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started to take off after it on foot, but the captain unchained thegate and motioned the truck right onto the ferry. She'd never catch up.
    She looked back to her dock, at the Oban ferry that wasn't scheduled to leave for hours yet, then back at the Glenmuir ferry. Damn, damn, damn. But she was already climbing into her car and pulling out of line. She wasn't going to regret this, she told herself. She knew exactly what she was doing and it had zero to do with Destiny, Fate, or anything else.
    The captain waved her on with a big smile, calling out that he'd settle up with her after they'd set off on their way.
I'm doing this of my own free will,
she repeated silently as she waved back to him. She just needed to hand the trunk over to someone personally, that was all.
    She'd have to reschedule her flight and it would probably cost her a mint, plus she'd have to find accommodations on Glenmuir and it was the high season for tourists. But Glenmuir wasn't exactly a hot spot so she shouldn't have too hard a time.
    She parked, her heart racing as she tried to reassure herself she'd done the right thing. She knew her dad wouldn't mind her extending her stay. He'd been worried about her lately and she'd felt bad for not confiding in him. She usually shared everything with him, but not this. Because of that, she'd kept to herself more than usual, claiming the design project was giving her fits and taking more time than usual. It had, but mostly because she'd spent too much time trying to forget Bagan and his dire predictions.
    So this little side trip was a good thing. It would allow her to go home rested and happy, which was good for them both. Maybe she'd even get in some more surfing, or at the very least some nice beachcombing.
    “Yeah,” she murmured under her breath as shegot out of the car and made her way to the rail. “It's just a few more vacation days. Totally my choice.”
    So why the dread built as she neared the island, she had no idea. Glenmuir first emerged as a speck on the horizon. It didn't grow much bigger as they neared. It was hilly, but the vegetation was sparse. The shoreline, on the eastern side at least, was rocky and definitely inhospitable for surfers. Right now she was more interested in finding a place to stay.
    She'd studied a big map posted on board and had been pleased to find Winterhaven noted on the western shore of Glenmuir. A single road ringed the speck of an island and would take her directly to it. She'd also noted that there was only one town, Ruirisay, a short way from the ferry landing, but she held out hope that she'd find a place to stay. Surely the captain would have mentioned that being a problem before encouraging her to go.
    She followed the truck off the boat, growing more uncertain as she bumped along the single-lane road into Ruirisay. They passed a few crofts on the way and numerous sheep, but no other cars and not much else. The town itself consisted of one main street with a few shops and businesses lining the only habitable side of the street. The other was railed off before falling away to the rocks far below, but provided a gorgeous view of the water.
    Josie pulled to a stop behind the truck when it parked outside a small grocery that also appeared to serve as post office, bakery, butcher, and mercantile. There was only one other car parked there, but a number of bicycles were lined up against the building.
    Josie went inside and looked about the place as the truck driver unloaded supplies and talked and laughed with the owner. The older woman who ran the store signed his clipboard and handed him acheck before seeing him to the door. “Best ye head back to the ferry. That new one, he's like to leave you, and the poor folks on Harris won't have their bread for another fortnight.”
    The man waved and climbed back in his truck. Josie was tempted to follow him, but then the owner turned those warm brown eyes and pleasant smile on her. “How may I help you?”
    Her brogue was