A Time & Place for Every Laird by Angeline Fortin (reading comprehension books .txt) 📗

him, not even flinching when the wail of sirens and alarmsfilled the air. He did though, his eyes darting around inalarm.

The Scotsman – if that’s what he actuallywas. Who knew, really? – looked wildly around, trying to identifythe source of the noise, while Claire tried to come to terms withthe inherent insanity of what she knew she was about to do. Shecould hardly believe it herself.

“We need to get you out of here,” she saidcalmly, recalling his attention. “I assume that’s for you?” Whilehe stared at her in surprise, Claire stood and opened the back doorof her car. “Get in and stay low.”

His blue eyes were easy to read. Mistrust.Doubt. Who could blame him? She was as dumbfounded by her actionsas he. “Do you really have any choice?” she asked. “It’s them orme.”

If she hadn’t known better, Claire mighthave thought he rolled his eyes with something akin to humor beforehe disappeared inside her Prius. Shutting the door, Claire openedthe driver’s door and slid in. Calmly, she started the car andshifted into reverse, backing out of the parking space. Just asserenely, she put the car in drive and pressed her foot down on thegas pedal.

That was about how long it took for her tosecond-guess herself.

“What am I doing?” she whispered to herself,gripping the steering wheel tightly at ten and two. Doubts andrecriminations filled her mind. “Are you insane, Claire?”

Still, she drove calmly through the gateswhile the big Scot hid in her backseat, glad the gate was unmannedbut fearful that the cameras might catch something, some movement,as she passed. Fearful? Her mind whirled. Shouldn’t she be hopeful?Hopeful that someone had seen what had happened and was on theirway to save her from this savage madman? To save her fromherself?

What was she thinking? The guy might be amass murderer for all she knew, and she was actually thinking oftaking him … where? To her townhouse so she might be slaughtered inthe privacy and comfort of her own home?

A hysterical giggle escaped her as Clairesteered her car through the streets of Spokane. At worst she wouldbe dead by nightfall. At best she would be unemployed by the nextmorning. “You’re risking your life and livelihood here, Claire,”she continued to mutter under her breath in self-recrimination.“Why? Why are you doing this? Turn around, take him back, and claimtemporary insanity. Kidnapping. Something. Oh, my God, I’m such anidiot. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid!” Claire pounded on the steeringwheel with those last three words.

What was she thinking? Was she thinking atall? There was a time and a place for sympathy. This was not it.That man might have a sad story that tugged at the heartstrings,but was she really going to risk her whole life just because …

“What is this conveyance?” The garble ofwords from the backseat was barely intelligible.

“What?” Claire asked, unable to work out histhick brogue, and the Scot repeated the question more succinctly,pointing at the dashboard.

“It’s a car,” she told him.

“Car,” he repeated, pushing himself into asitting position until Claire could see him in the rearview mirror.He was looking around him with that odd combination of fascinationand denial people get when they’re subjected to something new. Alow, brushing noise told her he was running his hands over theupholstery, as if tactile sensation could prompt belief oracceptance.

“What is this world?” he asked harshly ashis eyes took in the scenery passing by the windows, the panic onceagain rising in his voice, but Claire had a question of herown.

“How did you get out?”

“Tell me what I want tae ken, lass!” hebarked.

“You first!” Claire shotback, taking her eyes briefly off the road to turn and look at him.His blue eyes were as blazing hot as the pilot light on herstovetop. He was … terrifying. Sheshould have been terrified, but whether she wasdoing the right thing or not, some part of her illogically believedthat he wasn’t going to hurt her.

Or at least he wasn’t actively planning onit.

Taking an abrupt left, Claire pulled into aparking lot behind a small strip mall and threw the car into parkeven as she twisted around to face her would-be kidnapper.

“What are ye doin’, lass?” he gaped indisbelief. Each word was clipped and carefully enunciated so thatshe could understand him the first time. “We hae tae flee ’forethey coordinate a pursuit!”

“I’m not going any further until you tell mewhat happened.”

Their eyes locked, warring for position andpower. Claire couldn’t believe that she was taking such a drasticstep as to challenge him so. Her insides were a mass of nerves thatshook her until she felt like jelly but she couldn’t back down.Somehow she knew that showing any weakness was the very worst thingshe could do with someone like him.

Apparently her instincts were correct. Amoment later, his fierce frown eased and a grudging respect lit hisfierce blue eyes. He fumbled against the door for a moment beforefinding the handle and deducing its operation. The door flung open,and he was out of the car and into the front seat before Clairecould even think about taking advantage and making a quick getaway.He looked at her as if pondering her state of mind. He crossed hisarms over his broad chest, over the bloodied tartan, withoutthought and Claire could only shudder, wondering what else thissavage man might consider with such disregard.

“Well?”

His teeth were practically grinding out hisannoyance. “Our jailor came in wi’ food an’ the savage …”

“The Indian?”

“Aye, if that’s what yewould call the savage warrior, though he dinnae appear to be fromthat nation, but I willnae argue the point. The guard got too closetae his cage and the savage caught his arm and pulled it ’twixt thebars. He broke it rather ruthlessly before taking the guard’skeys,” he explained, missing Claire’s grimace at his unemotionalretelling. “I could tell the Indianwas unfamiliar wi’ them but had seen them in useoften enough these past days tae know their purpose. Cannielad.”

No argument there. “And he let you out?”

“Aye, and the animals as well,” the Scotnodded, and Claire thought of the animals she had seen thatmorning. Many looked harmless, but the bear and the wildcat wouldhave provided additional chaos in