The Highlander's Hope - A Contemporary Highland Romance (13 page)

He found Cat sitting cross-
legged in front of the paintings.  And finally—no cursed hair clips.  Her long dark hair had been twisted and braided loosely, before cascading down her back in a spill of curls, the mahogany color picking up glints of red in the light.  It was as if she’d wandered out of a fairytale, despite wearing a long, oversized sweater that hung off one shoulder to expose a tank below, knit leggings and shearling boots. 

It suited
her—far more than the buttoned-up look she’d first worn.  He had to laugh.  Maybe it had been a ploy to throw him off guard.  To make him think she was prim and proper rather than the smart and feisty vixen she really was.  His lips pursed at the thought, and he knew it was partly because she had no interest in pursuing something more permanent with him—even though he kept telling himself he wasn’t interested in anything of the sort either.  He felt like a child, interested in a toy only after being told he couldn’t have it.

Worried she’d
see his thoughts and emotions written all over his face, he went to the fireplace and started to layer the wood and kindling.  He liked the routine of building a fire, and the smell of it always pulled at something ancient within him, as if his soul was tied to this land and place, to the ways of old.  He’d tried to live elsewhere, given that the Scottish highlands weren’t exactly a business Mecca, and ended up miserable. 

Feeling more calm and in control
now that he had a roaring fire warding off the October chill, he sat down on the floor next to Cat.  “How’s yer head?”

“It’s still sor
e if I touch it, but the ibuprofen’s kicked in so my headache’s gone.”

“I spoke with my father.  He promised he spoke not a word about the necklace
to anyone.”  At least his father was safe.  Iain had been worried when he couldn’t get in touch with him.

She tilted her head towards him, her brows drawn in question. 
“Then how did Malcolm and James know about it?”

“
That’s exactly what I want to know.  It could be that Malcolm figured it out, if James told him you were here to research a find.  Not that it really matters now that they know.”  There was something nagging at the corners of his brain, but he couldn’t quite figure it out.

She turned towards him, her legs still curled under her.  “Again, it just means we need to find it first.  I know your brother has just as much right to it as you do, but if he’s teamed up with James, there’s no way I’m stepping aside.”

Anger bubbled within him, his brother’s mess too big to easily ignore.   Everything was on the line. “Trust me when I tell ye, my brother has no claim, and if there’s anyone ye should be worrying about getting the jewels, it’s him.  He’d sell his first-born for a few quid and not give it a second thought.”

“Come on then.”  She stood up, took his hands, and hauled him to his feet.  “Let’s go find us some tunnels.”

Her smile pushed away at the dark cloud that was consuming him.  “I’m only going to take ye if ye promise me ye’ll be careful,
and
ye’ll do as I say.  If I tell ye it’s too dangerous and we need to turn back, ye’ll not argue with me, aye?”

The glint in her eye told him he was in trouble.  “Och, aye.  I promise to do just as ye say
and obey yer every word, m’ laird.”

He was surprised to find her mock Scots could pass for the real thing, when he remembered that her father was Scottish.
  He bit back his laugh and furrowed his brow, trying his best to be stern with her.  “I’m going to hold ye to it, Cat.”

A single brow perked up
, mischief alight in those green eyes of hers, while she ran her hands up his chest and around his neck to whisper in his ear.  “My dear, you make a girl want to misbehave.”

His breath caught at the thought, his heart pounding. 
“Bloody hell.”

Chapter
Thirteen

Cat followed Iain through the ruined part of the home, the stone walls climbing up to an open sky, the roof long gone.  Moss and vines clung to the surface, the earth’s attempts to reclaim its own, while still-standing arches and window openings harkened to what once had been.

Though it didn’t come close to rivaling the famous castles and manor homes in size, there was something about the place.  The details and beauty of line and form spoke of an elegance still not lost, despite the
crumbling and decaying effects of time and the harsh Scottish elements. 

Cat thought she could spend an eternity exploring the manor and its grounds, and never find all the secrets that lay hidden
away, waiting to be discovered.  It was with a pang that she thought of her time here soon coming to an end, but she quickly pushed those thoughts away, knowing it did no good to dwell on the inevitable.

“Did Mrs. Gordon give any indication as to where the tunnels might be?” 

“Just beyond these open ruins is a part of the home that’s in better shape, though it’s cut off from the rest of the home because of the roof collapse here.  It’s still not in great condition though, and because it still has its roof, it’s even more dangerous than this section here.  We’d discussed tearing it down, or building some parts of it back up, though we never came to any final decisions.”

Cat’s foot slipped on the algae-
covered stones, but she managed to regain her balance before twisting an ankle or falling on her rear.  Iain gave her a quick glance followed by an eye roll, since he clearly thought her accident prone.  Where he’d get such an idea, she hadn’t a clue. 

Iain
grabbed her hand and held on, supporting her when she needed it.  “Once we’re done here, I’d like to go back to the tunnels by the Bleeding Heart.  If not today, then tomorrow.  I don’t feel like we explored it thoroughly.”

“Isn’t there something we can use to find the caves?  Would it be sonar?”  She didn’t know much about these things. 

“My assistant is looking into what options would be best, and will have them shipped here in the next few days.”   He squeezed through an opening in a wall, and then gave her a hand climbing through.

“You didn’t tell him what you needed the stuff for, did you?”  That was the last thing they needed.  One more person looking for the Hope.

“He’s my assistant, Cat, not my BFF.  I don’t have to explain myself to him.”

“He’s not going to find it odd that you’re looking for cave detection equipment?”

“And a metal detector.”

She sighed. 
“Great.”

His lips quirked into an amused smile. 
“Cat, it doesn’t matter if he thinks it odd.  He’s my assistant.  It’s his job to do as I ask without giving it a second thought, and he’s loyal.  He’d not be my assistant otherwise.”

“Does everyone always do as you say without questioning you?”  She was sure that was the case when it came to his business at any rate.

“Obviously not, love.  Ye’ve yet to listen to a single word I’ve said, and my brother’s ne’er paid me any heed.”  He shook his head and ran a rough hand down his face.  “Ye may think me arrogant, but he wouldn’t be in any of the trouble he’s in if he’d have just listened.”

Cat had to wonder what sort of mess Malcolm had got himself into.  It was clear, based on
Iain’s reaction, that it was serious.  “I know I’ve offered before, but… if you want to talk, I’m here, Iain.”

“
I’m afraid it’d only remind me of the mess he’s in and annoy me further.” He brushed a stray curl from her eyes, and then cupped the back of her neck and pulled her in close for a quick kiss.  “I do appreciate yer offer, but dinnae fash yerself, love.  I’ll manage just fine.”

“I hope you’re right
.”  With a sigh, she slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest as he held her close. “I know I have no right, and you can manage just fine, but you have me worried.”

“
Och, love, that’s the last thing I want.”  He kissed the top of her head and then took her hand.  “Shall we continue?  I believe this is the room Mrs. Wallace mentioned.”

Cat looked around
, happy to leave her worries behind, if for just a bit.  Most of the walls were still intact, despite parts of the roof missing.  From what was left of the room, it appeared to be more utilitarian—a kitchen perhaps?  She started to wander away from Iain’s side.  “There could be an entrance hidden in the floor or the walls.”

“Just be careful
.  There’s rubble everywhere, and if there’s a tunnel below, I don’t want ye falling through.”

Unable to resist flirting with him, s
he threw him a teasing smile over her shoulder.  “What are the chances of that happening?”

She barely had the words out when a
wooden plank gave way, gouging her leg from calf to knee.  Iain was at her side in a heartbeat, muttering curses under his breath as he helped her extract herself, leaving her boot behind in the hole.  He carried her over to a large stone and sat her down.

“Let me see.” 
Carefully, he pulled her pant leg up and out of the way, and let out a huge sigh of relief.  “We’ll need to disinfect it when we get back, but it’s mainly just a bit of scraped skin and a few splinters.  Yer boot saved ye from the worst of it.  I swear, Cat.  Ye’re going to be the death of me.  Are ye always this bad or is it just around me?”

“I think you’
ve somehow managed to amplify how accident-prone I am.”  Pulling down her pant leg, she gave him a reassuring smile, hoping it’d work.  “Don’t look so upset.  It’s just a scrape.  I’m fine.”

“You’re fine
this time
.”  His curses switched to Gaelic—never a good sign, as far as Cat was concerned, having been on the receiving end of it more than once when she’d exasperated her father.

“
I promise to be more careful, but right now, I want my boot back and I want to know what sort of hole my foot fell into.”

He shook his head, his entire body tense
.  “Ye have a one-track mind, woman.  Does it not matter that ye’re constantly getting hurt?”

“
Iain… what do you want me to do?  I’m here to find the necklace, and will do whatever it takes.  I’m not going to let those jerks scare or bully me out of finding it, and I’m certainly not going to let bumps and bruises slow me down.”  She grabbed his shirt, resisting the urge to shake him as her emotions rose to the surface, refusing to be beaten back. 

Suddenly, everything felt as if it was slipping out of control.  First James and Malcolm, and now total strangers, all trying to get to the Hope.  The last thing she could afford to do was slow down and take things easy.

Her eyes burned
with threatening tears, but she refused to let her emotions get in her way.  “You’re not going to stop me, Iain, and I’m not leaving until I find the Hope.  Do you hear me?”

“
Aye, love.  Hush.”  He pulled her into his arms, and held her tight, murmuring to her in Gaelic until she’d calmed down.  “I’m not trying to stop ye, Cat.  But each time ye get hurt and brush it off like it’s of no consequence, it worries me that ye’re not being careful enough, and ye’re taking too many risks.  We’ll find the necklace.  But I don’t want it to be with our dying breath.”

With a
large exhale, she rid herself of the tension eating away at her, knowing he was right.  It just meant he cared—and that was nice.  She went up on her toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  “You’re a sweet man, Iain MacCraigh.  It’s a good thing I have you around to keep me safe.”

“A sweet man, aye?  Just don’t let that get around.  I have a reputation to uphold.
  You know… playboy, ruthless businessman, and what was it ye called me on the day we first met?  Ah yes, arrogant jerk.”

She had to laugh.  The two of them certainly had come a long way since he’d nearly run her over.  “Who knew you’d be such a contradiction.  I’ll admit, I’m glad I’ve been
given the opportunity to find that out.”

“Are ye really?”  He twined his fingers with hers
and brought them to his lips, a sparkle in his eyes.  “Then let’s hope ye manage to live long enough to make the most of it.”

The way he looked at her would have any
woman swooning into his arms. Pity it would eventually have to come to an end.  She supposed she could make the most of their time together—or concentrate on work instead.  “Are you ready to check out that hole then?”

“Aye, love.  But first things
first.”  He got to his feet, went over to where her foot had gone through the board, and pulled away at some of the rotten wood so he could reach in and grab her boot.  He held it up victoriously before sliding it onto her foot.  “Not exactly a glass slipper, is it?”

“Well, last I checked, I wasn’t exactly Cinderella.”

He laughed.  “Ye know ye want to say it—and I’m not exactly Prince Charming.”

Her li
ps tugged into a smile.  “Truth is, you’re pretty damn close.  Not something I ever anticipated.”

“
That’s because, like so many others, ye underestimated me, Cat.”  He stood up and, taking both her hands in his, pulled her to her feet.  “But I don’t mind, love.  It’s how I’ll win.”

Somehow she’d managed to awaken his competitive side, and it now felt like he was getting ready to eat her alive. 
She perked an eyebrow at the thought, her lips curling into a seductive smile.  Could be far too entertaining—and she was always up for a challenge.

“Ready to go exploring
, then?” She looked up into those piercing blue eyes and thought him a worthy opponent.

“Aye, love.  Just watch yer step this time. 
Wouldn’t want ye to do yerself an injury when the fun’s just starting.”

They
squatted in front of the hole and removed the debris that had fallen onto the floor from the ceiling above.  After a good ten minutes, they managed to expose what seemed to be a door in the floor.  The hinges were rusted through, though they remained intact when Iain pulled it open.  He grabbed the flashlight and shone it down the stone steps that led into the darkness. Cat’s heart thundered at the possibilities.  The jewels had to be close by. It might be wishful thinking, but she had to stay positive.  Research would never get done with a pessimistic attitude.

Iain
handed her a flashlight, and slowly went down the steep staircase before turning around and giving her a hand.  The passageway was narrow, dark and damp, and Cat had to suppress a shiver as Iain swiped at the cobwebs. 

H
e stopped short.  “It’s not a tunnel, Cat.  It ends right here.”

She
tried her best to not let it get her down, and yet a weary sigh escaped.  “It was likely used as a hiding hole during the uprising and in the years after.  Just means there’s a good chance there are other tunnels around.”

Iain
held the flashlight up and started to take a closer look at the walls.  “I keep thinking there’s more to these tunnels and rooms than we can actually see.  Not that I expect us to press a button and have a wall swing open to reveal a hidden chamber, but… something.”

She had to laugh.  “
I know, right?  And trust me, I’ve been on enough of these searches to know better, yet I still feel around for cracks in walls and pull down on wall sconces.  I guess I’ve watched far too many movies.”

“
You and me both.”  He pressed on the wall, shifting his hand around as he applied pressure and ran his fingers down the seams, before turning back to her with a playful grin.  “It was worth a shot.”

“We can keep
looking.  There might be another tunnel somewhere else in the ruins, or more clues in the paintings.”  She couldn’t give in to her doubts, nor could she let James find the necklace.  They just had to be persistent.

“Aye, love.  Let’s finish looking around here so we can check it off the list.”

Cat started to head back when she startled to a stop, Iain coming short behind her. Voices could be heard in the ruins above them.  With a tilt of her head towards the stairs, she motioned to Iain.

He quietly pushed past her while turning off the flashlight, his voice barely a whisper. “Get to the back of the room.
  Now.  And no matter what happens, stay put.”