by Cindy Miles
When Allie stepped through, her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh. I’m . . . sorry. Jake came and got me and asked me to put him to bed.” She glanced over her shoulder, toward his and Jake’s small apartment, then shrugged. “I hope you don’t mind?”
Gabe forced a half smile. “Nay, o’ course no’. I thank you—”
“Gabe, come quickly,” Ron, a frequent patron at Odin’s, called up the stairs. “Your mother needs you on the phone in the kitchen straightaway. I couldna find the bloody cordless.”
Gabe turned and hurried down the stairs, and he could hear Allie’s steps right behind him. He made it to the kitchen and picked up the receiver Ron had laid on the counter. “Aye, Ma, what’s wrong?”
His mother’s voice was laced with worry. “ ’Tis your auntie, Gabe. Wee Mary’s in terrible pain. Her stomach. I dunna know what’s wrong with her.”
“I’ll come straightaway,” Gabe said. He hung up the phone and turned to Allie. “I’m sorry to ask this of you, but can you stay with Jake? Wee Mary’s sick—”
“You both go, Gabe. I’ll stay here and watch after Jake and Odin’s,” said Laura, Ron’s wife. “Go. Hurry, and dunna worry about us.”
With a quick look at Allie, who nodded and was pushing him toward the door, Gabe grabbed his keys to the Rover from a hook on the wall and hurried out the door. Allie was silently right on his heels.
In minutes, they were at Wee Mary’s. Gabe jumped out and hit the gravel lane leading to Mary’s cottage running. He swung open the front door and found his mum, sitting beside Mary on the sofa. Mary was doubled over in pain.
Gabe knelt on the floor and put a hand to Mary’s forehead. Her skin felt hot and was flushed. “What’s wrong with you now, you wee troublemaker?” he asked, trying to keep his voice from shaking. “Have you gone and had some bad fish?” He glanced at his mum. “She’s burnin’ up.”
Allie came round and knelt beside him. She reached over, picked up Wee Mary’s slender wrist, and held it for a moment. “How long have you had a fever?” she asked his aunt, then smoothed back the hair from her forehead.
“Just since earlier today, I suppose,” she said, her voice weak. “Och, me stomach is killing me.” She pressed low and to the right. “Just here. And I didna eat fish today, lad.”
“Do you have your appendix?” Allie asked.
“Aye,” Mary answered, then moaned.
Allie turned to Gabe. “I’d be willing to bet it’s her appendix. How close is the nearest hospital?”
“Too far to wait for the ambulance service to arrive,” he answered. “Mary, love, I’m going to pick you up and put you in the Rover, aye? We’re goin’ to the infirmary. Allie here will ride in the back with you.” He glanced at his mother. “I’ll call you once we get there.”
His mother, whose face had turned ashen, nodded. “Aye, lad. Hurry.”
As he scooped up his wee aunt, he noticed Allie grab the pillow and wool throw from the back of the sofa, then bend down and grab Wee Mary’s house slippers. They dashed to the Rover. Allie ran just ahead, opened the back door, climbed in, and Gabe placed his aunt on the seat, her head on the pillow in Allie’s lap. He jumped in and they took off.
Eighteen minutes later they arrived at the small local infirmary. Luck was with them as the emergent room was empty. With his wee aunt in his arms, he ran straightaway to the first exam room he saw and placed her on the gurney.
“There, you wee witch,” he said to Mary. “The doctor will see you shortly. And dunna be rude to him. I know you hate doctors.”
When he turned, he saw Allie speaking to one of the nurses, who in turn called for the doctor. A short man in a white coat came hurrying out of another room and headed straight over to Mary. After several questions, he started barking orders. A nurse came over, started an IV, and drew some blood. The next thing Gabe knew, Wee Mary was headed to X-ray.
“She’ll be right back, lad,” the doctor said, following Mary’s gurney.
As soon as Wee Mary was out of sight, he immediately turned to look for Allie.
She was standing right behind him.
Gabe rubbed the back of his neck. “Christ.”
Allie touched his arm. “She’ll be okay. You made really great time getting here.”
Gabe nodded. “I dunna mean to act like a baby. Mary’s like me other mother.”
Allie smiled. “You sound far from a baby, Mr. MacGowan. Apparently you didn’t hear the words that flowed from your mouth on the way over here.”
He grinned. “Sorry for that.”
“Oh, call your mother.”
Gabe nodded. “Right.” He pulled his mobile from the clip on his belt and dialed his mum’s number. Before he finished the update, the doctor came rushing in to the waiting area. Gabe handed the phone to Allie.
“Your aunt needs emergent surgery, I’m afraid. That appendix has to come out.” He scratched his bald head. “She’s mighty lucky it hasna burst yet.”
Gabe nodded. “Right. What do I need to do?”
“She’s signed the permit but wants to speak to you before we take her back. This way.”
Gabe nodded at Allie, who waved him on and continued talking to his mother, and hurried after the doctor.
In the holding area, Gabe eased over to Wee Mary and leaned over, planting a kiss on her forehead. “You’ll be fine, woman. The doctor will take grand care of you.”
“Och, I know that,” she said, and Gabe could tell she was still in pain. “What about Odin’s?”
Gabe shook his head. “Dunna worry. Allie’s helping out and doin’ a fine job.”
Through her misery, Wee Mary gave Gabe a slight smile. “I’ll just bet she is, love.”
“Sir, we need to prep her now,” a young nurse in blue scrubs said.
Mary patted his hand. “Go now. I’ll see you shortly.”
“I’ll be here when you wake up,” he said.
Gabe watched the nurse wheel his aunt away. When they turned a corner, he made his way back to the waiting area.
Allie was sitting in one of the plastic chairs near the exit. When he approached she stood. “Call your mom back. She’s so worried.”
He did, spoke with her for a moment, and then promised to call once Wee Mary returned from surgery.
Nearly two hours later, she did.
The doctor found Gabe and came right to him. “Your aunt did fine, lad. Luckily, we were able to do the surgery laproscopically. The appendix hadn’t burst, thank God. She’ll have to stay a couple of nights, but she’ll be fine.”
“Can we see her?” Gabe asked.
“Aye, although she’s quite out of it,” the doctor said.
Gabe and Allie went to the recovering unit, and as soon as Gabe lifted his aunt’s hand, she opened her eyes. “See, laddy? I’m fine. Now go home. I just want to sleep.”
Gabe dropped another kiss on her forehead. “I’ll see your wee bossy self tomorrow, then. Aye?”
Mary was already back to sleep.
After a few words with the doctor, who assured Gabe Mary would indeed be just fine, he and Allie left.
They drove in silence. Comfortable silence, Gabe thought, and he was thankful for it. He waited for Allie to bring up the conversation she’d had with Jake, but blessedly, she didn’t.
He couldna answer questions he himself didna know the answers to, like why he’d been having horrid, vivid nightmares about his deceased wife.
What would he say if Allie asked him about it?
More than once, Gabe felt her gaze on him while they drove, and finally, she spoke.
“Your Odin’s lot doesn’t want you and Jake to leave,” she said.
He glanced at her. “I suppose I never wanted them ousted anyway. Just hushed whilst I show the place. I tried everything and they’d no’ listen to me.”
Allie nodded. “I’m used to dealing with people who can’t interact with them. They simply want the spirits gone.” She shrugged. “The thing is, usually, spirits haunt because their souls
are troubled and need mending.”
“What do you mean?”
Allie shrugged. “Most of the time, the spirits have pieces of their life, or death, missing from their memory. Perhaps they don’t know how they died, or what happened to their loved ones after their death. And it’s been my experience that the souls who linger here on earth were the ones who died an untimely, or unnatural, death.”
He regarded her. “What do you do to help?”
“I research the names, places, dates, and find out what sort of information I can.” She gave a winsome smile. “I counsel. Sometimes they’re consoled just to be able to communicate with a mortal, and in a positive way.”
Gabe nodded. “Makes sense.”
She scratched her brow. “You see, the mortals pay me, but it’s the unsettled souls who are actually helped.” She looked at him. “Do you see?”
“Aye.” And he did. He’d grown up with the Odin’s lot, as did his mum and da and Wee Mary and most of the villagers.
“How did the Odin’s souls come to be in Sealladh na Mara, anyway?” she asked.
Gabe studied the reflection of the Rover’s headlamps on the road. “Aye, well, they each have their own tale to tell, but they all have one thing in common.”
“What’s that?”
He gave her a quick glance. “Sealladh na Mara is where each of their bodies washed ashore, at one point in time or another.” He shrugged. “I believe the friar was the first to arrive.”
“Wow. Amazing. Not at all what I expected when I took the job.”
Gabe gave her a quick glance. “I think what you’re tryin’ to say, lass, is you scammed me.”
“Ha-ha, no. No, that’s not what I’m saying at all, smarty-pants.” She half turned in her seat and faced him, and although he couldna keep his eyes on her, he knew she kept hers on him. “What I’m saying is I’ve been in Sealladh na Mara for almost a week and from what I can tell, the Odin’s lot is not the problem.” She sniffed. “It’s you.”
Gabe stared at the road ahead. He didn’t look at her. “Is that so?” he asked.
“Yes, it is.”
“How do you figure that?” he said.
Allie was quiet for a moment, then heaved a big sigh. “I’d be able to help the situation a lot more thoroughly if I knew the whole story. Everything. As in why, exactly, you want to leave.” She waved her hand. “You know—all that stuff you keep telling me isn’t any of my business?” She patted his hand. “Well, sorry to burst your bubble of privacy, but that’s the stuff I need to know in order to help.” She straightened and stared out the windscreen. “Everything, in other words.”
Gabe slid a sideways glance at her, then set his gaze back to the road. The lights of Sealladh na Mara flickered up the hill, and beside him sat a woman he’d known less than a bloody week.
Yet he felt as though he could trust her with his life.
And that thought scared him worse than the nightmares.
What terrified him even more than either of those things was the overwhelming urge to put the Rover in park, pull her onto his lap, and kiss the mouth he seemed unable to stop thinking about.
Instead, he blew out another breath. “Let’s see what happens, aye?”
A very satisfied grunt escaped her throat. ’Twas one of victory, Gabe thought.
“Aye, indeed,” she said.
Gabe shook his head and pulled into the lane leading to Sealladh na Mara.
He’d been right.
Deep, deep trouble.
Once inside, Gabe thanked Ron and his wife for staying with Jake, and when they left he locked the front door to Odin’s. When he turned, the keys slipped from his hands, and he bent to retrieve them.
Allie, standing right beside him, did the same.
Their heads knocked together.
“Ow, sorry,” said Allie, rubbing her forehead.
Gabe stared at her and rubbed his own. “Aye, me as well.”
The low light from the single lamp turned on in the lobby fell over Allie’s face, and the beauty of it gave Gabe a lump in his throat. He felt like a daft lad of sixteen, unable to speak without tripping over his own bloody tongue. So he simply stared.
Allie did the same.
And for a moment or two, they stood. He couldna help but notice the curve of her lower lip, the shape of her jaw, and the depth of those blue eyes. The smallest of freckles crossed over her nose, and . . . damn, he couldna stop looking at those lips . . .
“I, uh, hope Wee Mary will be all right tonight,” Allie said. She gave a hesitant smile. “If she needs someone to stay with her I’ll be more than happy to go back.”
Gabe blinked. “Right. Thank you verra much for offering.” He rubbed his jaw. “Er, good night, then.”
She smiled, and the sight of it nearly buckled his knees.
“Night.” And with that, she turned and headed up the stairs.
Gabe watched her go until she disappeared round the second-floor landing. He continued to stand there, like a dolt. Staring.
Deep, deep trouble, indeed.
Chapter 11
Three days passed with not much activity at Odin’s Thumb at all, really. Allie continued to help with the meals, and each night they’d gather at the pub. There were a few regulars from Sealladh na Mara who made it part of their evening ritual to stop by and have a pint or two before heading home. Afterward, once they closed up the pub, Gabe would hastily say good night and head up to his and Jake’s apartment.
He was avoiding her. She could tell.
And for some crazy reason, she could think of very little save that night they’d stood in the foyer near the lobby. Staring.
She could hardly get Gabe’s face out of her mind.
The man had studied her—maybe he hadn’t even known she could tell. But she could tell.
And she’d liked it.
Good God, she hadn’t been able to help herself. Never had she encountered a man like Gabe MacGowan. So intense, so brooding.
So sexy.
Allie slapped her hand to her forehead. “Ugh, get a grip, Morgan. You didn’t come here to lust over your employer . . .”
Since Gabe was avoiding her, that would leave Allie each night with five nutty spirits, plus Dauber, to contend with. So they talked. They played cards.
They conspired.
Wee Mary had returned from the hospital and was doing well. She hadn’t returned to work yet and wouldn’t for a few weeks. That was fine with Allie. She rather enjoyed working at Odin’s.
Especially alongside Gabe MacGowan.
“Your play, love,” Dauber said, interrupting her thoughts.
“I can tell by the look on her lovely face just who she’s thinking of,” said Lord Killigrew. “Lucky bastard.”
Allie threw down a card. “There is no look on my face, you silly nobleman.” She glanced at the pile of cards on the table. Some were real. Others were conjured. Allie soon realized that the souls of Odin’s Thumb had a fantastic knack for conjuring. Lord Killigrew had produced a conjured deck of cards that only the spirits could touch, while Allie had used cards from a real deck. Perhaps not the most accurate of hands, she thought, but it worked close enough.
She grinned. “I just wiped you out. Full house, Lord Killigrew. Read ’em and weep!”
Lord Killigrew grinned. “Indeed you did, you wily lass.”
“So, is young Gabe still avoiding you?” the friar asked. “I daresay he’s getting quite good at it.”
Allie nodded. “Yes, I’m afraid he is, Drew.”
“He’s more the fool for it, says I,” said Justin. He gave Allie a wink.
“He’ll be at the ceilidh, though, won’t he?” Mademoiselle asked. “He hasn’t been to one in quite some time, come to think of it.”
Allie leaned back and stared out the window. “Maybe he’ll come to this one?”
Lord Ramsey blew out a breath. “I wouldn’t count on it, miss. But if anyone can draw him out, ’twill be you for a certainty.”
“It doesn’t take much to draw you out, boy,” said Justin.
Everyone laughed.
“So, tell me,” Allie said when the chuckles died down. “How is it you all came to be here?”
At first, everyone was silent. The souls glanced at each other, possibly waiting to see who would start. Justin took the lead.
He leaned toward her. “Strangely enough, we all know how we died. ’Tis a mystery, though, how our bodies all washed up on Sealladh na Mara’s shores.” He shrugged. “ ’Tis a good thing, methinks. Still, ’tis puzzling.” He inclined his head. “The friar there arrived first, not long after his wagon o’ mead was set upon by highwaymen. Then myself, after a rather dodgy fellow shot me in the back and then pushed me overboard my own bloody ship. Next came the lovely Elise, which, as you can tell by the fetching bow she uses, had an unfortunate date with Madame Guillotine.”
“I was quite innocent, mademoiselle,” Elise said to Allie.
Allie nodded.
Justin waved a hand. “And then those two dolts,” he said in the direction of Lords Ramsey and Killigrew. “Bloody fools took to a duel—”
“Aye, and over a lass,” said Ramsey.
“I daresay she wasn’t worth it,” said Killigrew.
They all laughed.
Allie shook her head. “You shot each other?” she asked.
Killigrew grinned. “While I, too, fell to my demise, I’ve no doubt, miss, that my aim hit its mark first.”
“My arse it did,” said Ramsey.
“Enough, lads, enough,” said Justin. “You’re boring the poor maid to tears and I vow I cannot bear to hear the tale again.”
Allie rubbed her chin. “Leona told me that Sealladh na Mara was possibly cursed, and that’s why everyone can see and interact with all of you.”
Justin gave her an arrogant smile. “Doesna sound so much like a curse, then, aye?”
“I remember the first time I discovered a mortal who could actually see me,” said Drew Digby. “ ’Twas a small lad from the castle on yon cliff.” He inclined in that direction with a slight nod. “A MacGowan, to be sure. A fine family, even back then, although the wee troublemaker tried his best to get me to participate in his antics.”
