The Highlander's Stronghold (Se - Bess McBride.pdf

(610 KB) Pobierz
Ann Borodell, a graduate student scrambling to find an archaeological
dig to finish her degree, lands a project in the remote Western Isles of
Scotland. With a concentration in Colonial American studies, she
knows almost nothing about Scottish history and the sixteenth century
island stronghold of the Morrison clan.
That changes though when she discovers a medieval dagger embedded
in the rubble at the base of a tower house on the island. As the dagger
pulls her back in time, she awakens in the arms of a suspicious
Highland laird who thinks she is a spy—for the English or for their
enemies, the MacLeods.
Ann believes that getting the dagger back from its owner, John
Morrison, is her way back to the twenty-first century. So does the laird.
And he has no intention of letting Ann leave the stronghold...or him.
An hour of mindless digging passed, but I knew what I had signed up
for when I entered the field of archaeology—long periods of
backbreaking, knee-aching, mind-numbing troweling broken only
rarely by an occasional "find."
That day was apparently the day I would discover my find. I had been
carefully picking away at turf and mud in a crevice between stones
when something metal fell to the ground at my knees. Metal was
always an exciting find! Unlike organic material, it lasted for centuries.
I set my trowel down and eyed what looked like a darkly tarnished
silver dagger or a dirk.
I barely breathed as I studied the dagger on the ground without
touching it. Only when I grew dizzy did I drag in a deep breath and turn
to call out to my fellow diggers. But they had moved away, probably to
take a break around the other side of the mound, where an area had
been set aside for hot drinks and refreshments.
My first instinct was to run around the base of the mound and locate
someone, Dylan, anyone, to shout out my find, but I dared not leave the
artifact. How could I? What if it disappeared? What if one of the many
seagulls flying overhead snatched it up and carried it off? The dagger
looked heavy, and I doubted whether a bird could carry it in its beak,
but still I couldn't bring myself to leave it and run for guidance. Given
that I was a bit loopy from the excitement and the blood pounding in
my ears, I did what I thought was right. I removed both pairs of gloves
and picked up the dirk to take it to Dylan.
On contact, the metal seemed to flare, and yet it didn't burn. I eyed it
wildly, almost tempted to drop it, but I held on. The sky darkened, or so
I thought. Perhaps it was just my vision. Flashing lights blinded me,
and I shook my head. Suspecting that I must have held my breath too
long and was about to faint, I tried to drag in a deep breath, but it didn't
help. I clutched the dagger by its hilt and slipped into a dizzying
whirlpool of unconsciousness.
THE HIGHLANDER'S STRONGHOLD
Bess McBride
The Highlander's Stronghold
Copyright 2016 Bess McBride
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright
reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by
any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright
owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and
incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used
fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and
trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of
fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use
of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by
the trademark owners.
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book
may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to
share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy
for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did
not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you
should return to the publisher and purchase your own copy. Thank you
for respecting the author's work.
Cover art by Tara West
Contact information:
bessmcbride@gmail.com
Published in the United States of America

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin