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“Don’t be silly,” Lauren responded. “Our only concern is for you and your brother.”
Feeling Paige’s obvious distress like a weight in his chest, Taran swallowed and tried to focus on something else. But her anguish kept pulling him back. Such a wee thing, she was. So frightened and alone. ’Twas evident how much she was suffering.
Even though he dinnae know her or her brother, the situation weighed as heavily on him as if it were a living thing. His own family would have suffered as she was now, never fully kenning his fate, and the thought of it tore at his heart. But at least they knew he’d gone to join the Jacobites. This lass had no idea what direction her lost brother had taken. Or why.
“What will you do now?” Lauren asked.
Taran watched her wipe her damp fingers on a napkin, reach for the post card, carefully rewrap it, and put it back in her bag. Her lips trembled as she tried to form an answer. “Talk to Harris and…McCleary?” she eventually said. “I think I have their names right. Oliver Harris and Struan McCleary, I believe.” She glanced at her bag. “The authorities gave me all their information when they told me they’d basically hit a dead end. They assured me they hadn’t closed their investigation, but they have no active leads at present.”
“I’m truly sorry, lass,” Reginald said. “I wish I’d done everything differently. I wish—”
“Thank you.” She interrupted, managing a trembling smile. “You’ve helped a lot. Really, you have. I appreciate your honesty. And your kind hospitality,” she said, turning to Lauren. “I’m not beat yet. I still have these two men to talk to. That’s som—something.” Her voice broke as she picked up her bag. There’d been tears all along, but the flood of them she’d tried so desperately to hold back finally won the battle. Lauren handed her a tissue as rivulets ran down her cheeks and dripped from her chin. “You can’t know how very much I need to cling tosomething.”
’Twas too much for Taran. He had to look away. How would a lass like her manage all alone, frightened, and stuck in unfamiliar surroundings in a foreign country? Especially, with no one to help her tackle what was looking to be a futile quest.
He remembered being stuck, confused, and completely unnerved when he first rose on Culloden.But he’d never been alone.No’ for a single moment. The 79 had always been there to console, pacify, even challenge him, when he needed it.And he’d needed it.Who would do that for Paige?
The pain in her eyes was so raw it hurt to look at her, and the heartbreak in her voice tightened his chest. Though she tried to hide her trembling hands in her lap, she couldnae conceal the fear that clearly overwhelmed her.
He ground his teeth. Why was he affected so? By the saints, the woman was naught to him! So how was it that something inside him wouldnae let him dismiss her, or her predicament? She needed help, he couldnae argue that. But surely, he was the least suited person to give it. This new world was almost as foreign to him as ’twas to her.
Besides, he had his own agenda. His newfound freedom beckoned, and he fully intended to answer. Admittedly, Paige tugged at his sense of empathy, even duty. But, though it wouldnae be entirely unpleasant to escort her around Scotland for a wee while, ’twould delay his own quest. After centuries of being bound tae the moor, even a wee delay seemed enormous.
Wasnae pursuing their dreams and happiness what Soni had wanted for each of The 79? What she’d sacrificed for? She dinnae just give up a wee bit of magic. She gave upallher magic,for all time,wi’out expecting anything in return.
He thought of those who left the moor first. Before the Reckoning. Sonihadasked something of them. Small in comparison to the gift they were receiving, but still a challenge. They were to complete a heroic deed in order to receive a boon of some sort. But the others, those like him who were there for the Reckoning, received their boons en masse.
So, in truth, he owed Soni a heroic deed, or at least an attempt at one, before he deserved his new life. She’d been completely selfless. And he’d been completely selfish.
When had he become so callous? A flush of shame suffused his entire body. He ducked his head, worried someone would notice. How could he be unwilling to trade a few weeks of aimless wandering to see to the safety of the wee lost lass sitting in front of him? He doubted anything would come of her search for her brother, but mayhap he could offer her a few days of protection in hopes she might find some resolution.
Helping the lass wasnae even close to a heroic deed. Merely a kindness at best. So, he’d still owe Soni that deed somewhere down the road. But he would start with the lass.Ifshe’d have him.
He had no doubt she’d push every boundary in her search for her brother. Exhaust every possibility. And he couldnae imagine anyone less equipped to do so. She was admittedly penniless. And surely clueless about negotiating her way around Scotland. Completely out of her element and vulnerable to every possible danger out there. She needed someone to see her through it, even if she dinnae realize it yet.
Aye, then. He would offer her a few days. A week, even. ’Twould ease his conscience and hopefully answer some questions for her. Then they could both move on with their respective lives.
A week. What could one week possibly cost him?
Chapter Three
“If ye’re set on continuin’ yer search, I’ve some free time on my hands,” Taran said, looking at no one in particular. “I could help ye find yer way around. For a few days, anyway.”
“If?”Paige challenged. “I thought I’d made my purpose in coming here abundantly clear. Yes, Mr. Fleming, I fully intend to keep looking. Somewhere, somehow, something will come to light that will lead me to my brother. I know with every ounce of my being, if he had the ability to contact me, he would have. He needs me and I’m going to find him.”
“Just Taran,” he said softly, turning his gaze on her. “Please. Forgive my misplaced words. My point is, ye cannae just run around Scotland on yer own. ’Tisnae safe for a woman. Especially one who looks like—”
Reginald coughed into his hand. “I’m afraid ye’ve been on the moor—er, the ranch, too long, my friend.”
“What’s wrong with the way I look?” Paige shot back.
Taran looked at Reginald in complete confusion. “But ’tis true, is it no’?”
“You wannae take this one, love?” Reginald asked Lauren.
“I think what my sweet husband is trying to convey, Taran, is that you’reforgettingthat women have more freedomsthese daysthan theyusedto.” She gave him a pointed look. “Even though Paige might benefit from someone helping her—if she so desired—she’scompletelycapableof managing on her own.”
“Aye,” Taran looked from Reggie, to Lauren, to Paige. “I dinnae say she wasnae. Just that traveling alone in a strange country isnae safe. Or wise. Especially when she’s bonny enough tae attract the attention of any man who saw her.”
