“How does the conversion process work?” she asked, and he looked at her closely, seeing that she was genuinely interested.
No one had ever shown true regard for his work before. His brothers and sister, his parents, Kyla — they would listen to his explanations and they appreciated the outcome of his experiments and inventions, but no one had ever really cared how they worked, or the thought that went into them.
“Well,” he began, feeling somewhat excited at discussing his thought process. “The wind spins around the blades, or the sails, as any windmill does, of course. As the blades turn, there is a shaft they are connected to. That shaft rotates with enough force and speed to create kinetic energy. The energy is then transmitted into a generator, which turns it into electric energy. Here,” he said. “I can show you what I’m thinking.”
He walked over to the corner of the room and picked up his prototype. He felt rather vulnerable in showing her, but perhaps it would better explain what he was thinking. He placed it on the small table in the corner of the room, and when she began to hobble toward it, he reached out a hand and helped her, practically lifting her the few steps over to the bench in front of it.
As he had when he was helping his mother dress Rachel’s wound, he felt a bit of a tremor run through him at her slight frame in his hands. She was such a wisp of a thing, and yet seemed to possess an inner strength. Where did it come from?
“Thank you,” she said, a becoming pink blush creeping up her face.
She leaned over the model, running her hands along the wood he had carved, moving the blades of the wind turbine he had created on such a small scale.
“Did you create this?” she asked.
“Of course,” he said.
“It’s incredible woodwork,” she said, her eyebrows drawing together as she looked at it.
“Oh, ’tis nothing,” he said, embarrassed at her remarks. “You should see my father’s work.”
He showed her how the thing moved, his hands settling over hers, and he felt a shock run through him where they touched. She seemed somewhat engrossed in his explanation, asking him questions about electricity that proved a far greater knowledge of it than most people possessed.
“How do you know so much about the subject?” he asked her.
“My father’s business,” she said in surprise. “I’m sorry, I thought you knew. He runs a power plant.”
“Your father?” he asked incredulously. How could such a man successfully run such an operation?
“Yes, my father,” she said with a low, throaty chuckle that turned something within him, something he had not felt in a very long time. “He’s a businessman, truthfully. He began the power plant a couple of years ago with a partner, a man who does understand the workings of the operation. My father’s role is more regarding the relationships required with other vendors, owners of buildings, and the city of London. Sullivan — his partner — he has told me much of the workings of the plant, which is how I know of it.”
She paused for a moment.
“Sullivan would likely be interested in learning more of your design,” she said. “I don’t see how it would work within the city, but perhaps it would allow for an extension into the countryside, where everything is much more spread out.”
He was already shaking his head before she finished her explanation.
“This is just for me and my clan, for now at least,” he said. “I dinna wish to share it further.”
“All right,” she said with a shrug. “Though if you ever wanted to speak to someone about what you’re working on… I’m sure he would be interested.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, to keep her from continuing to push the idea on him. “And your man, Vincent, he is involved with the company as well?”
“He is not my man,” she responded with a look of vehemence. “He is my father’s choice for me and for his own successor as well. I suppose he sees himself in Vincent, which is a scary thought.” She sighed. “I wish he would allow me to succeed him instead, but of course a woman should not be involved in such work. He will scarcely allow me in the door of the plant, let alone learn anything about it, and of course would never think to provide me with any work there. No, instead I am to do what? He would rather I sit at home and keep house for him, until it is time for me to do so for another man.” She sighed again. “In time I’m sure he will realize Vincent is not a proper match.”
Adam’s resolve toward the woman began to soften, as he took in the distress in her eyes. She truly was in a situation, and he wasn’t sure he could help her out of it, though he supposed he could provide her some words of advice.
“I was told once to follow my heart and it could not lead me wrong,” he said, looking out the small window of the storage shed. “Many of my countrymen are making their way west, across the sea. However, I could never follow suit. My brother Roderick wants to go, and perhaps Peggy, too, someday. But I will never leave. My home is here, in these Highlands.”
“I can see why you feel that,” Rachel responded. “It’s beautiful here. Truly. Despite all that has happened, I am very glad I came.”
She bestowed on him a smile that lit his heart, bringing to life feelings he should certainly not be having.
He stood abruptly. “Come,” he said. “Let’s see where Peggy has gotten off to. It’s nearly noon, time for luncheon.”
He didn’t lift her again,
