A Highlander in a Pickup by Laura Trentham

Author:Laura Trentham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Chapter Eleven

With the antibiotics kicking bacteria butt in her body, Anna spent the next two days playing catch-up. She had so many balls in the air, she could have joined the circus. Actually, some days she felt like she was in a circus. Or in a farce. Or maybe in a tragedy. She wasn’t sure how the story would end.

The festival was one piece. Then there was her bid for mayor, the worrisome situation with Gabby hanging like a dark cloud over her, and last but far from least, Iain. He was her biggest worry of all, because she felt in danger from him in a multitude of ways.

Iain had shattered the label of “domineering male” she’d assigned him early on. He was in turns intimidating, gruff, steady, helpful, and sweet. His complicated nature was fascinating to her. Were all men more complicated than Anna had given them credit for?

She pondered the theory a few minutes, but dismissed it. Had to. Because if she went all the way back in her history and applied the theory to patient zero, her father, then assumptions she’d built her life on would rot and collapse. Her father was a “selfish deserter.” It was simple. Maybe she just hadn’t found the appropriate label she could slap on Iain.

Anna opened the studio and went about getting ready for the morning’s classes. The toddler class was its usual brand of chaos and hilarity. After the little gremlins had all been handed off to their parents and caregivers, she changed the music and performed more serious stretches. Her high school girls were next, and as she wouldn’t be competing for first place in the dancing, she wanted one of her girls to take the ribbon.

Keisha was the first through the door. She excelled at all forms of dancing, but had focused on Celtic dancing the past six months. The raw, modern energy she brought to the traditional dances was infectious. Anna wasn’t sure how the judges would react, but the crowd would eat it up.

“Hey, Keisha. Listen, I called Gabby, but she wasn’t exactly Miss Sunshine. Maybe she really is sick.” Anna noted the girl’s unusual seriousness.

Keisha gave a snort. “You really think that?”

“No, but my only other option is to talk to her dad. And he’s scary. You know if he could, he’d ban dancing across the county à la Footloose.”

Keisha barked a laugh. “You and me would lead the dance revolution, wouldn’t we?”

Anna held up her hand for a high five. “Hell yes, we would.”

Keisha slapped her hand and backed away as other girls streamed through the door and began stretching. “You better watch the potty mouth when you go talk to her dad, though, for reals.”

Anna laughed and clapped her hands to get the class’s attention. The hour and a half sped by with the impending performance at the festival looming. When practice was over, Anna fit the remaining costumes on the girls, then retreated to her postage-stamp-sized office as the chatter faded through the doors.

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