A Christmas Spirit by Cindy Miles Page A

inclined his head to her chest, where at some point during the night, her family heirloom had escaped her nightshirt and fallen out. “You’re from the Gorloch Clan MacDonalds, Paige. Silver sword, winged creature in the center, with an amber stone. The verra same. The verra ones who murdered me !” he yelled. He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes.
    “I, I didn’t—” she began.
    “It doesna matter,” he said quietly. He looked up. “You must leave. Now.” He pushed up from the sill and walked past her, his stare hard and full of disgust. “Pack your belongings, call a taxi, and go.”
    With that, he disappeared through the wall.
    Paige’s breath caught in her throat, and she moved to the window and stared out into the early morning. Tears burned her eyes, and she tried to breathe normally, but it just wouldn’t happen.
    Resting her forehead gently against the cold glass, her thoughts consumed her. She’d not been responsible for his death. Never, ever would she have allowed it, had she been alive back then. She’d have done anything to save him.
    She loved him.
    Tears spilled over her lids and onto her hand. Slowly, she wiped them with her fingers, and wiped her eyes.
    She hadn’t known Gabriel Munro for long, but in two things, she was positive: one, she loved him. And two, once he made his mind up, there was no changing it. She’d known how strongly he’d felt from the very beginning, about those MacDonalds. She’d known she was from that same clan. Her granny had told her tales. She’d known .
    And yet she’d kept it from him, had been too scared to tell him what she knew. The truth.
    Paige wiped her eyes again, for the tears now seemed to be a constant leak.
    Gabriel was right. She had deceived him. And she’d now pay a severe price.
    With a deep breath, she eased herself down from the west tower, changed, packed her few belongings, and called a taxi.
    As the car pulled away, she turned in her seat to see Gorloch castle for the last time.
    Just before the castle disappeared from view, she saw the figure of a mighty Highlander standing on the battlements.
    It looked as though she was destined to spend yet another Christmas alone after all.
    Paige silently cried until she reached Inverness.

Chapter Twelve
    Paige tugged the collar of her coat up, shoved her hands deep into the pockets, and trudged up the busy Inverness sidewalk. Last-m inute Christmas Eve shoppers had already started the day, scrambling around from shop to shop, looking for that just-right present for their loved ones.
    Quickly, she blinked and took a deep breath. She’d told herself not to cry anymore. She promised this to herself.
    She was also fast believing that she had lied to herself.
    After the taxi had dropped her off at Allister’s bed-a nd-breakfast, where the young couple, Ally—short for Allister, a high-energy, handsome, ginger-h aired Highlander—and his sweet wife, had welcomed her and settled her in, she’d decided to take a long walk along the main shopping street in Inverness. She had nothing to purchase, but she couldn’t stand the idea of sitting alone with nothing but her thoughts.
    Thoughts that continuously returned to a twelfth-century Highland warrior.
    She’d been walking now for nearly three hours. First, along the banks of the River Ness. Inver, as she’d learned from Ally, meant mouth of river in Gaelic. Hence, Inver-N ess. The snow had stopped falling, and the scenery was breathtaking. The cold felt brisk against her cheeks, and as always, a heady, sweet scent clung to the air.
    It almost seemed perfect.
    But without Gabriel, nothing seemed right.
    An inviting used-book store boasting coffee and tea came into view, and Paige decided to grab a cup and sit for a while, perhaps buy a book to read. She pushed the door and a small bell tinkled, reminding her of Zuzu Bailey in the movie she’d just watched with her ghost of a warrior.
    Every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings . .