Page 31 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

Usually it didn’t take Logan long to gather his thoughts together, but today was different to anything he had experienced before.

His head was in a complete jumble. Although he had been back in the flat for a couple of hours, and showered and had something to eat, he felt completely wired.

He couldn’t get that moment with Kitty out of his head, which was then interrupted by an emergency.

* * *

The shriek came from a woman ahead of Olivia and Adam, who had tumbled over on her ankle.

Logan always carried a first-aid kit in his backpack.

He knelt down beside her, trying his best to calm her down.

Her name was Sara and she looked like she had a nasty sprain — no wonder, given that she wasn’t wearing supportive walking shoes.

She had a pair of flimsy plimsolls on. If she hadn’t hurt herself at this stage of the climb, he was certain she would have done it further up, when it would have been harder to get her to safety.

‘Sara, I think you’ve had a shock,’ said Kitty, who had squatted down next to her and was speaking in a soothing voice. She reached into her backpack, pulling out a flask of tea. ‘Here,’ she said. ‘Take a sip of this and have something to eat. It will help.’

Logan watched in admiration as Kitty effortlessly unwrapped a flapjack and handed it to Sara, who did as she was told.

Kitty spoke to the woman in a calming voice, rubbing her back gently, and soon her sobs started to subside.

No wonder she was good with kids, he thought. She was so patient and reassuring.

‘What do you think?’ asked Adam. ‘What should we do?’

‘Well, you’re not going to be able to go any further today, Sara,’ explained Logan.

‘So I’ll strap you up, and I suggest you head back down if you can and get it seen to properly in the village.

’ He opened a bandage, took the woman’s foot in his hands and started binding it around her ankle.

‘Now,’ he said when he’d finished, ‘do you think you can stand?’

‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I’ll give it a try.’ She stood up gingerly and tested her ankle, wincing in pain. ‘Ouch!’ she cried.

‘Did you come out here on your own?’ asked Olivia in concern.

‘No,’ she said, clearly biting back the tears. ‘My boyfriend is here, but he said I was walking too slow, so he went on ahead. He said he’d see me at the top.’

‘Nice,’ said Logan through gritted teeth.

‘Aw love,’ said Kitty sympathetically. ‘You can’t possibly try and head back down on your own. Come on, don’t worry, we’ll help you.’

The woman threw her a grateful look. ‘I’m so sorry for ruining your day,’ she said with a hiccup. ‘I feel so stupid.’

‘Don’t you worry about that. It’s your boyfriend who should be apologising for abandoning you,’ said Olivia crossly. ‘I can’t believe he would just leave you on your own. What a charmer .’

More tears pooled in Sara’s eyes, and Kitty gave her a pat on the shoulder.

Logan couldn’t fail to detect the venom in Olivia’s voice and quickly realised there was definitely more to it.

He wondered if she either knew Sara’s boyfriend or was speaking from personal experience.

Maybe that was why she’d ended up in Scotland.

He pushed the thought aside and looked to Kitty, who frowned at him as though she sensed the same thing.

‘Look, why don’t you two go ahead?’ said Kitty, looking to Adam and then him, smoothly pointing up to the summit. ‘Adam has come all this way and it would be a shame for him to miss out.’

‘I don’t mind,’ said Adam reluctantly.

‘It’s fine. Olivia and I can do this another time. You’re here from Australia, you must make the most of your trip. Aside from that, I don’t think your wife will thank you if you reappear early and ruin her spa time.’ Her words were met with a peel of laughter.

‘True,’ he said. ‘You know her well.’

‘Let Olivia and I focus on helping Sara back down the hill.’ Turning her attention to Sara, Kitty said encouragingly, ‘Now, if you lean on us both, do you think you can manage?’

Sara bit her lip and took a small step forward. ‘Yes,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘If we take it slow, with your help I’m sure I’ll make it down.’

‘And if you’re really lucky, I might even treat you to a song or two,’ said Kitty.

Olivia groaned. ‘Oh, great.’

‘Okay, guys,’ said Kitty brightly. ‘You two get going. On you go. Take care and don’t fall over, unless you want Olivia and I to come to the rescue. I guess we’ll see you at the pub later for a drink.’

Logan held her gaze. ‘That’s a promise. Take your time getting down. Be careful.’

‘You too,’ said Kitty.

He was so impressed at how calm and focused she was in a crisis. Her kindness and compassion towards Sara also made him want to reach out and hug her. But his thoughts were interrupted by Olivia.

‘And if you see her boyfriend up there, then be sure to shove him over,’ she said. ‘Hard.’

Logan was relieved Kitty was taking Olivia in the opposite direction to Sara’s boyfriend. The thought of trying to diffuse that situation did not appeal. Olivia could be terrifying.

‘Come on, Sara,’ said Kitty, who was clearly trying to distract her from Olivia’s rant. ‘Let’s get going. See you guys.’

‘All right,’ said Sara.

Kitty sniggered and started singing the chorus of a Supergrass song. ‘Oh dear. Well, you did say, “All right,” Sara.’

Logan watched the trio of women start to make their way back down the slope . . . while Kitty belted out the song and Olivia shook her head. What on earth was that about?

* * *

It was now just after eight and Logan stood in the pub with Adam and Liz. It had been a very long day and they had reached the summit, much to Adam’s delight.

‘Never before has a beer tasted so good,’ Logan said as he clinked his glass against Adam’s and Liz’s.

‘I wonder how the girls got on with that woman.’ Adam had filled Liz in on the drama from earlier, and how Kitty and Olivia had gone to Sara’s rescue.

‘Well, Kitty sent me a text message to let me know she was okay, and they made it down. She and Olivia should be here any minute. That’s if Olivia isn’t trying to track the boyfriend down,’ he said wryly.

‘Ah, there they are,’ said Adam as Kitty and Olivia strolled into the bar.

They clapped as the women neared them. ‘You two saved the day,’ said Logan. He couldn’t take his eyes off Kitty. She wore jeans, a simple yellow top and her hair hung loose around her shoulders. She was beautiful.

‘It was nothing, we just chummed her down the path and kept her entertained with some singing. I think you might have helped though, with your expert bandaging,’ she said.

‘I just wish she’d been wearing the proper gear, then it wouldn’t have happened. Honestly, the number of times I pass people wearing flip-flops and flimsy summer clothes. It drives me mad,’ admitted Logan.

‘It wouldn’t have happened if her dickhead of a boyfriend hadn’t abandoned her,’ said Olivia darkly.

‘Glass of wine?’ asked Logan. ‘I think you deserve it.’

‘Please,’ said Olivia. ‘In fact, make it a bottle. Kitty, would you like wine too?’

Kitty nodded, looking a bit concerned by Olivia’s mood, which seemed to have declined since that afternoon. ‘So how was the climb then, Adam?’

‘Tougher than I thought,’ he admitted. ‘But I’m glad I did it.’

‘And how are your blisters, Liz?’

‘They were bloody sore. I mean, I could hardly make it to breakfast this morning, never mind hiking up Goatfell. I am sorry, as I was looking forward to it,’ she said, before adding, ‘but not too sorry as I had a lovely time in the spa.’ She spread her hands out and showed her fuchsia-painted nails.

‘Very nice,’ said Olivia, taking a gulp of wine and quickly draining her glass.

Logan caught Kitty looking at her quizzically.

‘What’s next for you, then?’ asked Kitty to Liz and Adam.

‘Well, after this, we’re off for some dinner at the hotel. In fact, we’d better watch our time, love, so we make our reservation,’ Adam said. ‘Tomorrow, we leave to get the ferry back to the mainland, then we’re off to Inverness.’

‘Oh, wonderful,’ said Kitty. ‘Have you been there before?’

‘No,’ said Liz. ‘Have you any pointers?’

‘I do indeed. I live very close. Just about a half-hour drive, in fact — in Rosemarkie, on the Black Isle.’

‘Isn’t that where you can see dolphins?’ asked Liz.

Kitty smiled. ‘Yes, it’s near Chanonry Point, which is halfway between Rosemarkie and Fortrose. If you’re lucky you’ll see bottlenose dolphins, but you need to check the tide times to make sure that it’s not a wasted journey. The best time to arrive and wait is from low tide.’

‘Great, thanks for that tip. We’ll definitely need to remember that, Adam. Where else do you recommend?’

‘Why don’t I make you a wee list?’ Kitty quickly jotted down a few suggestions on a piece of paper, and Liz tucked it away in her bag.

‘It’s been so lovely meeting you all,’ said Adam. ‘Thank you, Logan, for being such a great guide. I thoroughly enjoyed today and hearing a bit more about your work too.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘That’s us off, then.’

‘Thanks again, everyone,’ Liz said. ‘Take care and enjoy the rest of your summer.’

Logan, Kitty and Olivia chorused their goodbyes before Olivia disappeared into the ladies.

‘What a day, eh?’ And although it was the very last thing Logan wanted to be saying to Kitty, he said, ‘I hope I’m not speaking out of turn, but I think it might be a good idea to get Olivia home?

’ He added softly, ‘She’s just about finished that bottle of wine and doesn’t seem to be in very good spirits. ’

‘Oh no,’ said Kitty. ‘I didn’t realise she was drinking it so fast, and she had a couple of whiskies too before we came out. She insisted she would just have the one, but I suspect she’s had more. Thank God I made her eat some dinner first.’

‘I think it may be better if you suggest it rather than me,’ said Logan. ‘I get the feeling that she has some beef with the opposite sex today.’

‘I would agree with you. I had to suggest she dial it down a bit with Sara. She was telling her to ditch the boyfriend and that he was a useless lump, or words to that effect. And she pointed out in no uncertain terms that if he left her stranded on a mountain, at this stage in their relationship, then think what would happen if the going really got tough.’

‘Ouch,’ winced Logan.

‘Yip. I think the poor woman’s ankle was the least of her worries by the time we left her.’

Just then, Olivia stumbled out of the ladies and walked towards them. ‘I’m tired,’ she slurred. ‘Do you mind if I go home?’

Kitty’s shoulders slumped with relief. ‘No, of course not. Come on, let’s head back to the cottage.’

‘S’okay. You don’t have to come. You can stay here with him,’ she said, pointing at Logan. ‘Have some fun. You deserve to have a wild night out.’

‘Come on,’ Kitty said gently. ‘Let’s go back and have a nice cup of tea together. I’m tired too. It’s been a long day.’

‘Just stay,’ Olivia tried to insist. ‘I can manage to get back on my own. I’m not a child.’

Logan begged to differ. At this moment in time she looked young and vulnerable.

There was no way he was letting either of the women walk home alone, especially when Olivia was so inebriated.

‘That’s okay. I’ll walk you home,’ said Logan, looking at Kitty.

‘It’s been quite the day for everyone. I need my beauty sleep too. ’ He stifled a yawn.

He gave Kitty an apologetic smile. What he really wanted to do, once again , was to reach out and pull her close to him.

But the timing really wasn’t great. Again.

He couldn’t help but think a trend was starting to emerge here.

And it was the final day of the tour. It was fair to say that it hadn’t ended in the way that he’d hoped it might.

Olivia began to walk towards the door and Kitty and Logan followed behind, trailing along the road that would then lead them up the steep hill to Lilybank Cottage. It was a warm and light summer’s evening, and the water gently lapped the bay as they followed the path along the road.

‘When is it you head off to your next tour?’ asked Kitty.

‘I have a couple of days here and then go to the mainland on Wednesday. . .’

‘Right,’ she said, keeping her eyes fixed ahead on Olivia.

‘Have you seen her like this before?’ he said under his breath.

‘No, and I’m a bit worried about her. What happened today seemed to trigger something.’

‘Yes, I noticed that too,’ he said. ‘I suppose she’ll tell you if and when she’s ready.’

Kitty nodded solemnly, and he could tell her mind was elsewhere, as she frowned after Olivia.

He wanted to say something, anything , but what? When Olivia started to walk haphazardly across the road, they both flanked her and linked arms on either side.

‘Sorry. I’m so sorry about this,’ she said.

‘That’s okay. It will all feel better in the morning,’ said Kitty, her tone light.

Before long they had reached Lilybank Cottage, by which time Olivia had started to cry. Loud, gut-wrenching sobs that made her shoulders shudder.

‘Will you be okay?’ Logan asked Kitty, quietly.

Kitty nodded. ‘It’s probably better that you go now and I sort her out. But thank you,’ she said, touching his arm. ‘For everything.’

‘Look, why don’t I text you tomorrow,’ he said hurriedly. ‘Maybe . . . you would like to have a coffee or a drink or something. Before I go?’

Kitty smiled shyly and nodded. ‘Yes, that sounds nice. I would like that, Logan. Thanks again.’ She reached up and briefly kissed him on the cheek.

‘Goodnight, Kitty,’ he said as she turned away and helped Olivia through the front door.

He stood for a moment, enjoying the scent of lavender that lingered in the air, smiling as he felt the warmth of her soft lips that still lingered on his cheek.

He was over the moon that she had said yes! What a day, indeed.