Page 92 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Cal heard Mhairi’s voice in Bonnie’s words. ‘Do you mean that, or are you just saying it because Mhairi told you to?’

‘Mhairi didn’t tell me to say anything. She told me to go away and think about my actions and how sad you were.’

‘Was that before or after she taught you to play poker?’

‘Before. Does Tara play poker?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Can I go and ask her?’

‘Not right now, she’s asleep. I’d better get back and check on her.’ He met Mhairi’s eyes over the top of his daughter’s head.

Mhairi’s expression was solemn. She was as aware as he of the dangers of the loch and how things could have been much worse.

‘Is she your girlfriend again?’ Bonnie asked.

‘If she’ll have me.’

‘She will.’

He loved his daughter’s confidence. Cal, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure. ‘Do you mind?’ he asked.

‘A bit. But Mhairi says that’s selfish.’ She pulled a face. ‘Being selfish isn’t nice.’

Mhairi pointed at the door. ‘You can thank me later,’ she said to him. ‘Now, go home. I need a cup of cocoa.’

‘Fetch your night things,’ Cal said to Bonnie after he’d thanked Mhairi for looking after her and had taken Bonnie back to the cottage. ‘We’re spending tonight in the boathouse. I don’t want to leave Tara on her own, not after—’ He stopped.

‘Could Tara have died?’ she asked, her eyes wide.

Cal was tempted to gloss over the danger Tara had been in, but he didn’t want to minimise how treacherous the loch could be. It was like any other wild place on Skye – it had to be treated with respect, so he decided to be truthful. ‘Yes, she could have.’

‘But you saved her.’

‘Macksaved her,’ Cal corrected.

‘Oh, I thought you did.’ She sounded disappointed, and so was he. He would have liked to have hung onto his superhero status for a while longer.

Bonnie brightened. ‘Can I make him a thank-you card?’

‘I think he’d like that.’

‘Shall I make one for Tara?’

‘You definitely should. Tara’s only got one bedroom, so I bagsy the couch. You, young one, can have the floor.’

‘That’s not fair!’

Calan’s smile was wide as he carried a bundle of bedding from the cottage to the boathouse.

Bonnie, to his amazement, had accepted Tara as his girlfriend – with a few home truths from Mhairi. Now all he had to do was to persuade Tara to forgive him and give him another chance – for a second time.

He feared it wasn’t going to be easy.

Chapter 27

Tara awoke slowly, taking a long time to surface from a very deep slumber. As she lay there, her eyes still closed, the memory of the awful events of yesterday cascaded through her mind in a terrifying kaleidoscope. Her limbs were heavy, and she felt like she’d gone ten rounds with an Olympic boxer. She was aching in so many places that it was probably easier to list the places whichdidn’thurt.

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