Chp 1

Tag Along

Blair stood in the doorway of her room in her brother's house. The war was over, it was a strange peaceful feeling. Blair was a nurse at the time and had spent most of the time working with her brother, Frank's wife Claire. Unlike Claire she was sent often to the front lines to help the men there, her knowledge of plants had helped when medicine ran low. The nights where the gunshots still haunted Blair, with her parents dead all she had was her brother. When the war ended he had taken her in and Claire had insisted that they stay together for the time being. Blair knew she was a burden to them and she hated it. She was just a few years younger than Claire, and still remained unmarried.

"Blair darling you almost packed?" Frank said as he walked into Blair room and sat her sitting on her bed holding a botany book. "Blair?"

"You sure you want me to go with you on as you put it your second honeymoon" Blair asked as she looked at her brother "I would be fine here I swear, you could leave me I would be alright"

"Blair" Frank said as he went over and sat on the bed next to her "I love you, and I don't mind, it was also Claire's idea to help you get your mind off of things. Besides we will be learning about our family history darling" he then kissed Blair on the cheek "I hear the highlands are beautiful and you may even find something to bring back with you to add to your unusual collection" he motioned to the various colored flowers and rocks placed throughout Blair's room and she smiled at him "Come on darling lets go, Claire is waiting for us" Frank then patted her leg and then picked up her luggage and headed to the door.

"So long as you don't mind" Blair said as she stood up and headed towards Frank who waited at her door.

"Darling you will be back to this house before you know getting bored of Claire and I" Frank said with a smile.

"I am doubtful on that" Blair said with a small laugh and headed out of the room followed by Frank and headed out of the house to the car.

"Finally got her out of her room I see" Claire said from the front seat with a smile at Blair "I promise you, you will enjoy it"

"So long as I am not a burden to you both" Blair said and got in the back seat.

"Never" Claire said as Frank got in and they started their journey to the Scotland Highlands.

Blair knew deep down she should have stayed at home letting Frank and Claire get to know each other again after the war separated them for 5 years. She felt like such a burden to them, they always took care of her without question and looked after her, she knew they needed this and she felt like a block that was going to stop them.

"Blair, I know that look" Frank said as he looked at Blair in the mirror and Claire turned around and smiled at her. "Stop it will give your wrinkles"

"Oh love it will be fun," Claire said to her and reached and grabbed her hand and squeezed it "I'm so happy you came without on our holiday, before we get back to the world"

"Me too Claire" Blair said and squeezed her hand back.

Soon enough there were in Inverness, and Blair looked around at the buildings and got out of the car after Frank did and a smile appeared on her face.

"What do you suppose that is?" Frank asked and both Claire and Blair looked at what he was talking about.

"Oh god lord" Claire said. "Blood"

"You sure?" Frank asked

"I think I should know the look of blood by now" Claire said and Blair held in a small laugh as she saw the look Claire gave Frank.

"There are stains just like it on the house next door" Frank said as he picked up all the bags.

"Some more over there" Blair notice as headed over to the other side of the car.

"There's 2 more over there" Claire said.

"We seemed to be surrounded by homes marked with blood" Frank said as they all headed over to the bed and breakfast.

"Perhaps pharaoh has refused Moses, an death will travel the streets of Inverness tonight" Claire said. "Sparing only those who have marked their doors with lambs blood"

"Perish the thought" Blair said.

"It may be closer than you think" Frank said "If we are some sacrificial ritual I suspect pagan rather than human"

"I have no idea that Inverness had such a hot idea of paganism" Claire said.

"My dear, there is no place on earth with more magic and superstition mixed in with its daily life thank the Scottish Highlands" Frank said.

"Shall we?" Claire said and Blair went to grab her bag realizing she left it in the car.

"You both go on I forgot something in the car" she said and walked back over to the car. "Ahh there you are" Blair picked up her bag and looked and saw her botany book was still inside of it.

Blair shut the door and turned and looked towards the center of town at the statue in the center and saw someone standing there looking at her. It looked strange to her, she didn't see him before and she couldn't see his face. A shiver went through Blair's body as she starred at the man for a moment when a noise caught her attention and turned her gaze from him and when she returned to look he was no longer there.

"Strange" Blair said paying no mind to it and headed into Mrs. Beard's bed and breakfast.

"Let me show you to your rooms" Mrs. Beard said to Frank and Claire as Blair walked in "Ahh you too dearie"

"Thank you" Blair said as she followed them, first Frank and Claire were in a room and Blair would be in the connecting room one door down by herself. "Thank you Mrs. Beard"

"Oh not a problem dearie" she said as Blair opened the door to her room and looked out the window and saw the statue in the center of town. She heard noises in the next room and let out a small laugh as she could guess what they were doing.

Blair decided to unpack her luggage and sat on her bed looking up at the ceiling hearing noises coming from next door. She was happy Frank and Claire still loved each other after everything that happened. She decided to give them as much time as they needed to themselves and would stay and keep out of their alone time as she kept to herself and explore what she could. She snuck out of her room and headed down stairs seeing Mrs. Beard smile at her.

"Heading out I see" she said.

"Yes, you have heard why as I can imagine" Blair said and Mrs. Beard just smiled at her as she walked out.

Blair had left a note on her bed for Frank and Claire telling them that she was exploring around town and outside of it and she would see them for dinner. Blair took a deep breath and headed out to the lake behind Inverness.

"It's so beautiful" Blair said as she stood at the lakes edge and noticed the sun had started to peak through the grey clouds. She looked around and noticed flowers around and different plants that she smiled and knelt down to look at.

Blair lost time at the lake. She had spent the day walking along the lakes edge picking flowers and finding a few rocks that had shapes and colors she hadn't seen in a while. It was peaceful. Something which was a rare occurrence during war time. She had hoped when the war ended she would find someone like her brother did. He had Claire before the war, and was able to see her after. Blair hoped she could find someone who loved her as much as Claire and Frank loved each other. The sun began to set as Blair realized she should probably head back to the bed and breakfast before Frank would get worried and send out a search party. Frank had protected her from what he could, and what he couldn't he made sure he did his best. Blair knew it was hard on her brother to bring her on their honeymoon/holiday, she also knew that he didn't want to leave her alone in the house by herself.

Nearly a week had passed since they arrived in the Scotland Highlands. Blair had done a few things with her brother and Claire but mostly left them to themselves to enjoy each other and she imagined they did just that. It was late one day when Frank had found the minster and talked to him about their family ancestors. She had made an early exit as she wanted to get to looking at some of the plants that she had found over the past week. Blair could see a storm coming as well and didn't want to get caught in it. As she headed back to the bed and breakfast she saw the same figure that she saw a few other places around Inverness. Gathering what courage she had she walked over to the man.

"Excuse me" Blair said as she stood by the man and he then suddenly turned and vanished. Blair stood there a moment stunned at what just happened. Did she just see a ghost? "What was that" she then shook her head and walked a little faster back till she was in the safety of her room. Where she stood in the bathroom and poured some water over her face. "It's probably someone playing something, after all Halloween is soon"

"Blair" Claire said through the door "Would you like me to brush your hair?"

"That would be lovely" Blair said as she came out of her bathroom and saw Claire there.

"Let's go back to Frank and I room my brush is in there" Claire said as they headed through the door that connected their rooms and Blair sat in a chair in front of the window as Claire started to brush her hair.

While Claire had dark brown hair, Blair had golden brown which shimmered a little red in the sun. Blair often compared herself to Claire to figure out why not many men she knew were interested. She and Claire were the same height, but Blair had more curves to her body and wasn't as thin. Blair had green eyes while Claire had blue. Claire's hair was shorter while Blair had hair down to almost her waist.

"I just love your hair" Claire said softly as the storm picked up.

"Thank you, though I have thought about cutting it" Blair said.

"Why, I love the way it is" Claire said as Blair turned her head towards the window.

There he was again looking into the window. Blair couldn't believe it, the man she saw all over was now looking in the window. When she was about to say something a flash of lightening happened and he vanished.

"Is something the matter love" Claire said and Blair turned her gaze from the window.

"No, nothing" Blair said and then closed her eyes trying to take her mind of the man she saw everywhere.