Christmas In the Highlands

By Pam Binder

"When you love someone deeply enough anything is possible. Even miracles." With the last lines in her mother’s favorite movie, Brigadoon, fresh in her mind, Irene Redmond embarks on a journey. She expects to find answers to family secrets, instead she meets a man whose kisses awaken long ago dreams of a happily ever after. But if they don’t make it back to their own time by midnight on Christmas Eve, their romance will end before it has a chance of a beginning. Set in the Highlands of Scotland, a stranded tour group finds romance, danger and the promise of love everlasting. Sometimes a sprinkle of magic is all it takes...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pam Binder
• Release date: Apr 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9780990673231

Pam Binder

Pam Binder is an award winning, Amazon and New York Bestselling author. Pam loves Irish and Scottish myths and legends, smiles and Wonder Woman's belief in love. Pam is a conference speaker and teaches two year long novel writing courses, After The First Draft and Write Your Story. Pam writes historical fiction, contemporary fiction, middle grade and fantasy.

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Christmas in the Highlands

A Matchmaker Café Series

Pam Binder

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 by Pam Binder

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Christmas in the Highlands/ Pam Binder -- 1st ed.

ISBN 978-0-9906732-3-1

To my beautiful sister: Marilyn Louise Todd.

Together we keep the memory of our mother’s love and generous spirit alive.

Chapter One

Snow danced around the black taxicab like secrets begging to be told as Irene Redmond re-read the last entry in her mother’s diary. It made no sense. Who was Connor?

We’re here, lass, the driver said. Stirling Castle.

Stalling for time, Irene remained in the cab and slipped the diary into her tote bag. She glanced through the window at the swirling snowflakes. Their confusion mirrored her emotions, or maybe she was jetlagged.

Her mother’s diary, addressed to her two daughters, had arrived after her death. It had hinted at a secret past, a secret love, with the declaration that a Scottish castle, this one outside in the snowstorm to be exact, held the answers. Her mother would have known that Irene would never be able to leave a puzzle unsolved.

The ten hour plane trip from Seattle to London hadn’t been so bad. It was navigating through the Christmas holiday rush at the train station when she was sleep-deprived that had proven the biggest challenge. If she’d been smart, she’d have taken a week off instead of trying to do this all in four days, but one of her clients had a court date scheduled...

Lass?

Irene blinked and refocused on handing the taxi driver his fee. Are you sure Stirling Castle is open today?

He smoothed down a salt and pepper beard and smiled so wide his eyes twinkled, reminding Irene of jolly old St. Nick. Like heather in the Highlands, he said, and mist over the moors, Stirling Castle is always open on Christmas Eve. But if you’ve had second thoughts...

His question hung in the air as her heart pounded against her chest. She’d changed her mind about this trip at least a hundred times. Her partners at the law firm had told her she shouldn’t be away from her clients over the holidays and had even brought in her cheating ex fiancé to help make their case. Their strategy backfired. It was time she unraveled her mother’s secrets.

Now or never, she said under her breath.

Irene gathered her belongings and opened the car door. The faint sound of church bells drifted toward her from the town below and swirled together with icy snowflakes. A blast of winter air pushed against her as she stepped outside, spoiling the moment. She shivered and pulled the hood of her coat over her head. It’s freezing.

The taxicab driver’s laughter shook his whole body. When you’re with the right person, you won’t notice the cold. I’ll be here to pick you up after the matchmaker tour.

She shut the door before what he’d said registered. Wait, she called out. You must be mistaken. I’m here for the history tour. Is that the same thing?

Laughter clung to the air as he pulled away from the curb and disappeared down the road.

Chapter Two

Stirling Castle in Scotland was a blend of the ancient world and the new. White lights outlined the windows and castle entrance, while snow only partially covered the war-pocked grey walls.

The snow picked up speed.

It swirled around Irene as though the storm had singled her out for personal torment while she waited in line to buy her ticket for the noon tour.

Three men who looked to be in their mid-thirties were ahead of her. They wore ill-fitting brown tunics belted over leggings as though they’d planned to attend a Medieval or Renaissance faire. It was obvious by their weaving and slurred speech that they’d started celebrating Christmas Eve a little early.

Two of the men flirted with the young woman inside the ticket booth while the shortest of the trio chose to include Irene, pairing a wink and a leer together with comical results. When his advances were ignored he turned back to the booth. He addressed the young woman as Fiona and tried to convince her to sell them tickets.

Even from a short distance away, Irene could tell they were losing their argument. Fiona’s hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she wore white, fake bunny fur earmuffs and black framed glasses. But despite her sweet appearance, she looked like she had a spine made of steel.

Fiona peered over the rims of her glasses at the three men and mouthed the words, Go. Away.

They seemed startled, but didn’t argue as they turned and headed toward the castle.

When Irene reached the ticket counter, she rolled her eyes toward the men and received a mirrored response and a nod from Fiona. They’re idiots, Irene said.

Aye, and soon to get what they deserve, if I was to put a wager on it. She paused. If you don’t mind me saying, you have the look of Ireland about you, all dark hair and green eyes.

Irene accepted the familiar compliment. It felt good to remember happier times. I was born on St. Patrick’s Day and until first grade, I thought my name was Shamrock.

Fiona’s laugh was as warm as her expression. Ah, a family with a sense of humor, that’s a blessing. There was a slight hesitation. Will that be one ticket?

The question bothered Irene less and less these days. Perhaps it was because she was taking seriously her mother’s advice. She had said you had to be happy being alone, before you could be happy in the company of another person.

Irene nodded and pushed the exact amount of money through the window slit.

Our tours are running a little late, Fiona said as she handed Irene a ticket. If you’re cold, you can wait inside the castle. The Matchmaker Café serves yummy hot cocoa.

Irene shook her head slowly. They won’t try to do any...you know... She cleared her throat. I’m only in Scotland until tomorrow evening. Besides I don’t have time for a relationship. She clamped her mouth shut and folded the ticket, trying to figure out why she was sharing so much with a perfect stranger. That was not like her.

Fiona’s laughter drifted out from the booth. It’s good you’re in Scotland, then. Time is a curious thing here. But be off before you catch a cold. I wouldn’t want you missing our tour. She leaned forward and her features warmed as though she were sitting close to a cheery fire. And remember, it’s just hot cocoa. What could possible happen?

A gust of wind shoved Irene’s hood off her head. She pulled it back in place. I didn’t see the café when I arrived. Where did you say it’s located?