Jenny sat. Some vacation. Now she was going to find out that her happy highland holiday was no different that staying in her apartment at home. Lock the door. Carry a shrieker. Drive through the dangerous areas. Like music, violence apparently crossed all borders.

"Do you know what today is, dearie?" Jenny knit her brows. This little talk wasn't going exactly the way she'd imagined.

"Today? Sure. It's Halloween. Back home I'd be filling up a bowl with tamper proof candies and passing them out to the one hundred kids and their friends who live in my building." She relaxed as she realized what was undoubtedly going on here. "Oh! Should I have stocked up at the market on the way in? I didn't realize there were children around here. Will I get egged if I go outside without any goodies?"

Eilidh shook her head. "Aye indeed, it's All Hallows Eve. And you dinna need to worrit yerself aboot bairns playing trick on ye. There's no dwellings nearby here exceptin' me own. But still ye must not be going out of the hoose tonight. A young woman like yourself will no be safe with the spirits of the auld ones aboot."

Jenny noticed that when she was in the mood Eilidh really got into the Gaelic inspired speech patterns. Obviously the older woman enjoyed indulging in the 'spirit of the occasion' as much as any of the other villagers. Though inside she was shaking with laughter Jenny tried to assume a profoundly respectful look. She was definitely getting her money's worth from the cottage in the glen.

"I see. The spirits of the auld ones are on the make." She assumed an innocent air. "But why aren't you at risk, Mrs. McTaggert?"

Eilidh shook her head sorrowfully. Jenny thought it was one of the best scenes she'd witnessed in a long time. "A lass like you who hasna born a babe, you're just what they'll be looking for. Whatever you do, you musna put your head oot the door tonight. If you do, your soul could be trapped between here and the next day."

"Oh, I see. And who would release me from the trap? True love's kiss maybe?"

Eilidh looked at her with disgust. "You take too many liberties with that which you dinna ken. Between All Hallows Eve and sundown on All Saints Day your soul would be trapped. And, aye, perhaps it would be true love that makes the choice for ye. It takes a great strength to return from the land between the two worlds."

She whirled suddenly from her chair. "I've warned ye twice. More I canna do. I hope you'll keep your wits about ye and stay in the cot. If you do, I'll be seeing you at the festival tomorrow. If not - then, for the sake of your great-granny and mine, I'll tell you all I can to help you back.

All I know is that, whatever you do dinna cross the waters into the other world. Once ye do, ye can niver return." Her voice shifted and more she was nothing more than the hospitable landlady.

She drew back the curtain and pointed across the lake to something that looked like a great lump of stone."There are the ruins of the castle. That's where you'll need to walk tomorrow, if you wish it. As I said, you canna miss it."

Before Jenny could say another word, Mrs. McTaggart slid out the door and shut it tightly behind her. Jenny stood silently listening to the crunch of the woman's feet on the rocky path, fainter and fainter until there was only silence.

A frission of fear shot up her back. She looked at the door. There was both a lock and a bolt. She shot the pair home. Crazy or not, nothing beyond the direst emergency would have taken her out the door of the cottage

Highland Bride

Want a new twist on a favorite romance theme? Sir Ewan, a knight of Scotland, has been fighting in France for the honor of King James. He returns less skilled in Highland battle tactics than he ought to be and is promptly set upon by Madlin, new laird of the Dunfionn MacKendricks. Madlin is sure that marriage between her clan and Sir Ewan will stop the bloodshed that killed her beloved father and brother and left her in charge of things.

Madlin kidnaps Sir Ewan and forces him to marry her. But when it comes to consummating the marriage she is less certain of how things should be handled. Fortunately, for Janet Bieber's readers, Sir Ewan has some ideas of his own on that score.

Scottish Magic

Stobie Piel and Neesa Hart's went to Maclachlan Castle to dig up the true lowdown on true Scottish faerie magic. Their love of Scottish romance and fantasy shows through loud and clear. This is one I won't be sending to the library book sale because I want to read it over and over.

The curtain was still up and she drew it firmly across the window. As she did, she became aware of the appetizing odor of food and crossed the room to investigate the contents of the tray.

Jenny turned her back on the night outside the cottage, drew the bench up to the table and found that her early supper was nothing more than a memory. She was glad to see that the 'light repast' would have been a full meal in any restaurant back home.

There was a thick barley soup flavored with chunks of mutton, slivers of carrot and earthy mushrooms. The soup was accompanied by a basket of whole meal scones, fresh butter and, what looked like, homemade lemon marmalade.

She wondered if the deep black grapes were local or imported from France. No matter the source, they were delicious- small and sweet.

Jenny hadn't realized how hungry she was. Maybe it was the long airplane trip or the bracing highland air. Whatever her excuse, she ate the entire contents of the tray and licked her fingers clean before she settled back in before the fire with Fiona and Charlie.

She was surprised how comfortable a wooden chair with arms could be in front of a peat fire after a full meal and a long day. Her shawl slipped down to form a comfortable cushion and Fiona and Charlie were lost in a cloud of Highland mist. Worn out by the excitement of her day's travels, Jenny slept.