window.
She gazed at the rolling mountains with the sun shining through the clouds. The clouds made amazing shapes along the slopes. Iona turned around in her seat and grabbed the two bags that were always with herâher camera bag, and a travel bag.
It took her a bit, but she managed to change out of her black dress and heels into a pair of jeans and plain white tee. It wasnât the first time she changed in a car, and she doubted it would be her last.
She stuffed her feet into a pair of hiking boots and laced them up before grabbing her camera and exiting the car. Just being away from town helped to ease her somewhat. There was really only one way for her to relax, and that was to take pictures.
Iona walked about twenty paces from her car and got down on one knee. She unzipped her bag, and carefully brought out her camera before lifting it to her eye. She adjusted the lens to focus on the spread of yellow flowers. Several snaps later, she shifted the camera and took more pictures of the mountains, zooming out to get as much of them as she could.
She was smiling by the time she lowered the camera. Some people exercised or drank to calm down, but all she had to do was have her camera in hand. The world looked different through the lens of her camera.
Unable to stay away, Iona traveled farther down the slope to a stream in the valley. At the water she took pictures of the rocks along either side, as well as the larger ones in the middle of the stream that caused the water to flow around them.
Iona snapped away as a butterfly landed on a stone on the opposite bank. She was enthralled by the blue and purple colors on the butterflyâs wings. For the next hour, she explored the area and filled up her camera with pictures.
The hike back to her car was as enjoyable as the trip down. So much so that Iona was already planning to do more hiking while she was in the Highlands. It would be a pity not to take advantage of the beauty surrounding her.
She got into her car and started to set her camera bag on the passenger seat. Her gaze caught on the envelope from her father, but thatâs not what caused her heart to miss a beat. It was because the envelope was setting atop her purse whereas it had been beneath it when she left. It was still unopened, the globe of the red wax seal in place, but it looked as though someone had messed with the edge.
Iona glanced at her open window. If the wind had come through, it wouldnât have put the letter there. Had the wind been fierce enough to pull it from beneath her heavy purse, it might have flipped it to the floorboard or even out the window.
That meant someone had been in her car. Iona hastily looked around as she locked her doors and rolled up her window. There were few trees where she was, leaving no place for someone to hide behind.
Iona didnât wait around. She started the car and turned the wheel to effortlessly pull a U-turn to head back to the cottage. The farther she got from the place, the easier she was able to breathe.
âSo much for the peace I found,â she mumbled to herself.
On her way through town she saw a sign for The Fox & The Hound pub. Since she didnât want to stop at the store just for alcohol, Iona decided a drink in the pub might be nice. She could sit and review the photos sheâd taken while sampling a good ale.
Iona saw the wooden sign swinging from the metal pole on the side of the road and slowed. Parking was difficult since nearly all the spots were taken, even in early afternoon. It still didnât dissuade her as she parked.
She put the letter in her purse and looped the strap over her shoulder as she got out of the car. She made sure to lock it before heading into the pub. Iona opened the door and stepped inside, instantly taking in the place. The floors and tables were clean, and the walls were covered with news articles and photos from the people of the village.
Ionaâs gaze locked on a tall man behind the
She gazed at the rolling mountains with the sun shining through the clouds. The clouds made amazing shapes along the slopes. Iona turned around in her seat and grabbed the two bags that were always with herâher camera bag, and a travel bag.
It took her a bit, but she managed to change out of her black dress and heels into a pair of jeans and plain white tee. It wasnât the first time she changed in a car, and she doubted it would be her last.
She stuffed her feet into a pair of hiking boots and laced them up before grabbing her camera and exiting the car. Just being away from town helped to ease her somewhat. There was really only one way for her to relax, and that was to take pictures.
Iona walked about twenty paces from her car and got down on one knee. She unzipped her bag, and carefully brought out her camera before lifting it to her eye. She adjusted the lens to focus on the spread of yellow flowers. Several snaps later, she shifted the camera and took more pictures of the mountains, zooming out to get as much of them as she could.
She was smiling by the time she lowered the camera. Some people exercised or drank to calm down, but all she had to do was have her camera in hand. The world looked different through the lens of her camera.
Unable to stay away, Iona traveled farther down the slope to a stream in the valley. At the water she took pictures of the rocks along either side, as well as the larger ones in the middle of the stream that caused the water to flow around them.
Iona snapped away as a butterfly landed on a stone on the opposite bank. She was enthralled by the blue and purple colors on the butterflyâs wings. For the next hour, she explored the area and filled up her camera with pictures.
The hike back to her car was as enjoyable as the trip down. So much so that Iona was already planning to do more hiking while she was in the Highlands. It would be a pity not to take advantage of the beauty surrounding her.
She got into her car and started to set her camera bag on the passenger seat. Her gaze caught on the envelope from her father, but thatâs not what caused her heart to miss a beat. It was because the envelope was setting atop her purse whereas it had been beneath it when she left. It was still unopened, the globe of the red wax seal in place, but it looked as though someone had messed with the edge.
Iona glanced at her open window. If the wind had come through, it wouldnât have put the letter there. Had the wind been fierce enough to pull it from beneath her heavy purse, it might have flipped it to the floorboard or even out the window.
That meant someone had been in her car. Iona hastily looked around as she locked her doors and rolled up her window. There were few trees where she was, leaving no place for someone to hide behind.
Iona didnât wait around. She started the car and turned the wheel to effortlessly pull a U-turn to head back to the cottage. The farther she got from the place, the easier she was able to breathe.
âSo much for the peace I found,â she mumbled to herself.
On her way through town she saw a sign for The Fox & The Hound pub. Since she didnât want to stop at the store just for alcohol, Iona decided a drink in the pub might be nice. She could sit and review the photos sheâd taken while sampling a good ale.
Iona saw the wooden sign swinging from the metal pole on the side of the road and slowed. Parking was difficult since nearly all the spots were taken, even in early afternoon. It still didnât dissuade her as she parked.
She put the letter in her purse and looped the strap over her shoulder as she got out of the car. She made sure to lock it before heading into the pub. Iona opened the door and stepped inside, instantly taking in the place. The floors and tables were clean, and the walls were covered with news articles and photos from the people of the village.
Ionaâs gaze locked on a tall man behind the
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