Heart Melter (17 page)

"Which one is the MacGregor banner?" Arthur asked.

"Isn't it the one with the fallen tree on a white background?" Natasha said.

"Aye. There's a sword driven through the tree trunk." Ian pointed to another banner. "That one belongs to my mother's family, Clan Farquharson. Mum inherited this castle from her father, Ian. It was her wish that I live here with my future family," he said, glancing at Natasha.

She watched Ian, awestruck by how noble he looked in the great hall. Her heart clenched as full realization hit—there were hundreds of years of history here he couldn't turn his back on. His roots were firmly planted where his mother's wish had been for him to remain. Ian felt honor bound to fulfill his legacy at Glenhaven. He had a magnificent plan to build a charitable clinic in Scotland, one that would change many lives for the better. The enormity of his life’s goals was staggering and brilliant.

"Can I see the swords?" Arthur asked.

"Of course." Ian led him to the west wing of the room where there was an impressive collection of large, engraved swords. "This claymore is very old. During the Middle Ages, it belonged to my ancestor, Angus Farquharson." Ian touched the hilt of a large two-handed sword.  "He fought a mighty battle with it to rescue my great-grandmother, Katrine, when an enemy tried to kidnap her from Glenhaven Castle."

Arthur's eyes widened as he stared at him gape-mouthed. "Was it a bloody battle?" he asked.

"Aye. During the Middle Ages the battles were brutal. Angus Farquharson was a fierce warrior and he would have done anything to save his lady love."

Natasha smiled at Arthur's worshipful expression. "What do you think of all that, Arthur?"

"It’s awesome!" He ran up to a large tapestry that covered an entire wall and pointed at it.  "Why are those people running to the hills?"

"It's the story of Clan MacGregor. We've been known through time as the Children of the Mist."

Arthur scrunched up his face and stared at Ian. "Why?"

"Because even though my father's clan was considered of royal descent from King Alpin, they lost most of their lands and were outlawed twice. They were hunted like animals.”

“Like animals?” Arthur repeated, puzzled.

“Aye, and they couldn't admit to the MacGregor name without fearing for their lives."

"Do you fear for your life?" Arthur asked in a hushed tone.

Ian chuckled. "No. In 1775, King George III and an Act of Parliament restored our name."

"That’s brilliant. Your clan is famous!" Arthur skipped back to the swords.

Ian turned to Natasha. “I’m going to take him to Maggie and Ranald. Do you want to come?”

“No, I better not. I need to call and check on Marty.”

Ian nodded. “I’ll be back shortly. Stay here until I return."

"I will. Don’t worry."

Arthur hopped up and down. “Are we going to see the puppy? What’s its name?”

“Her name is Evita and she loves to play,” Natasha said, thinking Arthur was a puppy too.

“Can we go now?” Arthur asked eagerly. “Can we, Dr. Ian?”

“Aye, I’ll take you there,” Ian said.

“Wait. I want a hug from Arthur first.”  Natasha crouched beside Arthur and enveloped him in a tight hug. “Have fun and be a good boy,” she said, kissing his cheek.

Arthur nodded and kissed her cheek, a wet, little boy’s kiss that she cherished.

When they left, Natasha went to the hidden chamber and tried to call Marty at the hospital, but the operator said he wasn’t taking calls. Frustrated she couldn’t speak to him, she set about organizing her things. She pulled her large suitcase out of the armoire and took things out for her trip to Skye. But she couldn’t concentrate; she felt too restless. She was about to call Saundra and tell her lawyer the latest when her phone rang in her hand, startling her.

“Hello?” she said, wondering at the foreign number.

“Tashie! I’m so glad I caught you,” Teddy crowed happily. “I thought you might be in rehearsal or something.”

“Hey, Teddy! Do you have a new number?”

“No, I’m calling from my flat in Paris.”

“Oh. I saw your fabulous picture in
Hello
magazine. How are you? I miss you.”

“Aw, I miss you too. What would we do without our Heart Sisters?”

“I know, right?” Natasha, Ronnie and Teddy, her Heart Sister, were different from each other in personality, but loyal to the bone. Ronnie was assertive and plainspoken, whereas Teddy was happy go lucky and well-intentioned, but often landing in one jam or another.

“I can’t wait all the way to Christmas to see you. Why don’t you come to Paris next month? I’m throwing a Thanksgiving bash for my expat friends. A friend of mine just opened an American bistro here and I want give it a boost.”

Natasha smiled and looked heavenward. Teddy collected friends like a pied piper. None were as close as her Heart Sisters, but she had many acquaintances. Natasha could just imagine her flitting around, planning a huge party to help her friend’s restaurant. She was generous to a fault, and unfortunately, many took advantage of her generosity.

“I wish I could come to Paris, Teddy, but my life has gotten very complicated.”

“Then I’ll come to New York. How about next week? I’d
love
to see Legs LaRue on her opening night.” Teddy’s warm, husky voice enveloped Natasha in a cocoon of friendship.

“I’d love that, but I’m not in New York,” Natasha said.

“You’re not? Where are you?”

Natasha drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly as she collected her thoughts. She didn’t want to lie to Teddy, but she couldn’t get into details either. “I’m in Scotland. With Ian. At Glenhaven.”

“
Shut up
,” Teddy said in a shocked voice. “Ian MacGregor? Your ex-fiancé?”

“Yes,” Natasha said, not quite believing it herself. Her life was in turmoil, between the danger she was in and her love for Ian.

“Wow. What have I missed?”

“A lot. Listen, Teddy, I have to swear you to secrecy. Nobody can know I’m here,” Natasha said emphatically. 

“Okay, I won’t tell anyone. Cross my heart and hope to die,” she said quickly. “Now tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m hiding out with Ian until it’s safe to go back to the States.”

“What? You’re hiding out until it’s safe? What kind of trouble are you in?”

Natasha groaned. “Don’t kill me, but I can’t tell you anymore.”

“Wait a minute. You can’t stop there! Tell me about Ian. Are you two back together?”

“Well…kind of, but with no future plans—or commitments,” Natasha said with a pang.

“Oh, gosh, I remember how long it took you to get over him,” Teddy said gently.

“I don’t think I ever got over him, and now after just a few days with him, I’m so in love, I don’t know what to do,” Natasha admitted mournfully.

“What about Ian? How does he feel about it?”

Natasha sighed. “I don’t know. He’s trying to be detached, but it’s not working. He’s my self-appointed protector and like a stick of dynamite when we’re together. It’s pretty hot.”

“Ooh, sounds amazing,” Teddy said with a throaty chuckle. “So what’s the problem?”

“The same issues as before. He’s close to moving to Scotland permanently and I landed a dream role in ‘The Bee’s Knees’. The more I think about it, the more unlikely it seems we’ll—”

“Stop over analyzing everything, Tash!” Teddy said, cutting her off in mid-sentence. “All your life you’ve done nothing but plan, plan, plan. Don’t you think it’s time to stop planning your career and start living your life?” Teddy was an expert at living in the moment, and it stemmed from suddenly losing her mother at a very young age. After her mother died, she was sent to a Swiss boarding school and stayed in Europe through college and afterwards.

“It’s easier said than done, Teddy. I don’t want to get hurt again. Neither does Ian.”

“Oh, come on! I don’t mean to be dramatic, but what if one of you died tomorrow?”

Natasha gulped at her ominous worlds.
If Teddy only knew!
“Hopefully, that won’t happen anytime soon,” she said with a shaky laugh.

“Well, what if it did?” Teddy persisted. “Wouldn’t you regret not enjoying every moment you have now? If I had that kind of love, I’d never let go,” she said fervently. “You and Ian were meant to be together. I’m sure you can work something out.”

“I’m glad one of us is sure,” Natasha said wryly.

“Who are you talking to?” Ian said, entering the room.

Natasha jumped at the sound of his deep voice. “Teddy, I have to go now. Sorry,” she said into the receiver.

Teddy groaned loudly. “I can’t believe you’re hanging up in the middle of this conversation, Tash! Please take care of yourself and call me when you can,” she said in an urgent tone.

“I will. I promise. Bye.”

She hung up and looked at Ian. “I was talking to my friend, Teddy,” she said, mortified when her voice came out in a splutter. How much of her conversation had he heard?

“You weren’t making plans to meet her in Paris, were you?” he asked, scrutinizing her face.“No, I already agreed to go with you to Skye.” She eyed him curiously. “Did you hear any of my conversation with her?”

“No. I’m not in the habit of eavesdropping,” he said dryly.

The concentrated look in Ian’s silver-green eyes gave her pause. His body was tightly coiled from the rigid set of his shoulders to his muscular legs. “How is your agent?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t able to get through.” Natasha flushed. She’d been so caught up talking about her love life, she hadn’t gotten around to calling Saundra either. “I was about to call my lawyer when Teddy called. I’ll call her now,” she said.

Ian paced the room while Natasha talked to Saundra, getting more agitated by the moment as she listened to the latest from her. When she finished, her stomach was in a jumble as she put the phone on the nightstand and sank down on the edge of the bed.

"Ugh, more bad news,” she said, gazing at him anxiously.

“What is it?” Ian asked, his eyes fixed on her as he stood before her with hands braced on hips.

Natasha took a calming breath and forced herself to get a grip on her jittery nerves. Times like these called for Ronnie’s bravery. She could just imagine how fired up Ronnie would be in a similar situation.

“Saundra said that Detective Carson told her Rico Gamberi has vanished. She suspects he’s the one who beat Marty up." She shook her head in disgust. "Rico is in trouble with the IRS too."

Ian grunted. "He’s probably up to his neck in debt with the syndicate."

“Maybe.” Natasha grimaced. "When I told Rico I didn't know where the flash drive was, he said the mob wouldn't mind roughing me up to find it. Look what they did to poor Marty."

Ian's face darkened. "I won’t let them harm you. They’ll have to go through me first." 

“Thanks. I thought I was safe here, but now someone has followed me.” She clutched his arm. “What if it was Rico? I'm terrified he might harm somebody here."

“We’re leaving for Skye today and I’m closing up Glenhaven. Everyone is on holiday as of now," Ian said, tension lining his shoulders and neck.

“Where will they go?” Natasha asked.

“They’ll stay at Maggie’s widowed sister’s home. She has a large estate near Pitlochry. Dugie and her family will stay there too.”

Natasha gave a sigh of relief. "That makes me feel a lot better. I’m glad I got a tight hug from Arthur. Is he okay with us leaving?”

“Aye, he’s fine. Maggie and Ranald will spoil him rotten and he’s already crazy about Evita.”

“Oh good. Did you tell them about Arthur's fear of the dark?”

"No, you can call them from the car and tell them. I’m going to alert the police about Rico and give them a description. Hurry up and finish packing,” he said, motioning to the items on the bed. “Bring warm, comfortable clothes and sturdy boots. It's rugged territory. I’m going down to make arrangements and get what we need.”

“Like what?”

“Canned food, blankets, a kerosene lamp, a battery-operated radio, candles and matches..." Ian ticked off.

“Sounds like we’re going camping.” Natasha's eyes widened. "How primitive is the Isle of Skye?"

“Where I’m taking you, it’s no frills,” Ian said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

“You can come up front now,” Ian said, peering in the back seat of the Rover.

“Finally!” Natasha tossed aside the blankets and clambered into the front seat. She’d been riding in the back, covered by stifling blankets since they’d left the castle in case someone was watching. Itchy from all that wool, she blew a stray tendril from her face and sneezed.

“Good thing I brought my allergy pills,” she muttered, rummaging in her shoulder bag. She pulled out a plastic pill container and popped a tablet in her mouth, downing it with half a bottle of mineral water. “Now I can enjoy the view of the Highlands. They’re so beautiful in the fall.”

Ian nodded, but didn’t respond and his silence unsettled her. He’d been quiet since they’d left. Deep in thought, his mouth was set, his jaw tense and his silver-green eyes motionless on the road ahead.

“Do you have friends in Skye?” she asked, hoping to draw him into conversation.

“Aye, a few. As a lad, I spent many summers there with friends who were like family. One of them is a private investigator.”

“Oh, that’s good. Hopefully, we won’t need his services.”

He slanted a thoughtful look at her. “Agreed.”

They lapsed into silence and Natasha couldn’t stop thinking about what Teddy had said earlier.
What if one of you died tomorrow? Wouldn’t you regret not enjoying every moment you have now? If I had that kind of love, I’d never let go.
Teddy could be so astute sometimes. Most people saw her as a party girl with no roots, but she was that way because she didn’t have a home.

Home
. Natasha didn’t feel like she had one either at the moment. The prospect of going back to her New York apartment was unnerving, especially since she’d had to leave it in shambles. She felt violated whenever she thought of how her place had been ruthlessly ransacked. Her life was in danger and she had no idea what tomorrow would bring or how Ian felt about her. Sometimes, she felt like chucking everything and starting all over again. Letting out a mournful sigh, she gazed at Ian wistfully.