicity of things. Her father had aged while she’d been gone. Grey strands flowed through his ebony hair. Wrinkles appeared around his eyes where she swore they had never been before.

  She wheeled the horse around and started back for the house, this time at a much slower pace. She felt safe out here, far away from the world. But she knew she wasn’t. They would find her. And she was determined not to be found here. She would never forgive herself if something happened to her father. She needed to make a plan and she needed to do it fast.

  Sitting on the back porch, Gillian examined the outer part of the house. He had changed the siding since she had been here last. “I love the blue siding.”

  “Thank you. I did it last fall.”

  She inhaled deeply as the smell of hamburgers on the grill wafted through the air. In Oklahoma this time of year, it was warmer than it was in Pennsylvania and she was enjoying herself.

  Her father took the last burger off the grill and placed it on a platter. “Gillian, would you go into the house and fetch the rest of the food. The burgers are done.”

  “Sure.” The sliding glass door screeched as if it needed oil to the glider. Hamish walked out of the bathroom as she opened the fridge door.

  “Come here, please,” she said.

  As he approached, she leaned in and grabbed the homemade potato salad, ketchup, mustard, and pitcher of tea. “Take these to the table outside,” she said as she organized the items in his arms. Then she grabbed the plates, utensils, and cups and followed suit.

  With dinner half-way through, she rolled her cup back and forth between her hands, deep in thought.

  “Gillian?”

  She turned to find Hamish staring at her and she smiled.

  “Father, we need to leave. I don’t want to put you in danger and I need to get him home.”

  Her father scooted his plate back and rested his hands on his stomach. He stared at his daughter in contemplation and it made her nervous.

  “I can’t say that I am happy to hear you are leaving, but I understand.” He glanced over at Hamish. “I don’t know if you will ever get back home. Whatever force brought you here seems to be unattainable. I do believe you should at least put yourself in familiar surroundings and head back to Scotland.”

  “Aye, I do miss the land and had the same thought. If I canna make it back to my time, I can at least go to my homeland.”

  She watched the by-play between her father and Hamish and her heart ached a little at the thought of never seeing him again.

  Then her father rested his eyes on her. “As for you, you need to hide out for a bit, disappear, and hopefully they’ll quit looking for you. I think you should accompany Hamish back to Scotland. If you’re out of the country, you’ll be harder to find.”

  Her mood peeked at the thought. “It would give me more time to figure out what I’m going to do. I can’t stay in Olde City. I need to get my things and end the lease on my apartment.” She grabbed her cell phone. “I’ll call Tara and ask her to clean out the place for me.”

  Hamish grabbed her hand to stop her. “Nay, ye canna do it.”

  “Why?”

  “Ye place her in harm’s way. Whoever wants ye dead, will have someone watching yer place to see when ye come back. If they see her, they could try to get answers out of her.”

  She placed her hand over her mouth. She hadn’t thought about that.

  Had she already placed her dear friend in danger and not known it? She couldn’t keep doing this and she needed to get away from her father as soon as possible. What if they were following her right now?

  She stood and started clearing the table. “I think you’re both right. And I may have placed you in danger also. It’s best that Hamish and I leave as soon as I can get us ready.”

  Her father stood and walked around the table to bring her into an embrace. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Father.”

  He left the room for a moment, only to return with two duffle bags.

  “While you two slept last night, I was busy.”

  “I see that.” She approached him and took the two bags. “What’s in them?”

  “One is for you and one’s for Hamish. Things you’ll need for travel. Shampoo, clothes, snacks . . . Whatever I could think of.”

  She placed the bags on the table, opened one up, and passed it to Hamish when she saw the men’s clothing. She grabbed the other bag and rummaged through it.

  “Dad—“

  “Whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

  She stared at him and sighed. There were no words. What did you say in a situation like this? Thanks for helping us escape and I hope that I’m not killed so I can come back to you, have a future, and give you grandchildren. That sounded so stupid, but it was as close to how she felt as any other words.

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of cash. Passing it to her, he said, “This is for you, too. I’ve been saving it for the day you got married or had kids. A little nest egg to help you along, but I think you need it now.”

  “How much is here?” She opened the bundle of bills and flipped through them.

  He coughed. “Six thousand, three hundred and twenty-seven dollars.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes at his gesture. Her whole world was wrapped up in this man. All of her memories, love, and now she didn’t know if she would ever see him again. Stop! She had to think positive or she would never get through this.

  Her father walked over to Hamish. Staring him in the eye as a father would do, he spoke. “I’m trusting you
to keep her safe as long as she is in your presence.”

  “Aye.”

  “I mean it. I don’t know you, but she trusts you and that’s good enough for me.” He reached out and gripped Hamish’s arm. “I’m counting on you.”

  “I will do everything within my power to keep her safe as long as she is with me.”

  Her father nodded in acceptance and turned to her. “There are tickets waiting for you at the airport in Dallas. I’m hoping no one would think to look at that airport.” He hugged her tightly and she didn’t want to let him go. “There is a wallet and an I.D. for him in his bag.”

  She leaned back to stare at this amazing man.

  “Go and be safe.”

  She kissed her father, hugged him once more, then left the house. She left her car and took her father’s 1970 El Camino. It was blue with black racing stripes going down the center.

  She turned to Hamish. “Ready to go home?”

  Chapter 15

  Gillian stood in the dining hall of the hotel, glancing around. Tables were arranged in rows of two, then three, then two, then three. Cream-colored table clothes lay across with a white one atop it in a diagonal. Napkins were folded and sitting up in a triangle with silverware adorning each.

  In the center were fake flowers in a crystal vase, with sugar on one side and salt and pepper shakers on the other. It was six-thirty in the evening and she was starved.

  Hamish had gone out to walk the town. He’d wanted to see Newtonmore as it was now, for he had seen it in the beginning. She tried to tell him that it might not be a good idea to know too much, but he wouldn’t listen. She didn’t want to eat in the room by herself, so she’d gone in search of food. Her stomach growled in protest at having to wait even a second longer.

  That foreboding people get in the movies when disaster is about to happen was making its way up and down her spine. The feeling someone was watching her made her skin crawl, but it was a feeling she was getting used to. She took a quick scan of the room and saw that nothing was out of the ordinary.

  She couldn’t shake it, though. When her dinner was delivered to her table, she grabbed some silverware and headed for the stairs. The knowledge that she was no longer on the stairs alone made her nervous and she turned to see who was behind her. A gentleman nodded.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi.” She picked up her pace just a little as to not be alarming. She turned to go up the next flight. The man didn’t get off on the second floor, yet continued behind her to the third floor. She knew she didn’t want to be alone in an elevator for any reason, but here on the stairs didn’t feel any safer.

  The stairs were wooden and hearing his footsteps behind her grated on her nerves. She wanted to be in her room. She wanted to be away from him and to be safe. Was that a feeling she would ever have again?

  She sneaked a peek at him as she exited the stairs and turned the corner to go to her room. Peering back over her shoulder, she found the man still walking behind her. She balanced the food in one hand while she fumbled in her pocket for the key and jogged ahead. The hall was wide enough for three people to stand shoulder to shoulder. Panic was in full force now and she fumbled with the lock. She glanced over her shoulder to see that the man had stopped and was staring at her.

  She got the key into the lock and as she turned it, she looked back at the man again. He was at his door, three down from hers, and watching her with inquisitive eyes. She twisted the handle and practically ran inside, slamming the door behind her. Dropping the plate on the floor, she turned and locked the deadbolt.

  She leaned her head against the wood frame and began to cry. Deep sobs causing her entire body to shake. She didn’t like the feeling that everyone was out to get her. He was probably an innocent man and she’d acted like a fool. She hated to think that every person she encountered might be out to kill her, but she would never know if Salvator followed her or not, so everyone was under suspicion. She pushed herself away from the door, stepped over the broken plate, and went to the bathroom. Taking toilet paper from the roll, she wiped her face clear of tears and stared in the mirror. What was wrong with her? She had always felt as if she was a strong person. Lately all she had done was cry.

  She stilled as she heard someone unlocking the door and turning the handle. She grabbed the nearest thing which happened to be a curling iron and inched her way out the door. The weapon in her hand was held firmly and she peeked around the corner. Just as she did so, an image came into view and she screamed, swinging the curling iron and hitting him in the chest.

  “What . . .” he stuttered out with surprise.

  A familiar voice caught her attention and having been ready to attack again, she stopped her swing in mid-air. She stared at the familiar blue eyes, then fell into him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “What is wrong?”

  His arms enveloped her in a soothing embrace and she was thankful for the support. She leaned into his strength and used it. Moments passed. He’d become her rock, her foundation of strength and security, and she had no idea how she was going to let him go. He had no idea what he meant to her. She’d become dependent on him, even though she’d fought it at every turn.

  Leaning back, his hands reached up to grip her face. “Ye must tell me what is wrong?”

  “I went for supper downstairs and as I came back up here, there was a man. I thought he was following me. I was so scared.”

  “Was he?”

  His lips flattened and his nostrils flared as he turned to glance at the door.

  “No.” She placed her hand on his cheek and steered him around to look at her. “He had a room a couple of doors down, but . . .” She took a deep breath. “. . . my mind just got carried away and I assumed.”

  He watched her for a moment, then kissed her forehead and pulled her in to hold her again. One hand rested on her waist as the other rubbed slow circles all over her back. It was hypnotic.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

  “I think in yer circumstances, ye reacted as anyone would.”

  She leaned back, but didn’t break contact. “I can’t go around assuming everyone in the world is trying to kill me. You should have seen his face as I frantically tried to get in our room. He had to of thought I was crazy.”

  “Let him think what he wants. We know ye arena crazy.”

  Her eyes searched his and it was wonderful to have someone on her side. Her gaze trailed down to his full lips and lingered there. She swallowed.

  He must have read her thoughts, for he leaned in and placed his lips on hers. Her arms wrapped tighter around his neck as one of his tightened around her waist and he brought the other hand up to grip the back of her neck. Their heads tilted opposite directions to deepen the kiss. She opened from him, letting her tongue flick his in invitation. As their tongues met, electricity pulsed through her like none she had ever felt before. Her body tingled and she tightened her hold on him.

  She needed him. Needed whatever he had to offer. Her life had become this raging storm and she was desperately trying to keep her head above water. If for only a short time, he was the life saver that had been tossed her direction, she would cling to its safety for as long as she could.

  Hamish broke free of her grasp, chest rising and falling in short breaths of desire. He put distance between them. “Nay, I willna take advantage of ye.”

  She stared at him, trying to process what he’d just said. “You won’t take advantage of me?” She touched her finger to her lips. “What are you talking about? I want this.” She pointed back and forth between them. “I want you.”

  “I’m not staying. I belong in Scotland, in the past.” He put his hands on his hips. “I willna lay with ye to turn around and leave ye.”

  A new wave of emotion washed over her—love. For a brief m
oment, she thought how unfair it was to be given a glimpse of the perfect man, only to know she couldn’t have him. She slapped her thigh a few times in thought, trying to find the right words to say. He slipped past her to stand near the window, gazing out amongst the land below.

  Sniffing, she said, “I’ll never see you again.” Reality hit her hard at what she was about to do. Tonight they were to perform the ceremony and send him home. Her heart sank. She swayed back and forth for a moment, staring at the ground as if it held the answers.

  She blew out a breath, then walked over to the window where he stood. “Look at me,” she pleaded.

  When he did, she took his hand and placed it on her chest over her heart. “You’re in here now. Forever branded on my soul.” She bit her lip. “I understand what you’re saying.”

  She shifted her stance, afraid to say what needed to be said and knowing she couldn’t. She breathed deeply and dropped their hands. “I’m going to go get the stuff and get ready.” She turned to go, but then stopped and focused back on him. “Are you prepared to go home?”

  Did this woman have any idea what she was asking him or how the look on her face pulled at his heart? Hamish searched her face, seeing raw emotion there. God, he wanted her. Wanted her like nothing he had ever wanted before. But could he be with her only to leave her? It would be like a blind man who had been given his sight only to lose it ten minutes later. Saying no had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  His family. He missed them and often wondered what they thought of his disappearance. Not only did they grieve for Margaret, but they were left wondering what had happened to him. He felt guilt at having hurt them even more. He was ready to see them. Going home was the right thing to do, even if it meant leaving Gillian. He didn’t belong here.