As if to spite him, something glinted, through the trees. Swallowing his selfishness, he pointed out the glare. “Do ye ken that’s yer car?”
She stared at the shiny reflection for a long time. “Probably.”
He noted the tiny lines furrowing her brow. “Ye look worried, lass. What is it?”
Yesterday, he’d easily read the swiftly changing expressions crossing her face, but now, ’twas as if she wore a mask. He wished mightily she’d stop worrying her lip and tell him what was on her mind.
She stared at the shimmering object, then finally, looked up at him. This time, he easily read the uncertainty in her eyes. He dinnae ken. Returning to her car and her family, were all she’d wanted since she’d fallen down the embankment last night. Everything she’d said mattered was just through those trees, or would lead to it.
Why did she hesitate?
“I’m not worried. I’m sure that’s the car,” she finally said, sighing heavily.
If he was any judge, she wasnae being truthful, but that dinnae make any sense. While he puzzled over her response, she moved ahead.
’Twas good that she went first to give him this last wee distance to watch her. To watchoverher. Before she was gone.
They hadnae traveled far when she began walking faster, waving her arms, and yelling. “Aunt Phoebe! Julia! Deidre!”
Reginald hurried after her, needing to be sure she was safe. Ahead were two cars, and several people moving around them. Three women. Three men. And a huge vehicle, with some kind of large beam and hook, attached to the car atop a large rock. A second car waited a short distance away.
“Wait, Lauren!” Reginald called as one of the women ran to meet her, followed by two of the men, all swarming around her, all talking at once. One of the men saw Reginald, grabbed the other, and together formed a barrier in front of the women. They’d no’ stop a charging kitten, Reginald thought, coming to a stop, but he gave them credit for trying.
“Lauren?” The eldest of the women pushed Lauren behind her, and faced Reginald as if she, too, was a force he must reckon with. “Is that man chasing you? Has he harmed you, dear?”
The two younger women seemed frozen in a mixture of dread and curiosity.
“Wait. Stop! All of you,” Lauren cried, twisting free. “He’s not chasing me. He’sescortingme.” Horror and embarrassment pinched her face as she looked back at him. “He watched over me through what could have been a very difficult night. He kept me safe. He even cared for my injured ankle.”
The older woman sucked in a breath. “You’re injured?”
Lauren held up her hands. “I’m fine, now. Really. It’s nothing serious.”
“Well, thank God for that,” the woman exclaimed. “We’ll get you back to the house and get a proper look.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” One of the younger lassies asked, her exceptionally pretty face a mask of concern, as she hugged Lauren. “We were so worried something had happened to you.”
“Where were you? You gave us a dreadful scare, you know,” the other one accused with a pout.
“I’m relieved you’re safe,” one of the men added.
“As am I,” the other commented.
Lauren seemed overwhelmed as everyone talked over each other. With cautious glances over their shoulders at Reginald, they crowded around her again, bombarding her with questions.
“Please. Stop!” Lauren gently pushed her way out of the circle, her hands palm out like a shield, in front of her chest. “Just...let me breathe a moment, and I’ll explain everything.” She looked anxiously from one woman to another. “I’m sorry for frightening everyone. It was unintentional, I assure you.”
Lauren seemed overwhelmed, even a little frantic. Reginald wished desperately to scoop her away from the chattering crowd, but ’twas no’ his place. He reminded himself,hewas the outsider, here.
When she glanced anxiously in his direction, Reginald was puzzled. Was she happy to finally be rid of him? Eager to be on her way? He dinnae think she’d expected to find all these people waiting, but here they were, as concerned and impatient for answers as she’d said they’d be. Still, for someone who’d agonized over getting back to them, she dinnae seem as relieved as he’d expected.
“Reggie?” She motioned him over.
Cautiously, he moved toward her, kenning he was making a mistake. Though it pained him to leave Lauren, ’twas time, now. And the sooner, the better.
I’m sorry,she mouthed so only he could see.
When he got closer, she tucked her hand beneath his elbow, surprising him with her tight grip that anchored him in place. “This is Reginald McColl. He came to my aid after I fell into a ravine, last night. I owe my safe return entirely to him.” She glanced up at him before turning back to her family, “After wandering so long in the dark, I would never have found my way back, alone.” She pulled her talking device from her back pocket and displayed the battered shell and shattered screen. “As you can see, I was without any resources of my own.”
