(otherwise known as Allison & Gabe's story)
.
All previous installments are available on my FreeRead page.
___________________________________________________________
...
Allison surveyed the valley from her vantage point on the ridge.
Below was her little rental car and the castle she'd just left. To her right, the waters of Loch Rhoswen narrowed and disappeared into a thick forest that crept up the mountainside, almost to where she stood. To her left, the loch curved down to the town where Mrs. Murchieson kept her little inn.
Six years ago, Gabe stood here and looked down on a sight that must have been nearly identical. What had he done next? Where had he gone? Had he gone down the other side of the mountain, behind her, or had he climbed back down to his bicycle and ridden off to meet his fate elsewhere.
There were no answers and no way of knowing. In reality, there was nothing else she could do--no where else to look. All she could do was return to the little inn and hope that Murray MacCoinneach discovered something that might be helpful in some miraculous way.
Lights began winking off, down in town, as shops were closed for the evening. She continued to watch as other lights were flipped on as people came home from work. Not that the lights were really needed yet. The long summer days of Scotland were far from over.
But perhaps it was habit. And perhaps she should get going if she wanted to make it back inn before Mrs. Murchieson's dinner got cold.
[Continue]