Chapter Twenty-Seven
“It’s never too early to panic.”
~Len Goodman
The occupants of the house had not yet stirred when Brian heard Simon whine at the door leading to the main part of the house. When he opened to admit the dog, he stepped on a square pink envelope just past the door’s threshold. How odd. He picked it up, the cool crisp paper crinkled in his fingers. Angel’s lilting scroll addressed the missive to him. Turning it over in his palm his muscles tensed oddly, and the hairs on his arm prickled. Why would she write him a note instead of coming to speak with him?
She’d been more aloof and circumspect the past few days, not allowing them a moment alone. He’d already begun to wonder whether she regretted their time together last weekend. Now she wouldn’t talk with him, but sent missives? That couldn’t be a positive sign.
He carried the note to the kitchen where he prepared a hot cup of coffee, snitched one of Granny’s delicious muffins, and sat down.
“Well, buddy,” he scratched under Simon’s ear. “What’s our little Angel up to now?” He tapped the letter a couple of times on the rim of his cup, almost afraid of what she’d written, and then opened it.
The hairs on the back of his neck bristled as he read the letter a second time. “Damn her. The stubborn, headstrong woman, always running off into the wilderness.”
Simon put his head on Brian’s knee. “Yeah, ole boy, and she didn’t even take you along for protection.” It didn’t sit well with him. She had no business hieing off to the woods alone. He had no idea where this place was, or what dangers she might run into there. After their recent bear encounter, he couldn’t tolerate the thought of her lost in the wilderness confronting wild animals, hunters or other returned soldiers unfit for society. He needed to find her as soon as possible. First, he’d give Simon a good run while hunting down Char. Then he’d find a means to follow his wayward Angel.
Before long, Brian found himself in front of Char’s front door, but she didn’t answer his knock, and no lights gleamed in any window.
Brian took Simon back to the house and headed out to check all the familiar places where he’d been with Angel and Charlotte together. After a couple of hours, he passed the Scottish Benevolent Society’s building and ran into Jonas. “Hey, do ye ken where I might find Char?”
Jonas chuckled. “I haven’t seen her for over a week. Maybe she’s out of town. Char takes off at the drop of a hat and rarely tells anyone, other than Angel, where she’s gone. Why? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure. Angel left me a note saying she intended to look for Daniel. I don’t think she should hie about unescorted into dangerous wilderness areas.” Brian realized he was pacing and stopped abruptly, his hands at his hips.
“Did she say where she was headed?” Jonas asked.
“Some place called Shasta-Trinity, but she didn’t give me the name of a town. I’m hoping Char might know.”
“Well, that won’t help us find her. Shasta-Trinity Wilderness is huge. Maybe Char went with her.” Jonas screwed up his expression. “Then again, probably not, unless Daniel also sent her a note. You never know with those two.”
“I can help you look for them. I have a bit of time.” Jonas’s brow creased and his mouth twisted into a grimace. “If Char is with Angel, I’m sure she’ll be fine, but that woman is a magnet for trouble. Where have you looked so far?”
Two unsuccessful hours later, Brian returned to his room. He entered the house through the back gate, avoiding any questions from the other inhabitants. Simon ran to him from his spot under the sprawling oak in the back yard eager for another walk, and Brian accommodated him.
Their walk led him back to Char’s residence. Anxiety drove him at a half-walk, half-run pace. This new level of persistent tension over Angel’s constant tearing about at every whim did not sit well with him. A warrior didn’t fret. A warrior acted with precision and determination. So why did he experience this damnable clambering in his gut and head? She left him in a state of heightened exasperation all the time.
Without hesitation, he ran up the steps and pounded on the front door. Certain Char would be able to assist him; he waited for half a breath, then pounded on the door again yelling her name. He assured himself Char also worried about Angel and would forgive the intrusion.
Finally, she flung open the door, looking disheveled and annoyed. “What in the hell’s the matter with you, Brian?”
She looked like she’d just left her bed. “Why are ye still abed? The day’s half gone.” He snapped.
“What! How dare you barge into my home chastising me about when I decide to get up! You’re an insufferable prude, do you know that?”
He stepped back, open-mouthed in astonishment. This was not the time for them do debate proprieties. “My apologies. I’m worried about Angel. Did she come here? Have you heard from her?”
“Why would she be here? What’s happened? Have you upset her again, you dumb oaf?”
“May I please enter m’lady?”
“M’lady? God, this must be serious. Come in and bring the wretched dog with you.”
Charlotte’s eyes pinned him with a fierce glare while he read Angel’s letter and disclosed her recent unusual behavior. When he looked at her, all the planes of her face smoothed tight like glass. Tension radiated off her stiff back and straight shoulders. Usually, she curled into a casual slouch, as though the world would always bow to her insouciant disregard. Not so today, and he suspected her stiff posture had more to do with his mention of Daniel as much as any concern over Angel.
“I’m sorry to distress you, Char. Did you also receive a message from Daniel?”
She released a long slow breath, her thick, black lashes dropping against her cheeks as her eyes closed. “No. I did not hear from him. But I’m sure Angel will be fine once she finds him.” She fidgeted in her seat and failed to make eye contact.
“Is that your opinion because you don’t want to discuss Daniel or do you truly believe there’s no danger to Angel wandering into the wilderness on her own? Unfortunately, I have a very bad feeling about this mad misadventure—is she always this reckless?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Angel’s been very withdrawn, not her usual vivacious self ever since that letter arrived. Did she share it with you?”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and fixed Char with a determined scowl. She had to help him. If Angel thought something was wrong with her brother, then he believed her. And whatever wrong situation existed in that wilderness, she’d stubbornly headed into it alone.
Her unfocused gaze drifted, lost to something outside the window that he couldn’t identify. He smacked a fist into his palm to regain her attention. “You know, Char, Granny M said something to me just a few days ago that raised the hairs on my neck. She said she’d known I was coming weeks before I arrived. I think she is a canny woman. I also think Angel may share a bit of her canniness. If I’m right, and I think you ken I am, then Angel’s insistence that something is wrong should concern us verra much.”
When Char didn’t look at him, he reached out and squeezed her hands coiled into tight fists on her lap. “Lass, de ye hear me? De you ken where she’s gone? Did she share Daniel’s letter with you?” His brogue thickened as he held onto her hands.
She shot out of her chair and turned her back to stare out the front window. “I…I don’t know if I can help. Daniel doesn’t want to see me. He’s made that perfectly clear. You understand we used to be lovers, right?” She rolled her shoulders and tilted her neck from side to side.
“I don’t ken what has happened between you and Daniel, but if Angel’s worried because she’s had a premonition, don’t you think he’d want you to help me find her? To make sure she’s safe. Don’t you want to ken if he’s all right too?”
Her head dropped forward, her shoulders rounded, and she folded into herself. “Yes, I want to make sure they are both safe, but I don’t know if I can face him and another rejection.” When she turned to him, she didn’t hide the tears brimming in her eyes.
He stepped forward and pulled her against his shoulder. “Ah, lass, I dinnae wish to stress you, I’m just that afraid of the way Angel’s been acting, and the words in her letter bristled every hair on my body as soon as I read it. Can’t ye take me to this place, please?”
Brian hated to put her in an uncomfortable position, but he could not risk something happening to Angel. “If we find them and everything’s good, we can leave right away. You needn’t speak with Daniel if you don’t wish it.”
Rigid and withdrawn, she still didn’t answer him. He persisted. “She told me she’d come to see you early in the morning several days ago. Did she say anything to you then?”
“Yes, she brought the letter and told me she hadn’t been sleeping well. She’s been having nightmares about Daniel. But she’s always off-set when he sends his postcards and brief notes.” Char raised worried eyes to his.
“You feel it too, don’t you? Something isn’t right. Did she describe these nightmares to you?”
She stepped away from him; her mouth puckered in a grimace, then she turned into a whirlwind of activity. “Let me change. You need to change too, and bring along warm clothing. It’s quite cold in the mountains, and this time of year the weather can change on a dime.”
Another colloquialism he didn’t exactly understand, though the meaning wasn’t entirely lost on him. “Shall we bring Simon with us? Will he fit in that wee race car of yers?”
Char patted the dog’s scraggly head. “Yes, of course, he can come with us. And it’s not a race car, it’s a Jaguar. However, I also have a jeep, much better to travel into the wilderness. I’ll meet you at the house shortly, maybe in an hour. Bring extra clothing, just in case.”
Granny M stood on the back porch when Brian entered the yard. “Where’s Angel?” Her words were sharp, she stood ramrod straight, and the deep lines creasing her face displayed great distress.
“Did you see her letter?” he asked.
“Yes, some blather about going off to the wilderness to study, clear her head before exams. I don’t like it. She usually takes Simon with her. Why didn’t you go along?”
“Actually,” he attempted a calm façade and kept his voice smooth and gentle, “I ran into Char, and we’ve decided to join her. I think we’ll take Simon along as well if you have no objection.”
“Good, that’s good. I’ll pack a few sandwiches and beverages for your trip.” Granny didn’t look as though she felt “good” about anything.
“Are Alistair and Lauren still at home?”
“Alistair is at the clinic, and Lauren is busy in the study. Did you want to speak with them? Is there something I can help with?”
“No, no, everything’s fine. Just let them ken where we’ve gone. I wouldn’t want anyone worrying.” Granny’s sudden flurry of movement and fluttering hands confirmed, as no words could, that he’d failed to put her at ease. He wanted to ask if she’d had any premonitions or if Angel had mentioned hers, but he saw no sense in further upsetting the woman. He’d keep Angel’s information about Daniel to himself as she’d requested.