The Highlander's Curse (15 page)

The
MacDougalls finally left the house, though even through the floorboards, Cailen
had heard their doubt at Uilleam and Mary’s insistence that there was no one
else in their home. His clansmen had even searched the heather, checking to
make sure they weren’t there.

“Can we
move now?” Elizabeth whispered once the loud footfalls disappeared, and the
sounds of the men talking now came from outside.

“No’
just yet. Keep silent and still lass. They’ll pass through soon.”

“Can I
turn on my phone again?”

“Aye,
there should be nae problem wi'that.”

Cailen
remained where he was, lying on the straw pallet beside Elizabeth’s, resting
his head on hands. When her cell phone lit up once more, he turned his head to
gaze at the wee lass. He still couldn’t get over the remarkable particulars of
how she’d come to be here. A woman born so far in the future that her grandsire
wasn’t born yet. Not even her grandsire’s grandsire. She was so knowledgeable,
kenning words that even he hadn’t learned. And he’d been schooled from the time
he’d been a young lad up until the day he’d left home. His mam and da ensured
he and his wee brothers, Kieran and Cameron, had the best education their
wealth and status could buy. But Elizabeth…Lord, he’d never met such a braw and
brilliant lassie.

Even
now, with her face lit up in the bluish glow that came from her cell phone, she
was a stunning creature. Her lovely hair cascaded over the bed as she gazed at
her magical device. He often imagined what it would be like to take her to bed,
to pleasure her and give her his seed so that she may give him sons and
daughters. He actually imagined building a family with her. He’d build her a
home that they could share and raise their bairns in until he became Laird of
Ardmoir. Then they’d live together in his family’s home. She’d want for nothing
because he’d give her everything her heart desired.

And
he’d be happy and whole, which he hadn’t been in a very long time.

As he
watched her, a tear slid down her cheek and she reached up to brush it away.
“Elizabeth, what’s troublin’ ye?”

“Nothing,”
she whispered, her voice shaking from all the tears she’d shed this night.

He
didn’t buy it. He also didn’t say anything in response as her breath hitched in
a sob.

“It’s
just…I’m never going to see my family again.”

“How
dae ye ken that?”

“I have
no way of getting back. I’ll never know how my dad and brother are doing, or
get to hug them again.” Another sob bubbled out of her. “It’s just not fair.
They’ll never know what happened to me. God, they’re probably so scared.”

“Hey.”
Cailen rolled off his pallet and made his way over to Elizabeth. He took her
free hand between his. “I think they ken ye’re well. I’m a firm believer that
when ye love someone, ye ken whether they’re all right or no’.” He rubbed her
hand. “Och, ye’re shakin’, lass.”

She
gave a small, squeaky cry that she’d tried to cover up by throwing her arm
across her face.

Bloody
hell, it wrenched his heart in two.

“Can
you just hold me?”

His
heart sped at her request. He’d do anything for her. Anything. “Hold ye? Lie
wi'ye on yer bed?” Like he’d done that night in the woods?

“Yes.
Please. Just until I fall asleep.”

He
nodded, not kenning if she could see him. Releasing her hand, he stood and
strode around the other side of her pallet before lying next to her. It was so
natural to pull her into him, so close that he was able to look over her
shoulder at the images on her cell phone. “Are those pictures
movin’
?”

Did
wonders never cease?

“Yeah,”
the lass breathed. “This is called a video. That’s my dad and brother at
Lagoon. I was pretty much being a bitch that whole day because I wanted to hang
out with my boyfriend. I started to film this because they were trying to cheer
me up.”

Cailen
was mesmerized. It was like he was staring at a wee doorway into another world.
It showed such impeccable detail that he could believe he was actually there.

“
Now
will you please ride the Colossus with me?
” the young lad in the video
asked. He looked quite a lot like his lass, only he was shorter and had less
hair. It was fair easy to see the resemblance though.

“
Fine
.”
Even without seeing her, he recognized Elizabeth’s voice.

“
Oh
no, you’re leaving your phone with me
,” another man said, his hand reaching
out and taking it from her. “
I’ll film you two on the ride so maybe we can
have proof of you actually enjoying yourself with your old man and brother
.”

Elizabeth
walked into view and stuck her tongue out playfully before she and her brother
ran toward a steel box. They ran through it, ending up on the other side, where
they’d turned left, still racing. The video ended and Elizabeth pressed her
finger to her cell phone and started another. She and her brother were sitting
in something he’d never seen before and couldn’t explain even in his own mind.
They sat in a small car as they were taken higher and higher from the ground on
some sort of rail. Once they’d reached the top, the machine turned, dropping
them at a fast pace.

“Jesus.”
They were taken through a loop, actually upside down, twice, before the machine
twisted in every direction. “That’s supposed tae be enjoyable?”

“Yeah.”
She laughed, her eyes meeting his for a brief second as she peered at him. “It
is.”

The
video ended with the two of them running toward their da with big grins on
their faces.

Her
phone beeped and went dark as words appeared. “What’s that?”

“My
phone is almost dead.” She tapped it and started another video.

“I
didnae see yer mam. Was she no’ there wi'ye?”

He
shouldn’t have asked, and regretted doing so as Elizabeth’s entire body
stiffened.

“My mom
passed away a couple years ago.” More flicking of her fingers over her phone,
and she pulled up a new picture he hadn’t seen before. “This is her.”

Cailen
studied the woman that smiled brightly as she stood next to Elizabeth. Brown
hair, not much lighter than his own, and bright blue eyes, just like the lass
that laid next to him. Elizabeth had taken her looks from both her parents, but
he could see that same spark of life in mother and daughter.

“What
happened tae her?”

“Car
accident. A motorcyclist cut off another car on the freeway. They swerved and
hit her car. She hit another one, and so on. Three people died during that
accident.”

She’d
explained what cars—among many other things—were days ago during their travels.
“I’m sorry. I didnae ken ye lost yer mam.”

It was
no wonder she wanted to get back to her family. She already kent great loss,
and so did her da and brother.

Elizabeth’s
cell phone beeped again and went dark. The image of her and her mam was burned
into his eyes for a time, until it faded away.

“What
happened?” he asked into the darkness.

“My
phone died.”

“Can ye
no’ just turn it back on like before?”

“No.
It’s dead. It won’t ever be able to turn on again.”

Cailen
pulled her against him tighter, his heart aching at the hopelessness in her
voice. That had been the last tether she’d had to her family, and the line had
just snapped.

If only
there was some way to help her.

****

I woke early the next
morning to the sounds of our hosts’ feet making the wood planks above my head
creak and groan. It startled me awake and I jumped, not realizing I was still
enfolded in Cailen’s arms. I’d actually forgotten I’d fallen asleep with him
holding me, and it was probably the best night’s sleep I’d gotten since ending
up in the past.

“Are
you awake?” I whispered.

“Mmm-hmm.”

“What
time is it?”

“I
dinna ken. It’s early yet though. Uilleam said he’d wake up early and acquire a
boat for us tae take tae Mull.” Cailen’s arm left me and he rolled over. Or at
least, I thought he did. It was dark inside our tiny crawl space.

I stood
up quickly, and smacked my head on the ceiling. “Ow! Son of a motherless goat!”
I stooped over, rubbing my head as I scooted over to where I thought the loose
stone was. It only took a few minutes of feeling around until I found it.
Pulling it free, I expected the room to flood with. It didn’t. It was pitch
black outside.

I
turned, peering down at Cailen, and gasping at the sight I was greeted with. He
laid on his stomach with one leg bent out to the side and his kilt lifted high,
baring the bottom half of his the most glorious butt I’d ever seen. If I’d
moved even one foot to the side, I would have seen a little more of him. I was
tempted—boy was I tempted—but I stayed where I was, admiring that beautiful,
tight ass of his. Even the muscles on his thighs drew my gaze.

It
seemed only seconds passed before Cailen yawned and stretched, and regrettably,
pulled his kilt down before rolling over to eye me.

“Good
morn.”

Coughing
into my fist, I gave him a little smile. “Morning. How did you sleep?”

“Verra
well.”

“Me,
too.”

“Och, I
ken lass. Ye were snorin’ louder than Broch and Duff after they’ve been runnin’
through the forest.”

“I was
not. I don’t snore.”

“Aye,
ye dae.”

I
wadded up the blanket on the bed and chucked it at the Highlander.

He
laughed, holding his arm up and blocking it from smacking him in the head.
“If I’d kent gettin’ a wee peek at ma arse would make
ye this happy, I’d hae done it days ago.”

“What?”
I gaped. “I didn’t…”

He
laughed again. “Dinna deny it. I felt the air on ma behind before I e’en rolled
o’er. And yer face was redder than I’ve e’er seen it before.” He waggled his
brows. “Still is.”

I
dropped my head into my hands, more embarrassed than I’d ever been in my entire
life—including when he’d found my toy and demanded to know what it was used
for. When I peeked through my fingers, my gaze fastened on the wall behind him
and the dim light that was now streaming down the tiny stairway.

“Are ye
decent?” Mrs. Paterson’s voice called. “I’ve started yer breakfast if yer ready
tae come and eat.”

“Be
right up,” I yelled, quickly stabbing my feet into the leather shoes and doing
up the laces. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Cailen was still staring
at me. “What?”

“Naethin’.”
He shook his head. “Well, it’s only that I wonder how yer mood might be if ye
got a peek at anythin’ more.”

“
Ughhhhhhh
.”
I rushed toward the stairs, my face flaming as I climbed up each one. Pushing
through the hidden door, I slammed it behind me and leaned against it. Did that
really just happen? And dammit, why was I so turned on now?

“Good
mornin’ dear,” Mary chimed cheerfully. “I trust ye slept well.”

“Yeah.
Thank you.” I nodded, offering her a smile. “Need any help with breakfast?” I
was willing to do practically anything to keep away from Cailen and that
teasing glint in his eyes. If the man had known I was gawking at that tight,
enticing butt of his, why hadn’t he put a stop to it earlier? And if he’d liked
it, then why hadn’t he pulled that damn kilt higher?

Infuriating
Highlander.

“Aye,
that would be grand,” the old woman replied, turning around and stepping into
the hallway. I followed closely behind her, shutting the hidden door behind me
as I went.

Cooking
breakfast had gone by in a blur. Mrs. Paterson and I hadn’t mentioned what
happened the night before, and quite honestly, I didn’t know if I had the
energy to. I was seriously curious about what the Legions were, but she wasn’t
my path home, and I didn’t know if another even existed.

Mary,
as she’d repeatedly told me to call her, really hadn’t needed any help other
than when she’d pulled a few small loaves of bread from an oven that looked
like it was made entirely out of stone, and sat in their backyard. I’d merely
held the candle that lit our way to and from the house, and around the kitchen.
Breakfast was the same as it had been the day before, some weird oatmeal or
rice cereal that was really thick, only this time there was the added benefit
of fresh bread and butter. I’d nearly burned myself trying to stir the pot,
standing as far away from the flames as possible as I stirred the food with a
wooden spoon. Mrs. Paterson had been acting a little strange today, and so had
her husband. I’d caught Uilleam eyeing me a few times with a strange look on
his face, and wondered if Mary had told him about the Legion thing.

My
thoughts were on Cailen as the old woman whirred around me, grabbing bowls,
silverware, and cups. Even when she called the men in to eat, I could only
stare at my bowl, trying to avoid my Highlander’s gaze. I’d never been shy
around men before, but then again, I’d never caught staring at anyone’s ass
before, either.