Forever Stirling

Bios and Excerpt

Bios

Victoria…

Victoria is a young woman who began her life with traditional values, but somehow, lost them along the way. By her own choice, she allowed money and power to cloud her world. Down deep, she still seeks happiness, both personally and professionally, but can not seem to find either. When she travels to Scotland, she is able to finally get back to her roots, but at the same time, the conflict of her old life and her new life cause her to do some serious soul searching.

Ian…

Ian is a doctor, who is committed to serving the people of the small communities outside Stirling. Although he received his degree in London, he never cared for the city life, preferring to practice out of his own home and make housecalls. He finds Victoria fascinating, but complex and cannot understand why she would ever be happy living the city life. It doesn’t take long for Ian to fall deeply in love with her, but had no idea of the secret that she was concealing.

Arden…

Ian’s father. A man from the old country, he firmly believes in fate and love at first sight. Although he knows there is something about Victoria’s past, he still hopes that both Ian and Victoria will find each other.

Excerpt

After a large dinner and a leisurely visit with the other guests, Victoria stepped outside into the garden. She walked out into the edge of the patio, looking over into the large green valley that lies below. There, on the other end was the large guesthouse that she had spent so many summers playing around and inside of. It looked exactly the same as she remembered.

“Looks the same doesn’t it?” her Grandma asked, coming up from behind her. She was always taken away by how she often knew what she was thinking.

“Yes, it does…who’s car is that over there?” Victoria asked.

“Oh, that’s the Ballentyne’s house now,” she said, “We sold it to them about 7 years ago.”

“What?” Victoria asked, shocked. “Why did you sell the guesthouse?”

“We were in financial difficulties then. Parts of the house were falling apart and needed repair, and we just didn't have the money available. Arden was looking for a place to make a doctors office for his son, and he paid well for it. Since we knew them, it seemed for the best.” Emma said.

“Oh…” was all Victoria could say, ashamed she had even questioned her Grandma in the first place.

“I know. Your Grandpa Stefen put so much time into restoring that guesthouse and the stable, it hurt to have to sell it, but, if he had been alive, he would have done the same thing.”

“Yes, he would have…”

Emma hugged her tightly. I’m sure that anytime you want to go over and visit the house, Arden wouldn’t mind at all if you looked around, especially in the stable, they have 3 beautiful horses.”

Victoria smiled. She couldn’t recall the last time she had been horseback riding, probably it was the last time she visited.

Emma went back inside to finish cleaning up, and Victoria continued to walk around admiring the garden. Looking back over the valley, she spotted some unusual looking flowers. Curious, she went out to take a closer look. When she got there, she sat down on the cool green grass, looking out over the multitude of wild flowers that were growing there. She was so entranced by it’s beauty, that she didn't even notice that someone was approaching.

“If ye like those flowers, ye can have ‘em” a voice said, speaking in a very heavy Scottish dialect. Shocked and embarrassed, she turned to see an older man standing over her.

“Uh, I’m sorry…I didn't realize I was so far out off the property.” She said, getting up to leave.

“Don’t be skittish, love…yer Ria, aren’t ye?” the man asked.

“Yes I am.” She said. The man smiled. “Arden Ballentyne…your neighbor here.” He said, motioning for her to sit down again. Victoria breathed a sigh of relief.

“Nice to meet you Mr. Ballentyne” she said. “Its Arden, love.” He replied back, with a deep chuckle.

“Ye like my flowers then eh?” he asked.

“Yes, but what kind are these?” she asked.

“Dunno…but they’ll just go to waste here, so take them with ye eh?” he said, handing her the flowers. She smiled brightly as she took them.

“So, love, how long ye stayin’?” he asked, sitting down on a small stump next to her.

“About a week or so…” she said. “I understand you bought the house from my Grandma for your son, he’s a doctor?” she asked.

“Ah, sure is…” he said proudly, pointing to the little house next to the larger one. “That’s his office there, and he also helps out at the hospital.”

“Well, I guess I know who to go too if I get ill.” She said. Arden smiled and nodded. “Anytime y’ want tae c’mon and visit us there, come right ahead. I’ll take ye to see the horses, ye ride?” he asked.

“Yes, I love to ride” she said, getting up, “I’ll be sure to stop by and do that one day. I need to be going, it’s late and I should help Aunt Ellen finish cleaning up.”

Arden stood up, taking her hand and kissing it. “Glad to see ye here, and so is you’re grandma. Remember, we are ‘ere if ye need us.” He said before walking back up the stone steps that lead to the large house. As she watched him walk away, she caught sight of someone at the top watching her. He was tall, with a strong build, but still slim. His hair was so dark it almost glistened with the coming sunset and a matching dark goatee, which he was stroking ever so slightly, accompanied it. Although, she couldn’t make out much more of his face, he appeared to be quite attractive. She decided to note that for future reference before turning and walking back up to the garden.

Ian walked from the office back towards the house, looking for his father. He spotted him in the valley talking to a lovely young woman wearing a soft sundress that blew lightly in the wind and wrapping around her shapely hips. He couldn’t help but stare, his heart telling him that she was the young woman Emma had told him so much about on his many visits to her house. When he saw his father walking back, he waited for him.

“So, Papa, who was that?” he asked, giving Arden a hand up the last step. Of course, he already knew the answer.

“Aww, that’s Ria, Emma’s granddaughter.” He said, smiling at his son’s curiosity. “Is she right bonnie enau?”

Ian chuckled, “From what I could see of her, yes”

“Its been a while, son, go over and make friends eh?”

“Later Papa, let’s go home,” Ian said, walking with his father back to the house.

After sitting in a long hot bath, Victoria was tired and decided to go to bed early, so she could get an earlier start to the day. She sank down into the soft bed, wrapped herself in the warm, comforting quilt,

and slowly drifted off to sleep, her first sound sleep in months.