The Presence - Heather Graham 3 стр.


I have been traveling. The constable didnt throw you out because he hadnt had a chance to talk to me, and find out if, for some reason, I had decided to rent the place. I just arrived back in the village this evening, and learned that my home was being turned into the Pete Rose Circus!

Oh! Really! Gina sucked in air.

Toni looked at her, smiling grimly. Gina looked stricken, and certainly she felt the depth of the insult herself. I quite enjoy the Pete Rose Circus, she said. Arms crossed over her chest, she turned back to the stranger. Look, were truly baffled by your sudden appearance, especially since we didnt know that you existed and because we do have legal forms. Perhaps people here keep their own counsel, but surely someone might have mentioned you to us! And we walked right in here, without even having to acquire keyswe found a set on a hook by the door. Perhaps youre out of town too frequently, Mr. MacNiall.

Its Laird MacNiall, he said, his tone dry. And I could hardly expect to come home and find

Aha!

The roar of the word sounded along with a new clatter of hoofbeats, cutting off Laird MacNiall. Ryan Browne had at last arrived, sword drawn, risen in his stirrups. He realized almost immediately that the room was emptied of people and filled with a huge black horse. He reined in swiftly, his eyes following the steps until they fell upon the upper landing, and he stared at the three of them.

The great laird returns to his castle? he said weakly.

Where he finds ?

The black stallion let out a wicked-sounding snicker.

Ryans horse, their handsome roan named Wallace, shied. Another great laird with a bigger horse! Okay This great laird is leaving, he said quickly, getting the gelding under control. But Ill be back, he promised.

He turned and left, the roan clattering its way out of the castle.

I really will have the lot of you arrested, Bruce MacNiall said. It was more like a growl than a spoken comment. How dare you burst in here, mocking Scottish history? Americans!

Excuse me, I think that weve explained all this. We have a lease, a legal document, Toni said. And were not mocking Scottish history, were here because we love it.

Listen to me one more time, you addled woman! I own the place, and it has never been for sale or lease!

It simply couldnt be, yet his irritated aggression was so vehement that Toni found herself suddenly afraid that something could be really wrong. Gina looked stunned, and equally worried.

Toni stepped up to the plate, ready to do battle. Youre wrong, she informed the man claiming to be the living MacNiall. We have an agreement.

The hell you do!

We should have you arrested, since youre doing your best to destroy the tour, Toni told him, aware that she was taking a slight step back despite her words. And youve certainly no right to call me an addled woman. We have papers that prove we have leased the place. Now you say that you own it! It was filthy and in horrid disrepair. It was obvious that no one had given the least care to this place in years. Weve been through here repairing electrical connections, replacing wires, plastering and paintingjust to keep the place from falling apart completely. The first day, David and Kevin shored up the front wall. Weve worked our asses off to make it livable.

I told you, Ive been out of the country.

All of your life? she said sharply. Because if not, you should be ashamed. This place is incredible. If I had owned it since birth, Id have never let it come to this!

My castle is not your concern, he said icily.

But it is, because for the next yearat the leastits our castle, she said tightly.

No, it is not, he said. I own the place and I did not lease it!

Toni was forced to feel another moments unease. There was definite conviction in his voice.

I can see that youve put time and work into the place, he told Gina. For that, Im sorry. But the place is not now, nor ever will be, for rent. I would have stopped you, but as I said, Ive been out of the country.

Well, thats just amazing, Toni said, stepping in before Gina could reply. In this day and age, one would have thought that someone in this little village might have known where you were and called you, or at least said something about you when we were buying the paint and materials!

Right! Gina said.

At that moment Ryan came striding back into the great hall. Being Ryan, however, he paused. Great horse! he said, staring at the stallion. What a beautiful animal.

Bruce MacNiall started back down the stairs. Hes a mix of long and careful breeding.

Draft horse look at the muscle and the size! And theres Arab in the history somewhere. Hes almost got the legs of an American Thoroughbred, Ryan said.

Bruce MacNiall kept walking down, talking to Ryan as easily as if they were friends meeting at a horse show. Good eye, he commented. The mare was a cross between an American Thoroughbred and one of our own stallions. He is something. Hes got the strength of a Belgian, the grace of an Arab and the dignity of a Thoroughbred.

Majestic, Ryan agreed.

Toni and Gina stared at one another, then followed MacNialls path down the stairs. The men were both standing at the stallions head, admiring the length of his neck and the wide set of his very large eyes.

Excuse me, but we have a problem here, Toni reminded them.

Yeah, whats up? Ryan said. He flashed a smile. Has Tonis invention come to life? Im Ryan, by the way. Ryan Browne. Ginas husband.

Pleasure, but Im afraid that Ive been very much alive and well for quite some time, MacNiall said, staring at Toni. She seemed to be the one capable of really drawing his wrath.

Ryan cast his brown gaze toward Toni worriedly. Didnt the rental company tell us that the family had died out?

They did, Toni said.

They lied, MacNiall informed them. He stared

straight at Toni. Either that or youre lying. His words didnt seem to include the others, only her. And you are all trespassing. Which you should know, because its obvious that youve gotten hold of family history and local lore and rumor.

I did not lie! she protested indignantly.

Well then, you imagined an incredible facsimile of the truth, he said.

She shook her head. I knew that a family named MacNiall had owned the place, but that was it. Bruce is a common enough Scottish name. Since we have been working our butts off here, we didnt really get a chance to question the community on the past!

Six-three, pitch-black hair, gray eyes like the devils own, Gina murmured, staring at the man, then looking at Toni.

I swear, I made it all up! Toni said irritably.

We do have documents, Ryan said.

Toni bit her lip. Ryans approach might work better than her own.

All right, look, maybe you have some kind of documentsan agreement, a lease, whatever. The point is he paused to stare at Toni no matter what you have, Im afraid that youve been taken in. Unfortunately, it does seem to be something that happens to Americans now and then. They believe in the almighty Internet, and dont really research what theyre doing. This is Europe.

He was beyond irritating. Toni looked at Gina. Imagine that. This is Europe.

Youve been taken, and thats that, MacNiall said flatly to her. In American? Screwed, Miss Fraser.

Toni stared at the man without blinking, feeling her facial muscles grow tense. Gina, perhaps you could show the nice man our documents.

Oh, yes! Of course! Gina turned and went flying down the hallway.

MacNiall shook his head, looking at her.

We put so much into thisyears of saving! Ryan said with dismay.

MacNiall wasnt budging. Im sorry, he said flatly.

Everything, Ryan murmured.

Wait a minute, we have to find out the truth here. Theres no reason we should vacate simply on this mans say-so, Toni stated. Hes claiming that we have no right to be here, but how do we know that he really has a right to be here? The man had called her a liar. She stared straight at him and smiled sweetly. There are a lot of penniless gentry running around Europe, as we all know. Maybe Laird MacNiall is unaware that government powers have taken control of the property because of nonpayment of taxes or the like? she suggested.

For a moment, she could well imagine the man strangling her in truth. He did, however, control his temper. His eyes scorned her to the core as he said, I assure you, that is not the case.

Gina came running back down the hallway, their lease agreement and licenses in hand.

Look, Mr. MacNiall Laird MacNiall.

Papers fluttered. They all started scooping them up, including MacNiall.

MacNiall righted and studied the documents, shaking his head. I grant you, they look good. And your licenses and permits appear to be in order. You simply havent any right to this place because you were taken in by fraud. Im very sorry about that, but

Bruce? A sudden shout came from down the stairs. Everything all right?

The new voice came from the entryway. Toni saw that the village law had arrived in the form of Constable Jonathan Tavish. Theyd met briefly in town. He was a pleasant man in his early thirties, with sandy hair and a beautiful voice. His Rs rolled almost hypnotically when he spoke. Though he hadnt mentioned that there was a living descendant of the once great lairds, he had seemed to view their arrival and their plans with worry and skepticism.

Her heart began to sink, and yet, inside, a voice was insisting, No! This just cant be!

Everything is just fine, Jon, Bruce said, eyes coolly set upon Toni once again. But perhaps you could assure these nice people that I am indeed the owner of the property.

The Laird MacNiall, Tavish told them solemnly. Owns the castle, half the village and the good Laird above us all knows just what else.

Toni stared at the man incredulously. Now her heart seemed to thump straight downward into the pit of her stomach. The stunned confusion remained, and once again her temper soared.

Toni suddenly found herself furious with the constable. How could the man have let them all do this without saying a word if there might have been a problem? Constable Tavish, if this is all true, sir, you might have informed us that there was a living MacNiall who rightfully owned the property and wasnt known to rent it out! Toni said, trying very hard to keep her voice level.

The constable looked at her, grimacing ruefully. If Ive added to your confusion and distress, lass, I am, indeed, sorry. You never suggested to me that you werent aware that Laird MacNiall existed. And until I saw Bruce, I couldnt be certain that he hadnt rented the property though I definitely found it a surprise that he might have done so, Tavish said.

A crack of lightning showed them that Tavish had not come alone. Behind him was Eban Douglas, a man who had introduced himself as the jack-of-all-trades for the place. Theyd explained that theyd put just about everything they had into the rent on the castle and for the repair materials. Hed seemed very pleased, but then again, he always seemed pleased. He was a small, wizened man with tufts of white hair on his skeletal face. Gina referred to him as Igor, and was convinced that he might have made a fortune in life performing as Riff-Raff for the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Hed actually talked to them a great deal. At times, hed appeared to help. And never oncein any way, shape or formhad he mentioned that there was a Laird MacNiall who still owned the place.

Despite thatand his rather creepy appearancehe had certainly seemed decent enough. Toni had seen him working about the grounds and had assumed that he was paid by the agency that had rented the castle to them.

A shopkeeper in town had told them that he lived in a little carriage house just beyond the hill in back, a piece of landscape created by the fact that the moat that had surrounded the castle no longer existed.

You, Eban! Toni said. Why didnt you tell us about Laird MacNiall? she demanded.

Ydidna ask, Eban told her, then grimaced. I didna know myselfperhap His Lairdship had decided such folks as yerselves might ha been good fer the old place. He shrugged. After all, ywere doin a fine job of settin er ta rights, that ywere!

Well, thank you for that acknowledgment, at least! I think weve been really good for it, Toni said, feeling her jaw clench.

Ah, then, back to the buses!

David, who had apparently been charming the guests in the massive kitchen, came bursting back into the hallway, the large group of tourists behind him.

Now, now! David said as his group began to splinter. The buses are waiting! But he had lost control, and their guests began to mingle before leaving, stopping by Toni, Gina, Ryan and Bruce. The four of them, including Bruce MacNiall, received glowing compliments for their performances.

Oh, it was great! a woman named Millyfrom Chicago, if Toni remembered correctlycooed to Bruce MacNiall. I mean, it was all just so wonderful. And then you on this magnificent beast herepure magic! Thank you so very much. Ill never, ever, forget this trip to Scotland. What a dream fulfilled it has been!

Thank you, dear, Kevin said, quickly sweeping up behind her to draw her away.

I loved it! Milly said.

Buses are waiting! Kevin said cheerfully. Mustnt hold them up!

Really! Milly called to Bruce MacNiall as she was ushered out.

He had the grace to slightly incline his head to her. Im delighted that youre enjoying Scotland, he said.

The crowd moved on, passing by the constable and Eban, the tourists chatting and boisterous as they moved out to the courtyard, ready to board their buses.

Thayer, however, was now in the room.

My cousin! He is a Scotsman! Toni said. Her words sounded defensive, as though, because Thayer was a Scot, they couldnt possibly be in a mess here.

A Scotsman, or an American of Scottish descent? MacNiall queried.

Glasgow, born and bred, Thayer said, frowning. He stepped forward, offering a hand. Thayer Fraser, sir. Ive overheard just a bit of this. And Im really sorry regarding this and my own confusion. We may well be at your mercy. Toni did the paperwork from the States after finding this rental through the Internet. The agreements went through a rental agency, a corporation. But we had a lawyerand I saw the ads for the place myself, down in Glasgow.

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