Page 3 of Cottage in the Mist
“You weren’t up to making those kinds of decisions.” Val reached over to squeeze Lily’s hand.
“Well, I’m glad you were.” Her hand tightened around the ring. “It’s like having a small part of them here with me.”
“You’ll always carry them in your heart. Just as they carried you. But it is nice to have something to hold on to. And that ring is as much as symbol of their love as you are. They loved you very much, you know.”
“I do. And I’m really glad to have the ring. Much better than muffins.” The phone started ringing again and Lily flinched. “It never stops.”
“Actually,” Valerie said with a hesitant smile, “I think I have a plan for that, too.”
“You’ve cancelled the phone subscription?”
“That definitely would be a solution, but this will be even better. At least I hope so.” Valerie reached into her bag and produced a white envelope, handing it to Lily.
Lily opened the envelope and quickly scanned the contents. “A plane ticket? To Scotland?” If nothing else, Valerie had caught her completely by surprise.
“I know it seems insane. But I’ve got a friend who runs an inn in the north of Scotland. And she’s offered to let you stay there for a bit. They’re in the middle of changing owners, so the inn is temporarily closed. Don’t you see? It gets you away from all of this.” She waved her hand at the room, as though it held the source of all Lily’s problems. But then in many ways, maybe it did.
“I can’t accept this,” Lily protested.
“It’s nothing. Just a plane ticket. The rest is taken care of. Agnes is delighted you’re coming. And the new owners are lovely as well.”
“But I can’t leave, Valerie. I have to take care of things. What kind of daughter would I be if I just left?”
“Your mom and dad are gone, Lily. They don’t expect anything of you. The only thing they’d want is for you to be happy. Mr. Banderson can handle everything here. It’s what he does, for goodness sake. And God knows he’s been paid well enough to do it. If you need to sign anything it can be messengered to you. And besides, you know how slowly this sort of thing moves.”
Lily opened her mouth to protest, but Valerie waved her quiet.
“You need to get away from here. Distance will do a world of good. And in Scotland no one is going to give a whit if your father lost his money. And there won’t be anything to remind you of Justin or the debt—just peace, quiet and maybe a little solace.”
“It does sound enticing, but I can’t just walk away.”
“Of course you can. I’ll be here. I’ll be sure that things are taken care of. That everything is moving forward. I can handle the press. And I can certainly handle the predators.” She crossed her arms, her eyes shooting sparks. “Marisa was my best friend. And I loved Thomas like a brother. I’ll not let anyone make them seem any less than the wonderful people they were.”
“I can’t think of anyone better. But I still think I should stay.” And she knew that she should. That she had to meet her responsibilities. But the idea of escaping, if only for a little while, was so very tempting. And Scotland. It had called to her from the very first time she’d visited. A fishing trip with her parents. It had been one of her favorite vacations.
“Lily, take the ticket. I’ll deal with the fallout. I can handle it.” As if to prove the point, the phone rang again, and Valerie answered, her clipped voice putting a quick end to the attempted conversation on the other side. “See? I’m good at it.” She smiled, her gaze locking with Lily’s. “Darling, go to Scotland. Let your heart heal.”
Lily closed her hand around her father’s wedding ring, the cool metal giving her strength. “All right, then. I’ll go.”
2
SCOTLAND – 1468
There was danger. He could feel it all around him. Fire raced up the wooden steps that led up to the door leading into the tower. And he could see more flames thrusting out of the windows, black smoke spiraling into the windswept sky. He ran up the steps, but was stopped by one of the tower’s guards.
The man raised his claymore, his eyes narrowed as the deadly blade began its descent. Bram pivoted and then swung his own weapon, confused as to where he was and why he was fighting. The man fell, only to be replaced by another. Bram called to him, some part of him recognizing a face that still seemed a stranger, but this man, too, seemed intent only on stopping him.
His mind argued that nothing made sense, even as his heart screamed that he must get inside. If he did not, then that which was most precious to him would be lost. He knew this as surely as he drew breath.
With a twist and a parry he drew the man off, and then made quick work of him, dashing through the opening of the tower, down the hallway and into the great hall. A place meantfor comfort, it offered only danger now. It too was full of flame, and lined with enemies.
Again the thought brought him up short. But there was no time to try and understand. Fear pushed him forward. He surged into the fray, moving toward the stairway at the far end of the room. It gave access to the chambers above and it was there he knew he would find her.
His brain recoiled. Find who? But his heart urged him forward, and he fought his way to the bottom of the steps, then ran up them, taking them two at a time, knowing the other swordsmen were fast on his heels.
At the top, he froze for a moment, the thick smoke disorienting him. The fire was much worse here. Pushing forward, he breathed through the heavy wool of his plaid, keeping his sword at the ready. The first chamber was empty. As was the solar and the chamber beyond it. But then from down the narrow hallway he heard a cry.
Heart thundering in his ears, he ran through the flames and smoke. A timber fell, glancing off of his shoulder, and he hardly felt it, the need to find her overriding everything else.
