Her bedraggled grey curls, sitting on her head at all angles, said otherwise.
Ice-cold dread chilled the nape of his neck. “Does she know the way back?”
“Oh, aye. Keith stayed too so he could help her down.” Dot patted Fraser’s arm. “Besides, she texted me when they were on their way back. She’s a big girl. She’s fine!”
Was she, though? He wouldn’t like it if Cam or Eiley walked to the bus stop in this weather, never mind down Macaskill Ridge.
He wrung his hands as he stared out of the window. It was chaos out there. Howling winds and pouring rain. So dark it might as well have been evening already.
“When did she text you that?” he asked.
Dot squinted. “Well, about… forty minutes ago?”
He shook his head. How could they just leave a tourist out in this? He knew Keith was an experienced hiker – Fraser had met him a few times while delivering firewood to his elderly mother – butstill…
Whirling on his heels, he pulled out his phone and called Harper. The sight of his thumb trembling against the screen was a shock to his system.
Why did he care this much? Should he? Did he want to?
He told himself he would have reacted the same no matter who it was. He remembered not too many years ago, an air ambulance had been called at that same ridge because a hiker had slipped in severe weather conditions. It could happen easily, and he…
He couldn’t finish that sentence. Not when Harper didn’t pick up. His call went to voicemail without even ringing.
“Shit,” he whispered. Then, to Morag’s son at the counter: “Could I grab this order when I come back?”
“Okay.” He frowned but put the sandwiches aside. Fraser thanked him then rushed out, away from the chatter of the hiking group and into the relentless torrent. He slipped into his truck quickly and tried to call Harper again.
“Pick up, Harper,” he hissed.
She didn’t.
There was no way he was going to leave her out there, not knowing if she was all right.
He set off towards Macaskill Ridge and prayed he would find her in one piece.
The rain smudged his view of the cabin, turning the walls and surrounding forest into a grim smear of drab brown and grey. Fraser drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, windshield wipers squeaking through the tense silence as he slumped back in his seat. There was no sign of her near Macaskill, nor inside.
There weren’t many places left to look. After a few more moments swimming in panic, he forced himself out of the truck and followed the trail to the café on foot. His last hope. His body bristled with dread, his strides heavy. To anyone else, he would seem ridiculous. Paranoid. Overbearing, just like Cam accused. But he considered it his job to keep Harper safe, just as it was to keep his family afloat. She was his guest. Shetrustedhim. If something had happened…
The lights of the café glittered into view, their reflections roiling in the restless loch like yellow watercolours. He marched straight inside, glad to find his sister at the counter, though she appeared alarmed by his dramatic entrance.
“Have you seen her?” His tone bordered on desperate.
Cam smirked.Smirked.
His fingers curled into his palms, car keys digging into his flesh – until she gestured over the counter to something behind him.
Slowly, he turned around – and his heart stuttered into its usual rhythm again.
Harper hadn’t even noticed him come in. She had her earphones in and typed furiously on her laptop, lost in whatever universe she’d been creating ever since their visit to the Fairy Trail.
He collapsed against the counter, relief searing his skin like scalding water spilled from a kettle. Now he just felt silly. He’d been imagining her in all sorts of states, and she was here. Warm, healthy, safe.
“Something the matter, Frase?” Cam questioned, mirth dancing in her voice. “You look a bit on edge.”
“She didn’t come back with her hiking group,” he muttered. “You could have texted me.”
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, feigning nonchalance. “To save you from having to confront your obvious infatuation? That doesn’t sound like me.”
