The Charm Stone Read Online Free Page B

see.” He scratched his head.
    “Great, you're the guardian of the thing and even you don't know how it works.”
    “It's just that since I've come to be guardian of it, it's always done what it's supposed to do.”
    “Whatever, I don't care. I don't want it. So just vote me off the island or whatever you have to do to make this end.”
    Bagan's frown deepened. “It's no so simple as taking some kind of vote. Besides, I'm certain you'll love Glenmuir.”
    She couldn't think, she couldn't seem to get herbreath, much less put her thoughts in order. “Glen-muir?”
    “Aye and it's a bonny place. Though I reckon it's changed some since I last had the pleasure of looking upon it.” He sighed in remembered pleasure.
    She was so far down the rabbit hole now she just gave in to it. She'd wake up from this coma eventually and have a good laugh over the whole thing. “This laird you want me to marry, I suppose he lives on this island?”
    “Aye. The MacNeil has always resided there, in the clan stronghold, Winterhaven Castle.”
    “A castle.” Right. She laughed soundlessly. Of course there was a castle. No good coma-induced fairy tale with a midget and a Scots laird would be complete without a castle.
    “Winterhaven has held the MacNeils in good stead since Argus the Black had it built in 1432. Though it was called Black's Tower then. The tenth chief renamed it when he built on to it.” He tapped his chin. “I think it was the tenth laird. The stone, and my guardianship, came to the clan in the seventeenth century, so I might be off a laird or two.”
    “Argus,” she echoed. “Black's Tower. Fourteen-thirty-two.” She might have whimpered a little.
    Bagan patted her shoulder a bit awkwardly and peered into her face. “I see all this comes as a shock to ye, but there's no backing off. It's begun.”
    “You keep saying that,” she said, and with enough vehemence that Bagan stumbled back a step or two. “What if I don't want to go along? In fact, I'll just tell you now, I have no plans of going with you to Scotland. It's preposterous.” Her head was pounding so hard it made her eyes swim. She let her chin drop and covered her face with her hands, gently pressing her fingers over the wound on her forehead. “I want towake up now, okay?” she said in a small voice. “I promise never to surf alone again.”
    But it wasn't the surfing gods that answered her.
    “Och, there, there, lassie.”
    She felt Bagan's pudgy hand smooth her hair. His hand was very real, as was he, as was… all of this. She wanted to cry, but that would make her head hurt worse and wouldn't solve anything. But what would? She had no idea how to make this nightmare come to an end.
    “Things seem all a jumble to ye now, but the MacNeil Stone has always brought happiness and good fortune to those who've heeded its blessings.”
    “Like it did the Lady Elsinor? What if a man had found the stone, huh? Would he have to marry this laird? What if I were already married?”
    Bagan only smiled, his eyes crinkling in that damned wise way he had. “But a lad didn't find it, you did. And yer not married, are ye now?”
    She didn't bother answering. “I should have stayed home this morning.”
    “It has been the experience of my many years that everything happens as it does for a reason. One event sets off another, and another, until Destiny fulfills itself.”
    “What about free will, huh?”
    “No one made you put that necklace on, did they now?”
    She felt as if her skull would crack in two. This was all simply too much to consider. “So you're saying that no matter what I choose, I can't control how things turn out?”
    “Hey, Josiecat! You up there?”
    A rush of tears sprang to her eyes at the sound of her dad's voice. She scrambled to her feet, pausing when the room teetered a bit. “You don't move,” she commanded Bagan, gingerly holding her fore-head. “That's my father. He'll deal with this. And you.” She normally prided herself on