MacLarens of Balmorie 05 - Once Upon A Time In Scotland by Kam McKellar
Authors: Kam McKellar
Tags: Highlanders
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was warm, the work was hard, and Liam was ready to dig in and get started. The harder the better.
The saw stopped, Malcolm lifted his goggles and glanced over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed and Liam felt like the big brute could see right into his angry soul. Malcolm didn't say a word, just nodded to the large pieces of lumber that had already been measured and cut. “Those can go to the second floor.”
Liam nodded and went right to work, hoisting several on his shoulder and striding into the house.
Aye,the harder, the better.
* * *
Abbie tried to work, but couldn't wrap her head around fiction; her real life drama completely overtaking every thought and every attempt to focus.
“Fine,” she muttered to no one, shut her laptop, and went hunting for her sneakers.
A few minutes later, she was outside, walking the bike down the gravel driveway in hopes a little fresh air and exercise would put her in the right frame of mind.
The day was beautiful and bright, such a contrast to the chaos swirling around inside her. As she walked the bike along the track, her thoughts went back to earlier, before Liam had shown up. She'd called her parents, catching them at breakfast.
Nine weeks total was a long time to be away from her kid. She was worried about Logan and missing him.
“He has no concept of time, Abigail,” her mother had said when she expressed her concern. “If you're ever going to go away and have time to yourself, now's the time. Besides, he talks to you everyday . He's not going to forget you,” her mother had said with a smile in her voice.
They'd gone on to talk about Balmorie and Abbie had told her about Riley's engagement party, the beautiful chapel, and her work.
“I hope you know how jealous your father and I are,” her mother had said.
“You can always come over.” After the words left her mouth—put there, no doubt by Riley's encouragement— Abbie forged ahead, curious what the reaction would be. “Book a room in the castle or rent one of the cottages. I've been thinking of bringing Logan next time.” Had Riley been right? Was it simpler than Abbie seemed to think? “It's so beautiful here, mom,” she found herself speaking from her heart. “There's just something so . . . right about this place. I wish you could see it.”
Her mother was quiet for a moment. And then she said, “Oh dear. Logan just poured his chocolate milk into Miss Kitty's food bowl. I'll call you later.”
Abbie had laughed, said a quick goodbye, and hung up, feeling completely unsettled.
She swung her leg over the bike and started pedaling down the road. The thing was, even had she not met Liam, her love of the area wouldn't have changed. Before she'd gotten to know him, she'd truly felt a connection with the place. It was unlike anything she'd experienced anywhere else. It was as though some deep part of her had taken a breath of Balmorie air, soaked in the beauty of the landscape, and sighed a contented sigh, like she'd found a good place.
A really good place
As she reached the top, the ruins of Castle MacLaren came into view and her insides did that 'sigh” again. But this time, it hurt a little. Because Liam had kissed her there. And now he was asking her to be with him, to 'date', and spend time getting to know each other. The next six weeks could be unforgettable.
She didn't go down the hill and instead chose to head along a small footpath that led to a bench she'd been frequenting since she'd arrived. It was the perfect spot overlooking the castle and the loch.
“Oh.” Someone was sitting on the bench. “Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt...”
The woman jumped, her hand flying to her chest in surprise. Abbie was equally surprised, immediately recognizing the woman she'd mistakenly thought had been Liam's date for Riley and Jamie's party.
For a moment, she wasn't sure what to say, so she stared out over the landscape. “It's ridiculous, isn't it? How pretty it
The saw stopped, Malcolm lifted his goggles and glanced over his shoulder. His eyes narrowed and Liam felt like the big brute could see right into his angry soul. Malcolm didn't say a word, just nodded to the large pieces of lumber that had already been measured and cut. “Those can go to the second floor.”
Liam nodded and went right to work, hoisting several on his shoulder and striding into the house.
Aye,the harder, the better.
* * *
Abbie tried to work, but couldn't wrap her head around fiction; her real life drama completely overtaking every thought and every attempt to focus.
“Fine,” she muttered to no one, shut her laptop, and went hunting for her sneakers.
A few minutes later, she was outside, walking the bike down the gravel driveway in hopes a little fresh air and exercise would put her in the right frame of mind.
The day was beautiful and bright, such a contrast to the chaos swirling around inside her. As she walked the bike along the track, her thoughts went back to earlier, before Liam had shown up. She'd called her parents, catching them at breakfast.
Nine weeks total was a long time to be away from her kid. She was worried about Logan and missing him.
“He has no concept of time, Abigail,” her mother had said when she expressed her concern. “If you're ever going to go away and have time to yourself, now's the time. Besides, he talks to you everyday . He's not going to forget you,” her mother had said with a smile in her voice.
They'd gone on to talk about Balmorie and Abbie had told her about Riley's engagement party, the beautiful chapel, and her work.
“I hope you know how jealous your father and I are,” her mother had said.
“You can always come over.” After the words left her mouth—put there, no doubt by Riley's encouragement— Abbie forged ahead, curious what the reaction would be. “Book a room in the castle or rent one of the cottages. I've been thinking of bringing Logan next time.” Had Riley been right? Was it simpler than Abbie seemed to think? “It's so beautiful here, mom,” she found herself speaking from her heart. “There's just something so . . . right about this place. I wish you could see it.”
Her mother was quiet for a moment. And then she said, “Oh dear. Logan just poured his chocolate milk into Miss Kitty's food bowl. I'll call you later.”
Abbie had laughed, said a quick goodbye, and hung up, feeling completely unsettled.
She swung her leg over the bike and started pedaling down the road. The thing was, even had she not met Liam, her love of the area wouldn't have changed. Before she'd gotten to know him, she'd truly felt a connection with the place. It was unlike anything she'd experienced anywhere else. It was as though some deep part of her had taken a breath of Balmorie air, soaked in the beauty of the landscape, and sighed a contented sigh, like she'd found a good place.
A really good place
As she reached the top, the ruins of Castle MacLaren came into view and her insides did that 'sigh” again. But this time, it hurt a little. Because Liam had kissed her there. And now he was asking her to be with him, to 'date', and spend time getting to know each other. The next six weeks could be unforgettable.
She didn't go down the hill and instead chose to head along a small footpath that led to a bench she'd been frequenting since she'd arrived. It was the perfect spot overlooking the castle and the loch.
“Oh.” Someone was sitting on the bench. “Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt...”
The woman jumped, her hand flying to her chest in surprise. Abbie was equally surprised, immediately recognizing the woman she'd mistakenly thought had been Liam's date for Riley and Jamie's party.
For a moment, she wasn't sure what to say, so she stared out over the landscape. “It's ridiculous, isn't it? How pretty it
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