by Olivia Swift
“I like it when you two argue. It always seems like the old days,” Rula added. “Hello, Michael,” she added as Mikey from the hiking shop came in and stood at the counter. Rula started to make his usual hot chocolate without having to be asked.
“Everything okay, girls?” he asked.
“Yes, thanks, Mikey,” Magda answered.
“I really want this place to succeed,” he added. “My favorite drink is on hand and I have sold more stuff since your customers came through the door.”
“Glad to hear it,” Magda told him. “The vacation season is in full swing.”
Rula picked up the new whisky samples and passed around the plate.
“Try the new center and tell us what you think.”
Mikey bit into the fondant and let the flavor trickle over his tongue. “It tastes . . . this sounds daft. It tastes like the ocean.”
“But is it good?” Rula asked a bit impatiently.
He grinned. “Wait for it, girl. It is superb but there is a definite taste of herbs and a wind from the sea.”
Magda came over and handed him the expensive bottle of single malt.
“Read what that says on the back.”
“Our twelve-year-old maritime malt is made where the sea sweeps the most northerly coasts of Scotland. It is brewed in ex-bourbon casks from America and made in traditional ways. We add honey, spices and other herbs to make the distinctive flavor of a smooth, amber, traditional single malt.”
“Wow, you were right on there,” Katie hollered.
“Well I never,” Mikey said. “Wanted to ask you something, Magda,” he added. Magda went around to the serving area and the two of them sat at a table. He grinned.
“You can just say no, but what about if I rent that piece of rock behind the café for a small training wall? It would not be very high. I know the land at the top of the rock wall belongs to someone but the practice wall would not go near to the top. Lots of the customers come for coffee anyway. You would get rent and I would charge them for using the wall.”
“Let’s have a quick look at it,” Magda said, and they went off behind the café, followed by the inquisitive looks of the girls behind the counter.
The café, that was once a stable, had been the only building left of a whole complex that had burned down a long time ago. “Apparently the buildings grew up around this bit that was left and the new owners were not interested,” Magda told him. They both looked up at the rock face that shot upward behind the café.
“I would put a plastic wall against it with all the safety built in and an easy way back down,” Mikey added.
“I’ll run it past Sam and see what the others think and let you know, okay?”
“Fine,” Mikey answered as they headed back to the entrance.
“I’ve already called Sam and told him you are behind the café with Mikey,” Rula joked.
“That’s friends for you, Mikey,” Magda said. Mikey took the truffles he had asked for, paid his bill, and strolled off back to his shop.
“Well?” Rula asked. Magda smiled and asked what they thought about Mikey’s idea.
“Should be okay,” Katie said, “It doesn’t hurt to help other businesses out.”
“A lot of his customers do come in here anyway,” Rula added as she smiled at the delivery man who brought a heavy box to the door and asked for a signature. Magda looked at the box and said that it was the whisky she had ordered from Scotland.
She slit open the box and pulled away the packaging. There were three bottles, some photos, printed sheets, some pieces of driftwood and swatches of tartan material. When she picked up the piece of driftwood, a sudden cold breeze blew the papers around and the girls rushed to catch everything flying about.
2
“I think we just got a blast from northern Scotland,” Katie observed as they collected the fluttering papers.
Magda took out everything in the box and secured the whisky bottles in a safe place. She glanced at the papers and put the wood, tartan and information back in the box to read later. The truffles would not make themselves.
Sam and Declan arrived at more or less the same time as the girls were finishing off for the day. They settled at a table in the extension and spread out some plans. Magda brought them coffee and glanced at their work.
“Is this the big wooden tree house?” she asked, and Sam nodded.
“I hope Declan here can figure out how to make it because the client loves it.”
Sam was an architect who also loved to be part of the actual building work. He and Declan often worked together.
“We need to try it out roughly to make sure it will be secure,” Declan observed.
Sam said that he was sure the client would let them do that.
“He has a landscaped garden around the house, but then it turns into wilderness and he also owns a separate huge piece of wild land. He wants the tree house to blend into the woodland so that the boys can go and enjoy themselves but still be safe.”
“Could we get the truck close to where you want to build it?” Declan queried, and Sam said that it wouldn’t be a problem. Declan took the plans and said he would look at them at home and work out what they would need to take to see if it would be possible. Sam spotted the newly delivered box and asked what it was.
“The stuff from Scotland,” Magda answered. “I thought I would look at it later.” She flicked open the box and picked up the piece of wood. There was a sudden cold breeze again and Rula grabbed for the papers on the counter. She laughed and started to tell the two men about Mikey being so right about the flavor when she saw Declan’s face.
“What?” she asked with a sudden surge of worry. Declan waved his hands.
“I see stuff all the time. Always have. Don’t worry about it.” He took the wood from her and ran his hand over it. “I would say this was very old and probably oak. It’s very heavy and solid, and oak is like that. It would make a beautiful ornamental piece.”
“You are not getting away with that, Declan Coombs. What did you see?” Magda demanded and Sam backed her up. Rula suggested they all have another coffee and started to make them.
“I’ll close up,” Katie said, as Rita asked if she could go home. Magda told her that they were finished for the day. The rest all took a cup from Rula and sat around the box of papers, tartan, and the piece of wood that Declan had put back down.
“Spill it,” Rula told him. What do you mean, ‘see stuff’?”
“We know you were not bothered by the ghost cat,” Magda added. Declan sighed.
“I guess we all know each other well,” he started off by saying. “I have seen things all my life. I thought everybody did when I was a kid but I just don’t say anything. It makes life easier.”
“What sorts of things?” Sam asked and was genuinely interested.
“I sometimes go into a room and see somebody standing in the corner. Maybe they’re wearing clothes from another time, and to me they look quite real. Then they fade away.”
“Wow,” Katie said, breathing out. “That is fabulous. Can you describe them in detail?”
“You mean you could paint them?” Magda asked Katie, and she nodded.
“It would be so exciting.”
Declan smiled and said he would think about it the next time it happened.
“I sometimes see buildings that once stood on an empty spot,” he added. He looked at Magda. “You know where you turn off to go to Merle’s ranch?” Magda and Sam both nodded. “There was a small log cabin there once upon a time and a woman works in the garden. It was probably part of a community that has gone but I don’t see the rest of it.”
“Merle would love to know that. She can sense things herself but I bet she hasn’t a clue about a ghost cabin,” Magda said. “Can we tell her?”
“I don’t mind friends knowing that it happens to me.”
“What did you see just now?” Rula went back to the original question.
“I saw,” he hesitated and cl
osed his eyes to remember, “a sort of ancient warrior, but not native American.”
“Describe him,” Katie said and picked up a pencil and paper.
“Big man with long, untidy, fair hair, leather trousers, bare arms, and rings or some kind of jewelry encircling them.” Katie bent over her quick sketch, and they saw a figure come to life under her hands.
“That’s him, Katie,” Declan said as he took the paper from her. “Leather boots with straps wound around his legs I think as well.” She took the paper back and added the suggestion of the leather ties around his legs.
“Katie, you are a genius,” Magda told her. Katie handed it over.
“Gift for you,” she smiled. “I’ll try a rose truffle on my way out.”
“You think this figure came with the things from Scotland?” Sam asked Declan who said he didn’t know, but he had never seen the shape before.
“We got that cold breeze both times we opened the box,” Magda observed.
“Let’s do it again then,” Rula suggested, closed the box, and looked around. “Here goes.”
She flicked open the box and the cool wind whipped at their faces before dying away with a sort of sigh.
“Didn’t see him,” Declan said.
“Well we bought a breath of Scottish air by the feel of it,” Magda said and packed the box away. “We should have a get-together with your cousin and his boss at the dude ranch. Merle has keen insight into these things.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Rula answered. “We haven’t seen Branston in a while, and we have never stopped since this place opened. We need a night off.”
“The new addition is sort of furnished now,” Sam said and glanced at Magda. “We could give it a first use.” Magda agreed it was a brilliant idea and told them she would get in touch with Branston and see when they were free.
“We need a couple of days in the woods to set up the tree house,” Declan added for Sam’s benefit.
“This week the get-together, and next week the camping trip,” Sam answered as they locked up and went their separate ways.
“Pizza calls,” Magda said as she put the box of Scottish things in the trunk. “Let’s go.”
The cats were delighted to see them back home and tried to look as if a pizza was just what they needed. Magda found them some cat treats instead. The pizza was quickly eaten, along with a beer each and some ice cream.
“Well what did you think about asking everyone to the newly furnished addition?” Sam asked as he draped an arm over her shoulders and let Crystal climb onto his knee.
“One of your good ideas. It looks really good.”
“What about us moving in there instead of running two houses?” Sam queried tentatively.
“I know we said that we would wait til’ the wedding, but there is so much to organize.” She snuggled, wrapping her arm around his waist. “What would you like to do?”
“This is a whole new Magda,” he smiled. “I am thrown off balance.” She sat up and looked at him.
“We don’t have to get married if it scares you to death,” she protested, and he pulled her close and stopped the talking with a kiss.
“Stop being the old Magda,” he said when he came up for air. “I would have the wedding next week. I have been waiting since you were fifteen.” He took a breath. “But women and weddings, it’s a whole new world for me.”
Magda laughed. “Let’s name a day and work toward it.”
“Really?” he asked. “Really? Sounds good to me.”
“What about late August? The tourist season is winding down. I am thinking a fancy meal at Michele’s restaurant and the service at the chapel.”
“Wow,” Sam said. “I never expected that. You have been thinking about it.”
“Of course, I have, you idiot. I can be a soppy romantic on occasion.” She kissed his cheek, “And I do love you, Sam.”
“That is a good decision. Love you too. Let’s go for it,” he told her and stood up. “I’ll go and get that box from the trunk.”
He came back with the box and set it on the floor. Crystal and little Pushkin reacted as one, arched their backs and hissed violently at the box on the floor. Abigail and Irina retreated behind the couch, and Crystal stalked around the new object in the room on stiff legs and with her fur on end.
“I have never seen her do that before,” Magda said and tried to pick the cat up. Crystal hissed at Magda, and that had never happened before either. Sam did the obvious thing and picked up the box. He put it on the coffee table and the cats calmed down a little bit. As he sat back down, Crystal eased over and hid under his legs. Magda picked up Pushkin and stroked him gently.
“His heart is beating really fast,” she said to Sam. “What a strange reaction to a box.”
Sam reached over and opened the box. He heard a hiss from Crystal and lifted out the piece of wood. Crystal was not angry anymore. She was definitely frightened, and both she and Pushkin raced to join the other two behind the seat.
“There is something very strange about this box and this wood,” Magda said. “I’ll put it back in the car. The cats are scared.” Sam nodded and they packed the box up and he took it back to the trunk. As soon as the box was out of the room, all the cats came cautiously out of their hiding place and Magda called for them to come and sit on the couch.
It took a good half hour before they had returned to normal.
“That box can stay at the café or somewhere else,” Magda decided. “I can’t have the cats reacting like that.”
Magda reached across and took her tablet from the table. She was checking emails when Crystal stood on her hind paws, rested her front ones on Magda, and then swiped the screen.
“Oh, no,” Magda cried. “Don’t start that nonsense.” Then she looked at the email that had appeared after the cat hit the screen. She pointed it out to Sam. It was the one from the people in Scotland saying that they hoped the box arrived safely.
Then the phone rang.
3
Sam answered his phone and heard Declan. There was a problem that he wanted to sort out with the construction and wondered if he could come over for a quick word. Sam said it was fine and hung up.
“You know this camping trip?” Magda asked, and Sam looked at her with a smile.
“You fancy coming along?”
She nodded and smiled back.
“I wouldn’t get in the way, and I would like to hunt for wild raspberries if the owner wouldn’t mind.”
“Wild raspberries?” he queried, and she told him about another center she wanted to try, making brandy-raspberry syrup for another truffle.
“If the raspberries are local, that is an added attraction for customers, and there is a local distillery for the brandy as well.”
Sam said he would call the owner, a man called Jeff Carnoustie, and check. By the time he had finished the call and given her the thumbs-up, Declan was at the door and the cats all came out to rub against his legs.
“What a big boy you are growing into,” he said to Pushkin and picked up the black-and-white cat. Pushkin purred really loudly.
“Fancy a beer?” Sam asked, and fetched three bottles from the fridge. Magda left the two men to peer at the technicalities of the construction and sat looking up the recipe for raspberry brandy. A long time ago, someone had given her a glass of the homemade syrupy liquid and she could still remember how delicious it was. It looked fairly simple in that you added raspberries to brandy and left it to mature.
“So, if we change the base construction,” Sam concluded, “the rest should be safe.” Declan agreed, and Magda joined in to say that she wanted to come along.
“Okay by me,” Declan told her. Sam then told him about the way the cats reacted to the box from Scotland.
“Shall we try it again?” Magda asked. Sam went to get the box from the car. As soon as the box came into the living room, the cats did the same thing. Abigail and Irina went to hide, and Crystal along with Pushkin hissed at the box.
As the box was opened, Crystal arched her back and stalked all around. Declan picked up the piece of wood and both cats ran to hide behind the couch. He put it back down and they closed the box and moved it to the kitchen.
“You didn’t see the man this time?” Magda asked, but Declan shook his head.
“There is something strange here though,” he said. “It is a beautiful piece of wood, and I am guessing very old.”
“I’ll read the notes they sent. Maybe there is a clue there somewhere,” Magda added.
“I can take it home and see if my cats have the same reaction,” Declan offered, and the offer was taken up immediately.
“Talking of wood,” Magda said, “would you consider letting me put some of your sculptures in the café?”
Declan protested that they were only his own hobby and not really made to sell, but Magda told him that they were beautiful and he should not be so modest.
“Okay,” he answered with a shrug, “it can’t do any harm. Come over and choose what you would like.”
“Sounds great, thanks. Tomorrow night maybe,” Magda told him and grinned, “and I can look at the cat exercise area as well.”
“Oh Lord,” Sam groaned. “I thought you had forgotten about that.” Magda gave him a punch on the arm.
“This is me, Sam Barnes. Would I forget something like that?” Sam held his hands out in a gesture of resignation and Declan told him to just give in and build it.
“Thanks Declan,” Magda said. “And thanks for letting me have some of the sculptures.” The carpenter left carrying the piece of ancient Scottish wood, and when the door was closed, the cats finally came out of hiding. Crystal stalked around the box but didn’t hiss, and Pushkin went right up to the box and rubbed against it.
“So, it wasn’t the box. It was the wood,” Sam observed. Magda picked up the tartan material and the notes from the distillery.
“And it isn’t any of these things. At least I can review the history in peace.”