could .
An hour later, Karen stopped trying to hold back the laughter. Angus and the counter help were engaging in a joking conversation having to do with what he hadn't sampled yet. At last, he turned to Karen and rubbed his stomach.
"Ach, lass. I believe I am catching this sweet tooth malady.
'Tis a wonderful sickness."
"I hope you haven't overdone it," she replied.
"There is no such thing. A man canna' overdo bliss."
63
Stone Heart
by Candace Sams
Karen's shoulders shook in mirth. "I've created a monster.
You're a chocoholic !"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not really. There are some people who think that life without chocolate isn't worth living."
"Wise they are," he agreed, slapped his hand on the table then downed a tall glass of ice-cold soda.
Karen picked up a napkin, leaned over to wipe a small bit of chocolate from the corner of his mouth, and Angus grabbed her forearm. He placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist and smiled wickedly. She felt herself blush deeply and slowly pulled her hand away.
"There are other things just as tempting to a man." He winked.
Karen pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "If you think flattery will get you more chocolate ... well, that's where you're probably right." She broke into a grin. "For now, we'd better get back on the road."
He nodded, took her hand and led the way out of the shop.
As they walked down the street, Angus saw no signs of the abject poverty that had ravaged the countryside in his time.
People seemed well-clothed and happy. Houses were constructed to withstand the elements and shops seemed to thrive. Some of the passersby even smiled. He acknowledged their greetings and realized that it made a difference to act as though he was friendly. It was something which garnered kind responses in return. And it felt wonderful just to have a stranger tip a hat, or offer a " good day, " for no other reason than that he had grinned at them. Life must have changed a 64
Stone Heart
by Candace Sams
great deal. As he looked up into the sky, he couldn't help laughing out loud. He had a new life full of possibilities.
"Well, you look very pleased with the world," Karen remarked as she watched his face light up.
"I am. Verra' pleased indeed."
When they reached the car, Karen opened the driver's door, but Angus paused. She watched as he leaned across the hood and sent her a boyish smirk that almost knocked her boots off.
"I would learn to drive this beastie," he said, and swiped his hand over the hood.
"You've got to be kidding."
"Oh, not here in the village," he admitted looking around at the passing folk, "but out on some lane where I would do no harm."
Karen thought for a moment. Had they just met? Or had she known this man for a lifetime? It seemed so ridiculous to have ever feared him. So far, he hadn't shown a mean or malicious bone in that huge, gorgeous body. She sighed, then shrugged. "Ohhh ... what the hell! Let's go for it."
"That's the spirit, lass." Angus broke into what felt like a face-splitting grin and got in the passenger side.
As soon as they were outside the boundaries of the village, Karen turned off the ignition, pulled the car over and got out.
Angus got out, too, and walked to the driver's side. Karen chuckled as she watched him rub his hands together in expectation.
65
Stone Heart
by Candace Sams
"All right. This is the gas." She pointed to the appropriate pedal. "This makes the car go forward. The other one is the brake. That makes it stop."
"And the wheel steers the thing, aye," Angus eyed the interior with a determination long denied him. "I will master this. After all, I tamed many a wild horse in my time. This can be no worse."
"I should think it will be a lot easier. But go slow. It takes a while not to overcompensate with the steering wheel."
Karen remembered the first time her aunt had taken her driving, and she had almost put the car in a ditch. Thankfully, this road was bordered by open pasture on either side.
Angus
An hour later, Karen stopped trying to hold back the laughter. Angus and the counter help were engaging in a joking conversation having to do with what he hadn't sampled yet. At last, he turned to Karen and rubbed his stomach.
"Ach, lass. I believe I am catching this sweet tooth malady.
'Tis a wonderful sickness."
"I hope you haven't overdone it," she replied.
"There is no such thing. A man canna' overdo bliss."
63
Stone Heart
by Candace Sams
Karen's shoulders shook in mirth. "I've created a monster.
You're a chocoholic !"
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not really. There are some people who think that life without chocolate isn't worth living."
"Wise they are," he agreed, slapped his hand on the table then downed a tall glass of ice-cold soda.
Karen picked up a napkin, leaned over to wipe a small bit of chocolate from the corner of his mouth, and Angus grabbed her forearm. He placed a kiss on the inside of her wrist and smiled wickedly. She felt herself blush deeply and slowly pulled her hand away.
"There are other things just as tempting to a man." He winked.
Karen pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "If you think flattery will get you more chocolate ... well, that's where you're probably right." She broke into a grin. "For now, we'd better get back on the road."
He nodded, took her hand and led the way out of the shop.
As they walked down the street, Angus saw no signs of the abject poverty that had ravaged the countryside in his time.
People seemed well-clothed and happy. Houses were constructed to withstand the elements and shops seemed to thrive. Some of the passersby even smiled. He acknowledged their greetings and realized that it made a difference to act as though he was friendly. It was something which garnered kind responses in return. And it felt wonderful just to have a stranger tip a hat, or offer a " good day, " for no other reason than that he had grinned at them. Life must have changed a 64
Stone Heart
by Candace Sams
great deal. As he looked up into the sky, he couldn't help laughing out loud. He had a new life full of possibilities.
"Well, you look very pleased with the world," Karen remarked as she watched his face light up.
"I am. Verra' pleased indeed."
When they reached the car, Karen opened the driver's door, but Angus paused. She watched as he leaned across the hood and sent her a boyish smirk that almost knocked her boots off.
"I would learn to drive this beastie," he said, and swiped his hand over the hood.
"You've got to be kidding."
"Oh, not here in the village," he admitted looking around at the passing folk, "but out on some lane where I would do no harm."
Karen thought for a moment. Had they just met? Or had she known this man for a lifetime? It seemed so ridiculous to have ever feared him. So far, he hadn't shown a mean or malicious bone in that huge, gorgeous body. She sighed, then shrugged. "Ohhh ... what the hell! Let's go for it."
"That's the spirit, lass." Angus broke into what felt like a face-splitting grin and got in the passenger side.
As soon as they were outside the boundaries of the village, Karen turned off the ignition, pulled the car over and got out.
Angus got out, too, and walked to the driver's side. Karen chuckled as she watched him rub his hands together in expectation.
65
Stone Heart
by Candace Sams
"All right. This is the gas." She pointed to the appropriate pedal. "This makes the car go forward. The other one is the brake. That makes it stop."
"And the wheel steers the thing, aye," Angus eyed the interior with a determination long denied him. "I will master this. After all, I tamed many a wild horse in my time. This can be no worse."
"I should think it will be a lot easier. But go slow. It takes a while not to overcompensate with the steering wheel."
Karen remembered the first time her aunt had taken her driving, and she had almost put the car in a ditch. Thankfully, this road was bordered by open pasture on either side.
Angus
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