Highlander's Charm (Highlander Heat #3)

She kissed Nanna’s cheek then scurried around the tent and into the thick woods. At least she’d never be more than a day’s travel from her. She’d sort this all out somehow. There had to be a way.

With her nerves stretched, she weaved between the trees and came out near the sand dunes where she and Calum had spoken. Hidden by a clump of boulders on the rocky shore from those at camp, the two men held the sides of a fisherman’s skiff in thigh-deep water.

Calum surged out, scooped her into his arms and strode back to the skiff. “Did you leave without any issue?”

“Yes. Nanna kept a lookout.”

“Thank you for coming. I didnae care to steal you away.” He leaned into the boat and settled her on the wooden bench. She didn’t doubt he would have done so had she fought his decision to remain.

“Then let’s get moving.” She stowed her leather bag under the bench next to his. She couldn’t believe she was leaving, except Nanna was right. She and Calum were destined to be together, and she loved him. He was the only man she wished to spread her wings and fly with.

“You should have fought a little harder, Lila.” Colin jumped in. “I was looking forward to seeing Calum having to fetch you.”

“My wife certainly knows how to spar.” Calum bounded aboard, splashing water into the hull. He grabbed his plaid from his bag and wrapped it around her. “It can be cold out on the water.”

“Just get this skiff moving before someone sees us. I prefer we don’t have an all-out war on the water.” She wriggled one hand free and nudged him toward the bench. “Move it.”

“Aye, my feisty one.” He settled on the center seat, grabbed the oars and rowed toward the mouth of the loch.

Colin kept a lookout.

All remained clear, and she burrowed, bringing Calum’s plaid over her nose. Entrenched within the warm wool, his fresh outdoor scent surrounded and comforted her.

“No one follows,” Colin declared and gripped the ropes.

“Then we raise the sail.” Calum tucked the oars away and grasped two of the ropes Colin held out to him. The wind filled the sail with a hearty slap, and with their feet braced wide along the side, the skiff shot off like an arrow. “The winds are strong. Come here, Lila.”

She scrambled across and clutched Calum’s waist. “Promise me you’ll get us to Duart safely.”

“I would never risk your life.”

Their side rose out of the water, and both men leaned farther back to counter the move. She toppled against Calum until she lay half over top of him. If she reached out, she’d be able to touch the white-capped waves. The sheer power of the wind amazed her. They’d certainly cross the short mile between the isles in no time. “This is an interesting way to travel.”

“There’s naught like sailing the seas.”

The wind whipped her hair into a frenzy and pulled the side pins free. “I’ve always lived near the ocean but never sailed like this. Australia is one large country. Perhaps a hundred times the size of Scotland, and we usually travel in vehicles. They’re steel contraptions that roll on wheels, and they move fast.”

“Australia is still across the ocean. You must have sailed the seas to reach Scotland.”

“In the future one can board a plane, a huge vessel which carries hundreds of people and flies across the sky. I traveled half way around the world in just one day.”

“Unbelievable.” Colin whistled, his dark hair blowing in the breeze. “What else does the future hold?”

“The greatest opportunities. Children are taught to read and write, from a very early age.” She stroked Calum’s broad chest as a seagull screeched overhead. “Girls and boys both.”

The boat crested a huge wave, which came out of nowhere. Calum gripped the ropes tighter, his biceps bulging and every muscle straining to control the wind power harnessed in the skiff’s tight sail.

“Hold tight,” he bellowed.

The bow rose sharply upward.

“’Tis slippery,” Colin yelled as he grappled to keep his footing.

The hull slammed down and the impact sent Colin flying.

She screamed as he disappeared within the raging waves. “No! We have to stop. Turn back, Calum.”

“He can swim. Look how close we are to Mull. There’s our cave.” Colin’s loose ropes hit the sail and pinged off with a drumming whop. Calum jerked forward to seize them.

She pitched sideways and hit the icy water. The current rolled and twisted her tartan wrapped skirts around her. Clawing, she fought to free herself.

With the tartan gone, she kicked, thrusting through the murky depths. She broke the surface and shoved her tangled hair back. The skiff had overturned and the surf crashed over the curved hull. It popped bow up then slowly sank. Gone, swallowed whole.

“Lila!” Calum’s shout blasted from somewhere between her and the sunken vessel.

“Calum!” Colin’s shout came from not far behind her.

They’d all escaped and survived.

“Look for Lila, Colin. She fell no’ long after you.”