Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series)

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Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series) Page 9

by J. M. Griffin


  “I’m unsure,” Dad said with a shrug of one shoulder.

  “So how do we find out? I’m unwilling to begin a trial and error solution, especially if I end up with a slew of dragons walking the earth, breathing fire, and doing as they please. That scares the bejeepers out of me, Dad.”

  “Me, too. There has to be a book here somewhere, filled to the brim with information on what to do, and not do, where the dragons are concerned. And, by the way, when I mentioned the key, I wasn’t talking literally.”

  “According to Drake, there’s a key that unlocks the secret to the dragons. Whether it’s a spell, or incantation, or a darned rubber stamp, I don’t know, I just know there’s a key.” I didn’t say the door at the end of the upstairs corridor was locked, and that I hoped that’s where the key came into play. Not giving up that information to anyone, nope, never.

  “Be prepared for a variety of visitors who will try to wrest the dragons from you. Stand strong and firm, and refuse their financial offers, or they’ll never leave you alone. The situation might take a dangerous turn, as well if someone tries to steal them.”

  “Easy for you to say, you’re not the dragon keeper, but I’ll do my best. Wouldn’t the dragons have been stolen when Gran went to the hospital? No one was about when I arrived.”

  “I’m sure Mrs. Douglas employed a watcher.”

  “You mean someone was keeping an eye on the place until I arrived?” I shivered and thought back to my sense of not having been alone when I went to the cemetery and on my walk through the woods.

  “I’m sure of it. Mrs. Douglas knows there must be someone present if the house is empty for extended periods of time. She knows more about that than I do. You might ask her.” Taryn shook his head and said, “Mother couldn’t have been thinking clearly when she dumped this responsibility onto your shoulders. I should have paid more attention to what she was up to, even though she never mentioned feeling unwell. Had she said as much to you?”

  Gathering the dinner plates and leftovers, I put them on the counter and rinsed the plates in the sink before stacking them in the dishwasher. These actions gave me time to think, to form an answer that wouldn’t sound bitchy. It would serve everyone well if I eased off on my resentment, even though it boiled just below the surface.

  When I’d finished setting things right, I leaned against the counter with arms folded and mentioned Gran had been under the weather for a while, but that she had refused to say how poorly she felt. “She realized she was being poisoned at the end, with no idea how. I’m working the possibilities out in my mind as I deal with the overwhelming issues at hand.”

  Dad heaved a sigh. “What I’d like to know is, who had access to Mother besides Mrs. Douglas? Vaughn was here, but not daily, and he never made her meals, did he? What about Smythe, has Mrs. Douglas mentioned how often he was about the place and if he was alone with Gran for any length of time?”

  I shook my head. “I’m not aware of Vaughn cooking for her. He did say they would visit and have a meal, but I always thought Mrs. Douglas had prepared them. As for Smythe, he came and went as he pleased, I guess. Whoever poisoned Gran, it would be someone who could come and go without being suspected.” I ran my hands over my face, yawned and said, “Good grief, I’m tired.”

  The chair scraped against the floor as Dad rose. He tossed back the remainder of the whiskey and handed me the glass. “Thanks for dinner, and I appreciate you not tossing me out or disbelieving what I’ve said. I must go to London tomorrow, but I’ll return in a few days. Trust no one, stay sharp, and be on your guard, Linty. Whatever you do, be careful someone doesn’t poison you as well.” He kissed my forehead, and I walked him to the door.

  I flicked the outer lights on as he took the front steps on light feet. Briefly, he turned and waved and then left the property. I stepped back, locked up, and wandered through the house onto the rear patio. One way to reach the patio was through the kitchen door, the other was through double French doors in Gran’s library.

  The evening’s conversation rolled through my head as would a freight train in overdrive. Try as I might, I couldn’t fathom all that had been shoveled into my brain. I worried over the peril of awakening the dragons, if that was even possible, or if I should leave them as they were now. The softness of the chair cushions relaxed me, and I stared at the stars in the sky, all the while wondering where a dragon’s natural habitat lay. Would they live in Katmandu or someplace in the far reaches of China or Russia? A place uninhabited by humans? Those places were becoming more and more rare as people filled the planet to the brink of failure. Gone was the possibility of living in the wilderness where a natural lifestyle could be maintained. Even Alaska was becoming overpopulated, and that was a shame. One day there’d be no wildlife. I sighed, brought my thoughts back to Dad’s warnings and then jumped when Cullen Vaughn stepped from the darkness into the light.

  “What are you trying to do, scare me to death?” I yelled.

  He put his hands up and said, “Sorry lass. I thought your father would never leave, and I wanted to give you time to relax. You’re looking a bit stressed.” He dragged a chair next to mine and stared at me.

  Sarcastically, I said, “I thought I’d have some peace and quiet time to myself, you know?”

  He nodded, smiled, and said, “Get use to being interrupted, you’re about to suffer the consequences that are common for a dragon keeper. Men, and women, alike, will come to you with all sorts of deals, queries, stories, and whatnot to pave their way to a dragon purchase.”

  “So my father says. It’s going to be a royal pain in the ass, for sure, and scary as all get out. I plan to tell them all to leave and never return, because the dragons are not for sale.” I glanced at him and gawked at his amused expression. “You think this is funny? I think it rots, and that I may be in for a bit of trouble from these seekers. Am I in danger?”

  “I don’t think the situation is funny, just your American attitude. You’d never know you were born in Scotland, or lived here as a small child if it wasn’t for the slight hint of the brogue you never quite lost. You’ve become quite Americanized.” He chuckled and then turned serious. “I’ll watch over you, but you must be on your guard. The dragons can’t help you in their present state, and if you do wake them, it could be disastrous for everyone.”

  “You believe they can be awakened, then? Or were you eavesdropping while my father was here?”

  “I admit, I did hear what was said, but I already know more about the dragons than your father ever will. I’ve been down the road you are currently travelling, lass. It’s rough, pot-holed, and bumpy as hell. We’ll traverse it together, and I’ll do what I can to assist you.”

  “Why?” I really needed to know.

  “Because you’re worth it.” He stared into my eyes until I looked away.

  “You don’t know that,” I murmured.

  “Ah, you’re wrong, I do know,” he whispered and took my hand in his.

  Electricity from his grasp sent shock waves along my arms. I was on fire, all the way to my soul. I pulled away from his touch as his eyes glittered. Was the man half-dragon? Did he have dragon blood? Where had those thoughts come from? Don’t be silly.

  “Would you care for a drink?” I asked.

  “No, sitting here with the stars dancing in the moonlight is enough for me. Thankfully, it’s not raining.”

  “Then tell me, what kind of key am I supposed to find, if any?”

  “The key isn’t what you should be worrying about, it’s the book you need to find. It will explain everything. The book holds clues to the key. You’ll be in danger. Many want the book, many have tried to find it, and many have killed for it, only to find what they seek is beyond their reach.”

  Holy hell. I shivered, sank farther into the chair, and wished I’d never heard of dragons, folklore, or even become a book restoration specialist.

  “In your career, have you come across books that have mentioned dragon keys?”

&nbs
p; “Not that I remember. I deal with rich collectors of mostly ancient ecumenical tomes that deal with the Roman Empire, Christianity, and the like. First issue bibles, that sort of thing. Rarely do I take time to read them all, but I have had the honor of dealing with artisan works in book form, though. It’s all fascinating.”

  “Then we’ll have to seek out those who have books on dragons and see if they need your services. I’ll put the word out tomorrow.” Vaughn glanced at his watch and then said, “Make that today.” He stood up, said goodnight, and sure footedly walked into the darkness from which he came.

  Yikes, I’d been told many things throughout this night, more than I could comprehend even. I raced indoors, plucked a notebook from Gran’s desk and scribbled as much as I could of the evening’s happenings. I read it over to see if I’d left anything important out. I sat back, peered through the office doorway and took a moment or two to view the dragons in the cabinet. Drake, the beautiful beast, stood nearby overseeing the others encased behind glass doors. I turned and asked aloud, “Where will I find the dragon book? What is the book I am looking for, what does it hold that I must know?”

  He said nothing, his eyes didn’t glow, he remained still and silent. I gave him a haughty glare, returned to the sofa with the notepad, and shoved aside the photo albums from the closet in Gran’s room. I read the notes again and then pulled the albums closer.

  Leisurely, I flipped through the pages of one album I hadn’t viewed. Quietness pervaded the house, the night, and my mind. My eyes grew heavy and I must have drifted off. How long I slept wasn’t important, but the thump when the album hit the floor woke me with a start. I heard a tinkle as something tumbled across the floor and landed under the sofa. I leaned forward, felt for what had slipped from the album and touched the edge of metal.

  I crouched down on my knees and stuck my hand farther under the sofa to bring forward what felt like a key. I stared at the old fashioned skeleton key that I turned over and over in my hand. Was this the key to the door? I stumbled back as I stood up, took the stairs two at a time and ran full-tilt down the hallway, flicking each light switch as I went.

  The sturdy oak door loomed ahead. I shoved the key into the lock, gave it a swift turn and listened to the lock tumble. I hit the switch and bright light illuminated the dustiest room I’d ever seen. It was filled to the brink with boxes and crates stacked high, along with furniture and more oddments than I thought could possibly be stored in an area this small.

  A narrow path traveled maze-like through the many objects stored within. I brushed off my clothes as I made my way past dusty covers sloped haphazardly over various objects. Boxes with discolored tags and postmarks from foreign shores were stacked atop one another in a crazy zigzag way. It would take time to search all of this. Surely one of these precious finds would hold the book, right?

  As exhaustion settled over me, I moved toward the door, shut off the lights and closed up behind me. I leaned back against the solid oak, wondered what hid in the boxes and bins, and felt a chill that made the hairs on my arms stand straight out.

  Chapter 9

  Blankets lay twisted and jumbled around my body and left me to wonder if I’d gotten any sleep. I’d tossed and turned into the wee hours and now watched sunlight stream through the windows. I disentangled myself and prepared for another suspense-filled day. An exploration topped my list. The room at the end of the hall held history and hopefully, the book I so desperately sought.

  After a quick breakfast, I once again unlocked the oak door and closed it behind me. The window at the end of the room offered dim light and I flicked the light switch before I started to search through loads of boxes, three chests of drawers, and a multitude of bags that had flopped open. Instantly, I’d become covered in dust.

  Half an hour later, clouds of dust particles floated through the air and I coughed and hacked as if a lung was trying to escape my chest. I propped the window open to let fresh air in, which only made the dust fly everywhere and made the cloud even denser. I gave up for a while and returned to the first floor to sit on the patio. Breathing in the fresh scent of pine trees, I thought hard about the direction my life had taken.

  Questions without satisfactory answers filled my head to the brink of bursting. Why had I, of all people, been allotted the role of dragon keeper? I liked to think Gran considered me capable, though she could have thought I was more likely to accept the challenge than the others, who would surely have gotten rid of the dragons and opened the world up to complete chaos. Would I become besieged by those who thought me an easy mark, one who would willingly give up the dragons with little or no thought at all, especially if the price was right? That answer came fast and furious. I would be overwhelmed with offers, threats, cajoling, and then the seekers would turn into enemies who’d do what they must without conscience, in order to attain the dragon they needed to complete their set. What were Vaughn’s intentions? He’d just met me and had already taken on the role of protector, or had he? No reasonable answer for that one. I shook my head, left the patio, and wandered onto the grounds.

  The cottage sat a short distance from the house. I wondered if it was used for storage or a guest house of sorts. With the amount of bedrooms in the main building, I would have thought there’d be no need for a guest house. I peered through windows that wound around the structure and noted the rooms were empty of furnishings. Bare floors were dust laden and most likely hadn’t been cleaned in eons, nor had anything else. The windows were grimy, making it hard to discern how dirty the place actually was.

  I turned back to the house and found Evan Cairn standing a few feet away, staring at me, a half smile on his face. His brogue thick, he asked, “Something I can do for ye, lass?”

  “Where’s the key to this building?”

  “Above the door, though it’s not been locked in all the years I’ve worked the grounds, Miss.”

  “Call me Linty,” I said as I drew closer to him. I turned to give the place a once over. “What was it used for? I don’t recollect its use from my visits to the estate.” It might need a new roof and some serious cleaning, but then, what would I use it for? I had no friends to invite for a stay and didn’t want the family to interfere with my life. They’d never been concerned before, why let them in now?

  “Years ago, the Laird had guests and the family entertained quite a lot. As successors passed on, entertaining lessened, and then only your grandmother lived here. If you don’t mind my asking, lass, why didn’t you live here with her? She talked proudly of you and your education, and the like.”

  Surprised at the revelation, and his question, I didn’t immediately answer him. When I glanced up, I saw a gleam of interest in his eyes and glanced away.

  “I was sent to America for my education, to boarding schools, and such. I returned to Scotland on holiday vacations, but was never invited to stay on a permanent basis.” I stared at the ground, then at my fingernails, and the dirt on my hands from fumbling through boxes and bins in the oak room, and suddenly wondered if I was an entire mess.

  “Excuse me, I must get back to work,” I said. Before I walked away, I asked, “When was the last time the grounds were dealt with?”

  “Months and months ago, lass. Yer Gran gave me the boot, I know not why. Where would you like me to start?”

  I chuckled, “Why, at the beginning of course, cut the grass, trim the hedges, and keep going.” I shook my head in dismay. “The grounds are a mess.”

  He grinned. “Right, I’ll get started.”

  I nodded, sauntered toward the house and went up the servants’ staircase from the kitchen to the second floor and on into the oak room. The name for the locked room had taken hold and I liked the reference, especially since I hadn’t had to watch a YouTube video on lock picking. I snickered at the thought, and began to search once again. The room needed a thorough cleaning, and figured I would do it myself rather than ask Mrs. Douglas and cause unwanted speculation over why I wanted it done or what I was look
ing for.

  Three hours passed without a sound from downstairs. Mrs. Douglas hadn’t shown up, which left me to my own devices. If she had been here, I’d have been hard pressed to stay upstairs without her wondering why and poking her nose into things I wasn’t sure I wanted her to know. The thought had just popped into my head when I heard her voice from the bottom of the back staircase.

  “Linty, are you coming down for lunch? I’ve made a salad and sandwich for you.”

  I heard her shoes on the stair treads as she climbed them. Hurriedly, I closed the door, raced into my room and stood stock still as I gaped at myself covered in dirt and dust. I fled into the bathroom, turned on the shower and stripped off my clothes as she came into the bedroom.

  “Linty,” she called.

  “Yes?”

  “Your lunch is ready. Come along down when you’re done in there.”

  “Okay,” I called and scrubbed away the grime that covered me from head-to-toe. I dressed quickly and headed for the kitchen.

  A keen look followed me as I crossed the room. I gathered the food onto a tray and said I’d eat on the patio since the day was glorious. The housekeeper smiled and said she’d bring some iced tea out for me.

  I sat in the sun, ate the food and drank the tea Mrs. Douglas had prepared in the pitcher she had left for me. The patio was enormous, made of flat stones, and held a few loungers and chairs, but no tables.

  I glanced up when Mrs. Douglas came outside to ask if I wanted more food. “Is there no table and chairs for this patio?”

  “They were in desperate disrepair and your Gran got rid of them. Grant Gentile has a shop in the village where you can find a new set if you’re of a mind.”

  “Perfect. I’ll take a ride down later. Evan is here, at work on the grounds. I’d like to get the estate back in shape, but I think he might need a hand or it will be winter again before he makes a dent in what needs doing. Maybe I should ask him if he has anyone in mind to help him out.”

 

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