A Time & Place for Every Laird by Angeline Fortin (ebook reader TXT) 📕

because I was thinking ofdoing so anyway,” she added quickly, lest he think that she wouldalways capitulate so easily to his demands. “We need to have youblend in better before we hit the city. Right now you might as wellhave a flashing arrow pointing at you, and the less conspicuous youare, the better chance we’ll have of getting by unnoticed.”

“What do ye hae in mind?” he askedsuspiciously.

“Some better clothes and a haircut andshave.”

“Shave?” Hugh stroked his beardprotectively. “Is that necessary?”

“Absolutely,” she insisted, taking a bit ofdevilish satisfaction in saying so. “The only men who wear a fullbeard these days are mountain men, Alabama football players, andeccentric San Francisco Giants baseball players. If you want toblend, it has to go.”

For a moment, Claire thought she saw humordancing in his eyes but then Hugh just shook his head mournfully.“If we must.”

Pushing aside the thought that Hugh waseither hiding something or laughing at her, Claire took an exitinto Moses Lake and slowed at the next stoplight, gauging thetown’s services. It wasn’t a populous place, and Claire knew theyweren’t going to be able to be choosy. Finally, she pulled into aJCPenney parking lot and turned off the ignition. For a moment, sheconsidered leaving Hugh in the car but knew it would be impossibleto guess his size, especially in shoes. His feet were far largerthan Matt’s reducing him to wearing a pair of flip-flops that hadhis toes overhanging the edge. “I just hope they don’t havesecurity cameras,” she muttered as they entered the store.

Hugh looked at her curiously and sheclarified. “More roving eyes.”

Understanding hit, and to Claire’s surprise,Hugh assessed the store’s security within moments of their entryand led Claire around the perimeter of the department store,weaving through the racks until they reached the men’sdepartment.

“Remember, we don’t have time to be choosy,so just pick something and be quick about it.”

But Hugh wasn’t to be coerced into a pair ofjeans and another t-shirt. “In truth, I’m nae certain I care foryer clothing. ’Tis verra plain and thin. I might well benaked.”

Claire looked Hugh up and down at thethought and felt a little shiver race through her. In the tightt-shirt and sweatpants, it wasn’t that difficult to picture what hewould look like in the nude, and Claire resented the fact that hehad even prompted the imagination. “This coming from a man who hadonly a kilt and shirt when he arrived. At least your legs aren’tbare anymore.”

“Nor is my arse,” he added. “But that wasnaemy norm at all. I would wager I typically wore far more layers thanye, and heavier fabrics as well.” Hugh continued to browse theoptions slowly, fingering the fabrics thoughtfully, complainingabout the lack of adornment or embroidery, and blatantly ignoringClaire’s pointed looks.

“Please remember, we have limited funds,”she said when he finally gathered up a large bundle of clothing totake to the dressing room.

“I will need more of yer clothing if I amtae ‘blend,’” he reminded.

“We’ll have to work on a complete wardrobelater, so seriously, be thrifty.”

Claire didn’t think there would be muchtrouble with that after Hugh saw the first price tag. Hisastonishment at the cost of a dress shirt had been evident. It wasa good thing she hadn’t taken him to a Macy’s instead.

While he tried on the clothes, Claire heldthe coat she had lent him while she gathered some socks andunderwear for him, opting for boxers instead of briefs. At leastMatt’s old wool coat had fit Hugh, so they wouldn’t have the addedexpense of outerwear for chilly evenings.

Claire hugged the coat tightly to her,smoothing it down with a gentle hand. It had hurt to see Hugh inMatt’s coat. Matt had bought it long before he met her, before hehad joined the Army. He had been bigger before, becoming leanerthrough his years in the military, but still he had hung on to thatold coat, wearing it even after it no longer fit him.

Like him, Claire hadn’t been able to let itgo either, since his death. As she hadn’t been able to let go of alot of things … and she wasn’t thinking only of his clothes. Herpast was like that old coat, familiar and comforting, and shedidn’t want to give it up. She’d never been able to let go of Matt.Of the memory of him, of them together. Everyone told her it waswrong for her to live in the past, to spend her life looking backinstead of to the future. But Claire had hung on to it like Matthad hung on to that coat, thinking a new one would never be likethe old.

“I’m ready,” Hugh said, interrupting herthoughts. “I found a pair of shoes as well. I hae tae confess,though some of the clothing in this time seems inferior, thecomfort of the footwear is enviable.”

“Says the man with the bloody, linen shirt,”Claire muttered as she led him to the nearest register and paid forthe clothes with some of her precious cash. Hugh watched thetransaction keenly, taking a special interest in the register, butClaire cut off any potential questions by announcing that the storehad an in-store salon that took walk-ins.

She led the way to the rear of the building.One of the two stylists present took one look at Hugh and announcedthat it was time for her break, but the other, male stylist shotHugh a longer, more appreciative look and waved them in. Claireexplained briefly what she wanted.

“It’s a lot of work,” theman who introduced himself as William said critically as he eyedHugh up and down. “And I mean a lotof work.”

Claire just nodded. Anyone could see thatand, in truth, she didn’t have the highest hopes for the endresult. “Do what you can,” she said and turned to Hugh, who was nowfrowning fiercely at her. “I’m going to gas up and get you somefood. I’ll be back.”

“I guess she’s the boss of you, isn’t she?”she heard William say as she walked away.

Claire didn’t hear Hugh’s response, butseconds later the stylist’s merry laughter rang out behind her,leaving her to wonder what witty comeback Hugh had offered.

A half an hour later, Claire had shaken offher doldrums and run her