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“Oh!” Tait’s startled cry surprised them both. “You’re certainly full of surprises. Any other weapons stowed away?”
“Unfortunately, no’,” Marcus said, moving to his tartan to pull out his longshirt. “Just the one.” He cut a small square of linen from the hem and handed it to her. “Tie the wee thing up in that. I’ll tuck it in the bottom of the sheath with the knife atop it. ’Twill be a test tae find it there, and if by chance they do, a battle tae keep it.”
“If we just knew whotheyare,” Tait moaned, following his instructions. While he tucked the microchip away, she put her locket back together, holding Hannah’s original picture out, at the last minute.
“Spare another piece of linen?” she asked.
When Marcus handed it to her, she wrapped the tiny picture with a piece of the cardstock on each side to protect it and handed it to him. “Is there room for her, too?”
“Aye,” he said, smoothing a curl from Tait’s brow. “I’ll protect her. Ye’ve my word on it.”
Tait nodded. “I know.” Turning back to the table, she made quick work of putting the duplicate picture back in the locket and snapping all the pieces back into place before resettling it around her neck.
This time—for the first time—when she grasped it to rub between her fingers it felt like the cold, lifeless piece of metal that it was.
Marcus gathered her in his arms. “Are ye okay, lass?”
Leaning into him, Tait sought the warmth and comfort the locket no longer possessed. Gratefully, she found that and more in his arms. Marcus was real, not some half-fantasized memory of what once existed. She had no idea if their time together could last. But while it did, she’d savor every moment with him.
“I am now,” she sighed.
* * *
Daylight peekedpast the edges of the curtains as Tait stretched in the oversized bed, not quite ready to open her eyes. She listened for Marcus’ steady breathing, wondering at what exact point in their journey he’d become both her anchor and safety net.
But the only sounds she heard were the traffic outside and a dog barking in the distance.
Turning over, she scanned the bed and the room. Both empty. The bathroom light was off, with the door ajar.
She bounded from the bed to find her clean clothes neatly folded on a chair. Marcus’ tartan and torn longshirt were there, but not his jeans, t-shirt, or boots.
Where was he?Would he have gone to get the van without saying anything?
The clock on the nightstand read eight-twenty. She’d slept almost five hours. Marcus far less.
Startled by a rattle at the door, Tait whirled as it swung open. Marcus paused in the opening, his gaze taking in her bare legs before moving to her face. “Good mornin’ tae ye, lass.”
With a folded newspaper tucked beneath his arm, he held up a small bag and a drink-carrier with two coffee containers. “Breakfast. At least that’s what the lad at the establishment across the street called it. Breakfast sandwiches.”
Self-consciously tugging on the hem of the wolf-shirt that hit her mid-thigh, she smiled. “That sounds amazing. I’m starving.”
“Aye,” he grinned, moving to the table to set everything down. “I remember ye sayin’ ye’re ravenous when ye first wake up, so I wanted tae be prepared.” He glanced at her, quickly taking in everything from her mussed hair to her bare toes before pulling out a chair. “Come sit. Eat while ’tis hot. We shouldnae stay in one spot too long.”
“I agree.” Tucking the T-shirt around her thighs, she sat as he passed her a steaming cup of coffee and pulled napkins and sandwiches from the bag. “Thank you, Marcus, but you have to stop pampering me like this. I’m not used to it. I’ve become far too dependent on you.”
He winked and reached for his coffee. “ ’Tis all part of convincin’ ye tae run away tae Scotland wi’ me.”
“It’s working,” she mumbled into her coffee. And even though he’d made it sound like the on-going joke that it was, she almost let herself imagine what it might be like waking up to him every day with nothing but building a life together, ahead of them.
“So much has happened since Iliterallyfellinto your arms,” she stated. “And you’ve selflessly taken care of me ever since.” Leaning forward she intensified her gaze. “I wouldn’t have survived without you, Marcus.”
The sting of tears burned her eyes and throat. “I’d have been caught, they’d have the necklace, and my life would have been as expendable to them as Evan’s.”
Marcus sighed, his expression pained as he passed her the newspaper, already turned to the section labeledReginal News. “I ken ye’ll see this at some point.”
Tait’s fingers shook as she took the paper, already anticipating what she’d see.
FEDERAL MARSHALL DIES IN AUTO ACCIDENT
