Read Online The Selkie by Melanie Jackson - Free Book Online Page B

was very practical. “Keir tells me that the circus has come tae town, and I need tae see something that they have wi’ them.”
    Hexy found his words bizarre, but no more so than anything else she had experienced that day.
    Finally finding some inner strength and asoupçon of modesty, Hexy turned her back while Rory dressed. As she wrung out her waterlogged skirts, it unhappily occurred to her that her outlandish actions—like watching a strange man bathing in the nude—required some explanation.
    “The reason I came to find you,” she began, standing carefully on her twisted ankle, “is because there was a message from Mr. Campbell at the post office. Jillian has discovered the mixup with the coats and is returning yours right away. It should be here in a day or two.”
    “Aye?” Rory didn’t sound as happy as she had expected him to be, and she risked a quick peek at his shadowed profile.
    “I thought you’d be pleased,” she said. “You seemed so worried earlier.”
    “That I am, lass—more pleased than ye’ll ever ken.” Rory belted his plaid in place and pulled on his shoes without bothering to brush the sand from his soles. “But things hae happened in the last day, and there’s something else we maun dae right now. Something just as important tae me as finding my skin, and more urgent tae the People.”
    “Yes?” she asked, meeting his eyes squarely as he came to her, holding out his long-fingered hand. It seemed only natural that she should take it.
    “I’ll tell ye about it after we’ve climbed thetrail.” Rory jerked his head to the left. “Up wi’ ye, now.”
    “The trail?” Hexy asked, confused. “But the path is that way.”
    She gestured in the opposite direction.
    “I ken a shorter way through these caves. We maun hurry. Haste ye now, lass. Just stay behind me and dae not let go of my belt for even an instant.”
    “But, Rory, it’s dark in there—and the tide is turning—” she protested, for some reason greatly fearing the sea cave he indicated. Perhaps she had dreamed of one after her brother died. After his death she had had many bad dreams and many new fears about the ocean.
    “I’m sorry, lass.” Rory touched a finger to his lips and then touched her again behind her left ear, pressing on the spot he had kissed earlier. This time her legs did not buckle, but she had another moment of weakening vertigo that sapped her will to argue. Fighting dizziness, she shifted more weight onto her left foot and winced.
    “What ails ye, lass?” he asked, frowning. “Are ye injured?”
    “I twisted my ankle on a rock,” she answered, waving at the stony ridge as it disappeared into the sea.
    “Let me hae a look at ye.” Rory knelt downand shoved her clinging skirts aside, then rolled down her stocking.
    Hexy watched, slightly shocked, as he reached inside his already drying shirt and ran his palm down his chest; then, withdrawing it, he laid his warm hand over her right ankle and rubbed gently, as though spreading an unguent.
    Immediately, inexplicably, the small pain there faded. Warmth traveled up her body, flushing her skin.
    “How did you do that?” she asked. “What…?”
    Rory quickly pulled off her slipper and brushed the sand away from her chilled toes. He did the same for her other foot. His touch was matter-of-fact through the stockings, but it still made her feel weak and trembly, and far too warm. And it got worse as he smoothed the stocking back up her leg.
    “That shall dae for now.” Rory stood up. Looking into her eyes, he said with the air of a man taking a solemn oath, “Stay close, Hexy lass, and hae no fear of the cave. I swear by all I hold dear that darkness or not, tide or not, I’ll never let anything happen tae ye.”
    Quite without reason, the unusually docile and feverish Hexy believed him. “Wither thou goest,” she answered, reaching out for Rory’s hand.

Chapter Four
    The last thing Hexy expected to see at the head of the beach trail