Wild about the Witch (16 page)

Piper sighed. “Nothing.” She would tell Evie about her fears if the nightmares and sleepwalking continued. She couldn’t deal with it right now. “Sam not coming?” she asked, mostly relieved that Sam wouldn’t be part of the initial planning. She was fed up with men’s opinions when it came to the wedding.

“No, he saw Archie at the gate and they’re going to hunt for poachers.”

“Oh, it’s poachers now?”

“Always something, right?” Evie asked with a laugh.

She had been in charge of the estate for eight months while Piper and Lachlan went missing in another century and knew well all the problems that could and would arise.

Piper spread out the folders in front of Evie and took her laptop to log into a website she’d found that had beautiful flower girl dresses.

“How’s life with a teenager?” Piper asked, almost dreading the answer. She felt guilty about Catie staying with them, and hoped she wasn’t causing too much trouble. “Lachlan will probably take her back tomorrow or the next day. He bellows a lot but can’t seem to actually tell her what to do.”

“Yes, she’s a bit spoiled,” Evie agreed, flipping through a magazine and tearing out pages she liked.

“I’m so sorry,” Piper said. “You can make her come back here.”

“Are you kidding me? She’s fantastic. She gave Mags his bath last night and cleaned the kitchen after dinner. She was so fascinated by the washing machine she did four loads of laundry like it was a treat for her.”

Piper was agog. “You just said she was spoiled.”

“Oh, she does what she wants, make no mistake. I’m just lucky she wants to do a bunch of things that help me out.” Evie grinned, then furrowed her brow in thought. “How bad would it be if she stayed?”

Piper shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s got that inheritance, so I don’t know what would happen with that.”

“We should ask Herb what can be done about it. Maybe he can figure out a way to get it into a trust for her in this century? She’s taken to this time like she belongs here. I’d hate for her to go back to a loveless marriage just to get some money.”

Piper’s head swirled at that suggestion. Her lawyer was a genius, but to finagle something like that to span more than two hundred years? Not to mention Lachlan’s reaction to such a suggestion.

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I don’t think Lachlan could handle it. He’s already tearing out his hair over Shane.”

Evie grimaced with mock horror. “Oh my God, the village lothario! I didn’t know what to do when he picked her up that first day.”

“She’s been out with him more than once? It wasn’t just the movie last night?” Piper slapped down the folder she held and a few ice sculpture pictures slid over to Evie.

“Yeah, lunch and shopping, and apparently exploring the grounds. He’s the first person she met in the village when she got here. He’s her hero.”

Piper felt the strange and unwelcome surge of jealousy that she’d felt before, that Evie knew so much about Catie. She stuffed it down.

“Lachlan seemed so open-minded about modern life until Catie got here,” she said sadly.

“I asked Sam about that, since he has a kid sister, and he said it’s normal to be a little protective, and that Lachlan will get used to the fact that she has her own life. I think it’s harder for Lachlan because he was kind of their father figure as well, though that’s not very healthy.”

Piper groaned, thinking of their night at the movies. “You should have seen him at the theater last night.”

“Oh no, you went? I’m surprised Catie didn’t keep me up half the night raging about it.”

“We kept a low profile.” She giggled. “We had to sneak in late and Lachlan wanted to sit in the row behind them, but I was afraid of a scene if Catie turned around, so made him sit all the way in the back.”

“That was smart.”

“I don’t even know what the movie was about. Lachlan kept grabbing my arm every time their heads started moving together. I was terrified they were going to make out, or Shane might put his arm around her. I pictured Lachlan tearing over the seats, bellowing in Gaelic.”

“Did he bring his axe?” Evie asked.

“I think he wanted to,” Piper said. “I frisked him before we left to make sure he wasn’t hiding any blades in his sock.”

“You didn’t.” Evie snorted with laughter.

“Oh, I certainly did. Halfway through the movie I thought I’d have a heart attack, because I think Shane was just leaning over a lot to answer questions, but it looked like he might kiss her every time.”

“He never did kiss her?”

“I don’t think so. I couldn’t stand it and finally grabbed Lachlan and made out with him to get him to stop acting so crazy. Honestly, I’m surprised it worked.” Piper took a big bite of strawberry scone and harumphed around the crumbs.

“Aw, he’ll get used to it,” Evie said.

Piper choked. “No he won’t, because she’s going back.”

Evie looked at her strangely, adding to her guilt over how badly she wanted everything to get back to normal. All the upset was giving her the nightmares and blackout episodes. She needed things to get back to normal.

Before Evie could say anything, her phone buzzed and she grabbed it, always nervous when Magnus was with someone else. He’d begun a mother’s day out program two mornings a week so Evie could get a concentrated load of castle business done, and this was his first day since they all returned from their long vacation.

Her eyebrows shot up and she held the phone out for Piper to see while she told her what it said.

“You won’t believe this, with about twenty exclamation points.” They exchanged interested looks. “That’s odd. Sam doesn’t usually abuse punctuation like that,” she said, tapping a reply.

Piper looked down at the papers and samples that surrounded them. They hadn’t done any wedding planning yet and she didn’t want to get sidetracked further by evidence of a poacher, or whatever else Sam and Archie may have found in the forest.

She shoved a folder under Evie’s nose, dismayed when the phone buzzed again and Evie grabbed it eagerly. Her stomach turned over when Evie’s face fell.

“It says to call Dr. Stone.”

Piper did it without question, her stomach now doing a Highland reel. She’d never been fully on board with the historical re-enactors who rented part of the land, living the eighteenth century lifestyle. They did wonderful things for the village, offering tours of their camp and giving lectures and parades, but they were a pain in her butt.

“Do you think someone got stabbed?” Evie asked, shaking her phone. “Ugh, he’s not answering.” It buzzed again and she glared at the message. “It says, just wait, be up soon.”

“No, I do not think someone got stabbed,” Piper said bitterly. “It isn’t always stabbings, you know. Someone probably got sick from drinking river water or hammered their thumb.”

“Yes, that would definitely warrant all those exclamation points,” Evie said, getting up to stand by the window. After a moment, she turned around, settling her arms across her chest. “So, you really think it’s best if Catie goes back?”

Piper shrugged. Evie’s tone and body language suggested she was gearing up to disagree with her, and she didn’t want an argument. She didn’t want a sick or injured historian, either. All she wanted was to choose some bloody flower arrangements and a color scheme. Her eye twitched and she sighed deeply, pushing out all her breath as if she could force her troubles away with it.

“Did you know she left some poor woman behind, in order to come here?” Piper asked, disgusted with herself for trying to turn Evie against Catie. What was wrong with her? Her head throbbed and she once again chalked it up to stress.

“Miss Burnet? She feels really bad about that. But Catie told me she had a thing for her brother, so at least they’re together.” She turned back to look out the window. “You met the brother, right?”

“Yes, he’s as gorgeous as Lachlan and seemed sweet. Lachlan always calls him a wastrel, but I don’t think it’s right. He’s just young.”

“Young, hot wastrel?” Evie sighed. “I guess I’m becoming a sad old mom, but that sounds pretty fun.”

Piper laughed despite the tension that ate at her while they waited. “He was nice to me. I can see how a cougar like Miss Burnet would want to jump all over him. I just hope she doesn’t break his heart.”

“Cougar!” Evie shook her head. “She’s our age!”

“Oh,” Piper said. “Catie called her a spinster so I assumed … stupid eighteenth century. How do you know how old she is?”

Evie came back to the table. “I Googled her. I can’t believe I haven’t told you this yet, but I know more about the mysterious man. He brought Catie here.”

Piper was relieved to learn that the time traveler Evie swore she met actually existed, and listened eagerly to everything Evie had learned.

“That’s crazy that the man who got Catie here is your mystery man,” Piper said. “I wonder if the portal’s still there, at the inn.”

Evie shook her head. “I nosed around, but it’s different inside than it was when I saw him disappear, so who knows. If it is, I couldn’t find it.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Piper said. “You’re pregnant! What if you got sucked into another time and we didn’t know? You need to forget about Lord Whateverford once and for all.”

A commotion in the courtyard made them both scamper to the window to see what Sam’s dramatic texts were about.

Piper gasped. There was no mistaking the big Highlander being assisted by Sam and a young, kilted man. Urging them along was a pretty blonde woman who looked seriously pissed off.

“Holy crap,” Evie said, turning to Piper. “Speak of the devil?”

“And Quinn Ferguson appears,” Piper replied.

***

“Gunshot wound, that’s different,” Piper said when they had Quinn settled, grumbling and swearing at the kitchen table.

Sam was ecstatic that he was the one with news for once, and tripped over himself with introductions and telling the tale of how he found the weary, bruised travelers.

She hurried to get everyone some hot tea and put a bottle of whiskey on the table as an afterthought. Evie’s shoulders sank at not being able to have a fortifying slug, so Piper gave her a scone instead, then stood back a bit to assess the situation.

It wasn’t shocking to her that Quinn had powered through the centuries to find his sister. Whatever Lachlan said about him, she had seen that Quinn was indeed a responsible man, and only needed a chance to prove it. However, Lachlan wasn’t going to think Quinn being here a good thing. She dreaded calling him.

She looked over the stragglers who’d made the journey with him. The spinster Miss Burnet, though clearly quite angry at Quinn about something, hadn’t looked pleased when Piper hugged him in greeting. She definitely gave off a territorial vibe. Oliver, a handsome young Englishman who looked dead on his feet, drank his fortified tea in one gulp before resting his head on his forearms. Piper understood why Quinn was there, and Miss Burnet actually belonged in this time, but she couldn’t figure out Oliver’s role in the rescue plan.

“Where’s Catie?” Quinn cut in after a few minutes of excited babbling and confusion.

“She’s out wandering the fields with her new boyfriend,” Evie said, practically spewing crumbs everywhere in her haste to share good gossip.

She had assimilated into village life a little too well, Piper often thought, and was becoming a real busybody. When Oliver looked up, his kind brown eyes full of dismay, she understood why he came, and wanted to thump Evie for her thoughtlessness. Not to mention Quinn looked like steam was about to come out of his ears at the information.

“Boyfriend?” they both said in unison, one blustery, the other hurt.

“What in the devil?” Quinn continued, standing up. “Is Lachlan aware of this?”

Miss Burnet tried to keep him down with all her strength on his good shoulder.

“Sit down, you idiot. You’ve already made it worse by coming along. At least let them help you.” She looked from Sam to Evie to Piper, not sure who to ask. “Please, is there a physician nearby?”

“There’s nothing nearby,” Piper answered. “But don’t worry, the doctor’s already on his way and should be here in half an hour or so.” She turned to Quinn. “Do you think you’ll make it that long?”

He winked at her and sat back down. “Aye, I’ll live.” Miss Burnet glowered at him, clearly disgruntled at the wink, but he ignored her. Piper glanced at Evie, who was watching them with interest, probably trying as hard as she was to figure out their deal. “Now, what’s this about Catie?”

“She’s fine. She made friends with one of my goatherds who’s close to her age. It’s all respectable, don’t worry.” She smiled encouragingly at Oliver, who nodded.

“Bloody hell, a goatherd,” Quinn said, slapping the tabletop. “She’s determined to kill me with her antics.”

At that moment, Mellie came in, slamming the door and shrieking. Piper glanced at the clock. It was far too early for Mel to be home from classes and she looked accusingly at Evie.

“I didn’t tell her, how could I?” Evie defended herself.

“Sam texted me,” Mel said, staring in awe at Quinn. “You look so much like your brother,” she breathed. “Oh, hello.” She smiled at Oliver and turned and waggled her eyebrows at Piper. Yes, he was cute, but Piper didn’t think it was an appropriate time for flirting. “I’m Mellie,” she said, holding out her hand for the boy to shake.