Tuesday Tales: From the Word STRONG

Welcome to December and this week’s Tuesday Tales. The year’s moved on at an incredible speed. Now, we’re only 20 days away from Christmas. Hard to believe, isn’t it? This week, our word prompt is STRONG. I’m continuing with Listen to the Stones.

Marina chuckled humorlessly. “If I’d had some way of going back the way I’d come, I would’ve.”

Up close like he now was, she could take in his extraordinary appearance. Not only was he about six-foot-eight, as tall as Scottie Barnes from the Raptors in the NBA, he was absolutely gorgeous. His ginger hair dusted the tops of his broad shoulders, and his eyes were the most incredible shade of forest green. His neatly trimmed beard and mustache added to his masculinity. He could easily have been one of the extras used in any Viking movie or Scottish historical film. There was something magnetic about the man that drew her to him.

He wore a black wool coat with a red plaid scarf filling the opening at his neck. Normally, the sight of a man like this wouldn’t affect her, but this time she couldn’t help but wonder what he would look like in a kilt and bare-chested.

Her cheeks burned.

What the hell’s wrong with me? This guy could easily break me in half if he chose to do so.

Memories of the darker-haired man from the airport in London and then again in Inverness resurfaced. Both of these guys were definitely giants among men, but where the steel-gray-eyed one terrified her, this one attracted her. He didn’t make her feel safe like the man from her dreams, but there was something about him…

He shook his head. “I’m sure he meant no offense, my lady, but it might be that the time has come for him to retire. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m James MacNicols, Ewen MacDonald’s law clerk, but most refer to me as Wee James. Fiona’s most upset about the mix-up with the date of your arrival, as will be Ewen.”

Marina nodded. “It’s okay now that you’re here.”

In that case,” he smiled, displaying his teeth, especially the canines which seemed sharper than usual. “If you’re ready to leave this place, I’ll take you there now. Are these your only bags?

She swallowed. A wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Damn it, Marina. Get a hold of yourself.

She nodded, no longer as comfortable as she’d been. “Yes. I’m afraid they’re quite heavy.”

He picked up all four cases at once, further proof of just how strong he was, holding the large bags by the handles and shoving the smaller ones under his arms.

That’s it. Come back next week for more. Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.