Free Highlander's Challenge by Jo Barrett Page A

let things end up in bed.
    As if, she thought with a small snort. They weren't really interested in getting into her pants. She was more like one of the guys to them, a buddy, a pal. But even if they did have 75
    Highlander's Challenge
    by Jo Barrett
    sex on the brain, she would never ever let a man take control of her that way. She'd won her freedom, and she refused to hand it over to anyone.
    Convincing herself that her sexual reaction to the ogre had been a fluke and wouldn't happen again, she finished dressing. Her ensemble complete, Tuck glanced down at her chest, amazed to see so much cleavage. "Wonderful. An antique push-up bra."
    She gazed longingly at her comfortable sport bra draped over the chair, but figured breathing placed higher than general comfort, and resigned herself to her new rig. For the moment. She was not traipsing around in a dress for longer than her clothes took to dry, regardless of what the locals thought.
    She quickly tied her knife sheath high on her thigh then patted down the skirt. Not bad, but if she bumped into someone they'd feel it, so she'd have to be extra careful. Lifting the tartan from the foot of the bed, she draped it over her shoulders as she'd seen Elspeth do. At least she'd be warm, with the exception of her nether draft. She looked down at her hiking boots sticking out from beneath the skirt with a smirk. They didn't exactly go with the outfit, but there she drew the line. Quaint little leather slippers in place of her boots and thick wool socks were not going to keep her feet warm.
    How the villagers she'd seen with no shoes at all could stand the cold was a mystery, but then she'd been in some pretty uncomfortable situations herself over the years. A person could get used to a lot when they didn't have a choice. 76
    Highlander's Challenge
    by Jo Barrett
    Trudging through mud and muck, over desert and through jungles, she'd had more than her fair share of roughing it. This was a tea party compared to some of the places she'd been. With the exception of the date.
    Tuck shook her head at the thought. It just didn't make sense, and yet that ambush was like nothing she'd ever encountered. Those men weren't the kidnappers, and the landscape wasn't what it should be. Nothing was. But time travel?
    Even if it was possible, why would she travel back to 1584? What was so special about that year? And why her?
    Was someone guiding this kooky train she was on or had she fallen down a wet version of a rabbit hole?
    Letting go of questions she couldn't answer, she focused on the facts. She had to find a way back to where she belonged, and to do that she had to escape. But go where?
    That stupid fountain at Raghnall Castle was her only lead. But assuming she was actually in 1584, the darn thing didn't even exist yet. Her only option was to inspect the small field where this nightmare had started.
    Moving to the door, she gently eased it open and came face-to-face with a guard. He looked at her blankly then casually crossed his arms as he took a firm stance in the doorway.
    Tuck sized him up and, although he was a big one, she knew she could take him out. However, she needed to do a little recon before she made her move, and decided it wouldn't be wise to jump the gun on her escape. The castle didn't appear to be laid out exactly as it had been when she 77
    Highlander's Challenge
    by Jo Barrett
    toured it with Jenny, and she was currently in the section that had been off limits. She didn't need to come up on a dead end with the ogre of the hill in pursuit. A hike through the woods in a dress didn't sound very appealing either. With a slight nod, she closed the door, then wandered over to the window and waited. Looking out over the landscape, her thoughts went back to the moments before she landed in the fountain. She'd listened to Jenny tell her fairy story then they'd tossed pennies into the fountain.
    "I couldn't have wished myself here," she mumbled. No, that would be too easy, and her gut