Highland Stone (24 page)

"Kara, I dunna understand," he whispered.

"It's true, Carrick." She laid her hand on his shoulder. "She married my grandfather Haskell Malone and had my father, Michael."

"Michael." He smiled. "'Tis a good name."

Kara laughed. "Yes, and he was a good man."

The corners of his mouth fell. "So Rhianna be dead?"

Tears welled in her eyes. "Yes, just before I arrived here." She squeezed his shoulder. "But in her journal she wrote how she missed you and how bad she felt that she'd never get to see you again."

"Aye, my heart breaks as well."

"She wanted the stone returned to the clan and to you." Tears dripped from her eyes. "She had a wonderful life, one that she didn't regret."

"I be glad o' that."

"I wanted to tell you the truth, so you could have peace regarding your sister. I know you will do good things for the clan." She hugged him.

"I will do me best. Ye have me word."

"Plus you have a good woman to help you." Kara chuckled.

He glanced at her from under dark lashes. "Mayhap ye could offer enlightening notions on what happens in the future?"

"No, Carrick. I can't." She rushed on. "It's not that I don't want to, but I really only know a few things about the MacKay Clan and I'm afraid to say anything for fear that I'd ruin some major future event." She sighed. "This is a tricky business, time travel."

"I ken how it would be."

"I must go before Alaxandar wakes up."

"Will I see ye again?"

Kara looked back at her great uncle. "I hope so."

"As do I. Be well, Kara Malone." He raised his hand in salute.

"And you MacKay."

She'd done what she came to do. Now what? Alaxandar had made it pretty clear that she was his and he wanted her to stay. He also expected to lose her to the fairy people.

Kara smiled. She loved Alaxandar even though she'd sworn not to. What if she disappeared and whisked back to her century? He would be lost, and she would be devastated. She thought back to the wild story her grandmother had left. Glynnis married Haskell and had Michael. She was happy. Could it happen to her?

Kara feared the answer. Her relationships were few and far between, but one thing was certain, her heart had never swelled with love before. Glynnis had lived a wonderful life in the future. Why wouldn't she be able to make one in the past?
That's a question I never thought I'd ask myself.

She hurried from the edge of the tree line, anxious to get back to Dunvegan and the love of her heart. He would be looking for her by now since she'd slipped out while he slept. The thought of Alaxandar on his stallion, searching the woods for her, coaxed Kara into running the short distance. Tree branches scratched her face and roots reached out to grab the hem of her skirt, but she kept on. Chattering birds rose into the sky as Kara neared the keep. The pungent smell of heather filled the air. His call carried on the wind, her name a distant echo.

"Where are you?"

"I'm here," Kara hollered with short breaths.

Tartan wrapped sparsely around his body and shirtless, Alaxandar stood on the stone steps with his arms outstretched and a smile to die for. His hair tossed with the morning wind. Her heart soared as she reached for him.

Her hand passed through his.

Kara stopped, staring at its transparency.
This can't be happening—not now.

She tried to speak. No words came out.

She wanted to explain, to tell him the truth that she wanted to stay, but it was too late.

Alaxandar's face, riddled with anguish and fear, imprinted itself on Kara's memory.

* * * *

Kara jumped awake, disoriented and confused. She looked around to get her bearings. The man next to her smiled. A beautiful sunny sky and pristine clouds mocked her while the captain informed the passengers that they were on time and landing soon. Stiffly, she shifted in her seat. The age-old journal lay innocently in her lap. She grabbed it and shoved it back in the box. An empty space next to the journal affirmed the fact that the stone was no longer a hidden secret. Sadness gripped her heart and squeezed until she couldn't breathe. Had it been a figment of her imagination? A result of the story her grandmother wielded and probable jetlag? She swiped a tear from her cheek, and stared out the window until they touched down. Her mind played over all that had happened the day Alaxandar almost ran her over with his horse, their constant squabbles, the first time they'd kissed.

The loss of Alaxandar hurt worst of all.

She would never forget the way his lips felt on her skin or the desire in his eyes. Her fierce warrior. The dream was so real. "Goodbye, Alaxandar," she whispered before gathering her stuff to exit the plane.

An old college buddy, Rusty, waved excitedly when she entered the terminal. He'd been the one to contact her and ask if she'd be interested in working with his crew at Hawaii's Volcano Observatory. At the time, she'd jumped at the chance. Now, no matter how hard she tried, Kara couldn't sum up the enthusiasm she once had for the job.

Rusty hugged her tight and kissed her cheek. "How've you been, doll?"

"Good, great, you know, the same."

He laughed. "You'll love it here. It's the most beautiful place."

You should see Scotland.
"It's crowded. Everybody on vacation, I guess."

"Probably."

It felt as though the walls were closing in. Her lungs fought to breathe in the stifling air. She felt flushed. The noisy airport sounded muted and her limbs grew heavy. A flaming headache squeezed her temples. She really wanted to get out of the building and into the fresh air. Maybe the ocean would calm her. "Do you have a car waiting?"

"Yeah."

"Can we go outside then? I really need to get some air." She started walking toward an exit, any exit.

"There," Rusty said, as he dug the keys out of his pocket. "It's over there." He pointed to the third row.

Rusty opened the car door so she could get in and dropped her luggage in the trunk.

Kara felt strange, sad, but with a renewed hope. At least she'd had the chance to love Alaxandar and she had returned the stone to Carrick. Those were things she could hang onto.

Memories to keep forever.

Rusty stopped at the toll booth and paid the clerk. While they drove, he brought her up to speed on what they had done so far.

Kara barely heard any of it. Instead, she relived every minute she'd spent with Alaxandar, unwilling to forget anything.

He pulled up and parked at the Lava House.

"Our ferocious leader is just returning."

"He's been away?" she asked, to show that she had been half-heartedly listening.

He nodded. "A month ago he was gathering samples when a tremor hit causing the ground on the slope to shift. He tumbled several feet and cracked his head. We thought we'd lost him."

"But he's okay now?"

"Yes, and anxious to meet you.

Kara looked at him, he shrugged. "I might have gone on a bit about how wonderful you are."

Kara shook her pounding head. "Oh, Rusty."

"What?"

"Am I going to be able to live up to what you've told these people?" She got out of the car and drew the backpack over her shoulder.

"You don't need to live up to anything. You're good at what you do." He said to her over the roof and winked.

She conceded that point. She prided herself in her work. "Okay." Scanning the groups of people around the hotel she asked, "Where to?"

Rusty grabbed her arm. "This way." He led her to the lobby. "Oh, here he comes."

Kara glanced in the direction Rusty gestured. The backpack fell off her shoulder and dropped to the floor. Her teeth clinched her bottom lip. Tall, dark and handsome walked directly toward them. With short brown hair dusted in blonde highlights and electric blue eyes, the man approaching had to be a dream—her dream. She swiped her hand across her mouth and chin to make sure she wasn't drooling.

With a cocky grin and an arm around her shoulders, Rusty said, "Hey, boss. I'd like you to meet my old college bud and your next genius on the lava-caked slopes, Kara Malone."

Her new boss extended his hand. She hesitated before grasping it. The minute they touched, the look on his face changed from friendly stranger to something more. "It's nice to finally meet you, Ms. Malone. I'm Alex, Alex MacLeod."

Her legs buckled and she withered right at his feet. Alex wrapped his arm around her waist. "Hey, you okay?"

Blinking to make sure she hadn't fallen asleep again or perhaps lost her mind, Kara smiled. "Sorry. It's been a long trip."

Without letting go, Alex turned to Rusty. "Bring her stuff."

She tried to walk but the legs wouldn't cooperate. "I'm sorry," she apologized to him again.

"No problem," he said before scooping her into his arms.

Kara shrieked.

"Relax, lass. I'll not drop ye."

Kara gaped at his perfect smile before winding her arms around his neck and laying her head against his chest. Déjà vu.

He made a beeline for the elevators. His breathing hardly labored, as if she weighed nothing.

"May I ask you something?"

Locking gazes, he winked. "Sure."

"Did your family originate somewhere in the Highlands?"

Alex grinned and trotted down the few steps to a sunken part of the lush lobby. "Aye, lass. Deep in the Highlands."

Kara watched as rays of sunlight twinkled in his eyes. More than anything she wanted to push the stray hair across his forehead and kiss him. "Have you ever been to Scotland?"

He laughed. "Once, when I was about ten. The family has a castle there."

"Dunvegan," Kara murmured.

With a devilish look, he said, "I be the first-born MacLeod."

She couldn't breathe. How could he look the same, sound the same, feel the same?

Alex slowly came to a stop at the first set of elevators. Rusty dropped the suitcase right behind him.

"What do you have in here?" He leaned over Alex's shoulder. "Did you bring your own rocks?"

Kara chuckled. Rusty always managed to make her laugh.

"I can probably walk now," Kara offered.

Alex readjusted his grip with her still in them and walked the short distance to the next group of elevators.
Nope, that hasn't changed.
She smiled, welcoming a familiar tingle.

"So what does a ten-year-old boy do with a castle?"

"He rides a trusty steed, wields a massive sword…"

Alex pushed the up button. He released her legs and let them slide to the ground while keeping her body pressed tightly against his. She gulped some air and swallowed hard. Kara raised her eyes to his. They turned deep blue and burned with fire. A look she recognized all too well.

"Ahem." Rusty coughed.

Alex put a little more distance between them, but kept his fingertips touching her arm.

The elevator arrived and they stepped inside then she said, "You didn't finish."

"Finish what?" Rusty asked.

"His story."

"What story?"

Kara wrinkled her nose at Rusty's perplexed expression. "He was telling me that when he was ten, he went to the family's castle where he rode a trusty steed, swung a massive sword, and…" She looked at Alex expectantly.

They arrived at her floor, the doors whooshed open, and the bell dinged. As he stepped out, Alex smiled. "And rescued damsels in distress."

The heat rose in her cheeks. "Were there many damsels in distress?" she asked following him down a long hallway and around the corner.

"A few but my exploits were not nearly as interesting as the ancestor I was named for."

This piqued Kara's interest. She assumed it was her Alaxandar he spoke of. Licking her lips and finding her voice, she begged him to tell her.

"Alaxandar was not yet the chief of the MacLeod Clan when a woman appeared out of nowhere. He nearly ran over her with his horse."

Kara envisioned the day as it had actually happened. Her heartbeat sped up.

"Anyway, he took her to the castle so his mother could tend to her. They invited her to stay until she was better and during her stay, Alaxandar fell in love with her."

"Did she fall in love with him too?" Rusty had been listening and seemed to be intrigued.

"Yes," they said in unison.

Alex glanced at her. "Yes. At least that's what the legend says."

Legend. I'm a legend
?

"The word had been that he would take her for his wife, but one morning, on the steps of the castle, she disappeared right before his eyes."

Rusty blew out his cheeks. "Wow."

Kara held her breath. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear what came next.

"No one could explain it," Alex finished. He slid the card in the door lock then pushed it open for her to enter.

Kara released a breath.

He flashed that MacLeod smile.

"Interesting story," Rusty hollered from the other side of the room where he deposited her suitcase.

Kara stared out the windows. "Yes."

Rusty cleared his throat. "Well, I'm gonna go to my room and get cleaned up for dinner." At the door, he turned a curious gaze on them. "I'll see you then."

She couldn't look at him.

"Are you okay?"

She knew his voice—the timbre, the tone. If she closed her eyes, she would see Alaxandar. But he wasn't here in this century. He died a long time ago. Only to her did it seem like just last night when they'd made love. "I'm fine."

Alex ran the tip of his finger down her arm. She shivered.

"Are you—fine?"

The concern in his voice coaxed her to turn. She reached up with tentative fingers and touched his face. She saw the similarities in the profile and the differences. "Is it you?"

He grabbed her hand and kissed the palm. "Aye, 'tis me, Kara."

Her heart skipped. Overwhelmed by his declaration she said, "But how?"

"I don't know." He released her and moved toward the windows. "When you disappeared I was lost. I searched for days but found no sign of where you'd gone." He rested his hands on the window sill. "I drank, heavily." He hung his head. "One night Carrick came to me and told me about the stone and his sister." Spinning around, his biting gaze pierced her. "The same story you had told him."