At the Laird's bidding - completed

Chapter Eight

It was raining so hard they could hardly see an inch in front of their noses. Andrew stopped on the narrow track of a road that wasn't sealed. The wipers going double speed and still didn't keep up with the downpour. Holding the back of Ana's seat he looked behind him, not that he could see much. There was no way he could go back up backwards, probably rivulets of water. Shoving into first gear he eased forward as he leaned over the steering wheel. Ana kicked up the fan to blast the windscreen so not to fog up and turned off the radio.

"Is there anywhere we can stop?" she asked looking out her side window and up at the thick black clouds with no show of let up. "Did you bring food Drew?"

"We could always go shooting," he drawled to be thumped in the arm, hard.

"Don't!" Jock barked to jump in front onto her lap, placing paws on the car door, tongue hanging out fogging up her side window as she absently stroked his head.

"How come I get thumped and wee Jock gets loving attention."

Ana covered Jock's ears. "Because he doesn't offer to shoot something."

"So we starve," he pointed out, "or we can eat wee..."

"Andrew," she gasped horrified as Jock barked.

"Wee Ana, what do you think Jock?" He barked tail wagging to be glared at in disgust. "Probably not too hot and spicy and might get indigestion."

"You're pushing it Andrew," she warned.

"Red pepper soup," she crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "Or is that carrot soup?"

"You had to say it, didn't you Mr. Rabbit Stew."

"So we are just going to devour each other?" She leaned across as something caught her eye, squinting her eyes peering out the windscreen, pointing to their right.

"Drew what is that? It's white I think."

"Good we are nearly there."

"Where."

"My little hide away, let's hope it still leak proof."

"Oh yes do let's," she agreed to be flashed an annoyed look at her mocking tone. "Drew I don't care if there a few leaks as long as we get out of this. It's dangerous."

He reached across to caress her leg. "I know Ana, I know and this won't let up for hours. I have forgotten about this side of the highlands."

"The rain and snow?" she teased feeling relieve they had somewhere to stay out of the rain and not driving the unsealed tracks even in a four wheel drive. "How can one forget this?" Out of the dark and dreary day they finally pulled up beside a white wall cottage. Andrew leaned across to open the glove-box to rummage through to removed some dry biscuits to hand to Ana.

"Oh, my hero," she laughed.

"I aim to please and no shooting involved." Jock stuck his head in to sniff at. "Let's get inside before Jock decides to eat our food." He grabbed Jock to shove up and under his jumper to open the door to jump down as did Ana shutting her door leaving unlocked.

In the short run to the cottage they were soaked to the skin. "Just stand there until I can turn on some lights." It was nearly pitch black to do as he said and had Jock placed in her arms from under his jumper. Andrew retrieved his mobile to turn on and flicked on the light built into his phone to shine around the one bedroom cottage that was still fully furnished. He guided the light to the sofa covered with dust cover lighting the way for Ana to follow and sat down letting Jock down at her side who sat down ears pricked. "Take off your clothes Ana, you can't sit in wet clothes and I'm not sure if the fire will work," he said circling the main room with the light to rest on a door to head towards. The bedroom. "We don't want to smoke the place out." He entered the bedroom to soon return with a doona the main bedding of the bed to hand over to Ana.