~ Five ~
OKAY, WHAT I NEEDED was some fresh air and exploring to clear my head. I slipped into my denim blazer and headed outdoors.
Walking always works to get my thoughts in order. Also, I had to take a moment to enjoy the end of an incredible day. The air was crisp and the breeze touched my face with the sweet smell of spring blooms.
Now, connecting with nature, my inner witch exploded with power and put matters into sharp perspective.
One—even humans don’t easily believe in coincidences like I was encountering. Witches don’t believe in them at all, and the fact that Jeremy Ascot was an immortal warlock and I was an immortal witch…that was a whopper coincidence.
I strolled over to the pasture fence and a chestnut mare lifted her pretty head and whinnied to me before she trotted over and nudged me for a pet. I rubbed her nose and said, “What do you think of all of this? Really weird, right? What does this warlock, Ascot, want with me? Do you know, and is MacLeod haunted?”
The mare made a sound and nodded her head.
“Aha, so, you agree, weird things going on and MacLeod is haunted.” I gave her a last pat and moved off.
I had to think. I remember Auntie Elle telling me a few times to be sharp and stay away from the darkness. I hadn’t thought too much of it at the time. What had she meant? I was going to put a call into her as soon as I had more information.
Ghosts? What do I know about ghosts? Auntie Elle had told me she came across a ghost in New Orleans once and helped the poor soul move on. She said he was able to communicate with her and tell her his unfinished business. She helped him get his closure and off he went. Was the MacLeod ghost trapped and needing someone to help him move on?
I wasn’t quite sure what the ghost had been trying to tell me, but I knew one thing. I hadn’t been afraid of it. No dark vibes there at all.
That brings me back to Ascot. Should I call him and confront him? Right now, he didn’t know I knew he was an immortal warlock. Should I put him in a position where he would have to admit it all and tell me why he offered me this job? I was sure the job was a ‘front’ for something…but what? Should I call him now? Should I wait ‘til tomorrow and ask him to meet with me in person?
I like facing things head-on.
So, there it was, my decision. I was going to call Jeremy Ascot and ask him what the hell was going on at MacLeod and why bring me here on the pretext of managing the estate.
I sighed right out loud. There goes my cushy job. Too good to be true.
I would soon be out of a home and a job, and I had so wanted to stay in Scotland.
Okay. Can’t do anything today, so just going to put it out of my head for the evening. What I wanted to do now was head for that beautiful barn right around the bend!
Horses and riding had seduced me at an early age.
Aunt Elle used to take me to the stables at Central Park and it didn’t take long before I was riding twice a week and in heaven when I was on a horse.
I made my way into the beautiful stone and polished oak stables and found an elderly baldish man who I guessed to be in his sixties. I liked him at once. Perhaps it was his twinkling faded blue eyes, or the big grin on his face as he stepped forward to greet me.
He told me his name was Jeff and within two minutes we were talking about our mutual love of horses.
“This place is spotless,” I cooed as I looked around.
“Aye, doing what I love makes it easy to do m’job. Also, I live in the loft above the stables, have done for nearly fifteen years, so down here is just an extension of m’home.”
“Oh, that is wonderful. You live on the grounds. I thought no one lived at MacLeod.” I had to stop myself from clapping my hands.
“Aye, but I stay indoors after dark…” he said quietly. “And ye should as well.”
I noticed then long nets of garlic at both ends of the stable aisle. I eyed him. “Garlic?”
“Aye.” He shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”
I laughed and decided to drop the subject. Everyone has their different fears.
He then introduced me to a gelding and said the horse was a gentle soul and could use with some exercise if I had a mind.
Oh yeah, I had a mind.
We parted on the best of terms and I headed for the bridle path he had pointed out. He called out after me, “See to it, miss, ye head home before dark. Wouldna want ye to get lost.”
I smiled and said that I would as I took a wide path from the stables towards the Pine Forest where the dirt path continued.
I stopped before entering the woods, as the day was moving into dusk. Well, I could just walk a short distance and then backtrack after all?
All at once, the sound of someone sighing was too clear to deny.
I turned sharply. No one there.
Then I heard, “Bloody hell…I can’t go any farther, lass.”
“What?” I said, and made a circle in place. I stared at the tops of the trees surrounding me, I looked through the path, I looked back at the field. “Who said that?”
Nothing.
“Come on, I heard you very clearly. Why are you hiding? Are you trying to scare the new girl on the block? Well, listen up, not working. Now show yourself, or are you scared of me?”
Still absolutely nothing.
I looked up at the trees again, picking out a few with low branches that someone could climb. No one there. I tried to discern if someone was hiding amongst the lower evergreen bushes, but if someone was, I couldn’t find them.
A chill feathered up my spine and all my instincts were on alert. I know what I heard. So, now what?
It was late, perhaps not the time to explore the Pine Forest. After all, how would it look if I got lost on my first day? I’d feel a fool.
And then an unmistakable scent hit my nostrils. Something evil was in the woods, hiding in the shadows.
I have very good senses and I took another whiff. Blood!
There was no mistaking the scent. Fresh blood…? What the hell was going on?
“Hurry, lass…get back to the house. He can’t enter the castle. Get back, hurry!” that familiar voice yelled worriedly.
Sounded good to me.
I backtracked towards the barn, then took a short cut through the pasture to the house, scampering over the post and rail fencing, and breathing hard as I reached the stone paving.
I looked back over my shoulder as I rushed inside and found both Davis and Mrs. Tunny in the Great Hall staring at me.
“What is it? What happened?” Mrs. Tunny asked. “Ye look as though ye bumped into the divil himself!”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Spooked myself when it started getting dark,” I said as casually as I could.
“Look, we are on our way home…we always leave before it gets too dark,” Mrs. Tunny said. “Come home with me. I’ll put ye up ‘til Mr. Ascot can find ye a place of yer own. Ye shouldn’t be here after dark.” She reached out and clutched my hand. “Aye, ye are most welcome. Do come…but make up yer mind. We have to leave now!”
“That is so, so kind, but I’ll be just fine here.” I was surprised by the complete look of distress that filled her eyes. Davis stood stoically at her side, not saying a word, but the disapproval he felt was a palpable thing.
“Right then,” Mrs. Tunny gave it up, “I left ye m’number on the kitchen counter. Keep it with ye and if ye want me to fetch ye…I will, but ye’ll have to meet me outside. I won’t get out of the car…not here…not after hours.”
What the hell was going on? These two were genuinely afraid. I managed a smile and said, “Got it and thank you so much, Mrs. Tunny. If I feel threatened in any manner, I will call you.” No point arguing, as I could see how really concerned she was.
Davis said, “Aye, then, miss. Personally, I don’t think ye’ll be threatened, but from time to time, strange things do occur here. I used to stay in the butler’s quarters when I first started working here ten years ago, but…I found I’m more comfortable in town. Near the pub and all. Ye might feel the same seeing as ye are so young and should get out some.”
I was amazed. I had not expected Davis to give me more than the time of day. “Thank you, sir. That is something about which I will really give some thought.”
“Well, ‘tis five-thirty now, best stay to yer suite after seven and ye’ll be fine. Let’s go, Mrs. Tunny, I’m meeting a few friends in town after I drop ye off.”
I watched them walk across the courtyard. Davis got into an old SUV and Mrs. Davis got into a blue sedan. I stood at the door and waved when Mrs. Tunny turned to stare at me. She didn’t wave back.
Something had been in those woods. Something that had smelled of blood. It wasn’t human, my Shama told me that, but I hadn’t stayed long enough to know just what it was.
What kind of a world had I stepped into? And once again, I heard Auntie Elle telling me to stay out of the dark.
I went back inside, and bolted the front door. I had a vague notion of where the kitchen might be and found it. I was surprised by the length, breadth, and its modern design. Everything had been updated.
I went to the huge fridge and opened it to stare.
Mrs. Tunny had made me a tray with my name on it. Oh, I liked her!
I poured myself some wine, heated up and then gobbled my sausage and mashed potatoes and headed for my room. Jet lag was catching up to me.
As I entered, I heard the same strong male voice I had heard before and he said, “Aye, then…”
I stopped dead in my tracks.
What the hell? Was there really a ghost at MacLeod? If so, then, bring it.