Stone Heart (34 page)
Authors: Candace Sams
- Karen thought for a moment. Had they just met? Or had she kn
- "That's the spirit, lass." Angus broke into what felt like a
- As soon as they were outside the boundaries of the village,
- "All right. This is the gas." She pointed to the appropriate
- "And the wheel steers the thing, aye," Angus eyed the interi
- "I should think it will be a lot easier. But go slow. It tak
- Angus sat behind the wheel. Karen showed him how to adjust t
- "Gently then?" Angus asked.
- "Aye," Karen mimicked.
- Angus slowly pushed on the gas pedal and the car moved forwa
- Angus slowly drove the car several hundred yards, successful
- It was hard for Karen not to feel excitement for him. Angus'
- Angus took a deep breath and moved the car forward. The road
- And Karen was the most patient of teachers. She never seemed
- * * * *
- They stopped several times to check their bearings and once
- "Aye, it has in some places. There were many more trees then
- "That might be a good idea. We won't be able to see anything
- Karen found a hotel nearby and guided Angus' efforts at park
- While they waited for room confirmation, Angus didn't ask ma
- When they made their way to their room, she was so tired the
- When she pushed the door to her room open, Angus tossed her
- "Sleep sound, Karen. I will be verra' near."
- Karen smiled up at him then fell into the deep sleep someone
- Angus took off Karen's shoes, covered her with a blanket fro
- After several moments of watching and slapping at the black
- "This is more magic than I shall ever have," he murmured as
- After some time, Angus picked up the elongated object he had
- * * * *
- Karen woke slowly and heard a child's voice. She pushed hers
- "Aye, I think I should try this thing called a hamburger," h
- "Having fun?" Karen smiled, trying her best not to laugh at
- Angus quickly turned his head and grinned. There was no sign
- "This machine is verra' informative," he said as he pointed
- "How did you learn to turn it on?"
- "'Twas by mistake." He shrugged and smiled again. "Could you
- "I'll tell you what I can. First, I need a shower and some h
- "Two large hamburgers, with bacon, cheese and a..." he thoug
- "Oh, God! You stayed up all night watching that damned thing
- He just smiled and shrugged again. "I've had three hundred y
- "First things first." Karen stood up and moved toward the ba
- He tilted his head and looked at her. "You will ruaig?"
- "Do what?"
- "You will go hunt or raid for food?"
- Karen had to stop for a moment until her sleep disoriented m
- "Oh." he nodded. "May I ask another question?"
- Now she grinned. "Angus, you can ask anything you want."
- "Good. What is a bathroom?"
- Karen put her hands to her mouth and tried not to choke on h
- Angus shot her a broad grin and nodded. "Aye."
- Angus watched her retrieve some clothes from her luggage, go
- "What are you looking so solemn about?" Karen asked as she w
- She was wearing a pink fluffy garment made of some thick fab
- She walked over to him and had to tilt her head back very fa
- He angled his head. "You mean that don't you, lass? None of
- "No. It's going to be one great adventure." The very last on
- He couldn't help staring at her. The sun came through a smal
- For a moment, she didn't speak. Then she placed a small hand
- He turned back toward her, and when she smiled at him, he le
- Karen allowed herself the small luxury of staring at Angus'
- "Hot and cold water ... right inside a room, without it bein
- This was the part she dreaded. "Let's just say that's an ind
- Angus didn't respond, just tilted his head and stared.
- "Outhouse? Water closet? Latrine? Loo?" Karen tried every eu
- "Call me a dimwit, lass. I have no idea what you mean."
- Oh, Lord! She inwardly groaned. "It's where you go to ... wh
- "Ah! I see." He finally did understand. But it puzzled him t
- "Good! That's fine," she sighed. "I'll be on my way." She st
- "I still dunna' know how to use it, lass."
- Karen put one hand to her face, leaned against the vanity an
- Angus practically stuck his head inside the bowl. "Iongantac
- Karen gazed at the floor. "Away, Angus. It goes away."
- "And you have no need for soft grass or leaves?"
- Karen quickly reached for the roll of toilet paper, pulled s
- Angus held it in his hand for a moment, put it to his face a
- Karen pressed her lips together, patted him on the shoulder
- "You have something for my beard?"
- Stifling an urge to laugh at a situation Angus clearly could
- Angus watched her walk away, only to return a few moments la
- Karen handed him the scissors from her portable sewing kit,
- She picked up one of the pink plastic-handled razors again a
- "That wee thing canna' be too sharp," he commented. "And the
- "Well, the color doesn't matter and it is sharp. So be caref
- "Do I offend?" he asked and automatically lifted one arm, sn
- Pressing her lips together hard, Karen shook her head. "You'
- He looked around and grinned. "This will be a new experience
- "Brother, tell me about it," she murmured, and tried again n
- When she heard the shower running and Angus hoot in glee, sh
- Seeing Angus' leather pants, shirt and boots lying just outs
- Knowing he wouldn't dare leave the room without clothing, he
- Karen was still laughing when she walked out into the sunshi
- * * * *
- Angus took a lengthy shower, luxuriating in the feel of warm
- He felt his age was the same thirty and three years as it ha
- For a long time he stared at his own image and remembered so
- Angus finally finished his bathing chores and cast one last
- He paced the room, waiting for her to make an appearance bef
- Angus quickly exited the bathroom and grabbed Karen's robe o
- One of the men heard the strange gurgling coming from the ba
- Karen rushed to the bathroom door and saw water running from
- Karen said nothing as she watched Angus move forward to see
- Angus quickly approached Karen and stood so close to her tha
- With tears of mirth clouding her vision, Karen couldn't resp
- "'Tis verra' sorry I am, Karen. I dinna' mean this to happen
- "I-it's not your fault, Angus. It's mine." She laughed.
- "How can you find this amusing? That poor man has to clean u
- "No, it isn't. I should have told you to put your beard into
- Angus quickly sat by Karen and watched her take whatever med
- She leaned into him, looked up and smiled. "I've never had s
- "I hardly think the men in yon room think the same, lass. I
- "No. Just stay put. The plumbers will handle it. They've got
- He hung his head. "I know not what a plumber is. But I do kn
- She turned to him and took one of his hands in hers. "Angus,
- "What is 'screws up'?"
- "It's what people nowadays call making a mistake." She leane
- "You are only saying that to make me feel less like a haples
- "No, I'm not. I've had to call the same kind of people to co
- He gazed down at her. "'Tis so verra' sweet you are. I wish
- Looking into his dark eyes, Karen began to wish, too. She wi
- "You are like a bright little star in the darkest sky," he w
- Stupefied into silence by the most breathtaking compliment s
- The plumber repeated what he said. "Did you 'ear me? We've g
- She stood up, grabbed her purse and tipped the men very well
- The plumber grinned. "Whatever that means, good on you, Miss
- Karen watched as the plumber and his companions left the roo
- He burst out laughing the same time she did. It took a long
- Suddenly remembering she had been gone for quite some time,
- "They're hotel porters," Karen explained. "I couldn't carry
- "I canna' find my clothing."
- "Your things are in one of those bags." She pointed to the p
- Angus watched as she picked up one of the bags, placed food
- She crooked one finger, beckoning to him. "Come see."
- Angus dropped the robe he had held against his body and appr
- And miss eating with Hercules? Karen tried not to stare, but
- "Lass?" He arched an eyebrow and put his hands on his hips.
- "Hmmmm?" she responded.
- "M'clothes?"
- Karen jerked herself back into reality and raised her gaze f
- Angus tossed his hair back over his shoulders and tried not
- Putting her attention on the food, Karen said, "It's hamburg
- Angus' eyes closed for a moment as he bit into his first ham
- She chuckled as he stuffed himself. Something about the way
- Karen ate as much as she could, then let Angus finish off th
- "More than the food?" He glanced at the parcels. "I am unwor
- "You have to have some more clothing. So, I got a few things
- Angus shook his head. "There are a wee bit more than a few t
- Karen was almost giddy with excitement. She couldn't wait to
- She rifled through the bags until she found what she wanted.
- Angus took the garment from her with a barely concealed air
- Karen eyed him critically. "I think those are going to fit f
- "What is this fabric called? The cloth is soft, unlike anyth
- "They're called blue-jeans, or just jeans for short. They're
- He placed the jeans on the bed and took the shirt. It was a
- "The cloth is called flannel." She tried to hold it up acros
- Angus caught her and pulled her against his chest. For a lon
- "I'm sorry, Angus. I can't kiss you again. Before, it was di
- "I understand, Karen." He changed the subject "If you would
- Karen looked up, gave him a tentative smile and picked up th
- He gave a mock shudder. "That is a mantrap!"
- Karen burst out laughing. "You'll just have to be very, very
- "Aye," he agreed, "else I will be hurt."
- "Then, there are these." She held up a pair of cotton, athle
- Angus admired the soft, black short-pants. "These go underne
- "Aye." She jokingly tried to mock his deep voice and accent.
- He laughed. "I'll have you talking Albannach, or Scottish, i
- "Don't forget the socks," she tossed him a pair just before
- Angus quickly donned the garments, brushed his hair again an
- "Did you say something?" Karen called out.
- "I said that I think you will be pleased," he responded, and
- Karen tried not to look as captivated as she felt. His long
- "Now, all I need is m'boots," he walked across the room, sat
- "Very nice." Karen looked him over and hoped she'd concealed
- "Thank you for your gifts. The fabric and colors are wondrou
- "You're more than welcome."
- Angus stood and walked toward her. Again, there was a moment
- "We should get going. I'm sure it's a long drive."
- "We should." Though it would not take so long as she thought
- Chapter Five
- They still had miles to drive before reaching England and fi
- Angus' appetite was unbelievable. He easily downed four hamb
- As if he could read her thoughts, Angus turned to her and pa
- "What? What are you talking about?" she glanced at him as sh
- "As a statue. Was I that hard to look upon? I heard villager
- She wanted to be tactful, but he was watching her closely. "
- "Aye. I knew this from villagers who spoke around me while I
- She sighed, shrugged her shoulders then let him have it. "Yo
- "Tell me more," he insisted.
- "All right." She paused and wished he hadn't asked. "You had
- "The Sorceress who bespelled me wanted my stone appearance t
- "I don't believe that. You've been a complete gentleman with
- "What is the meaning of the word hunk and why would the lass
- Karen laughed. "Those are compliments. I'm telling you that
- "Ah, yes. I noticed her expression, but was not sure she rea
- "What are you saying?"
- "I'm saying, lass, that I once would have taken advantage of
- Karen shook her head and her hair swung over her shoulder. "
- "What she did was worse than kill me. I wanted to die. Many
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