Chasing Gold by Alexa Bourne

Author:Alexa Bourne [Bourne, Alexa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: A Beyond Fairytales Adaptation of The Brothers Grimm's: The Golden Goose
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Published: 2015-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Grace swiped her forehead with her arm. A thousand degrees in a northeastern section of Scotland. Who would have ever thought it? The country’s average temperature usually hovered in the low sixties at the beginning of September.

She glanced at her watch. For three hours, they’d taken turns being in the lead. This time she guided Simon through the dense forest. When they’d arrived at the head of their trail, she’d half expected Nigel to offer to be their Sherpa. Luckily, he’d decided to remain in the tiny tea shop nearby where they’d parked the car.

Simon tugged on her shirt. “Stop. We need a break.”

“I’m okay.”

“Then I need a break.”

When she swung around, she found him already leaning against a tree trunk. “You look as bad as I feel.” She grabbed her water bottle from her backpack.

“Thanks. Good to know I’m so appealing.” While he drank from his own bottle, water rolled down his neck. The droplets disappeared beneath his shirt, no doubt rolling over muscular abs. The man remained an enigma.

She pressed her fingertips into the corners of her eyes. Stay focused.

“You okay?” His voice held a hint of worry.

“Yeah, just tired.” After taking another drink, she dropped her bottle into her backpack. The morning had disappeared with their drive. The afternoon was slipping away fast, too. She studied her map for the thousandth time then turned to her left. “Based on our notes, the possible location shouldn’t be much farther.”

He came to stand behind her, glancing over her shoulder at the map. He then checked his watch and raised his gaze to the sky. “I’m wondering if we should continue tomorrow.”

“What? We’ve spent hours hiking. We’re already out here. Plus it won’t be dark until close to midnight.”

“Yeah, but we’re not familiar with the area.”

She shoved another few branches out of her way. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Not when you’re like this.”

His words cut into her like a claymore. She whipped around. “When I’m like what?”

“Reckless.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “What’s the matter? Are you scared of the dark?” Her stomach knotted the moment the insult left her mouth. But wasn’t she right in this argument?

He narrowed his gaze and clenched a tree limb in his fist. “All the time I’ve known you, you’ve been diligent, professional. You’ve made educated decisions, and you haven’t put either of us in danger—except for when those two MacPhersons shot at us. But no one could’ve guessed that would happen. This time, you’re letting your heart override your head.”

“We’re so close.” After unfolding the map, she shoved it toward his face. “All the signs are here. The castle ruins to the right, the set of hills to the left, the trail covered with trees. Look straight ahead. Can’t you see it?”

“Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?”

She tapped her foot for a few seconds, trying to plan the perfect comeback. “Okay, what if we keep going for a while longer? If we don’t find anything, we can cross this place off our list of possible sites.

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