Page 55 of Return to Me Always

Just when I didn't think I could take any more, the light started to fade, and the noise began to move away.

"Bloody fucking hell. What was that all about?" Ben muttered from below us. He scrambled out of his bed to stand beside us. "Do you think they were looking for us?"

Tyler and I both sat up.

"I don't know," Tyler said, running his hands through his hair. "I don't know."

Not exactly reassuring.

"So you don't usually hear helicopters out here?" I asked, still fighting to calm my breathing.

"None that I can remember," Tyler said.

Ben moved toward the door and checked the flimsy lock. Muttering under his breath, he turned on a lantern then went to his bag to grab something.

"Here." He held out a small bottle of whiskey to me. "Only way any of us are getting back to sleep."

We took turns gulping shots of the fiery liquid.

"At least if we go down, we'll go down sloshed," Ben said.

I giggled, the whiskey and the stress clearly taking their toll.

"Maybe they're after the other folks." Ben nodded toward the other room.

"Or maybe," Tyler said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "they're just out looking for a lost hiker."

That was the most sensible reason. Well, actually the most sensible reason would be they were looking for the freaking fugitives who had murdered someone. But I liked Tyler's reason better, and I decided to go with it.

"I live right by a canyon in Phoenix, and we hear helicopters all the time because of that exact thing."

Tyler's eyes studied my face. "I imagine it's pretty tough to find your way out of the desert."

"Challenge accepted, mate," Ben joked, passing around the whiskey again.

"Oh, God. I'm good," I said. "Thanks though. It actually really helped."

Ben gave me a nod. "No problem. By the end of this, we'll have turned you into a proper Scotswoman."

Giggling again, I slid down into my sleeping bag, and seconds later, I felt Tyler do the same next to me. As Ben turned out the light and settled into his bottom bunk, Tyler's arm came around me, pulling me in tight against him.

I felt his breath near my ear again, and he whispered, "Just trust me, lass. Just trust me."

And I knew that I did. Fully. And with all my heart.

***

Once again, just before dawn, Tyler's gentle nudge woke me. I didn't think this was the normal way to leave a bothy, sneaking out in the darkness, but it was the usual for us.

Without speaking, we all worked together to pack up our bags and slip outside into the pre-dawn gray. For the moment, it actually wasn't raining. Yet. And the wild winds had disappeared as well.

As the sun debuted through the clouds over the horizon, I took a second to appreciate the stunning surroundings. So tranquil and serene. Almost from another time.

My nightmare hit me full force in the gut.

Holy shit. In the agony of the helicopter scare, I had completely forgotten about it. But now, the images flashed through my mind.

Another time. Long ago. A lake. Beautiful water. A sinister presence. Rough hands. Fighting to breathe. Malcolm.

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