What Lies Between (26 page)

On the other hand, John’s hatred scared me.

Shaking off the dark thoughts, I turned my attention to hosting a Burns night. Ben was right. I needed to build the estate’s reputation and hosting a Glenbroch Burns Supper provided the perfect opportunity to get started. Good publicity, experience hosting at the house, free food and staff. Nothing to lose.

I rang Ben and accepted his offer. 

14

_B
en collected me at the cottage and dropped me off at Glenbroch where the police he had called met up with me. Reporting the incident on the loch road left me more encouraged than I’d imagined. Even though they informed me they hadn’t found any paint from another vehicle on the Land Rover after carefully inspecting it at the mechanic’s shop in Broadford, I still felt it was positive. They acted as if they took it seriously in spite of the lack of evidence. I was mindful not to accuse Bethanne or John and decided to let the police do their job. In the meantime, I needed to go about Glenbroch’s business and put it all out of my mind as best I could.

Anna’s car pulled up in the drive as the police drove away. Jazz jumped out and barreled through the snow toward me.

“Hey there, boy, go on inside.” Jazz ran through the open door and headed for the private quarters’ kitchen, where he knew I kept his treats. “Anna, it’s good to see you.” I planted a kiss on each of her cheeks as she did the same on mine. It was her way.

“What is this business about you crashing into a tree? How dreadful!” She took my hands, spread them wide to get a good look at me. “Are you quite sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine, just a bruised knee. The police were here and took my statement. I wish I had seen the car but the snow was blinding. The police are investigating.” I met her eyes, not believing she would have any part of this but wondering if she had any suspicions of her husband’s involvement. Did she think he was capable of this?

Nothing in her eyes hinted that she was harboring any sort of guilt.

“I wish Ben had called and told me what happened,” she said. “I couldn’t have made it back down from Dornoch in the storm but at least could have checked in on you by phone.”

“Did you have a nice visit with your niece and her new baby?”

“He was gorgeous, the wee bairn. The mum is doing well in spite of having to manage on her own what with her husband Charles away at work much of the time. I was able to be a hand and had a lovely time.”

We made our way to my kitchen. I gave Jazz his treat then put on the kettle and checked my phone. It had gotten enough charge to turn back on. Ben had searched the Beast before it was towed and found the phone wedged in between the passenger seat and the floor. I was glad not to have to trek to Inverness to get a new one and then turn around and make another trip there next week to meet with Katherine Helm, the accountant for the MacKinnon family—for me now. The Beast would be in the shop for a few days anyway.

“Anna, do you mind if I listen to my voice mails?” I asked, pouring the hot water over the tea bag resting in her cup. “I see I have several.”

“No bother at all.”

I retrieved spoons and the milk from the fridge and laid them on the island as the voice mails played in my ear. The first was from Maggie wanting to know why I hadn’t called her to say I had gotten home. Where was I? Maggie again, her voice growing more agitated. Then Ben saying he was headed to Glenbroch to look for me, could I call him?

I punched to the next message.

Jim here. I had a wee spell of trouble. Got a bang in the back of the leg with a branch. I think that’s what it was flying through the air. The wind was pretty high. Hobbling a bit, but I’m all right. With the snow and ice and having a bum leg I’ll need to see if you can check on the sheep. And here I was trying to help out yesterday and now I’m causing more work for you. I’ve called Henry. You should hear from him soon.

And Henry. He had come by Glenbroch earlier after Jim called him, said he was headed out to check on the sheep and wanted to know where I was. Could we meet up?

I turned to Anna. “Jim was hurt last night in the storm and is over at his cottage. My car is in the shop. Ben is around somewhere. I want to see if he’ll let me take his truck over to look in on Jim. Do you think the road will be okay out that way?”

“I imagine about the same as the one at the front here. Four-wheel drive should be fine, and you’re welcome to my car. I can get a ride back home with Ben. Or I would be happy to drive you over. I’d like to see how he’s doing myself.” She took another sip of tea and then sighed. “As if there is not enough for you and Jim to be dealing with.” She shook her head, clucking her tongue. “I don’t like this. I don’t like any of this. Yes, let’s get over there and see how he is.”

I called Jim to tell him I was coming, then Henry to tell him I was headed to Jim’s cottage, the Land Rover had slipped off the road, and that I would catch up with him after I returned.

Jim’s house had been the gamekeeper’s cottage, one of the four that had been on the Glenbroch estate before the MacKinnons sold a good chunk of it to pay off debt. Debt proved more of a risk to the Glenbroch MacKinnons’ future than the lack of a male heir. Whatever situation my ancestors had gotten into, mine couldn’t be too dissimilar, except I didn’t have enough land to sell to pay this debt. And it was Glenbroch John wanted more than money.

The one-story house was stone and looked hardly bigger than an American two-car garage from the front, but I caught sight of a conservatory off the back, which would provide more space. The snow had stopped and the clouds had cleared off, giving the glen a blissful appearance. Jim looked peaceful perched on a black bench beside his front door, taking in the sunshine and smoking his pipe in the frosty air.

“Good morning, Ellie. Anna and Jazz too! What a lovely surprise!” He patted Jazz who had sat down in front of him, wagging his tail. “And how are you, bonnie lad?”

Jim stood up, leaning on a sturdy branch that served as a makeshift cane. As he turned to enter the house, his limp caused my heart to lurch. What if worse had happened to him? Daily life at Glenbroch without Jim was unimaginable. Even when the boggy, dung-covered ground sunk under my feet he was there, a layer of solid rock holding me steady.

He fussed about, making tea and putting out a sponge cake. Prompted by my questioning, he admitted to baking the cake himself earlier in the morning.

“It’s a practical thing, the fixing of good food,” Jim said. “Can’t be sitting about doing nothing.”

“I wish all men saw it that way. Although I do have to say, Anna, you did a good job with Ben on the food front. He is a great cook.”

As the words left my mouth, I wanted them back. I swallowed but they were gone. My eyes flicked from Jim to Anna as they looked at each other and back to me. “You know, last night Ben found me on the road and he made tea. It was lovely.” Time to change the subject. “Jim, I need to talk to you about Glenbroch. Anna, could I steal him away for a few minutes?”

“Of course. I will have some of Jim’s lovely sponge. You carry on.”

Jim hobbled out to the conservatory and we settled into the comfy chairs.

“How bad is your injury? What happened?”

“I told you, lass, it’s not much. I’m just a bit shoogly. I’ll be good as new as soon as the snow melts and the sun is busy working on that just now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Aye, I’m sure. I’ve been at this for a long time and this is far from the first injury I’ve had. Don’t you worry.”

“Well, whatever you need, just tell me.” Besides my concern for Jim, I needed to think as his employer and do whatever I was supposed to do. Making a mental note to call Calum, I forged ahead, wondering how Jim would take what I was thinking. “Henry and Ben don’t get along but I need them both to get the work done, especially with you out. Bethanne is being herself—outright hateful and insubordinate. She could have been the one who ran me off the road.”

Jim’s eyes widened. “Ran you off the road? Someone tried to run you off the road? And you think it was Bethanne? Did you see her then?”

“No, but a car was behind me on the loch road in the storm and bumped me. It wasn’t an accident. Whoever it was hit me more than once. I lost control and ran into some trees. I’m fine. Anyway I can say more later when Anna’s not around, or I’ll call you. I don’t want to let her know what I’m thinking because I’m not certain if John had a part in this. I don’t know how far he would go. The entire thing is unnerving.”

“It would be. I can understand why you would look at John or Bethanne but try not to rush to conclusions. And aye, let’s talk more about it. In the meantime, don’t throw around speculation. People in these parts won’t take to wild accusations too well.”

I bit my lip to keep from expressing what I thought about other people’s opinions. “Tell me about the booking news you mentioned on the phone.”

Jim’s face relaxed and he seemed relieved to move on from talking about the accident. “I’ve been getting loads of calls in the past few weeks from the magazine interview you did. You know, I wasn’t keen on you referring enquiries to me in the beginning, but I’m enjoying talking to folk about the area, the river, the fishing. I don’t like being laid up like this, but I can make use of the time to call my connections and round up more interest.” The look on his face told me he wasn’t telling me everything, but whatever he was holding back, it didn’t strike me as ominous. “It’s a kick to reel in new business. I’m currently working on a large group of bookings from a woman from London.”

“Really? Well, you may have found a secret talent as a salesman.”

“Aye, could be.” His eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, as if he had a secret. “Do you know how Ryan is doing with the renovation work here after the storm? Any damage?”

“I just came from Glenbroch and things look fine. Ryan’s crew has a bit of cleanup to do, but I don’t think anything on the house was damaged. He had planned extra days into the schedule for weather and we should be okay. Let’s get back in and give you a chance to catch up with Anna.”

“Right.”

Standing up, I held out my arm, but he didn’t take it. The stubborn man followed me, shuffling slowly but under his own power.

Jenna far exceeded her duties for Thanksgiving dinner, decorating Glenbroch’s entry, dining room, and the smaller sitting room in shades of crimson, chestnut, gold, and cream. Fresh miniature pumpkins and winter squash adorned the side tables. A large horn of plenty filled with dark chocolate mints sat on a table near the window.

The blazing fire, along with the beeswax tapers and pillar candles she had placed on the fireplace mantle and around the room, lit the space in a cozy glow. Classical music floated delicately on the air. Aromas of pumpkin pie, warm toffee, and freshly baked cake mixed with the savory scents of toasted breadcrumbs, sage, and thyme to give the house an earthy, distinctly autumn feel, at least to my American sensibilities.

Only one thing dampened my anticipation of the evening: Bethanne was coming. There wasn’t much I could do to stop her. She was a Glenbroch employee and all were invited.

The police couldn’t prove her involvement in my accident, yet. They did say there was no damage to her vehicle, but they also said there may not be damage on the other car since they hadn’t found any on the rear of mine. They reminded me I had admitted to losing control and running off the road. It sounded like they were changing their opinion about whether or not it really happened.

In spite of knowing Bethanne would be sitting at my Thanksgiving table, and the disturbing thought that the person who had tried to harm me was still free, I intended to have a wonderful dinner. When I mentioned to Jenna that I was not happy about Bethanne attending, she took it upon herself to get creative with the seating.

Jenna pulled Ben aside when he came in. “I will need you to sit on the same side of the table as Ellie, but on the opposite end. And you’re going to make sure Bethanne sits by you.” Her smile warned him not to object.

She had a pleasant smile for everyone, but I was quick to see the solid steel behind that sweet face. And she had decided to throw her loyalties in with me. No question she had the chef’s job.

When Jenna headed to the door to greet arriving guests, Ben pulled a paper from his pocket and laid it on the kitchen island. “I want to show you what I’ve worked out. Profit for Glenbroch’s Burns Supper will be a tidy sum.”

Scanning the sheet, I said, “Impressive. What do you get out of this? The profit goes to my side of the accounting at the present.”

“I told you I believe you belong here. I’m simply standing behind that.”

“You know, I almost believe you mean it.”

He folded up the sheet and stuck it in my hand. “I won’t stop until you believe it without a doubt.”

I surprised myself by leaning over to plant a spontaneous peck on his cheek. He turned his face in the same second, and my quick kiss landed on his mouth. And then we were gone, locked in a passionate embrace, pent-up feelings running loose.

Ben suddenly pulled away, and I opened my eyes to see why. His eyes were focused somewhere behind me. I swiveled around to see Jim, Bethanne, Henry, and Ryan standing there.

No one moved or spoke. I chose to speak first since my mouth was gaping open. “Ben is sponsoring Burns Supper at Glenbroch. It will be our first big event. Ryan, will you have us ready?” I was sure Ryan was biting back a grin.

“Still finishing bits to do but I’ll have the rooms completed that you’ll need for a dinner like that. We’ll cordon off the parts of the house that are not ready to be opened. It will be fine if somebody wanders off where they’re not meant to be. Safe, just not pretty yet.”

Jenna popped her head in behind the crowd jamming the doorway. “Dinner is ready. Please head to the dining room.”

She had no idea she had saved me again.

Henry lingered in the kitchen, waiting for the others to leave. “Are you daft? Why would you go anywhere near a MacIver?”