MacLarens of Balmorie 05 - Once Upon A Time In Scotland by Kam McKellar Page A
Authors: Kam McKellar
Tags: Highlanders
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is.”
“You're American.”
“So are you,” Abbie said, smiling. “Staying at the castle?”
She nodded. “You?”
“Been renting one of the cottages. Third week.”
“Wow, that's a long time.”
There was something sad about the woman. Her eyes were glassy, her mouth tight.
“Have six more weeks left.” Feeling like she was intruding, Abbie said, “Well, I'll leave you to your solitude. It's a nice place to come and think.”
“You don't have to leave.” The woman made room on the bench and then seemed to chew over her next words. “If you don't mind me asking, why so long?”
Abbie parked the bike and sat down.
“I'm Harper,” the woman said, smiling.
Ah, that's right. Liam had mentioned the name. “ Abbie . The 'so long' is because I'm on a working retreat. What about you?”
Harper snorted and shook her head as though that question held a vast, complicated answer. “Long story. Lost loves, regrets, past coming back to haunt you,” she confided with wry humor. “That sort of thing.”
Well, Abbie could definitely relate to the potential for lost love and regret. What a mess she was in, and she had the feeling Harper had found herself in one, too. One having to do with Liam's brother if she remembered correctly. “Well, in some cases,” Abbie began, wanting to help and hoping she wasn't overstepping. “regrets aren't so bad. Means you have something to regret. Instead of playing it safe and never doing anything at all.” And that was the problem, wasn't it? Did she want to end up like that? To live with regret?
Harper seemed to consider her words. “Good point.”
“Apparently, I'm full of them. Or so my friends say. You probably met them. They're staying in the cottage behind the castle.” Well, they had been anyway. Blake and Mia had gone back to their lives in the States.
“Riley's friends?”
“Mine as well. I came a little earlier than everyone else and decided to stay on after they left. Riley and I met in a creative writing class in college... She's a travel writer. I write mysteries. Do you know her?”
“Yes, but not very well.”
“She and James... Beautiful couple.” As she stared at the ruins, the memory of Liam came to her, standing by the water, the breeze ruffling his hair, the bad boy smile... “This place is full of beautiful things. And people.”
Harper let out a half laugh. “Tell me about it.”
They fell silent, both lost in thought, both gazing over the landscape. “Well,” Abbie said at length, getting up, “good luck with your, uh...long story.”
“Good luck with yours. I'll remember what you said about regrets,” Harper's eyes went narrow and Abbie realized the woman was very astute when she said, “if you do the same.”
Abbie couldn't help but laugh. Truth was the truth, wasn't it? She kicked the stand to the bike. “Single mom here. Taking risks kind of diminishes when you have a kid to consider. And I wouldn't change that for the world, so I'm good. Nice meeting you, Harper.”
“You, too.”
Abbie hopped on the bike, pedaled back to the track and then let the bike coast slowly down the hill, avoiding the pot holes and ruts as she aimed for the ruins below.
CHAPTER 14
Abbie stayed at the ruins late into the afternoon, exploring, sitting by the water, and taking photographs. She gave herself plenty of time to think about Liam's proposal, which of course led to a lengthy examination of her own life. The sky had grown as tumultuous as her thoughts and for a while she remained under the darkening clouds, letting her thoughts roll and turn.
The wind picked up and the water on the loch whipped into a frenzy.
Realizing she'd stayed too long and the storm was upon her, she shoved her camera into her bag and jogged to the bike. By the time she made it to the side of the road, the sky broke apart and graced the land with a hard downpour. In an instant, her clothes were soaked. Rain ran down her face and
“You're American.”
“So are you,” Abbie said, smiling. “Staying at the castle?”
She nodded. “You?”
“Been renting one of the cottages. Third week.”
“Wow, that's a long time.”
There was something sad about the woman. Her eyes were glassy, her mouth tight.
“Have six more weeks left.” Feeling like she was intruding, Abbie said, “Well, I'll leave you to your solitude. It's a nice place to come and think.”
“You don't have to leave.” The woman made room on the bench and then seemed to chew over her next words. “If you don't mind me asking, why so long?”
Abbie parked the bike and sat down.
“I'm Harper,” the woman said, smiling.
Ah, that's right. Liam had mentioned the name. “ Abbie . The 'so long' is because I'm on a working retreat. What about you?”
Harper snorted and shook her head as though that question held a vast, complicated answer. “Long story. Lost loves, regrets, past coming back to haunt you,” she confided with wry humor. “That sort of thing.”
Well, Abbie could definitely relate to the potential for lost love and regret. What a mess she was in, and she had the feeling Harper had found herself in one, too. One having to do with Liam's brother if she remembered correctly. “Well, in some cases,” Abbie began, wanting to help and hoping she wasn't overstepping. “regrets aren't so bad. Means you have something to regret. Instead of playing it safe and never doing anything at all.” And that was the problem, wasn't it? Did she want to end up like that? To live with regret?
Harper seemed to consider her words. “Good point.”
“Apparently, I'm full of them. Or so my friends say. You probably met them. They're staying in the cottage behind the castle.” Well, they had been anyway. Blake and Mia had gone back to their lives in the States.
“Riley's friends?”
“Mine as well. I came a little earlier than everyone else and decided to stay on after they left. Riley and I met in a creative writing class in college... She's a travel writer. I write mysteries. Do you know her?”
“Yes, but not very well.”
“She and James... Beautiful couple.” As she stared at the ruins, the memory of Liam came to her, standing by the water, the breeze ruffling his hair, the bad boy smile... “This place is full of beautiful things. And people.”
Harper let out a half laugh. “Tell me about it.”
They fell silent, both lost in thought, both gazing over the landscape. “Well,” Abbie said at length, getting up, “good luck with your, uh...long story.”
“Good luck with yours. I'll remember what you said about regrets,” Harper's eyes went narrow and Abbie realized the woman was very astute when she said, “if you do the same.”
Abbie couldn't help but laugh. Truth was the truth, wasn't it? She kicked the stand to the bike. “Single mom here. Taking risks kind of diminishes when you have a kid to consider. And I wouldn't change that for the world, so I'm good. Nice meeting you, Harper.”
“You, too.”
Abbie hopped on the bike, pedaled back to the track and then let the bike coast slowly down the hill, avoiding the pot holes and ruts as she aimed for the ruins below.
CHAPTER 14
Abbie stayed at the ruins late into the afternoon, exploring, sitting by the water, and taking photographs. She gave herself plenty of time to think about Liam's proposal, which of course led to a lengthy examination of her own life. The sky had grown as tumultuous as her thoughts and for a while she remained under the darkening clouds, letting her thoughts roll and turn.
The wind picked up and the water on the loch whipped into a frenzy.
Realizing she'd stayed too long and the storm was upon her, she shoved her camera into her bag and jogged to the bike. By the time she made it to the side of the road, the sky broke apart and graced the land with a hard downpour. In an instant, her clothes were soaked. Rain ran down her face and
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