Page 24

Twenty-one

“… O n the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond.”

Sarah stopped and looked around guiltily. Thank goodness, Ramos had crossed over to the gift shop to get a soda for her. The little snatch of song had slipped out as she stood looking over the splendor of that same lake. Scotland was perhaps the most beautiful place she had ever been. To think she might have missed seeing all this if Ramos hadn’t called and practically insisted on showing it to her!

As if on cue, he stepped out of the shop. Two young women sitting on a bench outside the little store stopped their conversation to watch him walk toward her. She had to admit, he was a compelling sight, striding across the road in the dark pants and fitted polo shirt that exactly matched the color of his eyes. The girls, of course wouldn’t know that. Dark sunglasses covered the pale green eyes that always gave the impression of missing nothing. His long black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail, exposing a small diamond stud in his ear that sparkled with reflected sunlight when he turned his head to check for oncoming traffic.

For the second time since her arrival in Scotland, she found herself on a road trip with a handsome man who was basically a stranger. This time, however, she felt no pressure. Amazing how freeing it was to spend time with someone to whom you weren’t attracted. Someone who was truly just a friend.

She looked back at the girls still staring after Ramos. They’d probably think she was crazy for not being attracted to a man like him. Perhaps they were right. He was good-looking in a dangerous sort of way. Dangerous. That was the perfect description. Ian’s warning raced through her mind.

No. Ian was gone, and she would not think about him or about anything he had ever said. Gone. Done. Never happened.

“Here you go.” Ramos approached her carrying two orange and blue cans. “The shopgirl assured me this is, by far, the most popular native soft drink. IRN-brU.”

He popped her drink open before handing it to her, then did the same with his own. As she tipped the can up, she noticed his wrinkled expression in response to his own taste of the orange, fizzy drink.

“Hmm…. Perhaps they’re popular with a younger set. What is that flavor? Bubblegum?” His face was still wrinkled in distaste.

She giggled. The smooth, sophisticated Ramos making faces was not at all what she’d expected. It totally blew the dangerous label she had just decided on for him. “No. I’d say it’s more like Halloween candy. Those spongy, peanut-shaped candies, you know?”

His eyebrow lifted and she giggled again, certain he had no idea what she was trying to describe.

“Yes, well, if we come across any of those particular candies, you will point them out, won’t you? I think I’d like to avoid them.”

He took her elbow to direct her back to the silver Bentley Continental GT he’d left pulled off to the side of the road.

Once they were on their way, Sarah’s curiosity took center stage, forcing her to begin the so-far fruitless quizzing all over again.

“So. If you won’t tell me where yet, have you at least decided when you’re going to tell me where we’re headed?”

When he had picked her up that morning, he told her he had located an opportunity to interact with the native population at its best, but that their destination was a secret. Her only clue was that they were headed west, and that only because of the electronic compass on the dash of the car.

Ramos arched an eyebrow and glanced at her over the top of his designer sunglasses. “You’re really not a very patient woman, are you?”

“No. Patience is not one of my virtues.” She drummed her fingers on the arm rest. “At least give me a hint.”

“Very well. A hint.” He paused as if thinking of something suitably vague to tell her. “All right, how’s this? It starts at one o’clock and we should be there by then.”

“And what is it that starts at one?” She pulled her own sunglasses down on the bridge of her nose and batted her eyelashes at him expectantly.

“That’s all you get, my sweet. You’ll have to wait and see.”

Neither her continued wheedling nor her long, dramatic sighs were successful in getting anything more from him other than laughter. Finally she gave up trying to discover their destination and simply concentrated on enjoying the scenery.

They settled into a comfortable silence, breaking it occasionally to point out some new sight they passed. It was after one of these longer silences that Ramos cleared his throat, garnering Sarah’s attention. He stared straight ahead, casting one quick glance her direction.

“Though I don’t particularly like to admit it, I believe it’s just possible that your bad habits are rubbing off on me.”

“Which of my bad habits would you be referring to?” She wished she could see his eyes behind those dark lenses.

“Your unrelenting curiosity and lack of patience. I find myself similarly struck.”

“Not much fun, is it?” She smiled in his direction. “So what is it you’re dying to know? Unlike you, I’m open to answering anything.” Almost anything, she silently corrected herself.

“What convinced McCullough to let you come with me today?”

Anything but a discussion about Ian, that is.

“There was no need to convince anyone of anything. I’m not a child to be given or refused permission to do something I want to do. You asked, I said yes. It’s as simple as that.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

She looked out her window, refusing to make eye contact with him. The disbelief in his voice, and in him, hung heavy in the car, as if it had a life of its own.

“Very well. Then what did he say when you told him you were coming with me?”

“Where are you taking me?”

“What?”

“You heard me. I answered one of your questions, now you have to answer one of mine.”

He arched a look over the top of his sunglasses. “I don’t recall making any such bargain.”

She shrugged. She would not discuss Ian. The day had been so pleasant, she would not allow that pain back to the surface.

“This is a pretty little village. What did the sign back there say it’s called?”

After a slight pause, Ramos answered. “Invergarry. It’s where we’ve been headed. Down this way,” he added as he turned onto a smaller road, passing through the town.

Cars pulled off to either side of the road to park where they could, and a crowd of people gathered in a ball field to their left. A banner flew above the field announcing a welcome to the Glengarry Highland Games.

“Here we are. Shinty Park. Their Highland games are a local festival. I thought this would give us a good flavor of the real people.”

They climbed from the car and wandered down into the crowds.

Food booths sat along the outer perimeter, and areas of competition were set up within the field. Young girls in Highland dress milled about a small stage, giggling and waving to one another. At the far end of the field, several men in kilts appeared to be taking practice throws with a heavy metal ball. The sound of bagpipes drifted across the field as a small pipe band marched in their direction, stepping in time to the wailing notes.

Sarah looked around in awe. “This is wonderful. How did you know about it?”

“I didn’t. I wanted to attend an authentic Highland games while I was here and the concierge at my hotel found this one taking place this weekend. So, here we are.”

They wandered from competition to competition, watching the locals and visitors alike enjoy food, drink and one another’s company. Everyone they met was friendly and welcoming. It was a perfect summer day for such an outing, the sun shining brightly with only a few wispy clouds floating overhead. Sarah had already learned how quickly that could change, so she was enjoying the warmth.

“Come now,” a tiny old lady called from a booth they passed. “Yer a fine, strong lad. Pay us a pound to toss the boot. See if you canna impress yer lovely lassie with the strength of those great, fine muscles. All the money goes to the Fireman’s Fund.”

Several men gathered in rows on the field, hefting large firemen’s boots, testing their weight. The field itself had markers down the side showing the distance.

“Go on.” Sarah pointed at the field. “It’s all for charity. Show me what you’ve got.”

Ramos removed his sunglasses and handed them to her, grinning like a little boy as he took to the field for the event.

The growing crowd of men and boys lined up on the field, all carrying on a loud, good-natured banter about who would be throwing their boot the farthest down the field. Sarah smiled as one small boy struggled with his practice throw, trying to heft a boot almost as large as he was.

She moved to the edge of the field and lifted her hand to shade her eyes, wishing she wore a hat. Of course, if she’d only known where she was going, she would have brought one. Lost in that train of thought, she was surprised to feel a tug on her skirt. Looking down, she was even more surprised by what was doing the tugging.

“H’lo, Auntie.”

A happy little face beamed up at her. The small girl holding on to her skirt had huge green eyes framed by long dark lashes and a riot of blond curls pinned back from her face on either side with big bows. She wore a sundress made from a tartan that matched the bows.

“Hi, honey. Are you lost?” She didn’t see any adults who appeared to be searching for the child.

“Nope.”

“Are your mommy and daddy around?”

The little girl giggled, daintily placing her free hand over her mouth. “Yes, Auntie. My da’s out there.” She pointed to the field where Ramos and the others were beginning the first round of boot tossing.

Obviously the child had her confused with some relative. She looked around again but still saw no one rushing their direction.

“Who’s supposed to be watching you while your daddy’s on the field?”

“Doogie. But he went for a cake, over there.” She pointed toward the lines of people at the food booths. “I’m hot. Let’s go sit under them trees.” The little girl began walking away, still holding the hem of Sarah’s dress.

Quite naturally, Sarah followed. Although the child might not consider herself lost, Sarah was a little concerned.

“What’s your name?”

“Rose.”

“That’s a pretty name. I’m Sarah. How old are you?”

“Five.” Rose stopped and looked at the ground where she dug her toe into the grass. When she looked back up, her cheeks were pink. “Well, almost five. I will be five. My next birthday.”

“Oh. I guess that would count, then.” Sarah smiled down at the little girl and winked. “Lots of ladies don’t tell the whole truth about their ages. It’s a woman thing.”

The child nodded and plopped down on the ground in the shade of a large tree, the hem of Sarah’s skirt tightly clutched in her little hand.

Sarah sat down, her back against the trunk of the tree. Rose immediately crawled up into her lap, her emerald eyes sparkling.

“I gots roses in my Faerie kiss on my back. Wanna see?”

She turned her back and Sarah immediately spied the dark red birthmark just below Rose’s shoulder blade, clearly exposed by the crisscross straps of her little sundress.

Faeries again. Was there no escaping them in this country? Everyone she met seemed obsessed with them.

Sarah tilted her head, studying the child’s back. On closer inspection, the mark really did look like a bouquet of roses.

“Where’s your Faerie kiss?” Big emerald eyes studied her.

“I don’t have one.”

“Oh. You sure?” Rose clearly doubted her word on this.

“I’m sure. No Faerie kisses.”

The little girl’s response was halted by a shout coming toward them.

“Rosie!” A boy, only a couple of years older than Rose, his hands filled with sweets, ran across the edge of the field to where they sat. “I told you to stay right where I left you, over by the boot guys.”

Rose shrugged. “I got hot, so I’m sitting here with Auntie Sarah.”

The brown curly head turned in Sarah’s direction, doubt aimed at her from a second source.

“She’s not our aunt, Rosie.” His little brow wrinkled. “Sorry, lady.”

“Not a problem.”

He held out one of the cakes to his little sister, but she ignored it.

Rose let go of Sarah’s dress and wiggled around in her lap until they were face to face. She rolled her little eyes in an expression of exasperation that belonged on the face of a much older female, especially accompanied as it was by her one-line response.

“Men.”

She shook her head and made a tsk ing noise before she placed both her little palms flat against Sarah’s cheeks.

Sarah’s breath froze in her lungs. Feelings equally as strong as the ones she’d received from Will coursed through her system. Wave after wave of curiosity, recognition and happiness crashed over her. The flood of emotion that swamped her was so intense, her eyes closed, and for a moment she thought she might lose consciousness.

“I knew it,” the little girl whispered as she placed a kiss on Sarah’s cheek. The deluge of emotions stopped as quickly as they had begun, although the child still held Sarah’s face in her chubby little hands.

“Rosalyn Maura MacKiernan! What do you think you’re doing?”

Sarah opened her eyes to search for the clearly American, clearly breathless, voice. It came from a woman standing in front of them, hands on her hips. Or, more accurately, where her hips would be if she weren’t so very pregnant.

“Look, Mommy. I found an auntie.” Rose beamed at the woman. “But she doesn’t gots a Faerie kiss like ours.” The child jumped off Sarah’s lap and ran to the woman, giggling and hugging as much of her as she could throw her arms around. She took her mother’s hand and tugged her forward. “Auntie Sarah? This is my mommy.”

“No, stay where you are.” Rose’s mommy held up a hand when Sarah tried to get up. “Give me a moment and I’ll join you down there.” She laughed as she maneuvered herself onto the ground. “I feel like the proverbial beached whale.” She wiped a hand across her face. “It looks like you’ve found the only shade around the field. Oh, I’m Cate, by the way. Cate MacKiernan.”

“Cate.” Sarah nodded. She wanted to say more, but still felt weak from the bizarre encounter with Rose.

“Are you feeling okay? Dougal,” she called to the little boy standing quietly to the side. “Run get a bottle of water out of our cooler for Sarah. She looks a little pale.”

“I’m fine.” Exhausted was more like it.

“Yeah, well, too much sun maybe.” Cate frowned at her daughter. “I’m sorry if she was bothering you. Sometimes Rosie can be a bit, um, impetuous.”

“No. Not bothering.” Completely drained. Bled dry of every bit of energy in her system.

“Rosie?” Cate spoke quietly, nodding toward Sarah.

“Oh. I forgot.” The child returned to Sarah’s lap, once again placing her palms on Sarah’s cheeks. “Sorry, Auntie. I got excited that I found you.”

Warmth spread across Sarah’s face, moving out to her whole body. Within seconds, she felt as though nothing had happened. Physically, at least. Mentally was a whole different matter.

Rose dropped her hands to her lap and snuggled her head against Sarah’s shoulder, the smell of baby shampoo wafting up from her curls.

“I’m hearing an American accent. Are you here on vacation?” Cate’s question was followed by a dazzling smile, evidence of where Rose had gotten her sparkling green eyes and friendly attitude.

“Working vacation. I’m a writer.” Confusion reigned as she stumbled over her answer. What just happened with that child?

“How lovely. Are you here for long?”

“Only a couple more months.” Here she’d just gone through an extraordinary experience, yet this woman continued to visit and ask questions as if nothing had happened.

“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it? My husband was born here so we try to spend part of our year in each place. Where are you from in the States?”

Dougal returned and quietly handed a cold bottle of water to Sarah. She twisted off the cap and took a drink before answering.

“Denver.”

“No way,” Cate laughed. “We live outside Granby. What a coincidence.”

“What’s a coincidence?”

At the sound of the deep male voice, Sarah looked up. One of the men from the field had joined them and Ramos stood directly behind him. Any questions she had for the woman would have to wait.

“Sarah, this is my husband, Connor. Connor, this is Sarah…I’m sorry, I don’t know your last name.” Cate attempted to rise, but settled for a laugh and allowed her husband to haul her to her feet and tuck her under his arm.

“Sarah Douglas. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Sarah kept her hands on the child in her lap. Considering the way her day had gone so far, she didn’t want to risk shaking hands with another stranger.

“My pleasure, Sarah.” Connor turned to Ramos. “So this is yer woman?

Ramos shrugged and smiled.

Sarah narrowed her eyes, but any reply she might have intended was cut short by Cate’s excited chatter.

“Sarah’s from Denver. Imagine that. Come all this way and meet someone from home.” Cate pointed down at the child who had dozed off in Sarah’s lap. “Rosie’s adopted her. Sarah’s an auntie now.”

Connor smiled down at the sleeping child and motioned behind him with his thumb. “This is Ramos. We met on the field. More of yer coincidence, I guess. I’m meeting him while Rosie’s adopting his Sarah.”

Cate leaned around her husband, extending her hand and a smile to Ramos.

Connor squatted down and lovingly ran a hand over the tousled curls of the sleeping girl. In one fluid movement, he scooped the child into his arms and stood.

“It’s past time to have this wee lassie indoors, and her mother, too. You ken we agreed to stay only long enough for you to help cousin Elspeth get the lassies in their dancing frocks for the competition. I dinna want you tiring yerself out, Caty.” He nodded to Sarah before he turned to go.

Ramos reached down, offering Sarah his assistance to stand. She allowed him to pull her to her feet, even though she was still smarting a bit from the ‘yer woman’ remark. She needed to speak to Cate before they left.

“Do you know what happened back there?” She kept her voice low, speaking directly to Cate, her back turned to the others.

Cate nodded and then rummaged around in her pocket, pulling out a card, which she extended to Sarah.

“Here’s my card. My family has an office in Denver and you can reach me through that number, whether I’m still here or back home. We’ll have time to chat then. It’s been such a pleasure to meet you, I hope you’ll give me a call when you get home.” Cate leaned as close as her bulk would allow, giving Sarah a hug. Just before letting go, she whispered, “We’ll have a long talk and I can answer some of the questions I’m sure you’ll have.”

Sarah watched as the friendly family walked to their car, loaded up and pulled away. Her stay in Scotland, and the people she met, continued to get stranger and stranger. She clutched the card in her hand before tucking it into her pocket. That was one number she didn’t want to lose. She had every intention of making that call.

“Are you okay?” Ramos interrupted her thoughts.

“I’m fine. Why?” She turned to find him peering at her intently.

“I don’t know. You seemed a little out of it for a bit there.”

No kidding.

***

They’d stayed until early evening, enjoying the music and competitions.

Ramos glanced over at Sarah in the passenger seat. Her sunglasses were pushed up on her head, leaving white rings around her eyes, surrounded by pink. Too much sun for her fair skin. He should have thought of that.

“Have fun today?”

“Oh, yes. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She scooted in her seat, turning to favor him with a huge smile. “Thank you so much for pushing me into coming with you.”

“I knew you’d like it.”

“I had a wonderful time. It was a great day.”

“You say that like it’s over.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Well, it is getting late. You hungry?”

“Famished. That chocolate-covered shortbread wore off quite a while ago.”

He grinned. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy chocolate as much as you do. You made eating that look almost sinful.”

“Guilty as charged. You found my weakness. So, do we get to have chocolate somewhere on our way back?” She gave him a big fake smile, showing her teeth and batting her eyes.

He laughed. “Even better. I’ve made dinner reservations at a lovely spot in Glen Coe. Of course, there is always the chance they’ll have something chocolate for dessert.”

“Ummmm. I love dessert.” She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes, but then popped back up. “Hey, it’s going to be getting dark by the time we get there and have dinner, isn’t it?

“I should imagine so.”

“Driving these roads in the dark isn’t particularly safe.” She turned her head and looked out the window. “Or so someone once told me,” she added in a murmur.

“Well, whoever that someone was, they were absolutely correct. That’s why I made the other reservation.” He smiled at the suspicious look she turned on him.

“What other reservation?”

“I’ve reserved a room for the night in Glen Coe as well.” He arched an eyebrow and flashed a smile that had worked miracles on more than one woman in his lifetime.

“A room?” He had her full attention as she swiveled in her seat again, facing her body toward him as far as her seatbelt allowed. “As in one single room to be shared by the two of us?”

He turned up the intensity of his smile.

She didn’t appear to be fazed. “Oh, I don’t think so. One room is not going to work. Not unless…” She turned to face straight ahead, a smile playing around her mouth.

“Unless what?”

“Unless you’re planning to sleep out in this cute little car tonight.”

He laughed before responding. She had a hell of a wit once she loosened up. “I reserved two rooms.”

It was her turn to arch an eyebrow.

“Hey, can’t blame a chap for trying. I thought I’d see what you’d say.” He grinned at her again.

After a few moments of silence, she pinned him with an appraising look. “You like playing the role of bad boy, don’t you?”

“Is that what you think I do?”

She nodded and looked out her window into the gathering dusk. “I bet you fool a lot of people with that act. For the record, though, I’m not one of them. You might play the bad boy, but you’re really a good guy. Trust me when I say I know that for a fact.”

An act? Perhaps she was right. Being the bad boy suited his needs. Growing up as he had, trained from birth to fight against the life and death struggle his people faced every day, it was easy to lose sight of who he really was, what he really believed. Sometimes, remembering he was in reality the good guy was the only thing that kept him going.

He just never expected it to feel so good to have someone else acknowledge it.

***

“It’s so beautiful here.” Sarah’s voice sounded as wistful as she’d looked holding that little girl this afternoon, her blond curls almost blending with the child’s as they sat together on the ground.

Ramos watched her now, sitting next to him on a picnic table behind their hotel, her elbows on her knees, her hands supporting her chin as she stared out at the lake. After dinner she’d wanted to wander out for a walk and they’d ended up here, watching the moon dance over the water in silver ripples.

“See the little island out there in the loch?” She pointed off to their left. “The desk clerk told me that centuries ago feuding clansmen were rowed out to that island and left there until they settled their differences.”

“Sounds remarkably civilized.” It should be that way today, he thought, saving innocents like Sarah from getting caught in the middle of battle.

He casually placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side.

She turned to look at him, arched an eyebrow and pointedly removed his arm, scooting back to where she’d been. “I thought we covered this ground in the car today. Didn’t I make myself clear?”

“No clearer than my response.”

“Which was?”

“Can’t blame a chap for trying.” He grinned and moved his arm again, but she caught hold and pushed him back.

“Okay, let me make it crystal clear for you then. I like you. I like you a lot. As a friend. That’s it. Friendship is all I have left in me to give right now. If that’s not enough for you, then so be it.”

“All you have right now?” He watched her closely. He didn’t like the air of sadness that clung to her this evening.

She nodded her response.

“Then that’s all I ask.” He grinned again. “For now.” He allowed the silence to stretch out before he broke it once again. “It’s because of McCullough, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“That you don’t have anything else left to give. It’s because of him, isn’t it?” He wanted to hear it from her. Needed to know how she really felt. How deeply involved she was. How much she knew. About many things.

She turned away, looking out over the lake. “I suppose we should get an early start tomorrow. I hadn’t really planned to be away overnight.”

Again she avoided his questions. But this time he didn’t plan to let it go.

“Have you called him yet to tell him you’re staying the night with me?” He intentionally kept his tone light.

She shook her head. “I’m not staying with you. We’re merely staying at the same place. There’s a huge difference.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Silence.

“In fact, you haven’t answered any of my questions about McCullough today.”

Silence.

“Why is that?” Her continued evasion puzzled him.

“I’m not discussing Ian with you. That’s an off-limits subject.”

“But isn’t he going to be worried when you don’t come back tonight?”

“No.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.

“Let me be honest here. At Glaston House it was obvious that the two of you were involved in a relationship. You can’t blame me for wanting to know what I’ll be walking into when I deliver you back home.”

“You don’t have anything to worry about, Ramos. There won’t be any angry boyfriends waiting to wreak havoc on you when we get back.”

“So you’re telling me he won’t be waiting with swords drawn when we drive up?”

“No.”

“And you’re not going to call him and tell him where you are?”

“No.”

“And in spite of how possessive he seemed, you’re saying he isn’t going to be the least bit worried when you don’t show up there tonight?” None of what she was saying meshed with what he’d seen for himself.

“No.”

“Well, then, I’m hopelessly confused. If I were in McCullough’s place right now, I’d be sick with worry. At least tell me why you won’t call.” He grinned, hoping to coax a smile from her, until he caught sight of the glistening drop rolling down her cheek. Moonlight glinted off the tear, giving the appearance of a diamond rolling down her face.

“I’m not calling because he’s not there. He’s gone.”

“When’s he due back?” A sick feeling started to grow in his stomach.

“I don’t think he’s coming back. At least not as long as I’m there,” she whispered, ending in a little hiccup of a sob.

He pulled her to him, running his hand across her hair and down her back. He should have done something earlier, should have anticipated this, reacted sooner. But his instincts had failed him. Watching McCullough with her in England, he’d been so sure the Guardian would never willingly leave her side.

Anger rolled over him. As his father had always told him, Guardians were without feeling, mere attack dogs for the evil Fae who controlled them. The same Fae who had abused his people, stealing their homes and thrusting them out into the Mortal world. They had no concern for the innocents they trod upon.

Thinking of those innocents, his conscience stung only a little at his avoiding the red flag he’d wanted to pursue on this night. Now wasn’t the time to trouble Sarah with questions about the startling reaction she’d had to Reynard. It was obvious the woman was a Sensor. He needed to know what she could possibly have sensed in his father that affected her so violently.

He looked down at Sarah weeping silently in his arms. She was a nice lady with a good heart. He had liked her from the moment he met her. He’d hoped to avoid this. To intervene before McCullough had the opportunity to hurt her. But he’d been too late. Taken too long to press his case, too long in moving forward with the plan.

It was for the best that the Guardian was gone. In all honesty, he was relieved.

Because now that Ramos had come to know Sarah, come to respect and understand her, to care for her, how could he possibly eliminate the man she loved without being as bad as the Guardian himself?

Damn the Guardian to hell.