The Highlander's Hope - A Contemporary Highland Romance (17 page)

They’d been quiet for a long while, just taking in the lights, when Cat broke the silence.  “What will you do if we don’t find the necklace?” 

It was a question he wished he had the answer to.  “I have no idea.  I haven’t told my father or sister, knowing they’d do nothing but worry.  I’m trying to free up funds.  I just don’t know if I can manage it in time.”

“And if you don’t come up with the money?  What will they do,
Iain?”  He could hear the worry in her voice, mirroring the way he felt.

“I don’t know, love.  I’ve ne’er dealt with these sort
s of people, but I have to take their threats seriously since they involve my brother’s well-being.  There are days when I’m tempted to let him get his due.  Maybe he’ll finally learn a lesson.  But I couldn’t live with myself if he was seriously hurt, and it’d kill my Da.”  He let out a weary sigh, feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing once again.  If there was a clear solution to his problems, he wasn’t seeing it.

“But you
do
think that with a bit of time, you could free up enough funds?”

“Aye, love.  I’m already
moving some of my holdings in that direction, but these things take time, and the bastards my brother’s dealing with aren’t exactly the patient sort.” 

She didn’t say anything more, but
Iain hoped she now saw that his options were limited, and finding the jewels could be the life-line he needed.  He’d not risk putting the necklace up as collateral otherwise.

Not yet ready to go,
he carefully lay back to watch the sky some more, his head propped on his arms, and his bruises easy to ignore when Cat was so close.  “Let me know if ye get cold or want to head back.”

“It
is
cold, which is why I’m going to steal some of your heat.”  She settled back on the blanket and snuggled up against his side, her head nestled against his shoulder as he held her close.  “Do I need to say it?”

“Say what?  That this ne’er happened?”  He laughed and kissed the top of her head.  “It’s already forgotten, love.”

“Good.  Then you won’t remember any of this either—which is not to say you’re off the hook.  Yeah?”  Cat brushed her thumb across his lips, and then kissed him with complete abandon.

He lost himself in the nearness of her, in her touch, in he
r kisses, his heart aching with the want of her.  He gave her all he had, including his very soul, there under the brilliance of sky and stars, as they came together as one.

***

Come morning, Duncan’s distant barks rang in Iain’s ears, pulling him from his slumber.  He awoke to find Cat in his arms and in his bed, still not quite believing the night they’d had.  In the short time he’d known her, she’d turned his world upside down, and he didn’t know if it’d ever get put right again—not that he wanted it to.  The relationships he’d had in the past seemed like a distant memory and a pale comparison to what he had with Cat. 

“Come on, love.  Wake up.
  We’ve got a necklace to find, and Angus will be knocking on our door and giving us looks.”  He gave her a kiss as she started to stir.

She popped one sleepy eye open and
looked at him.  “Oh, crap.  How the hell did this happen? 
You
… you snuck in past my defenses with freezing temperatures and celestial light shows.”

“
And a good morning to ye, too.”  He laughed, knowing better than to take offense.  Whatever relationship they did have, it defied definition and convention.  “How’s breakfast sound?”

With her grunt of agreement
, he threw on something comfortable and headed out to find the dog, that was, no doubt, desperate to go out.  Despite the troubles looming over his head, Iain found himself in a damned good mood.

He ground some coffee
beans and got a pot going, the deep rich scent filling the air as it started to brew.  After the night they’d had, there was a good chance Cat would be hungry once she got around to waking up.  With a loud rumble, his stomach reminded him that she wasn’t the only one in need of nourishment. 

Iain was h
alf way through frying some black pudding, rashers and eggs, when Cat wandered into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, leaning her head against his back. 

“What are ye doing up?  I thought ye’d sleep until noon—or at the very least until I woke ye up with breakfast in bed.”  Damn if it wasn’t hard to concentrate on the task at hand, when his body’s response to having her close was automatic. 

“I could smell the coffee all the way up on the second floor.  Impossible to sleep through it.” 

Iain
could hear the smile in her voice.  “Do me a favor and drop some toast?”

“Sure.”
  She went up on her toes and nipped at his ear, the absence of her touch already missed as she moved over to the toaster.  “Seems like you do a lot of cooking.”

“Aye.  It’s just me and my Da now, so I primarily take care of it.”  He flipped the eggs for just a second, and then transferred the food to the plates he’d heated in the Aga.  “My mother used to do most of the cooking.”

“Your dad mentioned her.”  She looked over at him, worried.  “I’m sorry.  I can’t imagine.”

“It’s been a few years, and it gets easier with time.”  He changed the subject, not wanting to think about how his mother would have adored her.  “Angus will be here in the next hour or so—earlier if he catches wind of food.”

Iain got a good look at her, and what he saw made his heart catch.  By the gods she was gorgeous with the remnants of sleep clinging to her.  Wearing on oversized sweatshirt with a scoop neck cut out of it, it hung precariously over a bare shoulder.  She’d paired it with thermals that showed off shapely legs and rag wool socks.  She looked casually delicious, especially with her dark curls misbehaving as they escaped the braid trying to tame them.

“
I like Angus.”  She put a few buttered slices of toast on each plate and then carried them to the table.

“Most women do.  How he’s managed to stay single while at the same time having women fawn
all over him is beyond me.”  Despite the night they’d had, he looked over at her to see if she too had fallen victim to his friend’s charms.  What he saw gave him hope. 

“He seems awfully sweet.”  She
gave him a smile and a shrug. “But I think I’m glad you’re the one who nearly ran me over.  It must have been your grand scheme from the very start, ensuring that I fell… for your charms.”

Was she going to say something different?
And why didn’t she?  Didn’t she know how he felt about her?  Yet he had to laugh at himself, when he’d yet to admit to himself what she meant to him.

So he took that step, even if it was in the silence of his own head. 

He loved her.  Utterly and completely.

Chapter
Seventeen

Cat followed behind Angus with Iain taking the rear, the trail too narrow to accommodate them all at once.  The solitude of their surroundings and the fresh air were exactly what she needed to clear her head and ground herself.

She had no problem with the occasional casual fling—not that she got much opportunity with her nose constantly buried in a book—but she’d let this go far beyond casual.  Even with her pulling back after
Iain’s confession, she’d been unable to remain angry with him, still craving his touch and his company.  It was hard for her to ignore the way she felt about him, even if she should be keeping him at arm’s length.

She’d just have to hold her ground and not give in.  After all, she’d done
such
an amazing job of it up until now.  Sarcasm aside, she knew he could tear her heart to pieces if this didn’t work out, and the odds were against them.  He lived and worked in the highlands, and led a glamorous life with parties and the famous, whereas she was in Cambridge and hadn’t worn a pair of heels since her brother’s wedding. 

Her heart told her he see
med comfortable living a quiet life, and she could certainly lose herself in the history of the surrounding area, but it was her mind that kept weighing the facts and telling her she’d be a fool.

“We’re nearly there.” 
Angus looked back over his shoulder with a smile, his blue eyes alight with intelligence and humor.

She had to wonder if Angus picked up on
her internal conflict about Iain.  It would seem the man missed nothing.

Best to keep her mind off
Iain then.  “It’s so beautiful here.  I’d love to spend some time exploring once this is over.”  She took a deep breath, her lungs filling with the scents of pine and heather.  She’d be sorry to leave this place when the time came—and it’d be even harder to leave Iain. 

Damn it if her heart wasn’t kicking her mind’s ass.

Iain stepped to her side as the path opened up a bit, matching his pace to hers.  “Does that mean ye’ll stay a wee bit longer?”

“It’
s hard to say.  I’ve got my studies and grad students to get back to, and I’ll have used up my free time if we don’t find the Hope soon.”  Though there was disappointment in his eyes, it looked like he might also take it as a challenge—and she might very well enjoy him trying to convince her to stay.

“There’s the tree.
  And we’re not far from the Bleeding Heart, aye?”  Iain tilted his head towards a large oak, the branches of it splayed in an odd configuration.  The lower branches pointed down towards the earth, whereas the upper ones tangled together, stretching upwards.  Just like in the painting.  “Look just behind it, at the stony outcropping.”

A craggy cliff face jutted up out of the ground
, sparse with greenery.  Cat searched the stony wall from where they stood, but didn’t see any openings.  “Do you think there could be another cave?”

Squinting to focus,
Iain looked past the tree as if searching the shadows.  “Aye, love.  Let’s take a closer look.”

S
tanding at the bottom of the cliff, it was still hard to see any openings.  Yet despite all the obstacles, Cat’s heart raced with anticipation and the hope they might be close to finding the necklace. 

Angus pointed.  “There.  Is that so
mething?  Or am I seeing things?”

The area was
partially hidden by brush, the leaves gone for winter.  It was hard to tell whether or not there was anything there from where they stood, but the texture and shading seemed slightly different.  Better yet, it wouldn’t be noticeable unless you were looking for it, making it all the more likely that it might have been used to hide the jewels.

“
Aye, I think it might be.  Let’s have a look.”  Iain gave her hand a squeeze.  “It’s a bit steep.  Do ye think ye can manage it or would ye rather wait here until we know more?”

She laughed.  “You are kidding, right?”

He shrugged with a smile.  “Just thought I’d ask—not that I expected ye to stay here waiting.”

The
y started the upwards climb, the path all but disappearing in places, so they were forced to grab hold of shrubbery.  Iain lent a steadying hand where needed, and truth was she was happy for his help, especially the higher up they got. 

Having taken the lead, Angus looked over at them with a smile and then disappeared into the cliff side.  Excitement overtook fear, and along with
Iain’s help, Cat managed to not go crashing to the ground below, but was instead pulled into the opening by Angus, with Iain following just behind her.

When s
he looked out the hole to the drop below, it left her so dizzy, she was forced to take a step back to clear her head.  “I sure as hell hope there’s another way out of here, because I can tell you now, there’s no way I’m making it back down unless I suddenly sprout hooves and horns, and magic myself into a billy goat.”

Angus laughed.  “It’s always easier to go up than to go down, and even easier to crack yer head open like an egg.”

“Ye always know how to put a girl at ease.”  Iain smirked at his friend, and then, ignoring Angus’s shit-eating grin, he pulled the flashlights out of his pack along with some heavy twine.  “Just in case the tunnel branches off.  I’d rather not get lost if I can help it.”

Angus flashed his light around, and took a few steps towards the darkness.  “Looks like it continues.”

“Aye, let’s get started then.”  Iain found a branch at the entrance and anchored the twine to it.  Grabbing his flashlight, he hoisted his backpack over a shoulder.  “After you.”

Cat noticed how the two of them
always kept her in the middle, like a pair of floppy-eared sheepdogs watching a lone sheep.  It was sweet of them, and even sweeter that they’d come about it without discussion, their protective nature automatically leading them.  Then she thought of the necklace and why Iain had thought of using it as collateral, and it made even more sense.  It was his nature to try and take care of the people around him.  It didn’t mean he’d been right to lie to her, but she understood why.  The people he loved came first above all else.

Iain
handed her a flashlight.  “Just in case ye need it.”

Wandering behind Angus, she was happy he’d taken the lead.  The amount of cobwebs he was sweeping to the side made her hair stand on end.  No doubt she’d spend the next week trying to ignore the fe
eling that bugs were crawling all over her.  Ten minutes in, the tunnel forked.

“Left or right?”
  Angus turned to them in question.

Iain
stepped past her to give the tunnels a quick examination.  “I don’t think it’ll matter either way.  May as well start with the left and then back-track to search the right.” 

The tunnel continued for some time, the air damp and cold, laden with the scent of the earth.  And then it continued some more.

“This seems to be one long tunnel.  I can’t imagine it’s completely natural.”  Maybe part of it had been, but Cat suspected a good portion of it was extended over the centuries.

“It’s not unusual to get some pretty long tunnels this close to the ocean, but this one’s had more than a little help, especially if it ends up where I suspect it might.” 
Iain moved up to her side.  “With the direction we’ve been heading, I think we may very well end up back at the house—or not far from it.”

“It would make sense since we know they were likely housing
Jacobites.”  Cat thought of the hidden room they’d found when MacTavish showed up.  Though it would make sense to keep the jewels hidden someplace close like these tunnels, they may not want them directly linked to the house.  There’d be too great a chance the English might find the tunnel while looking for Jacobites—and then find the jewels.  “They may not want the tunnel linked directly to the house, though, especially if the necklace is hidden here.”

Iain
nodded.  “Aye.  I see what you’re getting at.  There’d be less chance of finding the openings to the tunnels.” 

They follo
wed the tunnel to the end, peeking out the narrow opening to get their bearings.  Of course, Cat hadn’t the foggiest of clues as to where they were.

With an arm around her waist,
Iain came up from behind her, making her forget she was likely covered in cobwebs.  “We’re not far, love.  The house is just over the hill there.  Are ye up for heading back to check out the other tunnel?”

“I am, if you guy
s are up for it.”  She pulled a water bottle from her backpack and took a long drink, the others following suit.  “James is still sniffing around, and I want the necklace found.  I can’t let it fall into his hands.”

Angus
sighed.  “He seems to like causing trouble.  Was he always such an arse?”

“You mean, why the hell did I date him?”  Cat had to laugh.  How many times had she asked herself that same question?  “
James is good at masking his true nature—for a little while, anyway.  Luckily, I learned my lesson the first time around, and it’ll be a cold day in hell before I fall for him again, try as he might.”

She felt
Iain stiffen at her side.  “And has he been trying?”

“I’ve been quick enough to put an end to his nonsense, and it’s not like it was ever anything more than
a way to get to the necklace or my research.  He’s never cared about anyone but himself.”  Cat didn’t want to think about the mistakes she’d made.  She felt like an idiot for having fallen for James in the first place—and the last thing she wanted to do was discuss her stupidity and her prior relationships.  “Can we go?  I want to make sure we finish searching this tunnel, and try to find any others by the Bleeding Heart.”

“Angus, could you give us a moment?  We’ll catch up
.”  Once Angus had gone, Iain took her hands in his.  “Cat, ye can’t give James a second thought.  I know it bothers ye that ye trusted him when he didn’t deserve it, but it’s in the past.  Dinnae fash yerself, love.  There isn’t a person alive who hasn’t made that sort of mistake.”

She felt weary, but his words did help.  Sliding her arms around his waist, she leaned her head against his chest, the pounding of his heart soothing her. 
“Are you always this nice?”

He shrugged.  “Aye.  When
I’m not running people over or into ditches.”

Laughing, Cat went onto her toes and kissed his cheek.  “You’re a sweet man,
Iain.  Now let’s go find that necklace.”

“As ye wish, love.”

***

“It looks odd, right?”  Cat looked at the end of the tunnel, wondering if she was imagining it, the shadows casting things in an odd light.

Having backtracked to where the tunnel split in two, they’d followed the right side this time around, though it wasn’t long before the tunnel came to an abrupt end.  No rubble or a rough stone wall.  Instead it looked… off.  Not terribly different from the surrounding walls, but no one would likely notice the difference unless they were really looking.

Cat touched it, rubbing her hands together.  “Almost feel
s like clay mixed with stone.”

Iain
did the same, as if trying to determine the composition of the wall.  “Aye, it does, though I wouldn’t say it’s unusual.  There’s a wee bit of clay to be found not far from the loch.”

“But it seems like it was formed to look like the tunnel came to an end.  Somehow, it just doesn’t look completely natural to me.
”  Cat shined her light on the area again, taking a closer look.  Maybe it was just wishful thinking on her part.  “You guys would know better.  I don’t exactly get to go crawling through caves and tunnels on a regular basis.”

Angus tilted his head in
Iain’s direction.  “And ye think he does?  All suits, meetings, and corporate takeovers.  He hasn’t been climbing through these tunnels since he was a lad.”

Dropping his backpack on the ground, Ang
us started rooting around in it and pulled out a small folded camping shovel, as half of the other contents in the bag spilled out in the process. 

Cat had to laugh.  “Bloody hell
, how much stuff do you have crammed in there?  It must be like the Tardis—bigger on the inside.” 

“A Doctor Who fan?” 
Iain’s voice was laced with humor.  “
Who
knew?”

“
Who
, indeed.”  Angus chimed in with a laugh. 

Cat gave the two men a warm smile.  “Have to say—there’s nothing I like more in a handsome man than a touch of geek.  Even better when
there are two of them.”

“Och, we’re happy to oblige ye, lass.”  Angus folded back t
he handle of the shovel and clicked it into place as he stood.  “Shall we have a go, then?”

The way he held the shovel, there was no doubt in Cat’s mind what he intended to do with it. 
Iain pulled her back.  “He’s dangerous with this sort of thing.  Nearly took my head off when we were kids.”

The thwack of metal against the solid
wall left Cat cringing, the sound bouncing off the walls.  Angus hit the wall again and again with the point of the shovel, pausing occasionally to check on his progress.