Chapter 15
“Honey, where have you been? We heard you were in rehab. I was so worried about you. We called, we texted, but you didn’t answer and knowing how connected you are to that phone, we knew something had to be wrong.
” The concern written all over her mother’s face was more than she could bear.
“And then that Eric, you’re manager, said he’d called the police. You really scared us, honey.”
“Mom, I wasn’t in rehab. I needed to get away for a while that’s all. I had my phone with me, but I didn’t have service where I was.” She glanced at Hamish.
“I’m sorry, Bobby. ’Twas me fault. Elle came to visit me and I live …”
“In Scotland. In the Scottish Highlands.” Elle finished his sentence before he could say something her mother would never understand, but she wanted to kiss him for trying to rescue her.
“You went to Scotland?” Bobby sounded astonished.
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell anyone before I left, but it all happened so quickly and I thought I’d be able to let you know where I was once I got there.”
“Those terrible tabloids were lying about you, then! I can’t believe they can get away with it. Trying to destroy your reputation like that is despicable.”
“I know. Don’t worry about it.” Elle knew her mother always had her back, but she really didn’t want her to get stressed about this. As wrong as it was, it came with the celebrity territory.
“I do worry, sweetie. I don’t want people to think those things about you.”
“I don’t think people are spending a lot of time thinking about me lately.”
“Hey, is that Elle?” Tina said, peeking into the living room. “It is! I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Elle froze at the anger in her sister’s voice. “Hi, Sis. I wanted to surprise everyone.”
“Your sister was in Scotland. That’s why she didn’t answer our calls.”
“Really, no phone reception there?” she asked her voice dripping with sarcasm. They stared at each other for a moment before Tina stepped forward with her arms open. She kissed Elle’s cheek as she gave her a hug and whispered, “I was worried I’d never see you again, brat.”
“It’s good to see you, too,” Elle replied hugging her sister tighter and then whispering, “I’m sorry, brat.
” She deserved all the attitude she was getting and she knew it.
Her sister was angry with her, but Elle also knew she was probably hurt by her absence.
The both quickly blinked their eyes to hide their tears before letting go of each other.
“I’m Hamish MacBeown,” Hamish said, introducing himself to Tina.
Once again it was Hamish to the rescue. She could tell he was trying to distract her sister.
“Hi. I’m Tina, short for Valentina, Elle’s sister. Did she meet you in Scotland?”
“Aye.”
“‘Aye.’ That’s so cute.” she said, and then whispering to Elle, “So’s he. If you were there with him, I guess I can forgive you for scaring Mom and Dad half to death.”
“I really had no coverage.” Clearly Elle was going to have to do some damage control to win her sister over.
Tina raised her eyebrows and turned back to Hamish. “So how did you two meet?”
“Tina, mind your own business,” Bobby said. “I’m sure they’ll share all the details tonight at dinner. Won’t you, Elle.”
That last was clearly not a question. “Definitely.”
“Why don’t you show Hamish to the guest room,” Bobby said. “Your room is waiting for you, Elle.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She should have known her mother and father wouldn’t let Hamish share her bed. They were pretty traditional in that way. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’s with your brothers. They went into town to meet with Smitty about borrowing some of his goats to graze down the pastures. We’ve only got a few cows and they can’t do it all on their own,” she explained to Hamish. “They’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“And Katie and the kids?”
“Play date at a friend’s. They’ll be excited that their Auntie Elle is home.” Bobby beamed.
“Well, I’m excited to see them. Come on, Hamish. I’ll show you to your room.”
They headed down the tiled hallway to the guest room.
“Sorry about this,” Elle whispered. “My parents are a little old fashioned.”
“As much as I want to spend the night with ye in me arms, I respect their decision.”
“Maybe we can find a way,” Elle said.
Hamish laughed as he pulled her in for a hug. “I dinnae wish to be thrown out here in this strange land.”
“It’s not that strange. Okay, I guess I can see why you’d think it was strange, but don’t worry. I wouldn’t let them do that to you.”
He kissed the top of her head. If there was any way she could sneak in to sleep with Hamish tonight, she was determined to do it.
As she stood here in his arms, she felt safe in a way she hadn’t since she was a child.
Much to her surprise, she was falling for him.
As she’d noted on first seeing him, he was the exact opposite of what she thought she’d wanted, but now he was all she wanted.
***
Hamish couldn’t be more surprised or delighted by Elle.
He had known how he felt about her since shortly after her arrival in his own time.
Elle, on the other hand, had been careful not to give him hope that they could be much more than friends.
He wondered if Edna had something to do with him being here.
She’d told him when he’d asked that he couldn’t go, but he also knew that there were no accidents where Edna was concerned.
“If we were married, ye’d be able to sleep with me,” he said.
She moved away from him. “Let’s go see my room and then I’ll show you around the ranch.” She took his hand, leading him to another room not far from his. A room that, if she hadn’t told him, he would have known was hers. “I can’t wait for you to meet my dad,” she said, not looking at him.
Elle’s reaction was not what he had anticipated. He reached for her and brought her slowly back into his arms, “I can see ye dinnae wish to speak to me of marriage. Why?” he kissed her neck as he spoke.
“Just because we’ve …” she seemed to be searching for the right words.
“Made love,” he said, completing her sentence. He moved to the other side of her neck.
“Yes. Just because we’ve done that doesn’t mean we have to get married. I can see how that would be important in your time, but things are different here.”
He had a lot to learn about this place where he now found himself.
“You understand that, don’t you?”
He captured her chin with his hand and kissed her lips. “There is much to know about the customs of this time.”
“There’s a lot to know about everything,” Elle said. Her voice sounded breathy, he liked when it did that.
“I’m happy I have ye to teach me.” He leaned down to kiss her again.
“Where’s my baby girl?” Elle jumped away from him so fast, he couldn’t help but laugh. Some things were not so different in this time, it seemed.
“Daddy,” she cried, throwing herself into his arms as he entered the room.
“We missed you, sweetie. Why do you stay away so long? Never mind. We’ll talk about that later. Let me look at you.” He held her at arm’s length, beaming with obvious joy.
“You must be Hamish. Bobby told me Elle brought someone with her.” He looked Hamish up and down and then turned to Elle. “Why does your boyfriend have to be so much taller than me? Why is everyone taller than me?” He winked at Hamish to let him know he was teasing.
“I’m Joe. Nice to meet you. I hope you’re treating my daughter well, because if you aren’t.” He made a fist and shook it at Hamish.
“Don’t worry, Dad. He’s always a perfect gentleman,” Elle said.
“I wouldnae do anything to hurt her, sir.”
“You’re from Scotland, I hear.”
“Aye.”
“You’re a good, strong-looking guy. We can use someone like you around here.”
“Dad, we just got here. Don’t put him to work already.”
“I’m happy to be of service.”
“I like him, Elle.” He kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Now, get out of your bedroom. You know we don’t condone that behavior in this house. Not until you’re married.”
“Dad!” Elle protested.
Hamish couldn’t help but chuckle at the father-daughter banter.
Joe took Elle’s hand and led her from the room with Hamish trailing along behind them.
“Your mother will have dinner ready soon. Let’s sit in the living room and have a drink.”
Elle sat on the sofa and motioned for Hamish to sit with her, which he was happy to do.
“What’s your poison?” Joe asked.
“Poison?”
“What would you like to drink. I’ve got everything.”
“Whisky, please.”
“Elle?”
“I’m fine, Dad. Nothing for me.”
Joe poured Hamish a whisky and handed it to him. He was impressed with the glass and once again fascinated by the small block of ice floating in the whisky. This was nothing like drinking from his quaich. He took a sip and was impressed with the quality.
“Good?” Joe asked. “It should be, it’s from your homeland. He handed Hamish the bottle.
“’Tis verra good.” He took another sip, savoring the peaty, smoky flavor. “Verra good.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“JJ,” Elle squealed, jumping up from the sofa and running to greet a dark haired man who’d just entered. She hugged him and he twirled her around.
“Sis, where’d you come from?” He set her down and glanced at Hamish, who nodded to him. “Who’s this?”
“The new boyfriend,” Joe said.
Hamish wasn’t sure what to make of this word boyfriend. He was, after all, a man. He hadn’t considered himself a boy for quite some time. He’d remember to ask Elle about this later. He stood and introduced himself. “I be Hamish.”
“And he has an accent.”
“Scottish,” Joe said.
“So that’s where you’ve been,” JJ said. His father handed him a drink and he sat in an oversized chair, facing the sofa.
Hamish sat down and Elle joined him. Joe took the other chair.
“Dad, I think the tractor’s down again.”
“What’s wrong with it this time?”
“Not sure. The guys left it where it was and went home. I just saw it out there, went to move it and it wouldn’t start.”
“I’ll call someone out tomorrow,” Joe said. “I was going to try to put Hamish to work, but your sister objected.”