The Pleasure Master (16 page)

“I would speak to Coco.”

Too late, Kathy realized Neil was close enough
to hear everything being said. Great. Just great. She handed the phone to him.

“Explain what ye meant, Coco.”

Kathy knew if Neil used that tone of voice to her she'd blurt out everything she'd ever known.

“Ye say that King James is dead and that some Mary is queen? Ye dinna know what ye say. James is alive and there isna any Mary.”

“Is everyone crazy there? I took this straight off the Net.”

Kathy could see Neil's face pale above his beard. “What year is it, Coco?”

“I wish you wouldn't ask that question. It makes me nervous.”

“What year is it?” Neil's voice had risen to a roar.

“Okay, okay. It's 2001.” Kathy could hear the growing fear in Coco's voice. “Put Kathy back on.”

Neil handed the phone back to her with fingers that shook.

“Kathy, you've got to get away from that place. Everyone's crazy. Just tell me where you are, and I'll come get you.”

Kathy felt a tear slide down her face and didn't bother to wipe it away. “I'll be in touch, Coco.” She hung up with Coco's frantic questions echoing in her ears.

She turned to Neil.

“Ye canna be from the future.” He looked bewildered.

“That's what Ian said.” She sat down on the chair by the table.

He pulled the other chair over to sit beside her.
“But these things she said about James and this Mary . . .”

“What if you find out they're true?”

He shook his head. “I would think both of ye witches.”

“And . . . ?” If Neil told everyone she was a witch, would even Ian be able to protect her?

Neil shrugged. “I would say nothing. Coco is my challenge, and I will win her, witch or no.”

Kathy breathed a long sigh of relief.

“Ye must tell me what sort of man Coco favors.”

“Hmm. She doesn't like facial hair, so lose the beard. And she likes a man with good hair and a clean body. I can do a little with your hair, but you're going to have to bathe every day.” Lost in thought, she barely noted his look of horror.

“Coco willna know whether I do those things.”

Kathy grinned at him. “I'll tell her. I don't lie to my friends. And after we take care of those little things, we can work on your sensitivity.”

He glared at her.

Well, maybe not. Some men just weren't cut out to be sensitive.

“Do what ye must.” He'd probably walk to his execution with that expression. “Ye dinna have any noxious potions wi' ye?”

“Not a one.”
Yes.
Kathy unzipped her backpack and pulled out her supplies. Finally, a chance to do what she did best. She'd start quickly while he was still enthralled with the zipper on her backpack and before he realized what she was doing.

One man would walk the Highlands with good hair and a new understanding of personal hygiene because Kathy Bartlett had passed his way.

She felt like a sixteenth-century Johnny Apple-seed.

Would she be waiting for him at Neil's door, her golden hair blowing in the cold wind that had whipped up? Would her eyes that could hide nothing be clouded by worry? Would her lips be parted as she scanned the hills looking for a sign of him?

The thought of her warmed Ian. He would run his fingers through her hair, and pull her into his arms. He'd taste her soft lips, which could heat his blood as even the most potent brew could not.

They'd go home, and he'd tell her of what he'd done, of his satisfaction at outwitting the Mackays.

He could not remember ever being so eager to reach a woman before. Ian frowned. He enjoyed women's bodies, but that was the extent of his involvement with them. If he was to win the challenge, he could not allow thoughts of speaking with
her by a warm fire to intrude. His thoughts must only be of seduction.

Ian couldn't suppress his disappointment to find Neil's door closed. He got off his horse, then led both Neil's and his horse around to the back of the cottage, where they could graze.

Finished, he pushed open the door . . . and froze. The man staring back at him
wasn't
his brother. His beard was gone, and the only reminder it had ever existed was the pale skin that hadn't been exposed to the sun since Neil was old enough to sprout hair on his chin. His hair still hung past his shoulders, but barely. It looked . . .

Ignoring the woman who was obviously responsible for the changes, he strode to his brother to take a closer look. His hair didn't look tangled and windblown. It looked shiny and
clean.

Ian was both amazed and angry. He'd spent the day braving the cunning and wrath of the Mackays, and Kathy had thought only of his brother. Ian had no idea why the thought infuriated him so. It was not as though he'd returned to find them in bed.

He tried to recapture the attitude he should have as Pleasure Master, thinking only of how this would affect the challenge, but his fury would not allow him to think clearly.

He swung to confront the meddling wench. “What have ye done to Neil?”
What have ye done to me?

“Ye needna bellow, Ian. I asked her to make me such as Coco would desire. 'Tis an improvement.
What say ye?” He grinned at Ian, then returned his attention to a small mirror he held.

“I can't believe how great Neil looks. Who would've thought all that hair was covering up such an incredible face. When I describe him to Coco she'll”—Kathy frowned—“want to see him.”

Ian felt the stab of betrayal almost as a physical blow. “I wouldna have believed it of ye, woman. While I have risked death from the Mackays, ye've been here trying to help my brother win the challenge.”

“Death?” Her eyes widened in horror. He felt some of his anger drain. “Neil said it was nothing, that you'd just get your horse and come back.”

“And did ye think the Mackays would be waiting to give the horse to me wi' apologies for all my trouble? What did ye think they'd do if they caught me taking him?”

“I . . . don't know. I didn't think.” She gazed at him, eyes dark with regret.

“She told me things I need know to win Coco. I must remember to speak of Coco's favorite French restaurant.” Neil looked puzzled. “I dinna know why she wouldna eat good Scottish food.”

Peter's amber lights flashed. “I think most Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.”

Neil glared at Peter. “Ye should rid yerself of yon wee demon, Ian.”

Peter seemed to be the only one Ian wasn't angry at. “I like him fine. He amuses me more than most.” He glanced at Kathy. “Do ye ken what movie 'tis from?”

She nodded. “
So I Married an Axe Murderer.
” She sounded subdued.

Momentarily diverted, Ian murmured, “'Tis a passing strange name. I would see this movie.”

Neil's gaze turned calculating. “I would thank ye, Kathy, for helping me win Coco. When I am Pleasure Master, I will remember what ye did.” He slid his gaze to Ian to see his reaction.

“Dinna try to anger me more, Neil. I am tired and would go home.” He turned to the door and could hear Kathy gathering her things together.

By the time he led his horse to the front of the cottage, she was waiting for him with Peter and Malin. “We'll walk home. I wouldna ask the horse to carry anyone after riding him hard all day.”

She nodded, but said nothing. A part of him wanted her to apologize more, to look at him with eyes filled with remorse, to offer him anything if he would no longer be angry.

The reasonable part of him said he should forget his anger, that she had done nothing to really harm him. Reason said his feelings were hurt because she had not missed him, because she'd amused herself with his brother.

He didn't want to listen to anything reasonable though. He didn't want to think this woman could affect him so.

“Ian, someone is trying to get your attention.” He felt Kathy tug on his sleeve and looked up.

“Aye, Jamie.” He acknowledged the large redhaired man who was standing in front of the small stone cottage they were passing.

The man beckoned him inside, and Ian exhaled wearily. He couldn't ignore the man, but all he wanted to do was go home and sleep. “We'll stop for a short while. Leave Peter and Malin wi' the horse. Jamie will accept ye, but I dinna want to explain Peter.”

“Fine.” She followed him into the cottage.

He sat at Jamie's table, and Kathy sat beside him. “Has yer wife improved, Jamie?”

Jamie placed a drink in front of them, and Ian watched Kathy take a sip. For the first time that day he felt like smiling as her eyes widened and she blinked to stop their watering. She opened her mouth and drew in small panting breaths. His gaze was drawn to the rise and fall of her breasts. Mayhap he wouldn't go to sleep as soon as he reached home.

“She isna better. Since losing the babe, she willna do more than sit and stare at the fire. I dinna know what more to do.”

Ian's gaze shifted to the woman half hidden in the shadows. She sat so still that if Jamie hadn't mentioned her, he wouldn't have noticed her.

“She lost a child?” Kathy's voice was warm with sympathy.

“Aye. 'Twas our first.” Jamie folded his hands on the table and stared at work-reddened fingers. “I told her we would have more, but she wouldna listen. She grieves only for this one. The priest came, but he grew angry wi' her silence and said I should beat her if she wouldna submit. I dinna want to do such.”

“Your priest is a bastard.”

For once, Ian agreed with Kathy's blunt speech.

Ignoring Jamie's shocked expression, Kathy pulled open her backpack and rooted through its contents. “I stuck a few toys in here, thinking I might meet some kids who'd like them.”

Ian huffed a breath of impatience. Would the woman never realize she was no longer in her land, where such things were accepted without suspicion? “Mayhap ye should leave all at home next time.”

Ian's expression promised he'd have a lot to say about the things in her backpack when they reached the cave.

She grinned at him, knowing she was safe for the moment. He didn't dare say anything in front of Jamie.

Kathy pulled Baby Born from the pack and carried it over to Jamie's wife. The woman looked at her out of dead eyes.

Kathy reached out and laid the doll in the woman's arms. “This is Baby Born. She isn't real, but hold her, cry over her, then put her away and have another baby of your own.”

The woman looked down at the doll, and Kathy feared she'd reject the gift. But slowly, the woman enfolded the doll in her arms, then looked up at Kathy. A tear slid down her cheek.

Oh shoot, she was going to end up bawling along with the woman.
Quickly, Kathy returned to her seat beside Ian.

She blinked rapidly and tried to concentrate on what Jamie was saying.

“'Tis the first tear she's shed since the babe died.” He was staring at Kathy as though she'd created a miracle.

Kathy shrugged and tried for nonchalance. “Sometimes just having something to hold when you're feeling bad helps.” She gazed thoughtfully at Jamie. “Have you tried holding your wife?”

Jamie looked uncomfortable. “I didna think she'd welcome my touch.”

Kathy smiled. “I'd say she needs it now more than she's ever needed it.” When her marriage and her world had collapsed, she had longed for someone just to hold her, comfort her.

“Would ye like a wee drop more to drink?” Jamie started to rise.

“Uh, no thank you.” She looked at the drink in front of her. A few more sips and she wouldn't have a stomach lining.

“We've had a long day, Jamie. 'Tis best if we get home before darkness falls.” Ian rose and put his arm across Kathy's shoulders.

She stiffened. Was this show of affection just for Jamie's sake? Would Ian be angry and disapproving again once they were alone?

Outside, Ian dropped his arm from her shoulders and retrieved his horse. When he returned, he grasped her hand in his, then continued along the path to his cave.

Night had fallen, the darkness intensifying Kathy's sensations. She could hear Peter clattering
along behind them, but far enough away so that he couldn't hear what they said.

Listen to yourself.
She was thinking of the toy as human. The thought made her uncomfortable.

“Ye wished to help Jamie's wife, but ye must be careful what ye show others.” Ian's voice was low, with none of his former anger. “The Pleasure Master has been a part of the glen for almost a hundred years, but ye've been here only a short time. Many willna accept the things ye bring wi' ye. They will believe them tools of the devil.”

She nodded, raising her face to a night sky filled with what seemed a million stars. She'd never seen a sky like this in New York. “I know you're telling the truth, but it's still hard for me to remember the differences between this time and my own.”

His hand tightened around hers. A large hand, hard, comforting. “None will harm ye while ye're wi' me.”

And she believed him.

“Ian, I noticed that Jamie was the only villager who invited you to stop at his home. Everyone else nodded, but then looked away.”

She felt Ian's smile in the darkness. “Peter would discourage many. He doesna make a comfortable guest.”

She stumbled over a rock, and Ian drew her to him, putting his arm around her waist. She felt wrapped in his solid strength, but there was something more. An awareness, a warmth that had nothing to do with body heat, quickened her breathing.
She hoped he thought she was just out of breath from climbing the hill to the cave.

“Okay, I can accept that, but I still had the feeling they were uncomfortable with you.” She tried to relax, but relax wasn't part of her vocabulary where Ian Ross was concerned. “Except for Jamie. He seemed glad to see you.”