Dragon's Touch (Book 1 Linty Dragon Series) (25 page)

I skipped down the front staircase, found Samuel Smythe eyeing the dragons, and greeted him with a wide smile.

“Good morning, this is an unexpected visit.”

He grinned and said, “I thought I’d stop by, rather than speak with you by phone.”

“Oh? What’s on your mind?” I asked, poured coffee into two earthenware mugs and offered Smythe a warm scone. I sniffed the coffee and bit into a fresh scone that Mrs. Douglas had set up for us. Yum.

He drank the coffee and nibbled the scone before he asked, “I understand you’ve lost a dragon?”

I placed the half-eaten scone aside and sipped coffee while I thought of a good answer. I’d formed a denial of sorts when Cullen walked in. Good Lord, just what I needed. Neither man cared much for the other, both had their own secrets, and I’d hidden Daniel in the cottage. Good grief, what next?

The three of us lounged in the living room opposite the dragons’ lair, and I poured coffee for Cullen while he selected a scone and bit into it. “You didn’t make these, did you?”

I chuckled. “Hardly. Mrs. Douglas does the good cooking around here.”

He slathered butter and blackberry jam on the remainder of his scone and sat back, happily indulging in the delicious fare.

With a look at each of them, I asked, “What brings you both by today?”

His fingers sticky with jam, Cullen wiped them clean and said, “You first, Samuel.”

“I was asking Linty if she’d lost a dragon?”

A spark of interest entered Cullen’s blue eyes as he answered, “She had misplaced one, yes. Lost it, no. I’ve come to tell her the dragon is on its way back to her as we speak.”

“How was it misplaced?”

Before Cullen could answer, I remarked, “It’s not important. What is of importance to me is that I’ve recently become aware that the majority of your clients are gaunts, uh, those collectors who desire my dragons. Is that not true?”

His dark eyes cooled as he stared at me. Smythe studiously dusted off his crumb free slacks and said, “If you are asking who my client list is, I’m afraid that’s private, Linty.”

“Not so private, everyone in the village is aware of who they are,” I insisted with what I hoped was a sweet smile. “Let’s not play games, shall we? If you represent them, you can’t represent me. Gran might have been fine with your arrangement, but I’m not.”

“You aren’t planning to fire me, are you?”

“I am.”

He blustered a bit, but unlike Uncle Charles, Samuel couldn’t quite pull it off, and it was all I could do to hide my smirk.

“I’ve been the solicitor for this family for years. You can’t fire me.”

I tipped my head slightly and filled my cup again. His features flushed, I stared at him over the cup rim as I took a sip. I set it down and said evenly, “Let me be perfectly clear, I can and will. Maybe my grandmother thought it best to keep her enemies closer than her friends, but I don’t share that viewpoint. Consider yourself fired.”

Anger flashed in his eyes, while Cullen watched in silence. I rose from my seat, walked to the fireplace and turned to face Smythe while I held my ground and awaited his next move.

Smythe stepped close and whispered, “This isn’t over, you need me, and if you don’t know that by now, it will soon become apparent.” Smythe turned and strode from the house, his movements stiff with anger. The door had slammed behind him, and I breathed a sigh of relief that he was gone.

“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.