What Lies Between

by Miller, Charlena

  But all is well now.

  I accepted the sweet relief of this simple truth and surrendered to the thick Scotch mist of sleep.

  My eyes flicked open and I lay quiet, allowing my mind the chance to wake up and get hold of the morning and my thoughts. The lingering heat of Ben’s body was still with me. He had stayed with me as I’d asked, held me through the night. And now, in the morning’s light, I felt rested, edgy, and worried at the same time.

  I had crossed a line, many lines, with Jason, with Ben, with myself. My heart had plunged itself into the middle of a troubled sea, churned by a wind with a mind of its own. This wind would quiet if and when it decided to, and I could only hope to stay above the waves long enough to make it to shore . . . but what if I couldn’t?

  Blood seeped from the bandage on my forehead into my eye. The earlier part of last night came into focus. Jason. His threats. His mouth on mine.

  The house was too quiet. Where was Ben? Trepidation coursed through me. I looked in his room—empty—and then made my way to the kitchen. No one else was in the house. He had told me he wouldn’t leave me alone. What if Jason had made good on his threat, but instead of me, he had hurt Ben?

  The back door creaked and my body shrank against the wall, heart pounding. Where was my phone? Ben appeared in the doorway and my nerves sagged as their tension drained away. I hated feeling jumpy; the previous night messed me up more than I had thought.

  “You’re awake.” His brows lifted in surprise. “I thought you would have a long lie.”

  “You said you wouldn’t leave me alone.” I wanted to trust him, but when it came to trust, I was a preschooler trying to understand calculus.

  “You weren’t alone. I was out in the garden, giving the chickens their breakfast. Now nip back to bed, you, so I can do for you what I meant to.”

  Not ready to leave his side, I watched him as he began to assemble breakfast.

  “What’s that you’re using to stir the porridge?” I asked, curious about the utensil that resembled a wooden dowel with a fat, curved end.

  “This would be a spurtle. My mum always uses one. When I set up house I couldn’t think of making porridge without it.”

  “I think I’ll get one of those.”

  “Aye, but away with you now.”

  I scrambled up the stairs and settled myself back into the comfy guest bed. My burst of energy had no staying power. The effects of the previous night left my body aching and my mind heavy with worry. A light knock came several minutes later.

  “Come in.” I scooted to an upright position, eager for more of Ben’s cooking.

  Ben entered and set a tray with a bowl of porridge, fresh fruit, milk, and more coffee onto the bed. “No black pudding for you, but I’m having some if you fancy a taste.”

  “No thanks. I’m not ever planning to taste black pudding, thank you very much,” I said, grimacing at the thought of fried pig’s blood. Why would that ever be considered food?

  “Suit yourself.” Ben moved to the window, raised the fabric shades, and opened the room to the day. A bright sun shone through the window. “The morning mist is burning off. Look what the day has on offer. Brilliant.”

  The sun’s rays shone directly in my eyes, making me squint, which I’m sure made me look grumpy. “You are the most annoying morning person ever. Too nice, way too cheery, and you fix proper breakfasts. You’re ridiculous.”

  He lifted a brow. “Not sure if my parents or mates would agree with you on any of those points. But hey, I’m sorry, I should have asked you if you wanted to see the most gorgeous Highland morning just waiting to help you forget everything you don’t need to remember.”

  “I should appreciate you’re a morning person. I suppose someone has to be.”

  “Coming to see the bit of good in me then?”

  I patted the edge of the bed and he took a seat. “I think there might be the tiniest, microscopic, bit of good in you, aye.”

  Bantering with him was like plugging my heart into a charger; it made my entire being spark with energy. Warmth flowed into my sore, battered limbs.

  “I remember the first day I arrived. You know how to offer proper Highland hospitality, that’s for sure. I owe you one.”

  Disappointment or frustration, or maybe both, clouded his face. “You needed someone. I was here. You owe me nothing. I would have done it for anyone.” His eyes darkened. “I don’t know what happened to you, Ellie, but whatever it was, it should never . . .”

  Naked anger had set hard in his face. Highland honor laced his veins, and I doubted Jason would know how to mount a defense against what lay in Ben MacIver’s blood. Yet he had given me his word to leave it alone. Could I trust him?

  He searched my face, his furrowed brow relaxing. “Never you mind. Don’t worry about any of this right now. You have enough to focus on, like keeping Glenbroch out of my family’s hands.”

  “Oh yes, that.”

  His face grew slack and somber. “Do you hate the idea of working side-by-side with me, Ellie?”

  Did I? Whether I hated the idea or not was of no consequence. Ben wasn’t who I would work with—it would be his father. And there wasn’t a chance I would work with John MacIver.

  I shook my head. “It’s my inheritance, my history. It’s all I have now. Surely your family understands what that means? I can’t give it up.”

  He turned toward the vignette of the sunny Highland day framed in the windows. “Of course you can’t.”

  Ben’s gaze didn’t leave the view of the Kintail peaks. “I feel like I’m on a train speeding straight into the side of a mountain, and none of the doors or windows will open. Nothing I do slows it down or changes its course. But still, even though a crash is inevitable, I can’t sit and do nothing. I have to keep trying to find a way to change its course.”

  What he said echoed my own experience, and I closed my eyes as my own recurring images filled my mind. For the first time, this train I’d spent most of my life trying to escape was different. For once, I wasn’t the only one on board.

  I took his hand, laid the side of my face against his palm, let the scent of his skin fill my lungs and the heat of his touch comfort me.

  “Whatever is coming with Glenbroch feels less scary.” I brushed his palm with a kiss.

  He leaned close to me. “I gave you my word I would make this right.”

  My eyes filled with questions.

  “I know you can’t trust me about Glenbroch, and I won’t ask you to, but there is something I need.”

  My eyebrows arched with curiosity, and I let his hand fall away.

  “Ellie, all I want is for you to let me help you.”

  “What kind of help do you mean?”

  “Let me sort out a way through the repair and the marketing that doesn’t leave you in partnership with Marks.”

  “But he already funded the repair.”

  “I need to see your agreement with him, Ellie.”

  I didn’t want to give it to him, had no desire to show my hand, and for him to know what I’d promised in exchange for the repair money.

  “Please, Ellie. I need to know what the situation is, what we are up against.”

  What we were up against? I wanted there to be a “we.” If there was going to be, I would have to do this in a new way. My heart argued that fear didn’t deserve to be in the driver’s seat of my life. It was true—I owed courage a chance at the wheel.

  “The paperwork is in my office at Glenbroch.”

  “Fill me in on the details now and let’s evaluate where you stand. I heard from the crew that Jason offered them a bonus and I’m concerned about shortcuts they might take. Ryan is a good man but he’s under tremendous pressure. One of the things I want to do is bring in someone I trust to review what the crew has done to date and supervise the completion.”

  “Yes, I’m afraid I let Jason take over too much.”

  His eyes held no judgment. “We’ll sort it all out.”

  Ben had
an agenda, but so did I—nothing had changed in that respect. The difference was that what we wanted now lay in the same direction. It had taken me long enough to figure this out. Why couldn’t I have trusted him more? Why had I let my anger run wild with me back in the beginning? It had always been one of my biggest problems; I never could manage to get my lessons learned before I messed things up.

  “I need to meet my father, and I don’t want you to stay here on your own. My mum will be over at her book club breakfast this morning or you could have spent some time with her, which she would have loved. What about taking Jazz out for a walk behind the house? I’m okay if you have him with you; that dog would fiercely protect you. I completely understand his affections.”

  I glanced away, embarrassed under the intensity of his gaze, but secretly content to let his attention and affection wash over me and not fight it, or myself, for once. “I’d love to take Jazz out, but you know, I would be fine on my own.”

  “I’m sure you would, but I made a promise I wouldn’t leave you alone. Help me keep it, would you?”

  “Okay, you win. Wouldn’t want you to break your word. What would happen? Would the earth split open, the mountains crumble into the loch?” I jabbed, a playful laugh escaping.

  His eyes grew intense, serious. “I don’t plan on letting you find out.”

  21

  Four days after our blowout Jason still hadn’t left Scotland. He had planned to be here only a week and it had now been two. Ryan called to tell me Jason was stirring up trouble with the repair work. Time to confront him.

  Ben wouldn’t let me out of his sight and didn’t want me near Jason or Glenbroch. When it was clear I was going with or without him, he jumped in the Beast alongside me.

  Henry approached the driver’s side of the Beast as soon as I pulled to a stop in front of Glenbroch. “Jason is here, telling the crew to wrap up and close down work. What’s going on?”

  “He and I have a deal, and if he’s thinking of breaking it over what . . . that’s not going to happen,” I said, ignoring Henry’s question.

  I headed toward the back of the house where the majority of the crew would be, and where Jason would likely be playing out his game of revenge. My body began trembling as I strode along the path around the side of the house. I didn’t want to see him again, but I had no choice. Ben and Henry closed in behind me.

  Jason’s voice hit my ears before I caught sight of him, and it sounded like he was in an argument with Ryan. My fears were confirmed: they were arguing over stopping the job. Ryan wanted the bonus for completing early, claiming he would be done in ten days. Jason was ordering all work stopped, making it clear he would only provide regular pay for time spent to date, in spite of Ryan running the extra shifts and crews as Jason instructed.

  “Please don’t interfere. This is my fight,” I said to Ben and Henry. I didn’t wait for their response as I headed in Jason’s direction.

  Neither Jason nor Ryan acknowledged me until I stood next to them.

  “What’s going on here?” I asked.

  “He’s telling us to close up, stop working. Not planning on paying the bonus. It’s rubbish,” Ryan said, sweeping his hand toward Jason.

  Turning to Jason, I forced calm into my voice. “What are you trying to pull?”

  A smirk curled his lips. “Ell, it’s clear you and I don’t see eye-to-eye about much of anything.”

  My eyes narrowed into my most withering glare. I grabbed Jason’s arm to pull him away and talk to him out of earshot of the others. He wouldn’t budge.

  I turned to Ryan. “Hang tight. I need to talk to him.”

  Ryan nodded, approached Ben and Henry and began telling them what was happening.

  “Not your style, Jason. Listen, being your plaything in bed wasn’t part of our deal. Just keep your word.”

  Jason folded his arms, shook his head. “Do you think I came here to invest money in an old house? You know exactly why I’m here.”

  “You’re here because you need my help more than I need yours.”

  Jason snorted. “You think pretty highly of yourself.”

  I angled my head, peering at him with mock confusion. “My track record speaks for itself.”

  “You think that’s why I came over to this wasteland full of village idiots?” He studied me a moment then laughed. “You are that naive. Incredible. You think this is a simple deal. Nothing’s simple, Ell. Never is.”

  “You should have had the balls to write sex into the contract.”

  “You’re ridiculous, you know that? Your attachment to this place, and these idiots”—he gestured at Ben, Henry, and Ryan—“would be hilarious if it wasn’t pathetic. These local yokels are trying to take this place from you. Don’t you get it? These people don’t want you around. Lucky for you, I do.”

  Jason grabbed my arm and Jim, Ben, and Henry moved toward me, drawing my attention. Jason looked up as well, into the warning stares of all three men.

  “This place is messed up,” he spit out. “Everyone here is a head case, and now you’re becoming just like them. If you don’t watch it, Ell, you’ll lose more than your edge; you’ll lose your mind. You need to come home with me.”

  “I’m not going back to the States.”

  “See, that’s the thing, you’ll lose this old house and come back in the end.” He leaned in close to my face. “I’ll leave the door cracked open, Ell, but know when you come crawling back—and you will—you’ll have enormous penance to pay.” He stroked my face. I jerked away from his touch. “You’ll come to enjoy it.”

  “I let this whole thing go too far. You’re right, I might lose Glenbroch, but I’ll never work for you or have anything more to do with you.”

  “We’ll see about that, Ell. When this is all gone, you’ll feel differently.”

  He grabbed me before I could react.

  Someone’s hands wrapped around me and pulled me back, and Jason hit the ground nearly at the same time. I turned to see Ben’s hands around my arms and Henry rubbing his knuckles.

  “Henry?” I asked, stunned.

  “He practically had him down before Jim or I could move,” Ben said.

  Jason climbed to his feet and got up in Henry’s face. “I’m pressing charges and there are at least ten witnesses,” he said, sweeping his arms around at the gaping crew who had witnessed the scene. “I hope it was worth it. None of you idiots are getting a red cent from me.”

  Henry reared his arm back again, and Jason flinched, stepping back. Jim grabbed Henry’s arm mid-flight.

  “Leave him. He’s not worth it,” Jim said, leading Henry away.

  Once Jim finished talking with Henry, I asked Henry to check on the pregnant ewes with me in an attempt to calm him down. I couldn’t bear him getting into trouble; I brought Jason here, and it was me Jason was angry with.

  Just as Henry and I arrived back at the house an hour later, Jason strode into view with a police officer in tow.

  “Guess the tea we were going to have will have to wait,” I sighed.

  Henry said nothing as we neared the group. Ben, Jim, and Ryan stood facing the officer and Jason.

  Jim approached us, speaking under his breath, “Don’t say anything, Henry.”

  The officer tipped his hat as we approached. “Afternoon Ms. Jameson. I need to speak to you, Henry. This Jason Marks fellow claims you assaulted him.”

  “Do your job, Philip, but you’ll find this Marks lad is lying,” Jim replied.

  “We’ll see. I need to speak to the crew. Come with me, Henry, and let’s get this straightened out,” the officer said as he waited for Henry to walk ahead.

  I fell in behind, spearing Jason with daggers I wished could penetrate his thick skin.

  “Mr. Marks here states there was an altercation with Henry Mitchell, and he says several of you witnessed it.” Philip addressed the construction foreman, “Ryan, what happened here?”

  “Philip, I don’t know what Marks is claiming happened. We were working
here and he came along and ordered everything shut down, yelling and carrying on. As for Henry, can’t say I saw him doing anything. He was standing off over there talking to Ben MacIver. Ms. Jameson here was talking to Marks. Pretty sure she didn’t touch him. Can’t help you, I’m afraid.”

  Philip scanned the crew. “Anyone else see anything?”

  The men shook their heads.

  Ben appeared from around the side of the house.

  Philip turned to Ben. “Mr. MacIver, what happened here?”

  “Jason was pretty upset, yelling at the crew and Ms. Jameson. I heard her tell him to leave. And he did but came back with you.”

  “Ms. Jameson?” Philip turned to me, eyebrows raised in question.

  I shook my head. “I’ve known Mr. Marks for a long time, and he’s prone to exaggeration of the facts, isn’t that true, Jason?” I turned a hard look in Jason’s direction. “If you look into his background, Philip, I think you’ll find a line of people a mile long have questions about claims Jason Marks throws around.”

  Philip turned to Jason. “I don’t have anything here to substantiate your charges, Mr. Marks.”

  “What about my fat lip?”

  “Well, I can see you’ve injured yourself somehow, but I can tell you that whatever happened to your lip didn’t happen within the past hour when you claim Henry here punched you. Seeing as you’re looking to blame him for what is not even a fresh injury, I would say Ms. Jameson’s assertion that you exaggerate looks accurate.”

  Jason cast a piercing glare at the foreman and crew, Jim, Henry, Ben, then me. “You’d think it was two hundred years ago in this godforsaken place.” He strode over to me, a sardonic smile curling his lips. “I don’t know what I was thinking coming here for you, but at least I’ll leave with the satisfaction you will lose all this.”