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“Ye wish tae go back, then?”
“No. You said it’s a short walk, so let’s finish, just to be sure. Then, if we’re both feeling the same when we’re through, I can put the notion of the Fairy Glen aside and move on.”
Taran’s wordless gesture of comfort when he placed his hand on her arm meant more than any words of support or reassurance he might have uttered. How had she been so lucky to stumble onto the McColl property at the same time he dropped by? If she didn’t know better, she’d think more than just the Fairy Glen was enchanted. Magic seemed to be everywhere in Scotland. Perhaps that’s what kept Austin from coming home.
If only she could tap into a bit of it herself, she might find where such strong, whimsical powers led him.
Chapter Seven
Paige literally stumbled into their fourth cave as the last bit of daylight faded away. Exhaustion strained every muscle and her backpack seemed to have acquired twice its original weight.
“Careful, Paige.” Taran reached out to steady her. “Are ye hurt? Here, let me help ye off wi’ this heavy thing.” She moaned as he removed her backpack and set it on the ground.
Arching her back, she stretched her stiff muscles. “That feels so good. Thank you.”
“ ’Tis been a verra long day for ye. I’ll make a quick check of the cave first, but from what I can see this looks like a good place tae spend the night. Ye willnae have tae listen tae the wind pummeling the tent.”
“I won’t argue with that.” Sighing, she sat on a low outcropping of rock just inside the opening. “I only need a minute, then I’ll go with you.”
“Nae. Stay where ye are and rest. We can do a thorough search in the morning. I just want tae make sure ’tis safe for tonight.” He pulled out his flashlight. “I’ll be right back.”
Scooting back to lean against the cave wall, she closed her eyes and replayed the long day. At the upper falls they’d spoken to a couple of hikers who said they’d heard there were twenty or so old sea caves up the coast from Rosemarkie. Most of them were dry and above high-water mark, so exploration should be easy.
From what little Austin had written in his postcards—and Harris had mentioned yesterday—they sounded like something Austin would want to explore. Which meant she did, as well. She also hadn’t forgotten Harris saying Austin thought there were still undiscovered caves around here that he intended to find.
She sighed and shifted on the hard stone. It was dawning on her that the search of—and for—caves along this coast could easily turn into an endless endeavor.
Thankfully, they’d bypassed the big Hillockhead cave. The place had been teeming with tourists, so they’d opted to catch it on the way back, even though neither she nor Taran believed there could still be anything undiscovered there.
Massaging the tight muscles in her calves, Paige moaned as she imagined sinking into a long, hot, steamy bath. Such a luxury seemed a world away from her new reality. She wiggled her toes to relieve the ache in her feet and grimaced at the ensuing spasm in her left foot.
Between the Fairy Glen and here, they’d had to scramble over a very rough and rocky section of the coastline. Thankfully, that level of difficulty hadn’t lasted forever, but between that and climbing up, down, and through the last three caves, she was completely worn out. If Taran came back and said it wasn’t safe to stay here, she’d still be hard-pressed to pick up her backpack and move elsewhere.
Taran…He’d been gone too long for a cursory glance at the cave. What was keeping him? The hairs at the back of her neck rose. Edging off the rock, she pulled out her own flashlight.
“Taran?” She said hesitantly, moving into the darkness at the back of the cave. “Taran,” she called louder, noting how the stone walls funneled in, forming a narrow passage. She pointed her light down the opening, but it veered to the right just a few feet away. “Taran!” she yelled, cautiously stepping into the narrow space.
“Paige!” His voice came from what sounded like a good distance away.
How deep was this cave?
“Bring yer pack and come back here,” his voice echoed eerily along the passage.
Had he found something? The last three caves had been shallow and bare of any indication that anyone had done more than peek inside. Was this cavethe one?
Adrenaline pumping, she hurried back to the opening, slipped on her pack to keep her hands free and reentered the tunnel. Had Austin moved down this very passage? Had his hands touched these same cold stones?
“Taran?” she called again.
“Keep comin,” he answered. “Ye need tae see this.”
Twice, her backpack scraped along the narrowing walls. How had Taran, as big as he was, gotten through with his?
The gap continued, making a gradual circle to the right that eventually seemed to wind down within itself, almost like a coil. An unusual configuration for a naturally formed cave, she considered with a shudder. And more than a little unnerving. “Taran?” she shouted, needing to hear his voice.
“Keep comin’, lass.”
She released a tight breath. His voice was stronger now. She must be getting close.
