A Highlander For Christmas

Sitting in the coffee shop, I waited for my friend Jeremy to arrive with all the information I needed for my trip. I slid lower in my seat as some of the older women sneered in my direction, whispering behind their hands as if I didn't know what they were talking about.

My fiance was the one who cheated on me, and yet they were treating me as if I were the harlot that was the one who broke Scott's heart. He was the town's Golden Boy, he couldn't do anything wrong. In their eyes my best friend wasn't the other woman, I was.

The bell over the door jingled merrily and I heard more whispers. Living in a small town was a curse, everyone said it was a blessing, it was until you became the town's social pariah.

"Bugger off you old biddies, I know you're just jealous you have not seen anyone as fabulous as me." He slammed his bag down on the table making me jump and I sighed. Always the drama queen.

"Do you really need to give them any more fuel?" I sipped my coffee and looked at my other bestie, he was wearing a gaudy Christmas sweater and a sparkly scarf with a matching hat. He had small jingle bell earrings in his ears and glittery eye shadow on.

"Honey, since when have you known me to care what the people in this town think of me?" He waved to the barista who flashed him a big smile.

This was true, he didn't care about what people thought and that was what I loved about him. He handed over the paperwork for my Great Aunt Melinda's estate and the plane tickets. Sighing, I stuffed them in my bag and just wanted to get this over with. I already was lectured by my family and they didn't seem to understand that I was not as strong as they think. I know running away from my problems wasn't the answer, but I needed a fresh start, and across a whole ocean away from here seemed like the best option.

"You could always come with me?" I knew it was pointless asking him, but I had to put the offer out there. He snorted and waved his hand dismissing me.

"No, I will visit, I will definitely be there, especially if all those Scottish men look like they can double in Outlander." I stared at him as he started fantasizing about Sam Heughan, I didn't blame him but the boy had some strange fantasies that I didn't want to know about. I rubbed my temples and shook my head.

"You do realize that not everyone looks like that and well he is an actor." He scoffed at me and I knew my argument was lame. I needed him to focus though and if we kept talking about men in kilts I would lose him.

"Way to burst my bubble honey. Ok, so everything is there that you need I have a lawyer friend who will be handling everything in Scotland for you. If you need anything you can contact him, also Wuggie will be there at the airport to take you to your new home." Groaning I knew there had to be a catch, Wuggie was Jer's nickname for his little brother.

Last I heard he was backpacking across Europe and was living in hostels and tents. If Wuggie was involved it meant he was short of money or in trouble. It also meant I was going to have to babysit him for at least a month.

"I know that look and I apologize but he just needs a few weeks, and then he will be on to his next adventure." I stood up and sighed.

"Fine, it has been fun Jer and I am going to miss you." We hugged and I sniffed back the tears that threatened to spill. I would not give these people the satisfaction of seeing me cry. He hugged me tighter and sniffed loudly.

"Give them Hell kid and don't do anything I wouldn't do." I kissed his cheek and tried to embrace the new life that awaited me.

Teeth chattering I stepped out of the airport and looked around for Jer's brother. Cursing under my breath I yanked my hat down further over my ears and tried yanking my jacket up further. So no one told me how cold it was going to be in Scotland in November.

"Aye do ye need a ride lass?" I have to say the accents were quaint. I looked toward the older gentleman who was standing near a rusty pickup truck. I also knew that I could not trust strangers offering rides in a foreign country.

"Ye look like Melinda, are you Annabelle?" He stroked his gray beard and looked at me with watery eyes. He coughed and dug around in his jacket. He handed me a paper to me and a picture of him with my Great Aunt Melinda.

"I was supposed to meet someone here to pick me up." He coughed again and rubbed the back of his neck. His wrinkled face cracked when he smiled.

"The pink-haired one? He is back at the estate, Magnus had him pinned at the gate and I had to save him. The kid needed a pint and some good food. The missus is taking care of him." Groaning I had hoped that Wuggie managed to forget about coming here and went on his merry little way.

"Well Mr?" He laughed and held out his hand for me, and I shook it. He had a nice firm grip and I wondered how he knew my Great Aunt.

"Just call me Sinclair, I have been at Sheep's Lodge since your Great Aunt bought the place." I snorted and tried not to laugh as he raised a bushy eyebrow at me.

"Sorry Sinclair. The name of the estate just threw me." He grabbed my bags and loaded them into the bed of the truck. I felt like a horrible person laughing at the name of his home and my new home.

"Tis ok lassie, ye Great Aunt had a sense of humor and would let the wee woolly ones run through the manor in the winter." So Melinda was eccentric, or crazy, however, you look at it. It must run in the family because I was running away to a new country and to a place sight unseen because some unknown relative passed and left me their home.

"What can I expect when I get there Sinclair? How long have you and your wife been at Sheep's Lodge?" I gingerly climbed into the truck, the old springs groaning under me and the weight of Sinclair. The truck smelled like wet wool, dog, and tobacco.

"The old house needs some work, the local law has deemed ye dog and sheep a menace, also you have a neighbor who will be a pain in yer rear. It is best to either ignore her or make friends with her. I suggest you ignore her." Sighing, I was hoping that I would not have to deal with annoying neighbors.

"How close is this annoying neighbor? Also, where would I buy supplies?" I was going to focus on healing myself, throwing myself into my art and writing. The first few weeks I was just going to wallow in my own misery though.

"She is about 19,000 yards from the Western property line." I stared blankly at him, math was never my strong suit, actually, math was my mortal enemy. He laughed at the blank look on my face and shook his head.

"Aye, I forget that ye Americans measure differently. She is four acres away from the Western Property line." So she was not close and that was good.

"What about the sheep? Also what makes the dog such a menace?" I was expecting to hear about some maneater like Cujo.

"The sheep seem to always find a way to escape, the dog, well he has an issue with stealing kilts off the bodies of the poor sods wearing them." Blinking, I looked down at his hairy knees and he laughed again.

"We are an old village, and we do follow the old ways sometimes. A lot of the men like to wear kilts but will dress accordingly when coming to the estate. Magnus is a wee pup still and he has learned with a swift whack on the nose that he is to leave me kilt alone." I sighed with relief knowing that I would not have to worry about seeing more of Sinclair than I wanted to.

"What is it that you do Sinclair?"

"I take care of the property and the missus takes care of the house. We have been there for years, we were a young couple that your aunt took in during the seventies." I let out a low whistle, they have been at the estate for a long time.

"Well I look forward to your help and the help of your wife and you are welcome to stay for as long as you want. What I mean is that I would not get rid of you just because I was the new owner. Sorry, I just made this awkward." I lay my head back on the seat and he laughed again.

"No worries lass, we know you would not kick us to the gutter and that is not because it was your Great Aunt's wish to keep us. No, ye do not strike me as the type to do something like that. Now lay ye head back and get some rest it will be three hours before we reach the estate." I chewed on my lip and shivered. Burrowing deeper into my coat I could not figure out how this man could run around in a kilt in this cold.

"Is it always this cold?" He chuckled again and blissfully turned the heat up in the truck and made the poor old thing rattle.

"Aye, and it will get colder lass." That was just great, something else to look forward to, kilt stealing dogs, cold, colder, and delinquent sheep.

I was jostled awake by the truck crunching over gravel. The side of my chin was wet and I felt the flush of embarrassment staining my cheeks. It was just the jet lag catching up to me, that was why I was drooling in my sleep.

"Aye we are here lass." Sinclair, was trying to hide the grin on his face and fake coughed.

"Was I snoring?" I prayed to whatever Highland Gods were listening that I was not snoring, drooling was one thing but drooling and snoring? I may as well just hide under a rock. I glanced at him from behind my hair and saw he was snickering.

"Just a wee bit lass, tis okay though, ye should hear the missus." I gawked at him as he started laughing, we pulled up in front of a beautiful stone house covered in ivy and berries. A herd of sheep hung out around the front vestibule of the house.

A small woman with a fluff of white hair on her head, was shooing the sheep away from the front door with a dish rag. My heart melted when I saw the small herd of sheep, they were even my favorite breed of sheep. I leaned forward and squealed in delight.

"Aye, ye like the weee wooly ones?" I wanted to bolt out of the truck and bury my face and the fluff of the black nosed sheep.

"Very much so! They are the most adorable creatures on the face of the planet. Didn't you say there was a dog? I don't see him." A deep bark shook through the night as the largest dog I have ever seen comes bounding around the corner of the house. A plaid bandanna around his neck and fir branches stuck to his legs.

I looked into that giant monster's big brown eyes and as he stared back at me. I felt an instant connection to this big dog, he sat down amongst the bleating sheep and watched me. He let out another rumbling bark and I saw his tail twitch.

"He is huge! Is that Magnus? Will he bite me?" I was a little intimidated, I have had dogs, but never encountered an Anatolian Shepherd, let alone a working Anatolian. I wanted to squish his wrinkly face and scratch his belly.

"He isn't charging the truck, just step out and let him come to ye. He is still a wee puppy so he may jump on you." I blinked and stared at Sinclair, a puppy? This dog was a puppy?

"How old is he?" I pushed open the door to the truck and Magnus tilted his head at me and let out a low woof. He was a majestic animal, the sheep stopped bleating and turned to watch me. A small lamb started walking toward me and I knelt in the gravel and held out my hand for the little one to sniff.

Magnus was watching me, he was such an amazing animal. I read about Livestock Guardian Dogs and how they worked. I wanted to know everything I could about what I was getting into. I also knew that he could probably take a chunk out of me if I threatened his flock. The lamb came over and sniffed my hand, next thing I know the fluffball is pushing me over and making itself comfortable in my lap.

"That is a interesting development. Wee Adelaide is usually a shy bugger. Looks like she likes ye." I buried my nose in her soft wool and it smelt of rain, earth and pine. I was in heaven, pure bliss. Suddenly a cold nose pushes into my face and I am looking up at Magnus who is standing over me and wagging his tail. He leans against me and lets out a sigh.

"Seems like ye have Magnus' approval. Congratulations, this is the Missus, Eugenia, these are your delinquent sheep, and we welcome you to your new home of Sheep's Lodge." I reached out my hand and let Magnus sniff it and he pushed his nose into my hand.

Tears prickled at my eyes and for the first time in a long time, I finally felt like I was home. I scratched the dog's ears and held the lamb as I stood up. Looking around at the two elderly caretakers and the wild highlands surrounding the manor I let out a deep sigh and sniffed.

Grinning at the two people standing on the doorstep I smiled and patted my leg for Magnus to follow.

"Where is the barn for the delinquent sheep? I will put them up for the night and if it is ok, do you have any food? Maybe something warm to drink." Eugenia dabbed at tears and nodded.

"I can whip something up quick and bring that monster with you it is time for him to eat his meal as well. Sinclair show her where the sheep go. Welcome home dear." I was a little shocked at the Southern drawl from Sinclair's wife. She chuckled and waved us off.

"Aye she is a right Southern Belle she is, come this way." He whistled and the sheep started following him to the back of the house. I looked up at the old house again and smiled. A heavy weight leaned against my leg and there was a grunt as Magnus looked up at me to get me to move.

"Alright boy, we will go put your babies to bed and then let's get some food." He let out a soft woof and we followed Sinclair to the barn.