Page 42 of Some Like It Scot
I should have considered his startle reflex. Truly. I should have. He tended toward exaggeration and overreactions, if the past few days(and my previous experience with him) gave any indication, but with the whole hopping-to-save-his-life scenario, his startle response wasn’t the first thing on my mind.
And so, as he stumbled back, arms raised in defense at the oncoming threat-on-wheels, he hit me in the chest.
Remember, I’m a sturdy girl, so normally I would have been able to steady myself.
Normally, I wouldn’t have been wearing the satin equivalent of cling wrap.
But with Mark’s excellent encouragement and Kirsty’s homicidal tendencies, I wobbled back toward the edge of the rock ledge and... tipped right over.
The cold water caught me, stealing my breath. I attempted to raise my arms, but the tightness of the gown constricted my movements. Weeds rose from the bottom and tangled in the newly added lace at the bottom of the skirt, snagging my attempt at escape.
I tried to paddle my legs, with what little movement I could, and raised my arms again, feeling the shoulder of the gown rip.
Sorry, Mrs. Lennox!
Sunlight glimmered from above, down to me like a beacon. I kicked at the water weeds, my boots weighing me down a little more.
And for the fourth time in my life, I wondered if this misadventure may prove my last.
Chapter 9
Graeme
The sound of voices outside drew my attention to the front of Mum’s bookshop. I’d stopped in to shore up one of her beloved bookshelves as it had gotten shoogly over the last few months.
Occasionally we’d have a coach stop over for a bit to shop or have lunch, but most of the time a coach gave off warning by the sound of the engine rattling against the quiet hum of the everyday.
I placed my hammer on the shelf and walked to the front window, leaning over the newest collection of handcrafted walking sticks to take a wee keek at the commotion. A collection of people poised on the edge of the loch, wearing an assortment of vintage clothes, were creating quite the spectacle.
I rolled my gaze heavenward.
Barmy. The lot of them.
And then my attention settled on Katie Campbell. Her gown appeared less elegant than the others and so tight it easily highlighted her curvy silhouette. But her profile held the real mesmerizing quality. Shaded beneath that muckle hat of hers, all smiles had faded. She wore an intriguing look—distant. Maybe lost or a little lonely.
I shouldn’t care, truth be told.
And she shouldn’t draw my attention like she did. No more than the rest of the group with their fancy dress and saucer-sized hats. But she did. In a bathersome way. My attention kept pulling back to the ginger in the ill-fitting frock and an expression filled with unvoiced emotions.
Suddenly her entire body stiffened, and she turned, eyes wide.
Then I heard it.
The sound of Kirsty’s bicycle bell.
Och! How on earth did the little imp plan these things? Did she keep watch for victims from her granny’s front porch?
The girl made sport of scaring strangers, and with the last week of summer term in place, she’d likely have even more freedom. Usually her antics weren’t a problem because she rarely disturbed the natives anymore, but when tourists came, it was like she had a radar out to find them. Wild one, she was. But with naught but her aged granny for family, she was left to her own devices... and amusement most of the time.
“What’s all the noise?”
Mum’s question fell on deaf ears as Katie grabbed a man’s arm near her, clearly trying to get his attention about mad Kirsty. In one quick movement, the man shocked to attention, moving away from Kirsty’s trajectory, but in the process knocked Katie back. Katie stumbled, attempted to keep her balance with arms flailing about like propellers, and then—my breath seized in my chest—she tumbled over into the loch.
Did catastrophe follow the woman?
“Good heavens, Graeme!” Mum called.
I rushed to the door and flung it open, Mum on my heels. Dodging two ladies in fancy dress, I ran the distance to the loch, passing the daft man she’d saved as he stared into the water without one step to help.
