Find the key. Steal the knife. Go home. The history of her family would change for the better. Gavin would not kill Mungo. What then for the highlands?
She had no idea how many other things would change. She also had no idea anymore if she was doing the right thing. Something about Tony and the lab had creeped her out but she had yet to put her finger on what it was.
She suspected there must be something in it for Tony. He couldn’t be doing all these things, working out how to travel back in time just to stop an ancient war. There must be something else. If only she knew what it was.
She found herself wishing Donna were with her. She realized just how useful her friend was at giving her advice whenever she had a problem.
Muttering quietly so Gavin wouldn’t hear her, she tried to have a conversation, taking the side of herself and her friend. “Hi, Donna. Good to see you. You’re looking a lot like a fireplace.”
Twisting her body to one side, she replied. “Thanks, Heather. What’s up?”
“I’m supposed to steal a knife so Gavin MacGregor won’t murder Mungo Frazer in cold blood and then come home.”
“So what’s the problem? Do it.”
“The problem is from what I’ve just heard Mungo Frazer is actually the baddie and Gavin MacGregor is…well Gavin is a bit of a hottie.”
The door flew open as Gavin appeared, carrying armfuls of wood. “What’s a hottie?” he asked, dumping the wood in front of the fireplace.
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“You were talking just then. I heard you say I was a hottie.”
She winced, feeling her toes curl with embarrassment. “You were listening to me?”
“No, lass. I couldnae help hearing you say that on my way back in. What’s a hottie?”
“Never mind. Can we get this fire going, please. I’m freezing.”
She was glad when he got to work laying out kindling in the ancient hearth. It meant he wasn’t looking at her with those piercing eyes of his and she had a chance to try and let her embarrassment fade.
Don’t ever talk out loud to people who aren’t there, she told herself as he struck a flint, sending yellow and white sparks down onto the kindling.
The sparks caught after a couple of attempts and soon a warming blaze was growing in the hearth.
Once he was satisfied the fire would survive on its own, Gavin turned to look at her. “I brought you a blanket from the horse,” he said, “Here.”
“Thank you,” she said, wrapping it around her shoulders. “Are you not cold?”
He shook his head. “I am used to it. Besides, it will be much colder come the winter.”
“Cold enough for even you to wear a cloak?”
“Maybe.” He was smiling at her and again she couldn’t stop herself sighing, warmth spreading through her that was not coming from the fireplace. “Are you ready to sleep?”
“Not yet.” A gust of cold wind blew in under the door and she couldn’t help shivering. At once Gavin was by her side, putting an arm around her, pressing his body to hers.
“I will warm you until the fire heats this place better,” he said, looking her in the eyes as she glanced across at him.
She could smell him and his scent made her insides jump and twist. The heat coming from his skin warmed her but far hotter was the feel of his hand around her side, holding her close. She felt safer than she ever had in her life, protected, as if no harm could ever come to her while she was by his side.
She felt as if she would never sleep, her brain too wired with thoughts of him. He sat staring at the fire, saying nothing.
“What happens tomorrow?” she asked, anything to try and stop the voice in her head yelling at her to kiss him. She ignored the voice. It could not be entertained.
“We find out who we are chasing and why they are not with the others.”
“What do you think’s going on?”
