by L. L. Muir
“Are you sure you should be doing this?” Jessica asked.
Sarah’s mother made a noise of disapproval.
Murdoch raised a hand and continued forward. “Hush.”
As they reached the back of the building a door opened and Detective Armstrong hauled Sarah out.
“But I…I don’t understand.” Sarah stuttered.
“Shut up and come with me.”
“What are you doing? Why are we back here? I want Murdoch.”
Satisfaction flooded him, both at her words, and at the situation. His instincts were intact. He’d not been wrong about the man in the least. Murdoch rushed silently forward and when some instinct had Armstrong turning at the last moment, he was too late and Murdoch slammed his fist into the man’s jaw.
Sarah gasped.
Detective Armstrong slumped, out cold before he even hit the ground. With three women around, it was good he didn’t have to use his knife.
Sarah’s mother and sister started to scream. They didn’t need the attention. “The two of ye shut yer mouths and get ye in the vehicle.” The screaming stopped immediately and they turned to obey. He grasped Sarah by the arm and she clung to him. “I told ye. Ye need to stay with me. Do ye see? We’re going to go into hiding as yer grandfather said. The officers here willnae protect ye. But I can.”
He dipped his head and kissed her hard on the mouth. He enjoyed her stunned expression for a brief second before reaching down to remove Armstrong’s gun.
He turned it left and right, enjoying the weight and potential violence of the piece. No more muskets for him.
“You can’t take that!” Sarah looked scared. “Do you know how much trouble you’ll get in?”
He grinned at her as he tucked the gun in his belt and slung his arm around her shoulders. “Only if they catch me, love.” He ushered her around the corner.
Within a minute, they were back to the car where her wide-eyed family waited. He opened the door for Sarah. Once they were back on the road with no one following, Sarah glanced at him, then reached out to squeeze his leg. “Thank you. You saved me again. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”
“Another kiss?”
Her startled gaze met his own.
He grinned and patted her hand where he held it in place on his leg. “We’ll discuss that later. For now, I need to see how fast ye can drive.”
~~~
Sarah was glad to get away and drove straight for the freeway, wanting as much distance between her and her problems as possible. Once on the freeway and cruising along at eighty miles an hour, she let out a breath.
She turned to see Murdoch pressed to the seat, a stressed look on his face.
“It’s okay now. No one is following us.”
“Driving a bit fast, are ye not?”
She glanced at him. “I’m keeping it near the speed limit. I don’t want to get a ticket.”
“Aye, then, but ye might wish to keep yer eyes forward while ye drive. There’s a good lass.”
“Do you get car sick?”
“Eyes forward!”
Sarah laughed before she knew she was going to. “You don’t like women drivers?”
“I like ye well enough as long as we’re standin’ on solid ground.
“Can someone please tell me where we’re going and when we’re going to get there?” Her mother’s voice was plaintive.
Jessica hit the back of the seat. “Seriously, Sarah. I’ve had about enough of this. Pretty soon I’m going to post on Facebook that I need my friends to come save me. I don’t know what is happening! I don’t know who this guy in the front seat is! I don’t know what’s going on!”
Fear shot up Sarah’s spine. “Murdoch, I need you to take my sister’s phone away!”
Murdoch turned in his seat, reached back, and seconds later had the phone in hand.
“That’s mine! Not cool, Sarah!” Jessica leaned forward, hand outstretched, as she tried to take it back, but almost immediately retreated. Sarah turned to see Murdoch giving her sister a scary look.
“Mom, sorry, I’m going to need yours too. We need to turn them off in case we can be tracked. Mine as well.”
With a long-suffering sigh, her mother handed hers forward. “You’re becoming as paranoid as your grandfather. Where are we going?”
Sarah released a breath, feeling suddenly tired. After all the adrenalin spikes she’d suffered, she felt like she’d crash soon if they didn’t find some place to rest.
They could hide out in a motel, but what if their credit cards could be tracked? Who did they know that they could stay with? If she was alone, June would put her up, but with everyone else …
The cabin popped into her mind; June’s family cabin.
It was empty right now and they’d probably only need it a short while. She considered calling her friend. Maybe she was becoming paranoid, but what if someone was tracking her, saw that she’d called June, and went and found her? It wasn’t worth the risk.
With the police involved, tracking was entirely possible.
In this case, it was better to ask forgiveness than permission. June would totally understand when she explained later. “Don’t worry. I know of a place.”
Her mother snorted. “Where?”
“My friend has a cabin.”
“In the woods?” Mom sounded horrified.
“You may be an outdoorsy type of girl Sarah, but I’m not!” Jessica complained. “I have no desire to stay in the woods.”
“We’d need more clothes,” Mom added.
“Definitely.” Jessica perked up.
“Nae,” Murdoch’s tone was final. “Ye cannae go back to yer home until this is decided. Until I ken this situation and can better protect ye.”
“We could go shopping for new clothes.”
“Nae. Ye’ll stay where I place ye.”
“Jess, do you have your iPad?” Sarah sat up to look at her in the mirror.
Jessica crossed her arms and sank back. “No.”
“Give it over, lass.” Murdoch held out his hand and, a moment later, collected it.
“Mom?”
“No. I didn’t think to bring mine.”
Sarah studied her in the mirror for a few seconds and decided she was telling the truth. “Any more electronic devices I should know about?”
“No.” They both said the word in the same sullen tone at the same time.
She glanced at Murdoch. “Can you power them down.”
“How, lass?”
She shot him a glance. “I’ll pull over and do it in a minute.”
“Yes! Pull over! Because I want out!” Jessica suddenly shrilled. “Whatever is going on here has nothing to do with me. Why should I disrupt my life just on your say so? Let me out of here right now!”
Murdoch turned around. “Silence. Ye will obey me in this. Ye will go to this cabin. Ye will tell no one how to find you. Ye willnae buy new clothes. Agreed?’
Jessica went silent.
Her mother didn’t say a word.
Sarah’s brows shot up. They were scared of him. Well, he was a scary guy. So the question was, why wasn’t she afraid?
He continued to stare at her mother and sister until they mumbled their resentful agreement.
Sarah drove. After a while, the silence was deafening. She glanced at Murdoch. “How do you know my grandfather?”
“Ye will have to ask him when we find him.”
She frowned. “Why are you being so secretive?”
“Maybe he’s one of them,” Jessica said in a helpful tone.
She glanced at Murdoch and he shook his head before sending Jessica another stern look.
After that Sarah turned on the radio. About an hour later, she turned off of the freeway and onto a long winding road. Trees covered the area and every once in a while she could see a lake in the distance.
Ten minutes later, they came to an area with a dozen cabins, each at the edge of the lake. A dock stretched out over the water.
Sarah parked near the Chan’s cabin. “Everyone stay here.”
Murdoch ignored her and followed.
She ran to the back, dug through an artful pile of rocks, and was relieved that the key was right where it was supposed to be.
They were safe for a while.
~~~
After settling her family, Sarah and Murdoch bought food using Mom’s cash at the local grocery store. When they arrived back at the cabin, she cooked tacos, then headed to her favorite spot on the dock, her new shadow following in her wake.
She took off her sandals and dipped her feet in the water. Sitting down, removing his boots, Murdoch soon did the same. “Feels good, here or in Scotland.”
“It does. It’s been pretty hot lately.” She splashed with her feet a bit, enjoying the warmth of the day and the scent of the man next to her. Two young boys played Frisbee and exchanged insults on the beach, while some older folks sat on a nearby front porch, enjoying the evening air. Ducks swam in circles hoping for a crust of bread.
She shook her head. “I don’t know what to do next. I don’t dare call my grandfather again for fear someone really could track my phone. But I’m afraid for him.”
“Do ye know why ye were kidnapped? Did they give ye a reason for takin’ ye? ’Tis usually for ransom or revenge.”
Sarah thought back. It happened late this morning, a million years ago now. “They wanted to know if Clyde Davis was my grandfather. It was right after I received a package from him, and for a minute I thought the men were a practical joke. They sounded Russian and they looked like enforcers or something, so it just seemed strange. They told me I needed to go with them. When they grabbed me, I thought maybe it was a robbery.”
“What was in the package yer grandfather sent?”
“That’s what’s so strange. We always read the same book at the same time and discuss it later. Our own little book club, you know? He sent me a copy of a book we’d read together last year. No explanation; just a note warning me not to go to the police and to keep my family safe.”
Silhouetted by the sinking sun, his big body taking up more than his share of space, Murdoch looked so large and handsome that her heart twisted. An odd tugging pulled at her stomach as he studied her in return, brows drawn as he emanated a sort of passionate intensity in perceptible waves.
She swallowed.
He leaned closer and she turned her head away. “I’m not sure how to find him,” Sarah said, suddenly breathless. She surveyed him from under her lashes. Had he really been about to kiss her again? Did she want him to?
He leaned back on his elbows and looked out over the water. “Mayhap we should take another look at this book.”
She breathed in slowly and nodded. “It’s still in my classroom at the school.”
“Can ye get inside?”
“The janitors are still deep-cleaning. I think they arrive early.”
“Then we’ll be early too.”
“Okay.” As his expression turned fierce, she raised a brow. “You don’t seem happy about all of this.”
He relaxed again. “I’m happy when I’m with ye; when I’m helping ye.”
Pang to the heart. “What do you do for a living when you’re not rescuing strange females?”
“Yer not so strange.”
“Haha.”
He grinned. “I doonae see I’ll be giving any secrets away by telling ye I used to spy for Scotland.”
Her mouth parted. “I should have known!”
“How could ye?”
“Well, big guy, it isn’t much of a leap, is it? My grandfather obviously hired you. Those thugs you rescued me from want something from my grandfather. He works in computers. It’s all very spy-ish, don’t you think?”
He shrugged and they sat in companionable silence, swirling their feet in the water. “What is it that ye wish for, Sarah?”
“To find my grandfather.”
“And after this is over?”
“What do you mean? Like, out of life? Why do you want to know?”
“I simply wish to know ye.”
She chuckled. “The usual, I guess.”
“What is the usual?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Marriage, a family, maybe a dog. You know, the white picket fence.” Unexpected heat rushed to her face and she was anxious to change the subject. “Where did you get those scars?” She nodded to his shoulder and arm.
“In a London alehouse. A man I followed took exception and waited for me with a dagger.”
“That’s horrible.”
He shrugged, grinned. “He didnae fare half so well.”
She chuckled. “Is that your way of saying ‘you should have seen the other guy?’”
He laughed. “Aye. Just so.” He splashed his feet, flicking water toward a couple of ducks coming in close. “Have ye owned a dog before?”
“Sure. A cocker spaniel named Dot. I loved her.” She couldn’t seem to stop looking at him and was feeling soft and squishy inside. Was it possible to react to a man so quickly? To be so aware of him sitting beside her? Maybe if he hadn’t kissed her, she wouldn’t be feeling this way.
He turned unexpectedly to catch her watching him and her face heated.
He smiled. “In the meantime what are we to do until morn?” He quickly grabbed her around the waist, twisted her to face him, and held her over the lake.
She squealed as her calves dangled in the cool water. She gripped his bulging arms. “What are you doing?” She couldn’t believe his strength. “Don’t drop me.”
“Ach, then pay the toll.”
She chuckled. “Another kiss?”
“Aye. And not on my cheek.”
She reached for him and he pulled her close, setting her on his thigh as he wrapped his arms around her. His smile was so charismatic, it overshadowed every rational thought. She was sinking under his spell and didn’t care. How could just his smile make her feel so warm and dizzy? She wasn’t herself. She was losing it.
Finally he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, the kiss gentle, seeking, non-threatening. Another kiss, amid murmured praise. “That’s it. ’Tis all right, beautiful lass.” His approval sank in, weakening her. He’d better not throw her in the lake now or she’d sink straight to the bottom.
His hand reached up to cup her head, to tighten in her hair, but something hit Murdoch in the back. Sarah felt the thud as giggles erupted behind them.
He broke off the kiss and turned around. “Saved by a toy,” he murmured, breathless.
He helped her stand, jumped up and reached for the toy now lying on the wooden dock, then strode away.
“Where are you going?”
“I just learned of two little boys askin’ for a dip in the lake.” He turned and grinned, walking backwards, “I’d not wish to disappoint the tykes, would I?”
Watching him go, she sighed, trying not to feel disappointed herself.
Chapter Five
They arrived at the school, bright and early the next morning. After just over an hour of travel, Sarah swore the more time she spent in Murdoch’s company, the more attractive he appeared.
And really, the man had started at a ten, so that was hardly fair, was it?
He laid a hand on her arm. “Wait here.” He exited the car.
She did the same.
He came around the side, a frustrated scowl tightening his features. “I told ye to wait. I’m to open the door for ye.”
“Oh. It’s okay. I’ve got it.” Big, strong, handsome, and chivalrous. Maybe a bit of a bull in a china shop, but something about him set her heart racing.
He shot her a dark look. “Next time, wait.”
She nodded. “Alright. Your mother certainly raised a son with manners.”
“She’d be pleased to hear ye say such.”
Taking a breath she strode off ahead of him. Even when she didn’t look at him she was excruciatingly aware of him sitting or standing next to her. She didn’t fan herself but, at times, certainly felt
like doing so. She needed to remember what she was there for, not moon over some guy. Why couldn’t she have met him last week? Last week she didn’t have a care in the world. Last week she’d spent most of her time swimming in a lake.
They found the school doors open. Once inside, they headed to her classroom.
Two teenage janitors came running. “Miss Davis!” One boy, Jared if she remembered right, stopped in front of her, slightly breathless, his shorter friend, Eric, directly behind him. They both eyed Murdoch for a moment, then shifted their attention back to her. “We had a break-in last night. Your classroom was …” the boy paused as if at a loss for words.
Sarah’s mouth dropped and she glanced at Murdoch. One guess who’d done the deed.
“Come on,” Eric headed down her hallway. “We’ll show you.”
The four of them headed to her classroom to find the door had been busted open. Splinters of wood stuck out near the latch. She hurried inside.
She knew it shouldn’t matter right now, not with everything happening, but was relieved to see the walls untouched, all the decorations she’d spent so much time getting just right, intact. Her desk drawers were another story. They’d been pulled out and dumped on the floor. Some of the students’ desks lay topsy-turvy, legs up in the air as if someone had lost their temper and flung them about.
She looked at Murdoch, glad he was there with her. He made her feel safe.
She quickly glanced at the bookshelves to see the paperback still there, one of the few left on the shelf.
The boys stared wide-eyed at Murdoch as he walked among her scattered possessions. She couldn’t blame them. He was big and intimidating as he prowled through the classroom.
He met her gaze. “Do ye see the item ye’re looking for?”
She nodded, snatched the book off the shelf, and held it up.
“What’s that? What’s going on here?” Eric asked.
“We’ve called the police,” Jared looked at them suspiciously. “Do you know who did this?”
Sarah shook her head.
Principal Winslow stepped into the room. “What’s going on?”
Jared straightened. “We’ve had a break-in and called the police.”
The principal lifted his gaze from the mess. “Sarah, are you okay?”