Read Hell Transporter (Between) for Free Online Page A

kitten. I’m just teasing you. So what’s he like, this boy? How’d you meet him?”
    I blinked at him blankly for a second, as it occurred to me that in my haste to get Aiden out before Dad’s arrival, I had completely forgotten to coordinate a story with him about how we’d met. If I told Dad something now, chances were good that Aiden’s story wouldn’t match and then he’d know something was up.
    “Um…” I began, starting to feel panicked, but was saved by a knock at the door. I sighed inwardly with relief and smiled innocently at my dad. “That’s probably him now. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”
    “Too bad I don’t have a shotgun.”
    I smacked him on the arm, rolling my eyes.
    Dad answered the door, doing his best to look stern and imposing. Aiden smiled at him from the doorway, and bowed his head in respect. He was wearing the new clothes I’d bought him instead of his kilt, and he had his hair tied back which emphasized the handsome angles of his cheek and jaw. His broad shoulders filled the doorway and he stood several inches taller than my father, but he kept his head slightly lowered as he addressed my dad.
    “You must be Lindsey’s Da. I’ve heard much about you. Very pleased to be meeting ye, sir. I’m Aiden MacRae.”
    Dad’s eyebrows went up in surprise at Aiden’s accent, but he took the proffered hand in greeting. “You’re Scottish,” Dad blurted and I giggled, remembering that I’d said the exact same thing when I’d first met Aiden.
    “Aye, that I am, indeed.” Aiden tipped his head in acknowledgment and waited patiently on the front step to be invited in.
    “Nice to meet you, Aiden. I’m Gary, Lindsey’s father. Come on in.” Aiden thanked him and smiled at me as we sat down on the couch in the living room. Dad resumed his place in the chair and regarded Aiden with a guarded but friendly tone. “I was just asking Lindsey about how you two met.” He waited and I held my breath, but Aiden seemed completely at ease.
    “We met at the store down the road, when she arrived about two months ago.”
    “So you live around here, then?”
    Aiden nodded, and I was just as curious to hear the answer as my dad. “I’m staying at the old Baker cabin down the road for a spell whilst they’re trying to sell it. You know the one?”
    “Oh yeah, they’ve been trying to sell that place for years. Better to have you staying in it, I suppose, than the bears.” The look on Dad’s face told me he wasn’t finished and I shifted uneasily, excited to see them together but nervous that something would go wrong. “So do you work in town?” he asked.
    Aiden shook his head and settled into the couch, looking relaxed. “No, I’ve taken some time off to travel. See, my parents died years ago and I lived with my Uncle Alex for a time. When he died, he provided me a modest inheritance. As I didn’t have any family left, I thought it would be a grand adventure to get as far away from home as possible.
    “So I pulled out a map and picked Seattle, the far west coast of the states. Only when I got there, I found that I didn’t care overmuch for the big city. ‘Twas very crowded and I’m more accustomed to the country, having been raised in the Scottish Highlands. So I started making my way east and found this place.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. “If ‘tis good enough for a priest at this lake, I suppose it’s good enough for me, aye?”
    Nicely done! How did you know about the Baker place? I sent him the message and he shot me a quick smile.
    Ranger Jim mentioned it.
    “Dad, Aiden likes to play cards. Maybe you could teach him a game,” I prompted and they agreed. Dad dug out some cards from the bookshelf and they sat down at the dining table across from one another, moving easily into talk of the countryside, fishing and hiking. I made myself useful by putting together a light snack tray and bringing them beverages. I watched them play, gazing from one to the other,