Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series)

by J. M. Griffin

  “That was interesting. You’ll be on your guard now, won’t you, Linty?” Cullen remarked with a shake of his head as he dusted off his fingertips. “You bumble around and create enemies wherever you go. Did you learn that in America?”

  I rounded on Cullen in full temper. “I learned a lot in America, and I don’t need you to badger me about my actions. I’m old enough to look after myself and my affairs. If you want to help, fine, if you don’t, then get the hell out.” Why the man kept at me when I needed support, and less criticism, irritated me. My father, Smythe, Cullen, Uncle Charles, all of them did nothing but tell me what to do, and throw me under the proverbial bus. Good Christmas.

  His soft laughter filtered across the room as I endeavored to control my fear-fueled anger. Fear, a foreign concept for me, filled my plate and ran over the edges of it since I’d arrived in Scotland. Damn, it was unfair.

  My hands clenched into fists at my sides, I stared at Cullen, struggled to regulate my breathing, my anger, and my feelings for him. I turned away, walked toward the dragons and then, over my shoulder, I asked, “Smythe has power where the gaunts are concerned, doesn’t he?”

  Close behind me, he said, “Some, yes. He thinks he has more than he actually does, but they do listen to him. Whether they follow his advice is in question. You found out more about Smythe than I thought you would, Linty. Good job. This isn’t criticism, but I would like to mention that you should keep information close and use it only as needed. You’ll have a better chance at meeting what comes, by knowing the players behind the scenes. Now that Smythe knows you’re aware of his client list, you’re both at an advantage and disadvantage.”

  “Both? How can that be?”

  “Your advantage being that you realize he’s involved with the gaunts and will be able to point the finger in his direction if problems arise. The disadvantage is that he’ll be much more discreet in his actions with the gaunts, who will now blatantly try to snatch the dragons. Our visit to Bànach paved the way for more frequent and devious visits. Even though these grounds are hallowed, the hallows aren’t consecrated, but merely revered and respected enough to have kept intruders from breaking down the door. Since you’ve already had strange company, that respect has diminished. There must be something in the book that could help you. Have you made progress?”

  Anger fled, despair took its place, and I shook my head. I turned away from the dragons and touched the top of Drake’s skull. My fingers played down his spine as I walked around him and studied the beauty of his carved scales. Why can’t I read the book? I wondered.

  The response was immediate as I stopped in front of him to stare into his molten eyes. You can, you need only allow what you read to manifest itself.

  The silence in the room brought my glance to Cullen. He stood regarding the two of us and then asked, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I gave a shrug and said I hadn’t any idea. The hours I lost each time I read the book had begun to make me nervous.

  “I lose time after I open the book. Would you have any idea why?” I asked.

  His eyes narrowed and he remarked, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I wasn’t aware of it until a short time ago.”

  “Be careful, don’t tell anyone else, I’ll be back later.”

  As he walked away, I asked, “Were you lying about the dragon’s return?”

  He stopped and nodded. “I have no idea where it is, or where Daniel is, either. You’d better not be helping him, Linty.”

  I stared at him as he raised a brow, stepped close, and shook me by the shoulders. “You know where he is, don’t you?”

  “I do not.”

  “Don’t lie.”

  “I’m not.”

  He stepped back, shook his head, and said, “I’m leaving.”

  Once he was gone, I hurried to the cottage and found it empty. No note, nothing to show Daniel had ever been present, I went from room to room, glanced out the rear windows, and then returned to the house knowing Daniel must have left when Mrs. Douglas arrived and turned off the alarm.

  “There’s been a phone call for you, Linty,” Mrs. Douglas said as I came through the door.

  “Any message?” I asked.

  “Your father is on his way.”

  “Great,” I mumbled and scooted toward the dragons.

  “Would you like me to make lunch for the two of you to have later?” Mrs. Douglas called after me.

  “If you would, please,” I answered, and veered back into the kitchen. “I got sick after dinner last night. Could there have been something wrong with the beef?”

  Her surprise showed as her eyes widened. “Not that I know of. It was a fresh cut from the market.”

  I pulled the roast from the fridge and assured the woman that I’d been sick from it.

  “I’ll throw it out, but it was fresh,” Mrs. Douglas insisted.

  “You’re probably right, but let’s be on the safe side, shall we?”

  The woman nodded and did as asked. I heard the metal cover clang noisily when she plunked it on the bin. The dragons awaited me and I returned to the book. I’d been scouring the pages for a short time when my father parked his car and I put the book away to meet him.

  His smile was far from warm as he entered the house and settled across from me after I’d ushered him into Gran’s library. I sat behind the desk where Smythe had read the will and he faced me, lounging comfortably in a broad leather chair.

  “While I was away, I acquired information on the hallows here at Dragon Hill. In conjunction with that, I’ve found some rather disturbing facts on Cullen Vaughn and his tribe,” Dad said with contempt.

  “Why waste your time on Cullen Vaughn?”

  “Because he has undue influence on you, Linty.”

  “You think so?” I asked and arched a brow. He’d been a lousy father, in absentia for most of my life, had neglected his fatherly duties, and now wanted to play Dad? Spare me. I tamped down my resentment and frustration, knowing both were useless emotions.

  “Tell me he doesn’t,” Dad remarked.

  “To some extent, I listen to him. But make no mistake, Dad, I make up my own mind. I won’t be bullied or ordered around by anyone, no matter who it is.” While this wasn’t the first time I’d said as much, it fell on deaf ears, that much was certain.

  “Linty, you can’t be content here at Dragon Hill. You’re too young and lively to be tied down to the dragons and the responsibility that goes with owning them. I’d be more than happy to take the weight of them off your shoulders, that way you can get on with your life.”

  Ah, so he wanted control of the dragons. I had suspected as much and my surprise by his offer was short lived. He’d tried valiantly to rid me of them and now he’d owned up to the fact that he wanted the dragons for himself. As if that would ever happen.

  “Why do you think Gran appointed me the care of the dragons instead of allowing you to take it on?” I asked softly.

  His manner matched mine and the game being played made my nerves screech as would a poorly strung violin.

  Dad ignored my question. He leaned forward, clasped his hands together and placed his elbows on his knees. “You must admit there have been drastic changes for you in the past few weeks, Linty. It’s disturbing to think you’ll end up like Mother did. I received word that you’ve had a break-in, that strangers have been hanging about, and you’ve also been visited by the very enemies Mother kept at arm’s length. Explain how that’s a healthy atmosphere for you.”

  I said, “I don’t explain it, I dealt with it. End of story.” I tipped my head to the side and stared at him. “Tell me, why, after all these years of little contact that you would now want to be my savior?”

  His face tightened as he started to speak.

  With a raised hand, I said, “I’m not harping about feelings of abandonment, Dad, I simply wonder why you would want to step up and fill the dragon keeper shoes. You’d have to live here, not go wandering about the
way you always have. I find it difficult to believe you’d be content with the lifestyle a dragon keeper offers.”

  With a shrug, Dad said, “I’m ready to settle down, and I’ve retired. My wish is to live here.”

  “You aren’t welcome to live here, I will continue on as dragon keeper, and that’s all there is to it. My restoration business keeps me quite busy, and I have contact with the outside world, Dad. You act as if I’ve left the planet and live on Mars, or something. The dragons are mine to care for, I take that seriously and can fend for myself, though I do appreciate your offer.” The answer wasn’t as comforting as I’d wanted it to be, but I’d extended my appreciation in the best manner possible. He had real nerve to interfere in my personal business, if he even knew what was happening.

  Dad fiddled with his car keys, looked up, and changed tactics. “You met with Bànach, did you not?”

  My breath caught in my throat as I nodded.

  “Did he answer your questions over who took the dragon?”

  “What else do you know?” I asked abruptly.

  “I hear things, Linty. You did meet with Bànach?”

  “I did, he was quite interesting . . . creepy, but interesting.”

  “You don’t plan to do business with him, do you?”

  “He told me who he thought took the dragon. He was wrong, just as I knew he would be,” I answered.

  His expression grew stiff and Dad insisted, “Will you do business with him?”

  I rose from the desk chair, pushed it back in place and calmly said, “No, I plan to kill him.” With that, I walked from the room and left my father with a shocked look on his face.

  In the kitchen, I told Mrs. Douglas I would be out for a while and that my father would stay for lunch.

  Chapter 19

  Car keys inserted in the ignition, I started the engine and drove into the village. Sutter’s Inn lay to my left as I pulled to the curb and noticed Cullen’s car sat two cars ahead of mine.

  The desk clerk rang his room and requested Cullen meet me in the Inn’s restaurant. I took a table that allowed me to see who came and went, and offered a clear view of the street from the nearby windows.

  My attention wandered, and I never saw him enter, but felt the electricity from his proximity instead. Cullen pulled a chair out, sat adjacent to me, and said, “You look lost.”

  “A tad weary, is all. I know what you think of me, and frankly, you may be right. I do act on impulse, and in the present circumstances that can incur problems.”

  “You don’t know what I think, but yes, you’re right about your impulsiveness. It can place you in jeopardy.” He leaned back and asked, “Tell me, what brings you by?”

  The waiter brought cups, tea, and dainty sandwiches. I looked at them and smiled as thoughts of American restaurants popped into my head. There weren’t many places in the States that offered fare such as this. Instead, an overflowing plate of food would be served. I plucked a sandwich off the dish while the waiter poured tea.

  Around the bite-sized sandwich, I said, “We need to partner up to find the dragon and read the book. Together, I mean.”

  “Sure you’re up for that?” Cullen asked with a keen gaze.

  “I am. You have contacts I don’t have, you’re connected to people that I have no idea about, and that’s just for starters,” I admitted.

  “There’s not much to be done from the Inn. If I move into the house, I can help you find the answers we need and can keep you safe,” Cullen said. “If that’s what you want, that is. I also want to know what’s in it for me?”

  He wanted to move in? Into my house? With me? Could I handle being around him 24/7? Would I be stepping into the spider’s parlor, so to speak? Good grief.

  “There’s always an angle with you, isn’t there?” I countered. My appetite had disappeared, my hands shook, and I tucked them into my lap, under the table, so he wouldn’t see.

  “I have my own interests. One of them being the book, what it contains, and how to free the dragons without triggering a catastrophic war. The other reasons, well, we’ll just say I require payment for my efforts.”

  With a snort, I scoffed, “There will be no freeing of the dragons.” Then I murmured, “You sound like my father. He has offered to take over as dragon keeper. When I asked why Gran didn’t give him the job in the first place, he refused to answer.”

  “He’s serious, then?”

  “I’d say so, yes, though I told him he wasn’t welcome to live at Dragon Hill.”

  Cullen leaned forward, tapped his fingers on the table and said, “He’s not to be trusted with the dragons.”

  My laughter was loud, causing disconcerted looks from guests and staff alike. I covered my mouth with my napkin while I continued to chuckle. “He said the same thing about you. I guess there’s no love lost there, eh?”

  His slanted look said I was right. “I never said I was perfect, completely honest, or an upstanding sort. I have told you repeatedly that I have an agenda. Like it, or not, you’re aware of that.”

  “Must you move into the house?”

  A smile formed on his lips and he asked, “What better way to assist you, than to be at your side?”

  “Don’t think you’ll have control over me, Cullen. That’s not going to happen, not in a million years.”

  “We don’t have that long,” he parried with a grin.

  “Mm, so it seems.” I finished the tea, wolfed another sandwich bite, for they were small wedges, and told him to give me a day to get a room prepared for him and to let Mrs. Douglas know he’d be in residence.

  I neared the car when Cullen reached out and wrapped his fingers around my arm. “Before you leave, why come to me all of a sudden?”

  “You’re the only person I trust, though I have no idea why. Others would like to see me leave Scotland and abandon the dragons, you aren’t one of them, and I appreciate that.”

  He stared at me, looked away and then said in a soft tone, “We can defeat those who would use the dragons for their own purposes, Linty. Have trust in that, if nothing else.”

  I nodded as he left me on the sidewalk, and stared after him.

  My watch showed I’d been gone an hour. Mrs. Douglas would leave soon, and God knows if Dad was still at the estate, I had but a brief period of freedom left to do as I pleased. Unwilling to have another verbal altercation with my father, I drove through the village and took a left onto Evan Cairn’s land.

  Chopped wood straggled across one side of the property next to a workshop of sorts. I smiled as chickens scattered when I slowed and parked in front of the cottage. The front door opened, Evan strode forth and greeted me with drawn brows and a frown. Maybe this visit hadn’t been as good an idea as I’d thought.

  I left the driver’s seat and smiled in greeting. “I don’t remember ever visiting your place, Evan. Since you haven’t been at the estate for the last day or so, I thought I might check to see if all is well.”

  His eyes narrowed a tad before he motioned me toward the cottage and invited me to sit down.

  “Lass, it’s been hectic around here. You’re aware that Daniel has been hunted by unruly men over the loss of your dragon, aren’t you?”

  “I am,” I said with a nod. “Has Daniel told you that I think he’s innocent?”

  “Aye, but that holds less weight in these parts than you’d think, Linty.”

  We sat in hand-hewn chairs in front of the house and I gazed around the property. A woman’s touch was needed in the worst way, but I’d never say as much. “How long will it be before you return to work? The property is coming along nicely, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow. You must try to call off Vaughn’s men, lass. I need Daniel’s help and can’t be worrying all the time over whether my son has been beaten to a pulp, or that he’s dead.”

  “Consider it done. Speaking of dead,” I said, and watched Evan closely. “Who were the people who assisted Gran in placing the woman under
the stair, and was she definitely my mother?”

  “I’ve no idea, lass. All that happened long ago, and you shouldn’t worry yerself over it. You’ve greater problems before ya, don’t ya?”

  His accent so thick, I nearly didn’t get what he’d said, until it made sense to me that he’d sidestepped all, and would have done so if he was involved. I sucked in a breath at the thought and rose from my seat and glanced at my watch. “Thanks for your hard work, I’ll see you tomorrow. Tell Daniel he’s safe, won’t you?”

  His nod accompanied an odd look that gave me the jitters. Gone was the friendly man who’d come to the house and made himself available for work. Was he indeed one of the people who helped Gran with my mother’s body? Had he killed Gran? Who the hell had done those deeds, if it wasn’t him? I knew Gran had been killed, she’d said as much. Dying people know these things, don’t they? Smythe’s face popped into my head and my suspicions of his involvement in Gran’s death came forth.

  I left the man and his home behind me, and returned to Dragon Hill. My father was gone, Mrs. Douglas was sullen, and I wasn’t about to take her on after the morning I’d had. At least, I thought not.

  In the dragons’ lair once again, I’d set the book on the table and was about to begin my efforts to read it when Mrs. Douglas marched forward, a glass of raspberry iced tea and a dish of cookies in her hands.

  “You might as well have slapped your father’s face, Linty, when you left so abruptly. It was rude and unbecoming behavior.”

  I waited but a second before I responded in kind. “Did I ask for your opinion, Mrs. Douglas?”

  The woman was affronted, and we both knew it.

  “Pardon me, Linty, but there’s no need to be so rude, to the help, or to your family,” she said with a sniff.

  “Be that, as it may, this is my house and my wishes should be respected. If my father had ever acted like a real father, maybe I’d have more regard for him. As it stands, he thinks I’m still a child to be ordered about. He will not live here and interfere in my life, or take control of the dragons. Is there anything else you wish to discuss or have I made myself clear?”