Free Timeless Mist by Terisa Wilcox Page A

breath to calm her unsteady
nerves.
    "Look, I realize you're on ly an actor be ing paid to play a part. I'm
sure Mr. MacGregor is pay ing you very well. I can
assure you, you wo n't get into trouble, you wo n't be fired, and you'll still be paid for your services, I'll make sure of that . You're really quite good. You had me fooled."
    She smiled, try ing to put a sooth ing tone in her voice,
"you can stop now. I know what's go ing on. I've guessed the game, so you can all stop with the play or charade or
whatever it is you're do ing ."
She looked at him for a long moment, a lump form ing in her throat, "I just want to go home." She turned away, her hands
clenched stiff ly at
her sides.
    Kris swiped at her cheeks with
her hands. She was stronger than this. She hadn't cried in years, she wasn't about to start now. And she would not ,
could not , let this
man see her cry.
    She was halted by an iron grip on her wrist. Iain
turned her around to face him. Cupp ing her chin, he searched her upturned face. She could see by his look that she'd insulted him.
    "First," he began as
released her after a long minute. "I am no' an actor." He crossed his
arms in front of his broad chest; the disgust in his tone unmistakable. "Second,
I would glad ly send ye
home if ye would but tell me where 'home' is, and third, why dinnae ye explain
to me what ye think is go ing on."
    "Okay, fine," her anger
returned, fierce and quick, at his arrogant tone. It was her on ly defense. She raised a brow at him in amused contempt, " have it your way. I know Mr.
MacGregor hired you to play the part of Iain MacGregor. I also know he somehow
snuck in here in the middle of the night and either moved th ing s around in my room, or
moved me to a not her
room, although I'm not real sure how he would accomplish either of those unless he drugged me or
someth ing ." She
waved a dismissive hand and continued when he opened his mouth to interrupt. "Anyway,
he did one of these so it would appear I was back in the seventeenth century. Why he did that ,
I have no idea. Maybe
he's a practical joker, maybe he does it to all his guests to give them a feel ing of realism or someth ing , I do n't know." She gave him
an appreciative smile as she let her gaze travel the length of him. "I
must say, though, he did an excellent job pick ing you out. You bear a very strong resemblance to the real Iain MacGregor." She met his gaze,
"but it's over now. I know all about it, so you can just stop pretend ing , br ing me my belong ing s and I'll be out of here
ASAP."
    "ASAP?" Iain's brows
knit together in confusion.
    "As soon as possible." Kris
planted her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. At Iain's blank expression,
Kris lost all sense of composure. She groaned in frustration at his cool, aloof
manner and threw her hands in the air. She stalked back to the closet. "If that 's the way it's go ing to be, if you're not go ing to tell me the truth,
could you at least help me move this th ing ?"
    "I ask ye again, why?"
    Kris sighed in exasperation, but
forced her voice to remain calm. He was worse than a child with all his 'whys'. This guy was either very good or
dumb as a stone. Maybe he'd ing ested
to many steroids or someth ing .
    "So I can see what's behind
it, that 's why."
    "'Tis naught behind it save
a wall." Iain shook his head,
    "I do n't believe you. Now, are you go ing to help me move it or not ?"
    Iain continued to stare at her as
if she hadn't any wits
left in her head.
    "I'll just move it myself
then." Kris pressed her lips together to keep from sputter ing out her anger when he
did n't move. She stood
to the side of the wardrobe and firm ly planted her feet. She realized she wasn't go ing to get it to
move this time any more than she could a few moments before, but that did n't stop her from try ing .
    Of course, the stubborn th ing still would n't budge. She turned and
planted her backside against it again and for a second time, pushed with all
her might. She closed her eyes,