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a sigh.
    Making up her mind, she waved at Rory. “I’m staying.”
    When she reached him, he pulled her aside. “Is everything settled?”
    She shrugged. “Until I talk to him, I’m going to stay here.”
    “Is your work completed?”
    Fiona held back her temper. “Not really.”
    He placed his hands on his hips. “Explain.”
    She clenched her jaw. There was no way she was going to blurt out what an ass Professor Thompson was. Nope, not going to happen .
    “I thought I had more time. My notes weren’t complete. Besides, I don’t understand how he received them.” There, at least it was a partial truth .
    “Is there anything I can do to help?”
    Oh good grief ! She was already on the bad side of the professor. There was always something he would nag her about. She certainly didn’t need Rory poking around and making things worse.
    “Thanks, but let me handle it.” She grabbed her backpack and stood waiting.
    He tilted his head in thought for a moment. “Your call. But—” He pointed a finger at her before continuing. “—you will let me know if he causes you any problems, right?”
    Like hell I will . “Sure. Now can we get started?”
    He gave her a curt nod and descended the hill, leading her to a small area near a grove of oaks. A section marked out with a table was set up a few feet away. Recent finds of broken pottery and tools rested on various racks. Rory picked up tools and gloves, handing them to her. “This is where we will work for the week. Again, if you have any questions, just ask. Have you helped on any digs before?”
    “No. This will be my first.”
    He chuckled. “A virgin, then.” He moved past her, not noticing the stunned look on her face.
    A virgin in so many ways , she thought.
    ****
    Hours passed and Fiona absently brushed a lone curl from her face. The summer air was warm, and perspiration trickled down her back. Thank goodness she was working under partial shade, or she would have fried under the sun. She waved casually at a bee, keeping her focus on the solemn task of brushing away dirt and sifting through the layers. Some might consider it tedious, but for her it was bliss.
    “Here, take ten and drink some water.” Rory handed her a bottle, stepping around her and peering into the dirt.
    “I’m fine,” she mumbled.
    He dropped down beside her. “If you don’t move every few hours, you’ll not be able to come back tomorrow. Your back won’t survive.”
    Shoulders slumping, she tried to stand. Instantly, Fiona understood his meaning. Her back ached after just a few hours. Rubbing at the small of her back, she then raised her arms and stretched.
    “It would be best to set a timer on your watch for every few hours.” He moved away from her, inspecting another area.
    Taking a long swig of the water, she shook her head. “Don’t have one.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Then use your cell phone.”
    Digging out her cell, she programmed an alarm to go off every few hours. “Satisfied?”
    Turning, she started to head inside the grove, when he stopped her. “Stay on this side of the dig, Fiona. Those areas have yet to be marked. We’re waiting for a team and permission to proceed.”
    She gazed around him. “Really? Permission from whom?”
    “A local group.”
    “Is it special?”
    “Sacred.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “How so?”
    “The group believes it to be sacred.”
    “What group ?”
    “Druids.”
    “You can’t be serious?”
    “I am.”
    “What’s so sacred about the place?”
    “Enough questions,” growled Rory. “Just stay away.”
    Fiona’s mouth dropped open as she watched him walk away. “Hey, you said to ask questions.”
    “Regarding the dig,” he yelled back over his shoulder.
    She took another sip of water, her view now gazing off between the trees. “Looks normal to me.” Turning around, she went back to work on her small patch of dirt hoping it would reveal a secret or two.
    Fiona didn’t realize that several more hours had passed