Highland Shifter (MacCoinnich Time Travel) by Catherine Bybee Read Free Book Online Page B

it’s you.”
    “Where is this book?”
    “In my backpack tied to your horse.”
    Simon blinked a few times and looked away. “That ’s good.”
    “Good? Thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment, and the book that probably has the answers to how we get you home, are stuck in your century, and we ’re here. How is that good?”
    “Kong will return to the Keep, and my family will find your pack. They ’ll know I’m safe. ’Tis a good thing. They may even be able to travel here and help me return.”
    Helen ’s jaw dropped. “They can do that?”
    “It ’s not been tried in some time, but aye, they can.”
    “Then we don ’t have to do anything. We can just wait for them to come and get you.”
    “I don ’t think so, lass.”
    “But you said—”
    “I know what I said, but consider this. You had a compelling need to find me and you did. You defied everything I know of time travel to do so. My family may be able to come and get me, as you say, but until we know exactly how you traveled and are able to prevent you from doing it again, ’tis best I stay by your side to keep you safe. There are immense powers at work here.”
    Helen unfolded from the couch and started to pace. “Keep me safe? Why would you think I ’m not safe?”
    “What do you think would have occurred had I not been in the woods when those men happened upon us?”
    She shuddered with the thought of being left alone with six men who didn’t seem as if they’d seen a woman’s bare legs before.
    “It was probably a fluke…my traveling through time.” Yet even as the words left her mouth, she knew better.
    “Do you really believe that?”
    “No. It sounded good though.”
    Simon laughed. The sound was rich and full of humor. For the first time in two days, Helen smiled.
    “Tell me where you found this book you speak of. Maybe we ’ll find answers there.”
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    “Where is she?” Philip ’s brother Malcolm barked into the institutional style black, corded phone connected to his side of the glass.
    “Scotland.”
    “Why is she there?”
    He ’d expected Malcolm’s questions, but not his anger. “Following a lead.”
    One of the prison guards glanced Philip ’s way and narrowed his eyes.
    “Calm down, Mal.”
    “I don’t understand why you’re not with her. She’s my ticket out of here.” Malcolm had been in the state penitentiary for over a year. There wasn’t an attorney alive that could get him acquitted of the crime he’d been caught committing red-handed.
    With Helen out of the country, Philip would be able to search her apartment and gather more information. He couldn ’t exactly explain that to his brother while cops surrounded them. “I’ll be joining my girlfriend ,” he said for the sake of the cops, “In a few days. Maybe we’ll be able to find more evidence that proves you’re not guilty.”
    Malcolm took the hint and lowered his voice. “You shouldn ’t let her out of your sight. She’s good for you.”
    Right. But trailing beside her all the way to Scotland would look questionable. He was her employer, after all. As much as he ’d tried to engage the woman in a relationship, she hadn’t budged. Maybe subtle had been the wrong approach. If Philip was sleeping with her, he’d know more about her inner thoughts.
    He already had a plan to explain why he ’d followed her to Scotland. First, he needed to check out her apartment.
    “I ’ll see you in a week.”
    Malcolm frowned beneath his beard. “A week is like a year in here.”
    Yeah, well, next time keep your fucking hands to yourself. Philip tried his best to push the thought into his brother’s head. Useless. Philip’s little parlor trick worked on everyone he knew except his brother and Helen.
    This was why Philip knew Helen was part of his solution to freeing his brother.
    She held the power, only she didn ’t know it.
    * * * *
    The ride to Mrs. Dawson’s home brought back many memories. The