Just Wait For Me (Highland Gardens Book 3) Read Free Page B

compounded. Had she smelled Caitrina’s
unique perfume, that cloying oriental scent, just before stumbling into the
cave—or whatever it was? Could Caitrina have been on the bike trail? Why? And
why would she have shoved Jillian?
    She smiled at Keita. “Who is Caitrina?”
    “A Sithichean princess.”
    Back to faerie tales. The child wasn’t referring to
Jillian’s business partner Caitrina.
    Keita took hold of Jillian’s hand. “Come. The Gray Women
will help you. They help all lost souls.”
    * * *
     
    Present Day
    Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
     
    Far below the mountain trail, a red SUV crawled along the
Blue Ridge Parkway. Stopping, crawling, stopping, crawling. Probably leaf
peepers or bear gawkers. Pfft . “What do you think of the stupid humans?”
    Tristan released a shrill kak kak kak , lifted one
claw then the other, moved his head from side to side, and shrugged a wing
before settling again on Caitrina’s leather-gloved hand.
    “Exactly. Seeing the world through a window rather than
experiencing life.” Caitrina shook her head, frowned, and slid her gaze over the
fireworks display of autumn foliage, letting it settle on the Village of
Anderson Creek nestled in the valley below Grandfather Mountain.
    Hopefully the tourists would at least stop in the village
and spend some serious money in the garden center and restaurants, and perhaps
even stay a night or two at the B&B. The villagers could certainly use the
income. The local businesses still suffered from the downturn in the economy.
    One of many reasons Caitrina hoped not to belong to their
ilk much longer. As a halfling —half-human, half-fae—she’d never needed
money. That was until the banishment by the Queen of the Fae, and resulting
punishment, forced Caitrina into life-long service to Mairi MacLachlan,
proprietor of the Whispering Pines Inn along with her husband Iain. They and
two of their children were time travelers from sixteenth century Scotland
living in a modern world.
    Anderson Creek was known for an eccentric cast of local
characters so the time travelers fit in just fine. Caitrina—not so much. In the
past, the clan system kept her clothed and fed. The modern world, however, had
many expenses. Aye, she was an owner, along with Jillian and Laurie, of Foxgloves ,
a popular garden center, but her greatest wish was to return to Tir-nan-Og and live among other faeries.
    And that is where she’d go as soon as the queen’s challenge
was met. Orchestrate three nearly impossible love matches and she’d be free.
Two were complete.
    Caitrina inhaled a heavy breath. She must proceed carefully.
The queen enjoyed their game far too much and was prone to cheating.
Originally, Oonagh refused to disclose the identity of the next unlikely
couple, but finally the potential lovers were revealed. Caitrina already set
the match in motion. That’s why she needed to return to early sixteenth century
Scotland in all haste. She couldn’t trust Munn to oversee the meeting and
mating. Besides the wee brownie was unaware of Stephen’s potential mate.
    Tristan nudged her nose with his beak.
    “Right. Time is wasting.” Caitrina continued up the trail
toward the high meadow. She had pressing matters to attend. Wind buffeted them
as they cleared the trees and strode out into the open. The bird fussed, eager
to dance in the sky.
    “I will miss you.” She hesitated then released Tristan to
the wind. “Fly safe and true, my friend.”
    The peregrine falcon rose on thermals and soared out of
sight. Caitrina crossed her arms in a self-hug, already feeling the loss. ’Twas
best he fly wild and free until spring when he would head for northern climes.
She was needed in Scotland past.
    As she wandered toward the trail heading down the mountain,
alarm hummed over her skin. Someone watched. Unnerved, she thought to vanish,
but then she wouldn’t learn who or what flaunted such intent interest. Trying
to appear nonchalant, she scanned the meadow, the