Page 88 of Wild Scottish Rose

Owen

My phone rang, an unknown number, and I almost didn’t answer it, but something nudged me to do so. It was a UK number, perhaps one of the lads from the pub.

“Owen, is Shona with you?”

“I’m sorry, who is this?” I stood, crossing to the front of the cottage to peer out the window.

“It’s Sophie, from the castle.”

“Right, hi. Um, her van is still here.”

“But have you seen her?”

“No, why? Is something wrong?” My pulse kicked up as I pulled on my shoes.

“I don’t know, but, well, yes?”

“What’s going on?” I grabbed my fleece,my wallet, and my car keys, and held my phone to my ear as I locked the cottage door. Jogging lightly across the garden, I poked my head into the greenhouse. “Louise, have you seen Shona?”

“Not yet today. She must be having a lie-in.”

“She’s not at the greenhouse.” I jogged to her cottage and banged on the door, sighing when the knob turned easily under my hand. Small towns, man. They blew my mind sometimes with how trusting they were. Stomping inside, my heart racing, I called for her, but I could already tell by the stillness of the cottage that nobody was there. Peeking my head in the bedroom, I saw the bed neatly made.

Unusual for her.

“She’s not at her cottage. What’s going on?”

“Um, it’s just my crows dropped her walking cane at the castle.”

“Excuse me?” There was a lot to unpack in that sentence, but I wasn’t sure I had time for it.

“Long story. Any idea where she might have gotten off to?”

Movement in the window caught my eye, and my stomach twisted as Eugene narrowly missed getting hit by a passing car as he scuttled across the road. What the hell was he doing out of the greenhouse? This was supposed to be his sleeping time. Cursing, phone at my ear, I ran outside and after Eugene.

“Dude, you gotta stop doing this,” I hissed, when I caught up with him, scooping him up. When I straightened, my eyes caught on movement out on the loch.

A kayak.

Heading toward the island.

And a woman with the same sunny blonde hair as Shona, and the same blue sweater I’d seen her in the day before, paddling furiously.

“God damn it!”

“What? What’s happening over there?” Sophie demanded.

“Shona’s gone to the island.”

“What the— Lachlan!” Sophie shouted and then disconnected the phone.Why, Shona? Why do what you’d specifically warned me not to do? Nothing can happen to you. I can’t lose you.

Panic sweeping over me, I deposited Eugene on his towel and instructed Louise to not let him leave the greenhouse.

Hopping in my car, I sped to the docks. I could have gone on foot but protecting Eugene had shaved precious seconds from my time.

What was she thinking?

Squealing to a stop, I parked my car haphazardly, throwing the caution lights on. Fear lanced my gut, and I ran out onto the dock, jumping into a Zodiac tied at the end. I was pleased to see the keys in it. Small towns for the win. Unlooping the rope from the hook?—

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