My Heart's in the Highlands by Angeline Fortin (best english novels for beginners .TXT) 📗

see her father runningalong the ramparts toward them with both Cooper and Simms on hisheels. “Get away from her, evil monster!”

Kennedy turned and raised the pistol again,but this time the fall of the hammer was met with nothing more thana click. He cocked and fired again with the same result before hewas tackled to the ground.

Just a few seconds more and she might havebeen saved. Hero tried to hold on, but without Ian’s support andwith his weight pressing against her, she stood no chance. Sheclawed at the stone wall and then the air.

Her father’s anguished face faded away. Therush of air pulled at her hair and skirts and the cacophony ofcrashing waves filled her ears. The last thing Hero saw was Ian’sblank eyes as they fell together. She reached out for him …

Then there was only darkness.

There is nowhere you can bethat isn’t where you’re meant to be …

― John Lennon

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Again! Hit her again!”

Arching against the electricity that wasbeing forced through her body, Mikah inhaled deeply, the airwheezing through her constricted throat. She opened her eyes inshock, waiting for the impact of her body against the rocks below.It did not come, though pain consumed every part of her. Aroundher, red lights were flashing, just as they had been in her dream.People were everywhere, their faces morphing under the undulatinglight. One hovered over her, eyes filled with concern, and Mikah’seyes closed once more in confusion. “Ian?”

“She’s back, she’s back!”

The voices shouted over one another, andMikah opened her eyes again just as a mask was placed over hermouth. Mikah inhaled the oxygen, the purified air sending her headspinning more than the bewilderment already was. “What happened?”she mumbled into the mask.

“Try to relax, Miss Bauer,” one man, aparamedic by the look of him, said. “You were hit by a car, do youremember?”

Car? Mikah thought, shaking her head.No, she had fallen, fallen from the balcony … and shot. She’d beenshot! Frantically, Mikah lifted a hand to her arm, only to feelnothing.

“Just relax, Miss Bauer,” the paramedicinsisted. “You’re going to be fine.”

Fine? Mikah looked around at the faceshovering around her, frantic with confusion. Where was she? Wherewas Ian? Who were all these people? Then out of the crowd ofbystanders, Mikah recognized a face. Myles Gordon, the curator ofGoMA, was there, as well as the intern from the front desk. Wherewas Ian? Mikah struggled to pull the mask from her face. She neededto ask. She needed to find out what had happened. She needed tofind Ian.

“Where is he?” she asked, panic edging herslurred words.

“The man who hit you is being taken intocustody,” Myles said, kneeling by her side. “There were witnessesaplenty. Drunk driver.”

“No, where is Ian?” Mikah insisted,frantically denying the truth that was already sinking its clawsinto her. “He was just here.”

Myles frowned and traded quizzical glanceswith the paramedics. “I’m sorry, Mikah. I don’t know who you aretalking about.”

Mikah closed her eyes, weak with defeat.Searching her mind, she remembered coming out of the museum. Notminutes ago but days ago. Weeks ago. The car that had transformedinto a carriage just as it was about to hit her. There was thestruggle, the worry, the certainty that she was going insane. Butthen there had been Ian and her surrender to the madness.Impossible love. A fantastical contentment.

What was it now? Mikah felt disappointmentcrashing down on her. A dream? Had it really all been just adream?

“No,” she moaned in denial. “Please God,no.”

When Mikah woke again she was in thehospital. There was white and powder blue all around her, an IV inher arm, and an older, weary-looking man sitting by her side. Hewas in his fifties, a little gray but otherwise tall and fit. Herhand was enfolded in his. The dry warmth was instantlycomforting.

“Papa …” Mikah swallowed against the scratchydryness in her throat, but the words were loud enough to draw hisattention.

He stood and leaned over her, brushing atender hand against her forehead. “Hello, princess.” Caring filledSean Bauer’s eyes as he bent over and brushed a kiss on herforehead. “You gave us quite a scare.”

“Papa,” she said again, then shook her headin confusion.

“Papa?” he repeated with mock amusement. “Ithink you’ve been here too long if you’re talking like that andhave already picked up an accent, Mikes.”

She had an accent? The right word came to herthen and she squeezed his hand. “Daddy.”

“There you go,” he said with a smile, but itimmediately changed to a frown when she tried to move. “No, don’ttry to move. Just lay still.”

“What happened?” Part of her knew but theother part was still lost in bewilderment. Or was it denial?

“You were hit by a drunk driver.”

“I—I walked in front of him,” she said,recalling the moment. “I forgot the cars were on the other side ofthe road.”

Her father shook his head. “Either way, hewas still drunk and he’ll pay the price for it. We’re just luckythat you’re going to be all right. The doctor told me that theythought they had lost you there for a minute.”

“Lost me?”

“They said your heart stopped beating forover a minute.” His voice shook with emotion as he rubbed her handbetween his.

“I died.” She spoke the words dully, but thetruth lingered inside of her. She had died, and a part ofher remained so. In her mind, Mikah saw it all again. The fight.The gunshots.

“No, no,” Bauer denied, but she could hearthe truth and lingering fear in his voice. “We were all scared todeath when they finally got ahold of us. The museum here had calledthe museum in Milwaukee and they contacted us. Mom and the boyswanted to come too, but the doctors said too many people wouldn’tbe a good idea.”

“I’m glad you’re here.” And she was. Theproblem was that she was incredibly unhappy to be there. Butwhat other fate had awaited her? A sudden stop against raggedrocks. Mikah shook her head, trying to remember that it had beenonly a dream.

Her father rambled on about head injuries,but Mikah was torn by rejection of