Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (26 page)

Chapter-42

A troubled mind

On Wednesday morning, Eric and Jennifer left for Chicago.  As Stacey was walking around the other side of the yard, she put her hand up to shade her eyes.  She stood there a while watching Katie working the quarter horse, Ulysses. They were beauty in motion. 

Stacey’s dad walked up beside her and put his arm around her and said, “I think we’ve got us a champion there.  We’re gonna enter him in the world quarter horse reining competition in Oklahoma City, December second, two thousand-four. Sonia has been taking Katie and Ulysses to reining competitions. He’s doing very well. Now that he’s six years old, we’ll enter him in the FEI world reining master’s finals.  Katie had ridden Ulysses in the international equestrian games where he made an excellent showing.”

“Is Blue boy still winning blue ribbons for cutting?” Stacey asked.

Doctor Sam smiled and said, “You betch’a my darling, but I think he misses you.” 

Stacey laughed and asked, “Who’s showing him now?” 

“Randy Wood,” her dad said. “He’s a little younger than you.  Do you remember him?” 

“Yes, of course,” Stacey said. “I haven’t been gone that long.” 

They watched Katie and Ulysses a while longer.  Stacey hugged her dad, and then they walked into the house together.  Shane and Jessie had been watching from the porch. 

Jessie turned to Shane and said, “Those two are a lot more alike than they think they are.” 

“In what way?” Shane asked. 

“Their love of horses,” Jessie said. “They both have other vocations, but their love of horses keep pulling them back.” 

When they came in the house Stacey told her mom and Shane, “Dad and I are going for a ride, do ya’ll wanna come along?”

“Sure,” Shane said. “Where are we going?” 

“Just a mile or so up the pasture, maybe to the lake.” Stacey said. 

Shane was surprised and worried. “Do you think that’s advisable,” he asked.  “What about the baby?” 

Stacey tried to alleviate his concern by assuring him a short ride wouldn’t do her or the baby any harm.  Jessie could see Shane wasn’t comfortable with this, so she said, “Give me a minute to get my boots on and we’ll all go. The fresh air will do us all good.”

An hour or so later, when they returned to the stables.  Shane gave a sigh of relief.  In his head, he knew neither Stacey, nor her mom or dad would put her or the baby in jeopardy, but still he was relieved when the ride was over.

The next morning, Stacey, Shane and her mom and dad flew to Cincinnati to meet their long lost relatives. Mark met them at the door with a house full of people. They were introduced as his parents, Michael and Debra, his twin brother Matthew, with his wife Paula and their two children, Brooke and Austin, and his older sister Jordan, her husband Jason, and their two sons, Hunter and Parker. Last, but not least, my wife Chelisa and our very young son, Landyn, who was named after my great-great-grandfather. There are more, but they live out of state.” Mark said.

The next morning, the St. John grandparents arrived along with cousins, aunts and uncles. We had to come when Mark said you Texas folks have the same ancestor as we do. There were introductions and hand shakes hugs all around and conversation on who was kin to who. Stacey had brought her, Ancestor Search, with her as well as Sir Richard’s and Miss Leona Fitz-William’s journals, also Professor Ethan Howard and his family journal.

Stacey and family stayed two days in Cincinnati and flew back to Texas the next day. Before they left, the St. John families agreed to get together at least every two years. Jessie said, “We will meet with ya’ll wherever is most convenient for everyone, however, we live in a big ole ranch house with lots of bedrooms. Your entire families are most welcome anytime. Jessie and Sam Scott invited. Stacey and Shane invited them to London, also.

On Friday morning, they packed the SUV and along with Stacey’s mom and dad headed for Houston.  They had said their good byes to Stacey’s grandparents and family as well as the double SS people.  Stacey turned for one last look as they left the long driveway, turned on the black top and headed for the interstate. 

Stacey took Shane’s hand and said, “You know my love, the next time we see that driveway we’ll have our son with us.”

Shane took her hand and kissed it. He marveled at how she always knew the right thing to say to him to ease his mind.  Shane couldn’t phantom why he had this gut feeling that this place would pull her back someday.  Stacey had given him no reason to think this and yet this cold dread ate at his very soul.

The drive to Houston was pleasant and uneventful. As they drove to the side entrance, Gram and Grandad met them at the door. Tracey and Alan arrived in the afternoon.  At the supper table, the talk was about the new relatives and the war in Iraq. 

David and Daniel were back in the Middle East again. They took the precautions to hire their own bodyguards to protect their men when they were fighting oil fires. 

The next morning after breakfast, Stacey phoned Aunt Lora.  When Wilkes answered, Stacey asked how he and Mavis were doing. Wilkes replied, “Very well madam.  What can I do for you?”

“You can pull up on being such a snot for one thing,” Stacey said.  Then asked, “May I speak to my aunt or Sir Richard?”  Wilkes informed her that Sir Richard and Lady Heath were not available. 

“Are they on their way to Texas? Stacey asked. 

“I really couldn’t say madam.  I can only say, “They are out of town,” Wilkes reiterated.

As Stacey hung up the phone quite exasperated, she said, “Boy, would I love to shove this phone right up his pompous ass.” 

Grandad said, “Hip, hip, now there’s our Stacey we know and love.  Don’t you ever change darling, you’re still my favorite.” That eased the tension and set everyone to laughing.

After supper, Stacey saw Shane and Alan talking in the library.  She didn’t know what it was about, but she was glad Shane and Alan were friends.  Before long she heard Shane’s husky baritone laugh.  Hearing his sexy voice always gave her a thrill.  She loved the nights laying in his arms with him talking to her.

Sunday morning came way too soon. As they said their ‘goodbyes’ there was laughter, tears and hugs.  Finally, they were seated on the plane and held hands as it taxied down the runway then lifted off and climbed high into the morning sky on its long flight to England.

Chapter-43

The Inheritance

The clock was chiming midnight, as Shane and Stacey stepped into the flat. They left their luggage at the foot of the stairs and headed to bed.  Neither of them had slept on the plane and they both were dead tired.  Stacey found herself going to the lavatory every few minutes, it seemed.  The flight attendant inquired if she was alright. “Yes, I’m fine,” Stacey said. “Just pregnant.”

The doorbell, woke Stacey at nine the next morning.  As she got out of bed, Shane opened one eye and asked her where she was going. “To answer the door,” she said. “Go back to sleep, I’ll be right back.” 

Stacey was surprised to see the doorman when she looked through the spy hole. “Sorry to bother you Mrs. McLeod, but these packages came yesterday.  The lady said they were important and that I should get them to you as soon as you returned.” 

Stacey thanked him, as he set the packages into the room.  She examined the packages for the return address, but there was none. “That’s strange,” she said. “Did the lady who brought these leave her name?” 

“No ma’am, she didn’t,” Alfred said.

“Was the lady my aunt, Mrs. Heath?”

“No ma’am,” he said. “I know your aunt but I never laid eyes on this lady before.” 

Stacey thanked him again and closed the door. She sat wondering who had sent the packages, then she took the one marked fragile and carefully opened it.  Stacey was sitting on the floor looking at the contents of the package with tears running down her cheeks when Shane came down the stairs.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?”

Stacey looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and said, “Miss Leona is dead.” 

Shane sat down on the floor beside her and took her in his arms.  On the floor in front of Stacey was the delicate bone china tea set Miss Leona had served them and Professor Ethan Howard tea in that first meeting. The note inside read, Miss Leona wanted you to have these, the portraits and the journals.  She said, you’ll know what to do with them when the time is right. 

“What does she mean by that?” Shane asked. 

“I don’t know,” Stacey said. “I can’t think straight right now anyway.”

“Why don’t you call your aunt and see if she knows.” 

“Yes, I’ll do that, while you put on the coffee.”

Stacey called Aunt Lora on her cell phone.  She didn’t want another encounter with Wilkes, not today anyway. When Lora answered the phone, she knew Stacey knew Miss Leona was dead. 

“I’m so sorry, Stacey darling, I didn’t want you to find out that way.  We were coming over today to tell you and Shane.  We went to her funeral and so did Ethan Howard and his family.  I’ll tell you all about it when we get there.”

By the time, Aunt Lora and Richard arrived Shane had opened the other two packages. The larger one was the portrait of the earl and countess of Dun-Raven and the small one was a box containing five leather bound journals.  Stacey was still sitting on the floor thumbing through the journals when they arrived.  As Stacey stood up to hug her aunt and Richard.  She asked, “When did Miss Leona die?”

“The fifth of January,” Aunt Lora said. “We didn’t call you darling, because there was nothing you could do and we didn’t want to spoil your trip.” 

“We could’ve sent flowers,” Stacey said.

“How did she die?” Shane asked. 

“Very peacefully,” Richard said. “Flora told us she died in her sleep.” 

“Did you know she was one hundred and three years old?” Aunt Lora asked. 

“No, we didn’t,” Stacey said. 

Aunt Lora looked at the tea set on the floor and said, “Flora told us, Miss Leona wanted you to have her tea set.  On our last visit up there, she told us about how reluctant you were to touch her fine china. She was very amused when I confirmed your quantity of breakage when you were a youngster.” 

Stacey smiled and said, “Most times, I think I’ve out grown those years, then when I least expect it I drop something and it all comes flooding back to me.”

Shane was standing by the sofa with the portrait leaning against it. He said, “Look at what we’ve inherited.” 

Stacey could tell by the sound of his voice he wasn’t all that pleased.  She knew Shane had ambivalent feelings about the earl of Dun-Raven, because of her dream and the odd circumstances surrounding it.  Stacey was aware of his feelings and knew if the shoe was on the other foot, she wouldn’t be as placid and understanding as Shane. 

As Shane stood looking at the portrait, he chided himself for being so resentful of a man who had long been dead and his own progenitor as well as Stacey’s.  It was hard to explain his neurotic feelings.  He had talked with Alan about his feelings of jealousy about this man who looked so very much like himself.  Shane knew Stacey loved him, and he was the only man she had ever been with, but she did carry the memories, of Eric Fitz-Morgan and a life and children with him.  So many times, he wanted to ask her if she still thought of him and the past, but he wasn’t sure he could handle the answer if it was, yes. 

Alan had advised him to leave the past where it belonged unless Stacey initiated the conversation herself.  Granted; Stacey’s memories seemed to be diminishing, and the joy of being pregnant was foremost in her mind.  Shane had wondered if Stacey being so sure the child she was carrying was a boy, was because in her dream life she and the earl’s first child was a son. Now here was this man with his eerie presents staring back at him in his own home.

Stacey stood and examined the painting.  She turned to Richard and said, “I can’t imagine why Miss Leona wanted us to have this portrait.  It would have a better home in a museum.”

Shane couldn’t believe his ears.  He wanted to shout, Yes but that wasn’t his style, so he calmly asked, “Are you sure you don’t want it sweetheart?” 

Aunt Lora spoke up and said, “That’s a wonderful idea. I’m sure a museum would give their eye teeth for it.” 

Stacey laughed and said, “We don’t want anything for it, especially someone’s teeth.  We just want it to have a good home.” 

Richard said, “Well, in that case, why don’t we take it with us.  Tomorrow I will contact a few people and arrange to donate it from the Heath collection.  I had wondered what to do someday with all my paintings.  Now I know. I shall donate them to a museum also, where they can be admired by all. I think that’s a fitting testimonial for such an illustrious family.”

Shane, shook hands with Richard and Stacey hugged him.  They both thanked him profusely. Shane wrapped the painting back in the paper and put it back in the crate in which it had arrived. 

Over coffee, Aunt Lora and Richard filled them in on the funeral.  A vicar at Thornhill preformed the service, and then a train transported Miss Leona to Yorkshire to a cemetery on the outskirts of a beautiful old village called Holmfirth. “There are quite a few Fitz-William’s buried there,” Aunt Lora said, “I suspect when you study those journals you’ll find that village paramount in them.”

“Are we to understand, you accompanied Miss Leona to Yorkshire for the burial?” 

“Yes, of course,” Richard said, “but not only us. The young vicar along with Flora, Professor Howard, his sister-in-law Terry and the twins Damon and Deirdre.” 

“I’m sorry we couldn’t be there too,” Stacey said, “But I’m glad she didn’t have to go alone.”

Aunt Lora patted Stacey’s hand and said, “Darling you know we would’ve never allowed Miss Leona to make that trip alone.”

Chapter-44

A double surprise

Life had returned to normal in the McLeod household.  Shane was busy at the hospital and Stacey had her studies and home to keep her busy.  On the morning, of February second, Stacey and Shane were in Doctor Shaw’s examining room.  After examining Stacey, she said, “I think it’s about time we do an ultra sound. Do you want to know the gender of your baby?”