by L. L. Muir
A few minutes in, and his shovel hit something hard. He glanced up to meet Miss Celia’s gaze.
“Did ye hear that?”
She stood, smiling widely. “I certainly did!”
Alan quickly cleared more dirt away and uncovered what looked to be a piece of rusted metal. He threw the shovel to the side, reached out with both hands, and pulled it free.
He stood looking at the thing. “What is it?”
Miss Celia sighed. “It looks to be a broken piece of farming equipment, doesn’t it? Maybe from a plow?”
Alan threw the piece to the side and continued to dig. “Mayhap ’twas a placeholder, so someone could remember where they buried the treasure.”
“Maybe,” Miss Celia said doubtfully.
When he’d cleared a significant area, Miss Celia finally gave up. “I don’t believe it’s here. I think it was the piece of metal that set the detector off.”
“Shall we try another spot?”
“Are you feeling up to it?”
Alan snorted. “O’ course. Lead the way.”
They headed toward the small graveyard and she shot him a teasing glance. “I don’t suppose you see my great-great-grandfather hanging about?”
Alan glanced around, but couldn’t see anyone, wraith or otherwise. “I’m sorry to disappoint, but nae, he doesnae seem to be here.”
Miss Celia laughed.
Olivia ran out the back door holding a piece of cheese for the kitten as Alan settled into work again.
Miss Celia resumed her seat. “My family has lived here from the beginning. In the 1800s, my great-great-grandfather was a sea captain. He actually became quite wealthy from trade with England, as well as up and down the coast. They say he jumped off the top of the house and killed himself after he found his wife with another man.”
At that, Alan glanced at Olivia. “Off the top of the house, ye say?”
“Yes.”
He raised a brow. “Perhaps the upstairs window needs nailing shut.”
She chuckled. “Anyway, as I said, they were quite wealthy, but after he died, no one could find his treasure. The safe that he kept his money in was empty. His wife eventually remarried and was able to keep the house, and the property, but some was sold off over the years.”
Alan hit another piece of metal, quickly dug it out, and pulled it free. This time he had dug up an old pot. He held it up for inspection. “Another spot?”
She led him to a new location and he started in immediately. “Mayhap the man was making sure his funds didnae go to the new husband? A last revenge, so to speak.”
“That’s what the family has always thought.”
“Would such a man bury his money inside the house, or out?”
“I started looking for treasure when I was not much older than Olivia. I do believe if it was inside I’d have found it by now.”
Alan dug up a new piece of unrecognizable metal and held it up for inspection. “Anywhere else to dig?”
Miss Celia sighed. “I had hopes we’d find treasure out here, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.”
“Mayhap he’ll come tonight?”
“Hopefully. He never has in the past.”
“Ye’ve called him before?”
“Oh, my, yes. My friends and neighbors love it, so we hold séances at least twice a year and then search the house afterward.”
“And have ye ever actually called up a ghost?”
She smiled gamely. “Not yet, but we have a lot of fun trying.”
He cupped the shovel handle and leaned his weight on it. “You’re a witch then, Miss Celia?”
She looked delighted by the question and laughed. “Well, I will say I am directly related to one of the ladies that went to jail for witchcraft. She was one of the last spared. If they hadn’t stopped the witch trials, I wouldn’t be here today.” She shot him a wry glance. “Of course, I’m also related to some of the accusers, so my family history isn’t completely beyond reproach.”
“Whose is?” He looked at her with new respect. Had Soni sent him to another witch? “Back in my day, I have to admit, I once had a healthy fear of witches. But, in recent years, I’ve had a change of heart.”
“In your day? I haven’t heard tale of anybody hunting witches in Scotland.”
He studied her and decided to tell the truth. “Aye, nae doubt that’s true in recent years, but I was born in the year of our Lord 1722, a time when witchcraft was much feared.”
Her eyes widened and she chuckled again. “Alan, that would explain so much about you.”
He supposed it would. He dug in the final spot just a few feet from the last place, and found yet another piece of metal and held it up for her to view. “Do ye wish to dig anywhere else?”
Miss Celia sighed and shook her head. “That was the last spot. I was really hoping …” She shrugged. “Great-grandpa had better come through for us tonight is all I can say.”
He placed the chair back under the tree, placed the shovel back in the shed, and walked the ladies to the kitchen door.
Miss Celia stopped to pet the kitten’s head. “Just one more task. You get to tell Lilith about the kitten.” With a laugh the older woman went inside.
Alan looked down at the little girl beside him, the kitten held tightly in her arms.
She shrugged, but the look she gave him was pure trust.
Alan made a sound deep in his throat. “Ach, come then, best to get this over with.”
Chapter 5
Lilith could hear someone coming up the stairs, and knew it was Alan. Heavens, the man even walked in a masculine way. A moment later she heard a slight knock on her door and glanced up.
“What are ye doing?”
She continued to sort clothes. “I’m packing. I think it’s time we bowed to the inevitable, and I need to get to work. We’ll have friends coming to help on Monday morning with the furniture, but I need to get our personal items packed.”
His gaze was uncertain as he walked a few more steps into the room, seeming reluctant. Either he was unsure of his welcome, or acting the gentleman again. Probably the later.
“You’re welcome to come in if you’d like.”
At that, he seemed to relax and moved to stand at the end of the bed.
Once again, her senses seemed to fire on hyper alert. That seemed to happen a lot around this man. She’d been thinking way too much about that kiss. This was absolutely the worst time in her life she should think about starting a relationship. But then, she couldn’t remember being this attracted to a man before. Ever.
The way he watched her every move made her hope he felt the same.
She went to move one of the boxes and he plucked it out of her hands, leaving her disoriented.
“Where would ye like it?”
Well, then. It looked like she had some help. “If you’ll just place it on top of that box over there.” She pointed to indicate the growing pile in her closet.
“That’s a big closet.”
“Yes. Especially for the era the house was built. This is actually the master bedroom. Grandma insisted I have it when we moved in as she was already down the hall. She’s an early riser and likes the morning light.”
He set the box on top of two others and looked around the closet.
“Did you ever read the Narnia books? Me and my cousins used to call this The Wardrobe when we were growing up. It seemed magical, like the sort of place you might find adventure by going to another place. It made a good spot for hide and seek anyway.”
“Do ye have anything else I can do for ye? Anything at all?”
She smiled at him. “You really are a sweetie, you know that?”
He ducked his head. “I’ve been without a home a time or two myself.”
“Well, I’m not planning on being homeless, exactly. In fact,” she glanced at the antique clock on the wall. “I have an appointment I need to leave for in a few minutes to go see an apartment.”
“An apartment?”
&nb
sp; “Yes, a three bedroom. I’m hoping it’s nice.” She piled her daughter’s folded clothes.
“I’ll be going with ye then. A woman alone might be taken advantage of.”
She bit her lip. His protective attitude really was super cute. Again, she reminded herself that now was not the time to start a new relationship.
On the other hand, she wouldn’t mind having someone with her. She was already feeling emotional about it, didn’t want to do it, and was upset she had to. Having Alan there might help her keep her emotions under control.
“Are ye ready for tonight?”
“As ready as I ever am for these things. I saw you outside digging around with my grandma. I want you to know how much I appreciate that. She’s wanted to dig those holes for a while now but hasn’t had anyone to help. I don’t suppose you found anything?”
“Nae, I’m sorry, lass.”
He really did seem sorry, which was, again, so sweet.
She placed clothes in the appropriate boxes and decided to finish later. She grabbed her purse and tilted her head. “All right, if you’re sure you want to go?”
He followed her down the stairs, where she checked to see if Grandma would babysit Olivia. She would.
They popped into the cupboard under the stairs to say goodbye to Olivia, who was watching cartoons on the small TV.
Alan looked around in amazement. “What is this place?” He was awed.
Lilith, used to the hidey-hole, looked around the small room as if seeing it for the first time. During her childhood, the place had been carpeted and strewn with toys for the grandchildren. A couple of years ago, Lilith had given it an overhaul with pink paint, plush brown carpet, a big furry white rug, and numerous throw pillows in pinks and greens.
Fairy lights decorated the ceiling, and the wall was covered with a variety of pictures, gaudy necklaces, feathered masks, and boas. “We call it the cupboard under the stairs. You know, after the Harry Potter books.”
“’Tis amazing!” He fingered the furry handcuffs hanging from the metal pipe stuck in the wall and his brows rose. “And what are these for?”
Unexpectedly, she blushed, knocked them from his grasp, and they swung from the pipe before settling. “Trent gave him to me as a joke gift. Olivia liked the feathers, so … never you mind.” She kissed her daughter, and backed out of the small room.
Soon they were on the way out the door and headed to her small Honda. Alan hovered near the driver’s side door and fiddled with the handle for a moment.
Finally, she lifted the handle. “Like this.”
He blushed and opened the door for her, got her settled, and shut the door.
She let out a breath. That had been awkward.
He rounded the car, fumbled a moment before getting his door open, and soon seated himself, the car seeming much smaller with his bulk inside.
She waited, but when he didn’t make a move, told him, “You have to wear your seatbelt.”
He looked at her blankly. She pulled hers away from her front to show him. He glanced around, and managed to pull his seat belt across his chest, and then looked around helplessly.
She held the seatbelt holder and he snapped it in place.
Again, strange.
She started the car, and they took off to the end of the drive.
Alan grabbed the handle over the door with one hand, and the console with the other.
“Are you okay?”
He nodded, but didn’t say anything. His lips were pressed tight and his eyes darted back and forth across the road as they stopped at the end of the lane.
She pulled out into traffic, sped up, and Alan’s hands flailed about as he hit the dashboard, the console, and the side of his seat. He finally ended up holding on to the bar above the door with both hands.
She glanced at him, astonished. “Are you all right?”
“Slow down! Slow the carriage!”
Gaping in astonishment, she pulled the car to the side of the road, frantically glancing around, wondering what she’d missed. She glanced back at him. “What is it? Did I hit something?”
He pressed his fist over his heart. “’Tis … ’tis just that ye were going so fast!”
She gaped at him, at the road, then back at him. “Fast! What are you talking about? I bet we weren’t even going twenty-five!”
Alan took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and she could visibly see him calming. “I’m sorry, lass. ’Tis just that I usually walk everywhere.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. The man obviously had a phobia of some kind, poor guy, and she wondered how he traveled around. “You walk everywhere?”
He nodded. “Aye. And ride on horseback at times.”
She thought about the way he’d walked to her place and touched his arm. “You poor thing. Do you want me to take you back?”
“Nae. I’d like to go with ye.”
“You’re sure?”
He nodded and clutched the bar one-handed as he fisted the other on his lap. “Aye, ’twas just the surprise of it. I’m ready now, though.”
She searched his tense face. “All right, if you’re sure.”
He nodded again. “I’m fine,” he assured her. “I just need to get used to it. Would it be all right if I shut my eyes, just for a bit?”
“Yes. Of course, that would be fine.”
She slowly eased out into traffic again, and drove the car very slowly. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
“Aye, that might make a fine distraction. I was raised by my grandda. My mum died when I was a babe, and my father when I was a lad. My grandda took me in not long after my grandmum died so ’twas just the two of us until I was raised.”
He looked over as if to gauge if she was interested in what he was saying or not, then closed his eyes again and relaxed back against the headrest. “We lived outside of Banffshire. He taught me the sword, took me to kirk, and told me how to treat a lady. Other than that, he generally let me run amuck.”
She smiled. “That sounds wonderful.”
“It was. He was a Jacobite, and worried when I went off to war, but he believed in the cause. I was more afeared for him, as I was all he had in the world. He died while I was off fighting.”
“Oh, that must have been difficult.”
“Aye, it was. He gave me a good childhood, things to believe in. I can see you’re doing the same with yer own wee lass.”
She gripped the steering wheel. “I love that she’s been able to spend time at Herrick House. I loved visiting when I was a child. It’s a magical place, you know? Stories of treasure, the nooks and crannies, the wide-open spaces. I wanted my daughter to grow up with all those things too, but,” she shrugged. “It isn’t meant to be.”
“It doesnae matter where ye raise her, lass.” Once again, he wished he’d the money to pay off the banker. “It only matters she’s with ye. Yer a wonderful mum. I can see it.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
She reached out and placed her hand over his fist, and after a moment, he clutched her hand with his.
Her heart softened even more. Big, strong, and afraid to drive in cars?
He was so getting teased about this later.
They arrived at the apartment, and parked near what Lilith called the manager’s office. She was out the door, before he’d even figured out how to undo his seatbelt, so he didn’t get a chance to help her exit the vehicle.
He followed her inside and waited in the background while she took care of business. The man behind the counter eyed her in a way Alan didn’t appreciate in the least.
“Can I help you?” The man barely met Lilith’s gaze, as his eyes roamed in a most inappropriate manner.
Alan walked up to stand beside her, and when the man looked in his direction, his eyes widened, and he quickly looked down.
Alan took Lilith’s hand, twining their fingers the way she’d done earlier in the car.
When Lilith explained she had an appointment, the ma
n grabbed a set of keys and told them to follow.
When they reached a door, he put the key in the lock and looked back at the two of them before asking, “Is the apartment just for you? Or for the two of you?”
“I’ll be staying here as well.” Alan was quick to insert the words, in case the man thought Lilith would be here, alone and unprotected.
The male nodded once, and much to Alan’s satisfaction, did not look in Lilith’s direction again, as he opened the door wide and let them into the place.
That lasted all of two seconds and the man stared at her again.
“Ye are to leave now, and we’ll come speak with ye afterward.”
“I’m supposed to stay.”
“Nae harm will come to this place while we’re in it. As I said, we’ll come find ye when we’ve finished.”
The man thought to argue for a moment, then shook his head and let himself out.
“Thank you, Alan. I’d much rather he wasn’t here.”
No doubt. With the man’s eyes wandering over her body in such a way, Lilith doubtless wished naught to do with such a wretch.
She smiled softly at him, then turned to look around again.
“It’s passably clean, but I’d have to come and scrub it down before I’d be willing to let Olivia or Grandma live here.”
He glanced about, for the place looked luxurious to him, but of course after the mansion she lived in, perhaps not.
He noted stains on the carpets, places on the wall smudged with scum, and curtains that sagged. No, he could not see her living in such a place.
She opened cupboards, and from the expression on her face, the room made her feel sad. He could tell.
Lilith glanced out the window. “There’s a tiny playground with a bit of lawn. But compared to a mystic place with hundred-year-old trees, a ballroom, and big wide spaces …”
She sighed.
His guts tightened.
“I just don’t know, maybe we could come up with another solution?”
He knew she was talking to herself, not to him, but he wished to be the one who came up with a fix for her.
She wandered past and trailed into the hallway, and he followed. “This is the third apartment I’ve looked at this week. They’re all quite similar, and unfortunately, about all I can afford. She turned around and gave him another wistful smile. “I suppose I’m just spoiled.”