“Noooooooo!”
Ellora shot upright in her bed. “Oh my God. Oh my God,” she cried out, violently trembling as the all too real images continued to torment her. She weakly wiped at her tear-stained cheeks, using the back of her hand, and gripped the sheets tighter as the unspeakable memories still played out in her mind. She curled up into a ball and sobbed.
After what felt like an hour, Ellora finally stumbled out of bed on shaky legs. She noticed the comforter was lying in a twisted heap on the floor. “Geez, I must've been thrashing around all night,” she mumbled to herself. Reluctantly, she sauntered over to the washroom. Exhausted from the lack of sleep, she leaned her elbows on either side of the sink, trying to remember the last time she slept soundly without any nightmares. It'd been too long because she couldn't even remember a time without them. Splashing cold water on her face helped to calm her. She pulled in a deep cleansing breath, steadying her weary nerves and hammering heart. Like every other night, her throat was hoarse and dry from screaming and crying. Grabbing a tiny paper cup next to the sink, Ellora gulped down the deliciously cold water, relieving some of the aching soreness.
“I might as well just stay up,” she mumbled to herself. There was no point in even trying to go back to sleep with her heart pounding the way it was. Glancing out her open window, Ellora watched the sun as it came up, casting pink hues through her pale yellow curtains. The view drew her closer to the open window. She marveled at the breathtaking view along the harbor. The beauty didn’t look real; like an artist’s masterpiece, it was far too perfect. Ellora still didn't know how her mother let her father take her away from all this. She tore her eyes away from the dark blue waters, still cold looking from the long winter months. The frothy waves gently rolled to shore, the peaceful rhythmic motions calming her. The rising sun, a bright burnt orange, looked like it was climbing right out of the sea. Seeing movement out of the corner of her eye brought her out of her daze. She glanced down at the large man walking out of the pub one floor below her.
It was Behr. He stopped mid-stride on the sidewalk, deep in thought. After a few moments, he turned and looked up at her window. He looked shocked at first by her presence at the window, maybe even a little embarrassed. Was it because she was standing there looking down on him, or because she caught him looking up? His eyes warmed over, a big beautiful smile lighting up his features, which made his pale blue eyes sparkle. He lifted his hand in greeting and winked at her flirtatiously. Ellora felt brave enough to openly stare at him from the safety of the second story window. Whether she wanted to admit it to herself or not, Behr was an absolutely magnificent man to look at. That's when she realized that she was standing in a big open window wearing her tiny shorts and cami, for the whole world to see. Her face burned with embarrassment, and she quickly ran into the washroom. She figured she might as well shower and dress for the day because she had a long one ahead of her. Eight days of continuous rain had kept her indoors, so she’d used that time assessing the damage downstairs. She planned to make a supply run to the hardware store today, happy that she could finally get to work.
Grady finished mopping up the floors and continued pulling down all the chairs off the table tops. Others might think he was a joke for getting the place ready for all the people that clearly wouldn’t show up, but he had a routine that kept him busy and there was no reason to stop now. Kristy cheerfully bounced in from next door.
“Grady, I ’ave some extra food left o’er from next door. Let me make you some breakfast.”
“Aye, that’s just what I need Kris. Thanks. An' where's Ger this morn'?” he asked over his shoulder.
“He's cleanin' up after the mornin' rush. He'll be by shortly after.” She made her way around the bar and into the back, firing up the griddle.
Grady lifted his head up when he heard the door open. “Aaah, Behr, t'what do I owe...” he bellowed loudly, grinning as he patted him on the shoulder.
“Aye, Grady, g’mornin' to ya. I was just wonderin' if I could get some o’ your excellent coffee to start m’day off right. I've a long one ahead of me. The Sea Witch is needin’ a repair or two before I head out to the mainland today.”
Grady shot Behr a knowing glance, and shook his head in disagreement. “Is it the coffee you’re wantin'? Or is it for a peek at our new girl that’s got you eagerly coming in at day break for the last eight mornins in a row?” He smirked at him and winked.
Behr chuckled back. “Just gimme the coffee, ya ol' goat, or I'll be takin' m’business elsewhere.”
“It's love, brother. It bit him hard,” Gerard yelled out, walking in behind Behr.
Kristy, amused by the taunting, leaned her head out, shouting,” Stay a while. I'm makin’ breakfast. If your day is goin’ to be long, you'll need more than just coffee in ya.”
“Aye, Kristy, that'll do the trick,” Behr agreed happily. He sat himself down on the bar stool and grabbed the dark coffee Grady handed him.
“Soooo, how's Ellora settling in now?” Behr awkwardly brought up between sips of his coffee, trying hard not to look too interested.
Kristy came in from behind the kitchen with two plates of eggs, ham, and toast, glancing at Grady and Gerard as she set the plates down.
“This be the third night in a row that she woke up in a panic, screamin’ and hollerin’. Aye, and I heard a bit o’ sobbing coming from her room in the wee hours,” Grady admitted, twisting the bar rag in his hand nervously.
Behr's eyes grew wide. “Is that right... again?”
“Aye, we heard her through the walls next door last night. It sounded like the devil was on her heels,” Kristy declared, and Gerard added, “It must be the big change in her life, and the passing o’ her ma and da.”
Behr shook his head in disagreement. “Sobbing for your loved ones, aye. That I can believe. But screamin’ the roof off your head… I've been thinking on it, n’ I'd bet my Sea Witch that she’s running from someone or something that’s done her or maybe her parents harm.”
“Aye.” Grady nodded. “I saw the look o’ her when Gavin grabbed her shoulders... nearly leapt outta her chair, she did. I thought that was odd.”
“Should we ask her 'bout it?” Kristy asked, concerned for the girl she now cared so much about.
“Nae, we should let her be. She’ll tell us when she’s willin’,” Behr commanded sternly, gobbling down the rest of his food. “Well, all, I must be off. The Witch awaits.” Behr smiled and raised an arm, signaling his goodbyes, and marched out the door.
He was thinking about Ellora as he walked out of the bar and onto the sidewalk. He couldn't get the thought of her sobbing out of his head. His heart ached for her, and he wondered if there was some way he could help, or at least ease her fears. There was just something about the girl that made him act like a possessive caveman. An uncontrollable need to protect her from those who meant her harm grew inside of him. He knew she was stubborn, though, and wouldn't ever ask for help, even if she needed it.
Still deep in thought, he stopped mid-step down the walkway. He couldn't let a girl get to him like this. She had been the only thing in his head since the night she stumbled into Grady’s pub. He turned, looking up at her window. For a second, he thought he was daydreaming when he saw her standing by the window. She was looking down on him, like a heavenly angel. His heart skipped a beat at her majestic beauty. The morning breeze gently blew her hair around her shoulders. His heart pounded erratically inside his chest.
This was the first time he'd gotten a good look at her since she showed up. For the last week, she'd been wearing all dark clothing -- navy blue or black V-neck t-shirts and dark jeans, hiding her body. He could still see that she had a body men would fight over, though, and Behr couldn't help stealing glimpses of her while she leaned over to help Grady wipe down the tables. Her low-cut shirts revealed her soft plump cleavage, while her tight jeans showed every curve, leaving little to the imagination, as she would bend over looking at small leaks in the corner floor.
Just as quickly, he brought his gaze back up to meet her exquisite emerald eyes, embarrassed at where he was letting his mind wander. Pausing for a moment to get his head right, he smiled and waved. He better get outta there; he couldn't stand there staring at her all day on the street, or people would think he'd gone mad.
Giving her a wink, he strolled off. Ellora Belle Sutherland was trying to make off with his heart. But it's too soon, he thought to himself. He’d given his heart to another, and she’d made off with it, breaking it in two. He couldn't go throwing it away again so soon, not after only a month of healing.
Ellora skipped her way down the stairs to the intoxicating smell of coffee and eggs. She made a short list of repairs throughout the week that this place needed done the most, which wasn’t as bad as she originally thought. Some small cracks in the foundation outside had led to a little bit of water leakage inside, which is what caused mold to appear on the walls inside. A few missing shingles and a damaged downspout caused the leaks that trickled down from the ceiling. There was nothing that needed to be completely gutted or replaced, though, which was a plus. The rest was cosmetic -- fresh paint, a new sign, sanding down and resealing the hardwoods. Nothing she couldn't handle. She’d make her way into town to the hardware store today to finally start the project. Since it had finally stopped raining, the walk should be a nice one.
Ellora walked through the hall and into the bar area, giving Grady a quick kiss on the cheek. He was starting to feel like an adopted father to her, and he, in-turn treated Ellora like his very own daughter. They both had an unspoken need for one another’s company, empathizing with the loss of the other’s loved ones. They recognized when the other was suffering with their grief, and helped to ease the heavy burden of their loneliness. With just one look into one another’s mournful eyes, they could identify with what the other was feeling that day. Ellora walked behind the bar to the back counter to grab a mug, filling it to the brim with coffee. The first few days here, she was grateful for the coffee maker Behr gave her. She still used it in the evenings, but she didn’t mind sharing breakfast with the kind, lonely old man who’d opened up his home to her.
“Kristy, that smells to die for!” Ellora gushed as her mouth watered at the deliciously intoxicating smell wafting out of the kitchen.
“’Ave some, sweeting. There's more than enough”, Kristy hollered back.
“I’ve some good news,” Grady announced with a cheerful smile and a matching shuffle. “My God-daughter, Adelle, has accepted a position as a teacher over at the Portree Primary School on Blaven Road. She starts in September, so she’ll be looking for a permanent place to stay. In the meantime, I've offered her the other flat upstairs for as long as she needs it.” Grady tossed a relaxed gesture at Ellora. “She's about your age, Lor.”
Ellora couldn’t help but smile at him. It meant a lot to Grady to fill this place up around him with people he cared about. She was also looking forward to meeting someone her own age to hang out with. It’d been awhile since she’d had any friends.
“How wonderful, Grady. She’s such a smart girl. I just love it when she comes to visit. Now, you can have an extra pair of hands to help you out over the summer with your repairs, Lor. Ah, heaven help this town. With two beautiful women walkin’ into the hardware store, men will be following you both home.” Kristy wrinkled her nose and wiggled her eyebrows. “Aye, that’s a good way to get s'more folks around here. Send out the two beauties you've got here.”
“That’s not a bad idea, Kris,” Grady agreed, chuckling.
After finishing her breakfast, Ellora grabbed her supply list along with directions to the hardware store. “I'll see you later, guys. I'm heading out,” she shouted out as she headed toward the door. Ellora was offered a ride in, but being such a gorgeous day out, adamantly declined. She wanted to soak in the sun and check out her new town, not to mention, she’d been cooped up here for a week and needed to stretch her legs. She knew it rained a lot here in Portree, so she might as well get full use of a clear sunny day. As she stepped outside, she drew in a deep cleansing breath. The air was so fresh; she could smell the cold salty sea and the lush green vegetation that surrounded the town.
Starting out on Wentworth and heading toward Main Street, Ellora took her time looking at all the buildings and shops. Just like the houses on the pier, these buildings were were all connected in rows. Each one had its own character and color; some were made of brick, some stone, and others stucco. She passed an ice cream parlor, a pharmacy, Jackson's Wholefoods, and Vibe -- a music, movies, and video game store. Ellora was extremely excited to spot Vital Signs, a sign making shop. That's where she'd look into getting Grady a brand new sign; he'd love that.
This town had everything one would need. She passed a clothing boutique, Matheson's shoes, a jewelry store, and a hairdressers on her way. Ellora was in awe of the town’s beauty and the artful streets she was walking on. It was the type of town she'd seen in movies, and it was just so perfect. The sidewalks were clean and neat, made of stone pavers. Lamp posts stood proudly at the end of every block. Ellora couldn’t stop smiling as she adoringly took in the colorfully charming buildings. They looked like they were straight out of the pages of a comic.
Walking through Somerled Square, Ellora observed that the buildings on this side of town were newer and separated. There were several more restaurants, The Skye Museum of Island Life, the town’s Post Office, Skye Property Centre (estate Agent), the Police Station, and the Scottish Court Service. Making it past the center of town, and at the end of a long, winding Dunvegan Road, she ended up in the Industrial Estate complex. Finally, she reached her destination -- Jan's Hardware store.
By the time Ellora made it to her destination, she was pretty worn out. She rubbed the cramp forming in her leg, now realizing that the time it took to get up here was grossly under-exaggerated, and she was in no mood to wander around trying to find what she needed. So she handed her list to the overly helpful and eager to please sales clerk, who went about finding everything for her. As Ellora stood at the counter, she heard heavy footsteps approach behind her. A deep rumbling voice followed before she began to panic.
“Enjoying the sunshine, love?”
Turning on her heel, Ellora rested her eyes on Behr, who stood directly behind her. Casually, he moved up beside her to lean on the counter. Ellora nervously looked up at him, her skin tingling at his closeness. He looked genuinely surprised to see her standing there as he looked down on her and smiled. His expression was warm and adoring, a change from his usual broody look. One corner of his mouth turned up in a half smile, his eyebrows lifting curiously. That's when she realized that she was just staring at him like an idiot and never answered his question.
“It's breathtaking,” she finally answered. Ellora realized in that moment that her comment was meant for his smile, not his question. She smiled back at him and watched as his eyes fell to her lips.
“Aye, it is. I'm glad I saw you ’ere.” He lifted his gaze directly to her eyes, holding her captive. The passion that came through them froze Ellora on the spot. The air crackled intensely around them as time seemed to stand still, and this made Ellora incredibly nervous.
She quickly broke the spell, asking, “Aren't you supposed to be on the ferry?”
Behr nodded non-committedly, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips, like he knew something she didn’t. “Aye, she's an old wench that needs a freshenin’ up every now n' again. I've got to take special care o’ her, or she gets temperamental on me, so I stopped by to grab a few things. Do you need any help, love? You’re gathering things to fix up
Grady's, no?”
“Oh, yes, the guy's getting them for me. I'm still not familiar with this place yet, so I didn't want to waste a lot of time wandering around.” This all came out in a rush, embarrassed that she might come across looking like a spoiled bimbo in distress.
“You could've asked me to come ’ere with ya Lor. I could’ve helped you out, you know.”
Just then, the clerk came back with a flatbed cart stacked high with all the items on her list. He was a tall skinny boy, not more than eighteen, with sandy brown hair and freckles on his nose. He looked at Ellora and smiled, trying to be smooth and laying it on pretty thick. On his name tag, it read Isaac. “So you’re that American girl from New York the whole town’s talking ’bout, right? You’re staying over at Grady's?”
“The whole town is talking about me? Oh, great,” she grumbled.
Behr looked at Ellora, amused. “It's a tight knit town, love. Better get used to people nosing their way into your business.”
“I could have all this stuff delivered over there for you, if you want. I could personally take it over, you know, to make sure it isn't damaged.” Isaac crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance in confidence.
Shocked, Ellora looked up at Behr, who was snickering at her, amused at the young man’s pass. Running his big hands through his thick hair and down the back of his neck, Behr nodded at the clerk. His eyes never left hers. “Not ’ere but eight days, and already, you’ve got the boys drooling at your feet, eh, love?” Before Ellora could protest to either of them that she could handle it, Behr donned the serious brooding look that she’d come to know and glared down at the clerk, who noticeably flinched and gulped hard.
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