AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The car,” she muttered.
Surely, ’twas a joke, a taunt because of what he’d just said. “I’m sorry? What did you say?”
“I planned on sleeping in the car.” She pulled her arm free before turning to face him. “And don’t think it’s because I don’t have any money. I do. A little, anyway. But I don’t know how long my search for Austin will take and I need to make my money last. I’m already paying a daily fee for the car, so…I see no reason why it can’t serve as a hotel, too. Besides, I don’t mind sleeping in a vehicle. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time.” Her expression shifted from being defensive to challenging. “Is that roughing it too much for you?”
Taran thought of the countless nights he’d slept on a pallet on the dirt floor of his family’s cottage. The years as a soldier, stretched out on the damp earth, wrapped in naught more than his tartan. And the centuries spent in his sleeping hollow on the moor. “I ken I can manage,” he countered.
“Great. That’s settled, then,” Paige stated, heading once again for the car.
“For the record,” he called after her, “I’d planned on paying for our lodging.”
Blast the obstinate lass for making him lose his temper, Taran groused as he followed Paige. And blast whatever weakness allowed him to be fascinated by the way her eyes turned from violet to indigo when she lost hers. If he dinnae fight harder to eliminate his attraction to her, ’twould severely complicate his intention to walk away after a reasonable amount of time had passed and they still hadnae found Austin. Or even if they had. ’Twas no room in her life for him any more than ’twas in his, for her.
Despite his resolve, he couldnae help watching the sway and bounce of her hair as she strode ahead of him. Sunlight shimmered through the pale blonde tresses she’d pulled into a thick tail at the crown of her head. In fact, ’twasnae the only thing that swayed in a far too pleasing manner.
Grinding his teeth, he caught up with her but dinnae take her arm again. Touching her dinnae help his problem. He needed to turn his thoughts to more practical things.
“I ken we’re off tae Rosemarkie then?” he queried.
“Yes,” she replied, her voice somewhat softer. “If we don’t find anything, we can cross it off our list.”
At least he was vaguely familiar with the ancient village, assuming the last few centuries hadnae changed it all that much. But given the changes in Inverness between his lifetimes, Taran doubted he’d find Rosemarkie the tiny fishing village it once was. Even so, he’d likely have more luck as a guide than he’d had thus far.
“Just so ye know, lass, I dinnae have any objection a’tall about sleeping in the car. However, I ken there might be a better solution. ’Twill be a lot of area tae cover if we check out the places Harris thought Austin may have gone. The Fairy Glenn itself will take a great deal of exploring, no’ tae mention the coastline and the hike over the Hillockhead circuit. I know of at least one cave there, but I’m sure ’tis popular with locals and tourists alike, so ’tis hard to believe he could be there, and not be discovered.”
“Your point?” Paige urged.
“Depending on how far along the Firth we go, we could end up a good distance from the carpark. Having to go back there each night tae sleep is a waste of time and energy. I thought if I picked up a few supplies tae camp with, something we could take wi’ us, mayhap carry on our backs, we could make do wherever we are. If that wouldnae be ‘roughing it’ too much for ye?” he challenged, adding a teasing smile as he tossed her own words back at her. “I’ll pay for the equipment, o’course, then I’ll have what I need tae move on when we decide tae end our…arrangement.”
He could see the battle going on behind her eyes as she evaluated his suggestion. He was learning Paige liked things to be orderly and sensible. Mayhap having control over these small things made the lack of it where Austin was concerned, more bearable. ’Twas fine with him, he conceded, as long as she dinnae try to controlhim, as well.
“That makes sense, I suppose,” she finally said. “But let’s just get what we can carry on our backs. Because to answer your question,” she pierced him with her violet gaze, “I can rough it with the best of them.”
“Sounds like a challenge,” he chuckled, trying to make light of it. But he dinnae want one. No’ wi’ her. He only wanted to help her. And making things hard on herself just to prove she could measure up, wasnae the answer.
Sighing, Paige relaxed her stance. “I’m sorry, Taran. I’m feeling a little touchy, I guess. I don’t mean to take it out on you.”
He wanted to gather her close and tell her everything would be okay, even though he had little faith that it would. “Dinnae fash, lass. I ken how worried ye are.”
She pulled out her phone and tapped a rhythm with both thumbs faster than Taran could follow. “What is it?” he asked, worried something was wrong.
“Just checking Google for the nearest location to pick up some camping equipment,” she said, still studying her phone. She grinned and shoved the device back in her pocket. “Found one. Ready?”
“Aye,” he said, falling into step. “I’m ready.”
But he wasnaeready for the impact Paige was having on him. And he had no idea what to do about it.
* * *
An hour later,they exited the store with two lightweight framed backpacks. Taran was amazed at the gear they’d found and how much they’d managed to fit into the ingenious packs. They’d even shown him a wee domed tent for two that would collapse and store away with his other gear. He’d been in awe of all the available supplies. Utensils and plates that clamped together into a small unit. Shiny silver blankets that folded down to the size of his palm.
He'd managed many years with naught but his sporran for carrying and the length of his long-kilt for warmth. But he was anxious to give this pack-on-yer-back idea a go.
“Rosemarkie isnae far from here,” he said settling back in the passenger seat of Paige’s car after they’d stowed their new gear in the trunk. At least he was in vaguely familiar territory so he could be the proper guide he’d set out to be.
“Thirteen miles according to Google,” she replied.
’Twas the third time she’d mentioned this Google person. If the blackguard kenned so much about everything, why hadnae he found Austin and saved Paige all this agony?
